Built around a contemporary residence, this 1,100 m² project transforms a challenging hillside into a series of expansive, level outdoor zones through thoughtful terracing. The design encompasses a wellness garden featuring a pool, sauna pavilion, and hot tub, complemented by sophisticated leisure areas.

A terrace near the kitchen accommodates an oversized dining table beneath a covered pergola—precisely as the homeowners envisioned. Existing trees and shrubs were thoughtfully retained to shield the hillside and preserve the garden's natural green character. At the pool's edge, landscape architects Silke Blum and Claudia Scherer crafted an elegant lounge surrounded by maple plantings and ornamental grasses. Most vegetation was retained on-site; select specimens were relocated to the newly terraced levels, maintaining the rear garden's verdant frame while ensuring privacy around the pool and sauna. Two lawn areas flank the residence, creating open, light-filled zones: one atop the garage roof hosts an expansive herb and vegetable bed, while its counterpart sits on a higher terrace. A tall HPL-clad wall—subtly illuminated—anchors this upper lawn against the driveway below, while an elegant flat-steel rail entwined with wisteria opens onto panoramic views. A generously proportioned parking and turning area occupies the drive approach. This required a refined solution, as the driveway needed to function as both practical access and premium entrance. Here lay the project's greatest design hurdle: an adjacent apartment building's windows directly overlook the owners' living room. Large, year-round magnolias provide essential screening. The solution demanded seamless integration of driveway, entry sequence, and planting design—achieving equilibrium between functionality, visual appeal, and privacy.

The clients' passion for flowing water inspired a striking enhancement: a long reflecting basin guides stepping stones toward a modest seating nook at the entrance. Premium materials, refined classical elements, and meticulously planned plantings frame the contemporary architecture while establishing a respectful dialogue with the surrounding landscape—a Jewish cemetery and mature gardens.

www.blum-scherer.de

Photography:

Lisa Schmedicke

(Featured in CUBE Frankfurt 03|25)