Endless World

At first glance, you wouldn’t guess this yard is in the city, in a large residential neighborhood where the neighbor’s house is only a few meters away. This carefully thought-out 6-are plot design creates a world of its own. To preserve a greater sense of space, it was decided not to install a fence on the front (street-facing) side of the house. In the backyard, the lawn was abandoned and every piece of ground was given purpose. In every season, the view through the living room’s floor-to-ceiling windows offers a beautiful landscape. The terrace and the living area are sheltered by a decorative canopy that lets light through while reducing heat. The house façade faces north, so plants that dislike strong sun dominate here. In the inner yard on the south side, by contrast, long-blooming, sun-loving plants were planted. With the lawn removed, a functional and calming fire-pit area was created, separated from neighbors by tall ornamental grasses—miscanthus—so that when you’re there, you forget you’re in a densely built-up neighborhood. Groups of stones complement the overall courtyard design and create a meditative mood; the main focal point here is a red-leaved Japanese maple. Small but incredibly cozy, the inner courtyard has been transformed into a true oasis of peace and harmony.