The owners of this 1,000 m² property in Erkelenz had a clear vision: a garden governed by strong lines and minimalist principles. When the time came to add a swimming pond to the rear garden, landscape gardener Michael Busemann of Terra baut Gärten embraced the same philosophy. He anchored the design to the building's geometry, aligning the 10 x 4 m swimming pond and surrounding concrete blocks with the house's existing structure. The result is striking: the stone edge terminates precisely with the home's basement line, creating a sense of perfect order across the 50 m by 20 m garden. A Bangkirai sun deck adds warmth, thoughtfully punctuating the expansive stone surfaces with natural texture.

True to its name, the swimming pond relies on biological water purification. A dedicated regeneration zone planted with reeds in specialized lava substrate filters and cleans the water, which is then returned to the pool through three limestone blocks fitted with stainless steel channels—an elegant solution disguised by discreet technical equipment. Smart planning paid off here: Busemann's team installed underground trenches and conduits during the initial design phase, making it easy to retrofit a heat pump later to maintain optimal water temperature year-round.

Planting design reinforces the garden's ordered aesthetic through year-round structure. Yew hedges frame portions of the space while rows of 'Limelight' panicle hydrangeas soften the poolside, their abundant summer blooms complementing the geometry. Tall, ball-form sweetgum trees punctuate the composition. The slight slope of the property prompted the installation of specialized gravel beneath the trees, ensuring excellent drainage—a detail that keeps the sweetgums thriving and their autumn color display at its most vivid. Under the staircase, black mondo grass (Ophiopogon planiscapus 'Nigrescens') provides a sophisticated finishing touch: an evergreen ground cover with nearly ebony foliage that flourishes in shade and asks little of the gardener.

www.terra-baut-gaerten.de

Photos:
Gärtner von Eden

(Published in CUBE Düsseldorf 02|20)