Urban comfort in the wild
Description
This garden was born out of a desire to preserve the harmony of nature that we found on the property. The clients, who were creative individuals, were looking for a place to recharge and socialize with friends in the countryside, rather than a perfect garden. They wanted to maintain their urban comfort and were not prepared for constant gardening tasks.
Therefore, we suggested that instead of fighting the territory, we should let its character in. This is how the idea of a "rebel garden" came about, where plants are allowed to be themselves, move freely around the garden, and appear wherever they want. However, they are kept within boundaries that are comfortable for humans.
The garden layout connects all the buildings on the site with convenient routes. The space is divided into zones with varying degrees of naturalness: a front area, a fruit area, a fire area, and a "wild" area. Each element is carefully designed for easy maintenance.
The lawn in front of the main house has a clear outline, which makes it more solemn and easier to mow. In the wild area, there is a piece of untouched forest. To soften the transition to this area, we created a natural lawn with blurred boundaries, which looks like a natural extension of the forest. Minimal maintenance, maximum impact.
The selection of plants and their color palette are also tied to the zones. In the front part, all the flowers are white. The closer to the forest, the more deviations from this color scheme there are, as nature does not have strict rules. However, we used the simplest plants throughout the area, such as spruces, pines, mountain ash, dogwood, rose hips, and spireas, as well as a wide range of perennials.
Fireplace is a for relaxed evenings by the fire, contemplation, and unhurried conversations. Here, on the lawn near the forest, there is more freedom and texture. Large stones and rough plants with bluish hues, such as thistle, can be found everywhere. The combination of foliage texture and plant architectural forms gives the garden a unique expression. In autumn, the white and blue palette is enriched with vibrant colors of berries and fruits.
The garden area near the house looks like a modern art object. Concrete rings-beds of different heights are placed on the wooden flooring. Behind them grow spicy herbs, currant bushes, gooseberries and blueberries, fruit trees – plums, apple trees. And under all this is a fragrant strawberry carpet. The garden has become one of the family's favorite places – a space where adults and children can do something together and see the results of their work.
The result of the work
This garden is a reminder that the true luxury of country life lies not in taming nature, but in becoming its attentive guest. It requires minimal maintenance and provides exactly what people come here for: a sense of peace and a deep connection with the natural world.
You can read more about our project in the IN/EX magazine at link
Ph: Alexander Artamonov
