For a landscape architecture firm, few things speak louder than a spectacular garden of their own. Latz + Partner, based in Kranzberg, possesses such a "paradise" garden—one that envelops their home and studio while encompassing a serene inner courtyard. Approaching from the south, visitors encounter the illusion of gently undulating landforms created by verdant hedges that seem to embrace the property. These hedges form what senior principal Anneliese Latz describes as "organic figurations." Throughout the grounds, they serve as defining elements: framing vistas, articulating zones, and shaping intimate spaces. Yet what lies within remains deliberately concealed, inviting passersby to engage their imagination.

At the heart of this design lies the inner courtyard—a completely introspective rectangular garden anchored by a year-round fountain that adds both visual and acoustic richness. Agapanthus and wisteria climb across the building façades and glass corridor frames, while boxwood and laurel evoke the spirit of Mediterranean gardens. Three sides of the courtyard are framed by timber-clad living, studio, and workspace structures. To the south sits a glass pavilion designed for overwintering tender plants. Beyond the glass house extends a pond—originally conceived for swimming, now a thriving biotope nurturing plants and wildlife, its banks softened by naturalized reeds. Functioning as both retention basin for rainwater and habitat, the pond's circulation is maintained by a pump that ensures oxygen levels remain constant. A groundwater system irrigates the entire garden. The formally clipped boxwood hedges arranged in rigorous geometric patterns pay homage to the Giardini Ruspoli in Vignanello.

Landscape architecture and design run deep in the Latz family. After several relocations for professional opportunities, Peter Latz and his wife Anneliese established their office in Ampertshausen, carefully transforming a century-old three-sided farmstead into their home and workplace. Their garden transcends mere decoration—it functions simultaneously as a horticultural laboratory and an ecological demonstration project.

www.latzundpartner.de

Photography Credits:

Monika Nikolic
www.monikanikolic.com
Latz+Partner

(Published in CUBE Munich 01|20)