Shortly after demolishing the original structure, the owners engaged landscape architect Andreas Käpplinger and designer Otto Arnold to master-plan the garden. This early collaboration proved invaluable, enabling seamless coordination between the new home's design and the surrounding outdoor spaces—from utilities and electrical systems to the integrated pool. The modest plot presented an ambitious brief: the owners had expansive visions for how they wanted to use the space. The real challenge lay in maximizing every square meter to deliver both the functionality and atmosphere they craved. Today, the garden has become an extension of their home—a second and third living room, and the perfect retreat after hours spent at a desk.

From the outset, the team shared a vision: local materials, warm earthy tones, and varied zones would define the garden's character. Every paving surface and step is crafted from sandblasted Jura limestone, quarried from the nearby Franconian Alb. Its light beige warmth and the delicate dance of quartz veining with fossil traces create an inherently Mediterranean character—perfect for garden design. The home's façade echoes this palette in matching light beige. The privacy screens are similarly sourced locally. The rectangular pool—measuring 6.40 by 3.30 meters as a prefabricated basin—sits within a substantial Jura stone frame and is complemented by an outdoor shower offering both hot and cold water.

Understanding that harsh, bright outdoor lighting attracts insects, the team specified warm white and warm golden ambient lighting instead. This lower color temperature remains nearly invisible to insects, naturally keeping them at a distance. The lighting scheme layers tree uplights, ground spotlights, and accent fixtures throughout. A zinc water feature adds movement to the terrace, while the garden itself is populated with curated furniture, storage pieces, a fire pit with its own sculptural bowl, a handcrafted bench of ancient gnarled wood, and thoughtfully placed planters. An automated irrigation system keeps the lush landscape thriving, with the horticultural team providing maintenance approximately five times annually.

www.ottoarnoldgmbh.de

Photography:
Andreas Käpplinger

(Published in CUBE Stuttgart 01|24)