A garden designed to enhance the house

CO²

Date

2021-2022

Location

Madrid (Spain)

Type

Residential

Trees

Area

3.750 m2

Gardens can be considered a fundamental element in a house's architecture. Its design can influence the perception of the house and the quality of life of its inhabitants, providing a wide range of aesthetic, physical, and emotional benefits.

Landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted argued that garden design should aim to provide a complete sensory experience. According to Olmsted, gardens should be designed in such a way that visitors can experience a sense of movement and change in the landscape.

From a our perspective, the garden is seen as a metaphor for harmony and nature. As landscape architects, we delve into this relationship in each of our designs. From an architectural perspective, the design of the private garden is a discipline seeking to integrate the house and garden into a coherent unit.

Many architects and landscape designers propose the integration of the garden into the home as a way to create a balance between the inside and outside. For us, the house and the garden should be considered as one unit

The garden is the link between the inhabited space and the world. It is a conversation between architect and landscape designer, a discourse about space.

GARDENS DESIGNED BY TREES

This garden is an example of how respect and preservation of natural elements can become a key factor in the design of an outdoor space. The presence of century-old trees has given the garden its own personality, creating a unique and exclusive space.

The design of the entire space, including the seating areas and various pathways, revolves around the pre-existing trees. One could say that they have designed the garden.

During the construction process of the house, all the trees suffered significant damage. The application of specific treatments to save the oak and pine trees has been essential to maintain their presence and prevent their loss. It has been a significant challenge, but the result has been worth it.

CONVERSATION ON SPACE

Designing a garden that enhances the house and blends with the landscape requires a comprehensive approach that involves both the architect and the landscape designer. Isabel and Jorge's garden is an extension of the natural environment surrounding the estate and serves as a context for the dialogue between the house and its surroundings. The success of this kind of projects depends on the collaboration of both disciplines.

In this garden, functional and contemplative paths have been established. Functionality is necessary to create a practical space, while contemplative paths allows people to enjoy the natural beauty of the surroundings and reflect on the relationship between the house and the garden.

Every viewpoint of the garden has been carefully reviewed to create a framework that enhances the house. The objective is to create a connection between architecture and landscape so that the house and garden complement and enhance each other.

The entire perimeter of the garden has been studied to create a space that appears to have no end, blends with the landscape, and provides a sense of continuity and harmony. This has been achieved through the use of natural elements and the creation of a smooth transition between the garden and its surroundings.