Hidden Gem: A Backyard Transformed
From neglected backyard to thriving green sanctuary
It's hard to imagine that this stunning garden once was a neglected backyard. Garden designer Jochen Gempp and his team created what can only be called a garden paradise – a phrase that feels entirely justified here. For Gempp, the project presented a genuine challenge. The biggest hurdle? There was no direct access to the backyard. It took a generous neighbor's cooperation to carve out a path through his garage, which then allowed the construction team to work via a narrow footpath and over a high wall.
It's hard to fathom that in just four months, the team moved 20 tonnes of material—rubble, stone, soil, planters, metal raised beds, a garden kitchen, and storage cabinet, plus countless plants—through a confined urban space. "We used carts, pulleys, and the same ingenuity employed in building the pyramids," Gempp explains. "The heaviest components, some weighing nearly a tonne, were rolled and hoisted over wooden beams into the garden. The horticultural team delivered truly remarkable work." The transformation speaks for itself. Anchored by a spacious dining terrace directly adjacent to the house, the garden unfolds in carefully considered layers. A few steps descend to a covered lounge with a fireplace, while a lawn bordered by natural stone tiles accommodates a water feature with small fountains. Hedging defines the garden's perimeter, shielding it from neighboring properties, while white-flowering borders frame the entire composition. A parasol-shaded seating area near the garden kitchen at the garden's end invites moments of retreat or casual dining. The plant palette—featuring sculptural topiary, fragrant flowering specimens, and textural evergreen grasses—transforms the shaded setting into a sensory escape. The result is genuinely serene: birdsong and the gentle murmur of water are the only sounds, despite the busy street beyond the garden walls. Cohesive and expertly crafted, the design feels entirely of a piece.
Photography Credits:
Frank Böttner
www.boettner-foto.de
(Featured in CUBE Berlin 01|24)
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