Designer - Paul Bangay
For 25 years Paul Bangay has fulfilled his discerning clients’ aspirations for creating gardens that are expressive of the timeless elegance and classic simplicity for which he is internationally renowned.
Bangay holds a Bachelor of Applied Science (Horticulture) from the University of Melbourne. In 1994 he was granted a Melbourne Arts Centre travelling scholarship to further his study of landscape design in Europe and the Americas. He won the Mobil Pegasus Award for the best contribution to the Melbourne International Festival of the Arts (1989). In 2001 Bangay was awarded the Centenary Medal for his contribution to public design projects and most recently in 2018 awarded an OAM.
Bangay’s distinctive approach has been featured in countless publications, and he is a sought-after guest on gardening and lifestyle programs. His personal insights have informed a successful series of lavish and widely anticipated books, beginning with The Defined Garden (1996) and most recently ‘The Garden At Stonefields’ (2013).
His unmistakable style, eye for detail and love of the Australian outdoors have been the inspiration for a fabulous new collection of UV stabilised rugs suitable for both indoor and outdoor applications.
The collection was made in collaboration with leading rug doyens the Cadry family.
Today we are pleased to shift the spotlight to Paul and share some of his insights into the world of Paul Bangay.
Tell us how your career in landscape design developed?
My love of gardens evolved from a childhood filled with parents who loved gardens, had a beautiful garden and encouraged us children to work in the garden. My father was an academic so university was encouraged thus my degree in landscape design at Melbourne university. After graduatuion I opened a boutique nursery in Toorak and then went on to start designing gardens. My career has been blessed with publishing 10 books on my work, commission’s overseas, and over 2000 gardens created in Australia.
Who/What has been your biggest inspiration in this field?
The English designer David Hicks was my greatest mentor, we were great friends and travelled extensively together looking at houses and gardens
Publishing my first book was a career highlight, seeing your work in print and protected for posterity was a huge thrill.
Being awarded a Order Of Australia medal for landscape architecture another huge thrill
Where do you draw the most inspiration from when being tasked with a new project?
The site provides me with most of my inspiration, major trees, site lines and the type of architecture of the house.
Recently you launched Fabrics with Elliot Clarke and now with Cadrys an Indoor/Outdoor Rug Collection, what’s next for Paul Bangay?
More books, maybe more products maybe a home and garden in England
