An ancient yew tree now claims pride of place in the garden, presiding over a raised bed beside a newly built 40 m² pond. This 2,000 kg specimen stands as a testament to the comprehensive transformation that unfolded over roughly one year: nearly every plant and stone was carefully relocated. Plants were excavated and repositioned throughout the site, while masonry stones were dismantled and reconstructed in their new locations.

Landscape architect Christian Kögler faced a demanding brief: after the house construction, the garden area shrank from 1,100 m² to just under 750 m² (including the front garden). Yet the quality of outdoor living had to expand, not contract. The challenge was to craft a sophisticated retreat while capturing sweeping views toward the Wupper Valley—a space where each season comes alive through carefully chosen plantings, reflecting the client's vision. The result: a fruit and herb garden to the west, framed by walls of historic greywacke stone, where family and grandchildren gather. Terraced pathways descend toward the valley's northern slope. The centerpiece is a 40 m² pond with a generous bangkirai timber deck and a bridge marking the garden's north-south axis. Over eighteen months of planning, Christian Kögler developed comprehensive path and planting schemes that weave together native and exotic species—creating a botanical tapestry. Summer brings a riot of color, while autumn transforms the canopy into gold and burnished orange. Year-round, the owners experience their private sanctuary from the sun terrace before the orangery, surrounded by Mediterranean plantings and herbs, or along the swept stone paths.

The real challenge lay in logistics: moving vast quantities of materials—soil, stone, and plants—through temporary staging areas along a single narrow passage beside the house created a genuine bottleneck. Yet through meticulous planning and exacting craftsmanship, a harmonious whole emerged—a result that delights both client and architect alike.

www.la-koegler.de

Photography Credits:

Christian Kögler

(From CUBE Ruhrgebiet 03|21)