After meticulously restoring a historic mill down to the smallest detail, garden designer Andreas Käpplinger faced an exciting challenge: creating a garden worthy of the building. His solution was elegant—blending contemporary design with historical references and weaving water throughout as a unifying theme.

The swimming pool anchors the garden's design, its clean lines and modern aesthetic integrating seamlessly into the mill's distinctive character. Nearby, a shower and massage whirlpool invite refreshment, while an adjacent pergola with a motorized retractable awning creates an inviting retreat from the sun. Comfortable seating here becomes the perfect vantage point to simply sit back and absorb the garden's beauty.

Historic millstones punctuate the landscape, honoring the site's past. Where once a powerful stream ran, a small underground watercourse now flows—a nod to the mill's origins. Two water features take its place, their gentle murmur creating a serene soundscape that drowns out external noise. Thoughtfully placed specimen trees define the space and infuse the garden with verdant depth, while neighboring greenery provides natural screening. A native wood fence serves double duty—practical boundary and visual accent—with climbing hydrangeas and wild vines softening its lines. During the growing season, these climbers create a living privacy screen that makes the garden feel even more lush and alive.

The planting palette is rich and varied: Japanese maples and ironwood trees share space with lady's mantle, autumn anemones, and coneflowers, while globe thistles and cranesbill add textural interest. Chinese silver grass, mixed roses, and panicle hydrangeas are underplanted with fragrant herbs—lavender, rosemary, and sage—that add sensory dimension to every season.

www.ottoarnoldgmbh.de

Photography:
Andreas Käpplinger

(Featured in CUBE Stuttgart 01|25)