Private Garden Blaricum

The private garden is situated in a lush suburban neighbourhood; at the point where it opens towards agrarian fields. The assignment to extend and alter the existing garden posed interesting challenges: make the best use of the mature trees (mostly oaks), convert a (visually and ecologically) uninteresting field, and bind together a new building (serves as garage and guest house), the existing villa, and the additions to the garden. This resulted in a new garden overall.

Concept

Our interpretation of the site conditions and response to the client’s wishes called for a new concept. A concept that demonstrates sensitivity to the client’s needs and preferences and the site’s potential.

Translating the clients’ diverse preferences was complex as their ideas ranged from meticulously maintained evergreen landscapes to wild and seasonal. By creating a gradual development from the strictly composed garden around the house, through the sweeping fairway to the wild meadow, we managed to meet these contradictory ideas of the client about their garden.

The different parts of the garden are designed to create a continuous space and are bound by an artificial stream. At the centre, the stream widens and becomes a natural swimming pool. Here compartments with marsh plants are part of the circulation system, thus cleansing the water. Over the entire length (almost 200 meter) of the stream, water is presented in various capacities and atmospheres.

The site was flat, and the field at the end of the garden has an angled corner (it goes around the neighbouring house and garden). The composition combines a slight undulation and mixed planting design to give this sharp curve a natural soft character. The space is never fully open towards the end; there is always a kind of intricacy: how does it continue? Also, another mound obscures the field’s boundary, giving the impression that the garden continues.

Planting

The trees and shrubs enclose the various spaces according to the required character and atmosphere. They strengthen the gradual transition from the formal cultivated area defined by the house and the annex building, leading to a more wild and naturalistic open space. The large field was converted to a species-rich meadow. The seeding with a mixture of indigenous flowers and grasses was based on the ecology of the environment and the specifics of soil and groundwater.

The budget allowed many large trees to be planted, creating an instant lush effect.

A rich palette of trees, multi-stems and shrubs creates an all-year interest with various seasonal aspects. And also important was the diversity of the flora, and ensuring that there was ample cover, food and nesting opportunities for a diverse range of wildlife: birds, butterflies, newts, frogs, dragonflies, etc.; The result was a delighted client who is in awe of their wild and active garden.