Nestled in a residential neighborhood in Oberhausen where detached single- and two-family homes dominate, sits a duplex whose garden has been completely reimagined by Paus Gartendesign. The owners—a young couple living on the ground floor—envisioned transforming their outdoor space, which had consisted merely of an old natural stone terrace, lawn, and a modest planting bed beside the house. A whirlpool stood oddly isolated in the middle of the grass, Daniel Paus recalls from his initial site visit to the modest 90 m² garden. Their vision was clear: a modern, well-organized outdoor retreat.

This is the smallest garden project Daniel Paus, the landscape architect from Hünxe, has undertaken to date. "I'd call it a garden room," he reflects on the finished design. The generous, partially roofed ceramic terrace flows seamlessly from the living and dining areas, its understated concrete aesthetic mirroring the interior flooring to dissolve the boundary between inside and out. Every detail was considered: the hard-fired surface resists staining, while synthetic resin-based grout prevents weeds from taking hold. Stepping stones that seem to float through creeping thyme lead up to the elevated sun terrace, where the whirlpool now sits in perfect harmony. The two spaces are unified by a seating wall of concrete elements that doubles as a retaining edge for a raised planting bed. What makes this project distinctive is the garden's center section, used by the upper-floor tenants and left untouched during the redesign. Beyond it lies another area belonging to the owners, also preserved, yet framing views into the surrounding greenery. A custom-built rhombus fence screens the communal courtyard. Throughout the renovation, existing materials were carefully salvaged and repurposed—including climbing ivy removed from the garage and replanted elsewhere. The planting scheme centers on the serviceberry, which blankets itself in white blossoms each spring, yields striking red berries in May, and ignites in crimson come autumn. The cork spindle shrub echoes this palette with its brilliant red foliage and distinctive corky bark. Late summer brings anemones into the spotlight. Subtle lighting transforms the specimen plantings, wooden wall, and platform shadow line into focal points that draw the eye even as dusk falls.

www.paus-gartendesign.de

Photography Credits:

Daniel Paus

(Published in CUBE Ruhrgebiet 01|24)