Working closely with LAR Studio and Tennigkeit Fehrle Architekten, the gardening and landscaping firm Otto Arnold designed an extraordinary hillside garden which now serves as a green retreat offering spectacular views over the city. The private commission came about through a personal network and developed into a comprehensive redesign of the site. The clients’ aim was a natural garden with a rich variety of flowers, various seating areas and a pool. The greatest challenge lay in accessing the site: there is no direct access for construction machinery; the site can only be reached via a footpath with steps. All materials and components therefore had to be brought onto the site using a construction crane.

The design is based on the site’s sloping topography. Several terraced levels give structure to the garden and create distinct spaces, each with its own unique atmosphere. The pool has been elegantly integrated into the slope, appearing to blend naturally into the landscape. Directly adjacent, a spacious wooden terrace invites you to lie back, relax and take a dip. The layout is complemented by paths that run the full length of the building, constantly offering new perspectives on the garden and the city. A central element of the design is the harmonious combination of materials. Existing building materials such as sandstone and clinker bricks have been deliberately retained and integrated into new walls. These are complemented by regional Jura natural stone and elements with a sandblasted concrete finish. This understated palette of materials has been selectively enhanced with wood and individual steel accents; otherwise, one thing dominates above all else: plenty of greenery. “All existing trees could be incorporated and, together with newly planted solitary trees, form a natural spatial structure,” explains Andreas Käpplinger, the company’s managing director.

Lush yet heat-resistant perennials ensure year-round appeal. Floral highlights are provided by species such as coneflowers, globeflowers, Mexican nettles, poppies, globe thistles, verbena, various asters, sunflowers, irises, thyme, spurge, purple bellflowers, daylilies and mugwort. These colourful plant arrangements are complemented by striking solitary grasses with a strong winter presence. Where functionally necessary, evergreen shrubs also provide privacy and a sense of spatial definition.

www.ottoarnoldgmbh.de

Photos:
Andreas Käpplinger
www.a-kep.at

(Published in CUBE Stuttgart 01|26)