When garden designer Andreas Käpplinger from Arnold Gartengestaltung first met the homeowners, the site presented nothing but an overgrown meadow. The gentle sound of the neighboring river created a soothing backdrop, while mature trees framed the landscape down to the water's edge. The ecological timber house was already planned for this location—now came the garden redesign. From day one, a natural rapport flourished between Arnold Gartengestaltung and the family, united by a shared vision of creating a truly exceptional garden. Within just one week, a complete garden design—including a swimming pool—was on the table. A few refinements followed before construction could begin. The pool serves as the garden's focal point, visible and accessible from multiple rooms throughout the house. Ground-floor spaces open directly onto a generous timber deck made of thermo ash, laid on a raised foundation to ensure quick drainage after rain. Yet it's not the pool itself that makes this garden truly come alive—it's the richly layered planting scheme that creates such an inviting atmosphere. Carefully selected specimen trees, including a multi-stemmed Japanese maple, are integrated directly into the timber deck, defining distinct garden rooms. Four London plane trees rising through the deck cast shade over the waterside seating area. Strategic solitary plantings—a multi-stemmed pine, a tulip magnolia, and an elegant weeping willow—draw the eye and weave the pool garden into the surrounding landscape. The composition is enriched further by a sophisticated community of shrubs and perennials, including rare specimens like the tree peony 'Godaishu,' whose luminous white blooms attract bumblebees, honeybees, and hoverflies. This living tapestry unfolds beautifully from every vantage point. A covered bamboo pergola creates an outdoor room—positioned naturally between house and garage—offering shelter even in wet weather. Käpplinger constructed the galvanized, powder-coated steel frame in-house, experimenting with varying bamboo thicknesses to achieve an exquisite interplay of light and shadow. The heat pump discretely disappears behind a freestanding slate wall, deliberately weathered in appearance and designed to evolve gracefully with time.

www.ottoarnoldgmbh.de

Photography Credits:

Andreas Käpplinger

(Published in CUBE Stuttgart 01|22)