The renovation began with a comprehensive overhaul of the 1960s residence. With that complete, the owners were eager to reshape their sprawling, overgrown garden—dense with mature trees and unruly hedges—to suit their family's lifestyle. Their vision included a redesigned entrance, a usable hillside slope, and a natural pool integrated into the landscape. The steep terrain and limited site access presented the core challenge for garden designer Frank Dahl. He strategically employed a mobile crane and orchestrated the entire project to maintain both efficiency and economic viability. The design philosophy centered on clean geometric lines, thoughtful ground modulation, and vibrant, locally adapted plantings—all anchored by custom lighting that transforms the garden after dark.

The entrance immediately welcomes visitors, with a particularly inviting seating nook nestled beneath the magnolia tree beside the gate, framed by wooden slats that naturally draw you to linger. Paths, terraces, and retaining walls are crafted from warm grey shell limestone native to the region. To manage the steep slope, Dahl carved the rear property into distinct terraced levels, including striking tiered retaining walls that showcase the natural stone's dramatic color and texture contrasts. This flexibility—both in appearance and arrangement—gives designers nearly boundless options for creating distinctive landscape features. The result is a series of intimate outdoor rooms where the family can retreat and gather, enriched with dynamic perennial plantings, specimen trees, and carefully composed hedges. Existing plantings of merit, including an established linden tree, were thoughtfully preserved and woven into the new design.

The natural pool, equipped with a counter-current system, serves both the serious swimmer and the casual visitor. Whether you're completing laps or simply cooling off and enjoying a refreshing splash, it delivers on both fronts. Framed with European hardwood planks, these same materials extend across the terraces and form an elegant privacy screen toward neighboring properties.

Design and planning took eight weeks; construction spanned four months. Maintenance demands are refreshingly modest—Frank Dahl and his team will continue to manage hedge and perennial pruning over the coming years.

www.frankdahl.de

Photography Credits:

Frank Dahl Garden Design

(Published in CUBE Stuttgart 01|21)