Life is at the heart of this garden, designed for a new home on the city's outskirts. That extends far beyond the family's children, who have claimed the generous sandbox as their domain. Rabbits, pheasants, and countless insects thrive among the wild meadow's abundant blooms. The garden hums with activity—a chorus of buzzing and humming that stems not only from the meadow itself, but from the thoughtfully orchestrated plantings and fruit trees that transform this retreat into an authentic nature experience.

A contemporary privacy screen shields the garden from neighbouring views while maintaining a modern aesthetic. Paired with beech hedges, it creates a dynamic interplay of form and texture. From the house windows, the hedges become a living calendar—their seasonal transformations marking the passage of time. Multi-stemmed buckthorn specimens hold their foliage deep into winter, their picturesque silhouettes a visual delight when bare, while their early spring blossoms offer an invaluable sanctuary for bees.

Expansive terraces immediately adjacent to the house extend the living space seamlessly. Positioned lower than the ground floor, the terrace furniture frames rather than obstructs views toward the landscape. The rear garden respects stringent conservation requirements while celebrating natural design principles throughout. At the property's edges, the wild meadow and fruit orchard recede gracefully into the landscape, dissolving boundaries and erasing the presence of fences. Between them, a precisely manicured lawn provides a striking counterpoint—its ordered geometry contrasting beautifully with the cultivated wildness of flowering meadows.

The result is a garden design of remarkable coherence. It honors the architectural character of the home while integrating thoughtfully with the surrounding landscape. The garden functions as a bridge—connecting house and nature. The Erft river's floodplain forms the backdrop; modern yet regionally rooted architecture sets the tone. This same language shapes the garden design: the sculptural wild pear trees echo the building's geometry while evoking the region's traditional fruit orchards. The payoff extends beyond delighted insects to the homeowners themselves, who now enjoy an extraordinary harmony between built form and living landscape.

www.gartenplus.com

Photography Credits:

Ferdinand Graf von Luckner
www.graf-luckner.de

(From CUBE Cologne Bonn 01|20)