The garden reveals its true essence during the serene hours of early morning and evening, when a gentle light fills the surroundings, evoking a sense of tranquility and enchantment. The design vividly captures this moment, referencing how the soft light filters through the forest’s edge, over the pond and through the grasses and flowers, casting a magical glow over the landscape.
Designed as a harmonious ensemble with well-planned site usage and fluid continuity, the garden begins with a renovated courtyard with cube shaped hollies under the cool shade of Gleditsia trees. While the areas adjacent to the house have practical functions, such as a kitchen garden and terrace, the integration of plants and materials creates a harmonious atmosphere without boundaries. A focal point emerges in the form of a water lily pond with a wooden pier, offering a serene oasis amidst lush plantings of perennials, ferns, and grasses, leading to restful seating areas. A lawn staircase – a living sculpture in itself – guides visitors to landscaped expanses with meadows and willow trees.
Understated yet elegant natural materials such as stone and wood, complemented by restrained yet striking planting schemes, are charming features of the garden’s design. The garden transitions seamlessly into the Lower Rhine landscape, providing retreats while maintaining a clear connection to its surroundings.
The designer’s approach to creating this poetic landscape involved a collaborative process, emphasizing flexibility and responsiveness to the site’s natural features. Situated on a gentle hill overlooking the valley, the farmstead integrates naturally with the surrounding landscape, characterized by groups of trees like silver willows, oaks, beeches, and ash trees. By removing obstructions and strategically thinning out existing vegetation, visual connections had been restored, creating a cohesive visual narrative.
The centerpiece of the garden, the water lily pond, reflects the surrounding landscape, enhancing the sense of continuity and harmony. From the house, expansive views extend across the pond to the meadow landscape beyond, which are framed by a hedge parterre of holly cubes that juxtapose the softness of nature with structured elements.
The upper garden transitions smoothly into lower landscaped plantings that echo the natural diversity of the surrounding meadows. A Corten steel staircase leads from the upper garden to a natural gathering space with a fire pit, nestled among pollarded willows and native flora. The design, through use of naturalistic but intentional landscapes, attracts various local wildlife such owls, bats, and hares.
In conclusion, this garden on the Lower Rhine embodies a harmonious blend of nature and design, offering a sanctuary that intentionally but naturally blends with its surroundings, inviting visitors to immerse themselves in its serene beauty and timeless charm.
Location: Germany, North Rhine-Westphalia
Design year: 2019
Year Completed: 2021
