A nature garden that sets the stage for the architecture

This is a garden that puts the spotlight on the extravagant architecture so that it can be viewed in its full glory. The unusual residence is shaped like a rectangle with rounded corners. Large windows bring nature indoors. Protruding from between the large basalt stones are characterful trees, which are densely underplanted with grasses, ferns and blue and white perennials: the colours of the sky. The picture changes constantly with the seasons, the time of day and even the weather. The simple geometry of the architecture sits in stark contrast to nature’s riches; the soft roundness of a tuft of grass; the irregular branches of the Norwegian pine; and the ruggedness of the basalt rocks, this grey, weather-resistant primordial rock. The boundaries have practically disappeared, making the property appear larger than it actually is.

Natural stone is the foundation of this garden design near Stuttgart

This design style has become something of a signature for Peter Berg, who prefers to work with two classical elements: stone and plants. “The owner of the garden, a lover of aesthetics and design, was on board with this approach. The strong contrast means there is even greater emphasis on the architecture. By obscuring the surrounding buildings, it becomes even more stunning,” explains the garden designer from Ahrweiler in Rhineland-Palatinate. The planner used a total of 170 tonnes of basalt rocks and basalt lava slabs in this garden. The entire area has been subtly terraced with stone in a way that guides surface water to the plants. Depending on their shape, the stones also serve as indestructible furniture, they become a staircase or make it easier to access and maintain the flowerbeds. The use of stone also reflects the history of the place, as the garden near Stuttgart is on the site of a former quarry – an ideal garden to call on the design skills of Peter Berg.

Echoing the architecture

The house’s two terraces are also made of basalt and their design mimics the architecture. “Like the house, they are basically rectangular. A radius was then calculated, and every corner was rounded off,” explains Peter Berg. This shape is echoed in the yew hedges at the entrance to the house. These are the only architectural plants – every other specimen looks as if it was created by nature itself.

Sustainable garden design

As usual, Peter Berg incorporated a lot of grasses and woody plants in this garden. “It turns out that gardens with a high proportion of woody plants take on a life of their own and are part of the solution to climate change,” says the planner, who carefully selected all of the trees and shrubs, as well as the stones and rocks. Noble solitaires, a name given to truly exceptional stand alone trees, give the garden depth and make it appear larger.

Abundant planting languishing over the rocks

The result is a multi-layered picture that looks completely natural. “Following nature’s example, all the flowerbeds are densely overgrown – this keeps seed and weed growth to a minimum, thus reducing maintenance. The grey basalt is secondary to the plants, so the different shades of green are always visible,” explains Peter Berg. By using larger trees and making the stones look like they were placed there by nature, the garden appears much older than it actually is.