A Garden with Character
How a Kirchhellen garden became a family retreat
It turned out to be fortunate that the homeowner's initial vision for the garden never materialized. He admitted as much while relaxing with his family in the newly redesigned garden—a charming space that had once embodied an outdated 1950s aesthetic. Landscape architect Dirk Blanik from Freiraumkonzept planning office quickly persuaded the owner to entrust the project to professional hands. His thoughtful approach demonstrated what the homeowner had overlooked: the interplay of light and shadow, a cohesive planting strategy, and the potential already inherent in the existing garden.
Behind this classic 1950s home lies a 360 m² plot waiting to be transformed. The aging landscape—anchored by a magnificent cherry tree—needed to become a welcoming garden where an outdoor kitchen, the passion project of a food blogger homeowner, would take center stage. Rather than positioning the outdoor kitchen near the terrace, as is typical, the designers placed it at the garden's far end. The payoff? Unobstructed views of nature instead of the back wall of the house. Complete with hot and cold water, generous prep surfaces, a gas cooktop, and specialized grills, this is a fully functional culinary space. An old arbor slated for demolition was ingeniously repurposed as an outdoor dining room. Near the house terrace, a small gingerbread tree now stands—its foliage actually releases the scent of the pastry it's named after. Architectural plantings of clump bamboo, Japanese blood grass, and bottle brush grass provide structural backbone. Spiky loosestrife and lavender add seasonal color, while a hornbeam hedge ensures privacy. Several months ago, priorities shifted with the arrival of two children, prompting a garden expansion. A safe, child-friendly pool was built in what had been a lawn area, and it's now visible from every corner of the garden. Sit at the dining table inside and gaze through large windows onto the water—the pool has become the garden's true focal point. An exposed concrete shower nestled in the lush "jungle" beside the pool echoes the material palette of the outdoor kitchen. Landscape architect Dirk Blanik and his team executed every aspect of the design and build.
Photography Credits:
Tobias Oehlke
(Published in CUBE Ruhrgebiet 01|24)
As delicate as linen
Light and shadow dance across the façade
Where Old Meets New
Modern office space has emerged within a historic Essen landmark.
Unlocking Potential in Existing Stock
A modest suburban house reimagined as a bright, generously proportioned home
Green Living Haven in Rüttenscheid
The location's proximity to Essen's green heart—the Grugapark—and to Rüttenscheider Straße makes it particularly compelling.