Some landscapes have a way of stopping you in your tracks, not because they demand attention, but because they feel right. Cos Design’s Peninsula Project is a great example.
COS Design’s Peninsula Project is calm, coastal and considered, blending architecture, materiality and atmosphere to create an outdoor environment that feels more like a retreat than a residential garden.
From the sweeping lines of the pool to the layered transitions between alfresco living, recreation, and reflection, every element of the Peninsula Project has been crafted to support the client’s vision for a space that could restore, centre and inspire. It’s a project built on ambition and trust: a high-pressure brief, a tight deadline and a collective commitment to delivering something personal.
The result speaks softly but confidently – a landscape where precision meets emotion, and where the technical excellence behind the scenes fades seamlessly into the experience of being there.
It’s no surprise, then, that the Peninsula Project went on to earn Best Pool in the Landscape, Landscape Design over 250m², and Landscape of the Year at the 2025 Victorian Landscape Industry Awards.
The brief
The client approached COS Design after unsuccessful attempts with previous designers, searching for what he described as “…the missing piece of the puzzle.”
His expectations were exacting: he wanted a design that would blow him away on every level and integrate seamlessly with the home, the barn, and the coastal environment. Key elements included a pool as the hero feature, an alfresco area, sun decks, a fire pit, an outdoor bath and shower, and amenities for year-round use.
While the brief allowed for creativity, the design also required attention to detail, layered planning, sophisticated documentation, and seamless integration with the site’s natural and architectural context. Steve Taylor, Managing Director at COS Design, developed a concept early in the process and carried it through, from town-planning approvals to engineering, 3D design development, and complex construction coordination.
Scope of works
The scope incorporated a redesign of the property’s external spaces, uniting landscape architecture, pool design, structural elements, civil considerations, and lifestyle amenities into one cohesive vision. This included building permit documentation managed in-house, design detailing, and alignment with multiple trade disciplines, from pool specialists to structural builders to landscape contractors.
The Peninsula Project pool was a design focus – not merely as a feature, but as the emotional and visual anchor of the outdoor experience. Every surrounding element was planned to support this focal point, ensuring movement, views, and materials worked together to deliver a space that felt both luxurious and connected to its coastal setting.
Challenges
The project presented challenges from the outset.
The client’s background in large-scale development brought a fast-paced, high-pressure mindset that contrasted with the bespoke nature of residential landscape design. The six-month timeline, culminating in a must-meet ‘swim by Christmas’ deadline, introduced additional complexity.
Site conditions, ongoing design additions, and the integration of new technologies required constant refinement. Delivering a personal, emotionally driven outdoor space, rather than a commercial development, called for sensitivity, precision, and adaptability. Aligning expectations between client, designer, and contractors demanded exemplary communication and unity of purpose.
Collaboration and construction excellence
While the design vision was strong, its success relied on execution. Coastal Builders, under the leadership of Peter Leyden, served as the overarching builder, coordinating a team through a demanding and weather-affected construction program. TJ Pool Constructions and Hathaway Landscape delivered exceptional workmanship, ensuring every design detail, no matter how intricate, was realised to the highest standard.
Despite the time pressure and complexity, the project unfolded as what COS Design later described as “…a masterclass in precision building, communication and teamwork”. Every trade bought into the vision, and the collaborative culture established on site became one of the strengths of the project.
The result
The completed landscape is a refined, modern, coastal sanctuary – an outdoor environment that feels personal yet timeless. The spaces flow effortlessly between architecture, pool, planting zones, and lifestyle areas, achieving the ‘missing piece’ the client had long hoped for. With the garden grown in, the property exudes calm, warmth, and a sense of belonging.
The client refers to it as their ‘forever happy place’, a testament to the project’s emotional impact.
For COS Design, the recognition from Landscaping Victoria, including Best Pool in the Landscape, Best Landscape Design over 250m², a silver medal for Softscaping in the Landscape, and ultimately Landscape of the Year, validates years of accumulated experience, innovation, and internal refinement. The project stands as the proudest achievement in the company’s 30-year journey.
About the awards
The Victorian Landscape Industry Awards celebrate excellence across design, construction, horticulture, and innovation, recognising the state’s most skilled and committed landscaping professionals.
Winning Landscape of the Year represents one of the highest honours in the industry, signalling not only exceptional project delivery but leadership, professionalism, and advancement of industry standards.