MODERN URBAN GARDEN 004

Modern urban garden with water element. Harmony of water and fire on 400 m²

How to create a garden on a long and narrow plot of land that is not monotonous? The project “Modern Urban Garden 004” from 2015 is our masterful play with perspective. On an area of 400 sqm, we showed an interesting approach to space design. Instead of a standard lawn, the main axis here is marked by a shallow ornamental pool. We abandoned the original idea of a swimming pool. This allowed us to turn the garden into a contemplative space in a “slow life” style. The murmur of the water and the glow of the fire create a unique microclimate here.

Spatial arrangement. Water as a conductor

We made the long ornamental pool the centerpiece of our design. It leads the eye from the terrace to the very end of the garden.

Breaking the length (Avoiding the tunnel effect)

We wanted to avoid a “tunnel” effect. Therefore, the water surface is crossed by transverse wooden footbridges. These levitating footbridges add variety to the space. They also allow householders to be in close contact with the water at any point in the garden.

“Zen zone” and water wall

Water leads to an intimate place at the end of the plot. There we designed a relaxation area centered around the fire. Concrete seats with soft cushions create an intimate retreat. This place is ideal for evening conversations. Closing the viewing axis is a concrete pot with a water element in the form of jets. They ooze water, the noise of which effectively drowns out the sounds of the city. This builds a sense of isolation.

Materials and vegetation. Minimalism and corten

The project is distinguished by material discipline. We used an economical color palette, characteristic of our studio.

• Corten steel (Corten): Along the fence, parallel to the main axis, we placed illuminated panels of corten steel. Their warm red color contrasts perfectly with the coolness of the concrete and the grayness of the water.
• Bamboos and geometry: The selection of plants is deliberately minimalist. A row of evergreen bamboos along the fence acts as a “green wall.” It ties the composition together from the entrance to the relaxation area.

Lighting and atmosphere

In the evening, the garden turns into a spectacle of chiaroscuro. Backlighting the corten panels brings out their rusty texture. A linear light at the basin makes the water surface look like a dark mirror reflecting the sky. This is a design for people who are looking primarily for tranquility and aesthetic experience in the garden.

Project data

• Area: 400 m²
• Project year: 2015
• Chief designer: country arch. Piotr Porębowicz