Sustainable resource management matters everywhere—from residential architecture to landscape design. When it comes to reimagining existing gardens, designers work with the same care and intention. The Davit Arican planning office faced this challenge: transform a 320 m² garden in Moers into a multifunctional family space while creating a thriving habitat for wildlife.

To give the modest garden a sense of spaciousness, landscape architect and open space planner Davit Arican conceived it with flowing, curved forms and multiple seating zones. A gently curved path guides visitors to an expanded swimming pond, elevated by a new timber deck crafted from salvaged oak planks. Ringed with perennials and grasses, the pond becomes a magnet for insects. The filtration system operates without chemicals, relying instead on a regeneration zone where irises, purple loosestrife, and marsh marigolds provide vibrant accents around a moraine spring stone. "I was fortunate that the garden already contained many valuable established trees and shrubs," Arican reflects. "Some could be relocated and given new room to flourish. Combined with recycled and upcycled materials, the garden feels as though it's always existed in this form." The tulip magnolia now thrives in its new sunny exposure, while the multi-stemmed serviceberry and cherry plum truly shine as focal plantings. The terrace features a living roof and flooring of reclaimed hardwood panels—once used as protective crossing plates for construction vehicles. From this vantage point, the eye travels across the verdant refuge toward another cherished spot: a fire pit surrounded by a seating wall of repurposed clinker brick. Shade-loving plants such as epimedium, Caucasian forget-me-nots, and astilbe flourish in the quieter corners.

Through intelligent use of sustainable materials, thoughtfully positioned throughout, and a mix of existing specimens thoughtfully rearranged with new plantings, this garden has expanded far beyond its modest footprint—earning a place in the "Garden Book of the Year 2024" as a vibrant family space that authentically reflects its owners' character while introducing fresh design ideas. The renowned garden expert—familiar to television audiences—emphasizes a crucial principle: "When you work with what you already have, you're not just making an environmentally sound choice. You'll save money and create genuine moments of delight."

www.davitarican.de

Photography:
Ferdinand Graf Luckner
www.graf-luckner.de

(Published in CUBE Düsseldorf 03|24)