Atmospheric garden with an open character thanks to Lava clay pavers

Contemporary outside space is a pleasant place in which to relax

Landscape and garden designer Stijn De Baets was given the challenge of creating a garden with a holiday feel and peaceful atmosphere. "The feel is the prime concern while paying due attention to architectural guidelines and proportions. It is mainly a question of interpreting what a space requires in order to allow it to realise its maximum potential", explains Stijn.

Apart from a number of existing trees (a maple, a linden tree, two oaks and a hornbeam), Stijn De Baets started off with a blank canvas in the garden. It immediately became clear that the design of the new garden should be based around these trees. In order to link the front and back garden, the cobbled area to the left of the house was extended and additional plants were put in. An existing ivy hedge already provided the level of privacy required.

In order to make the visual whole more exciting, a row of evergreen oaks was planted parallel to that hedge. Some of these were integrated in the paving. The rest were planted in the lawn and form a guard of honour, as it were, that leads to the old lime tree at the back of the garden. A vegetable and herb garden was created on the right of the house, finished with a plaited hazelnut border.

Hornbeam hedges were planted at the front of the house, supplemented by box balls. In this area, there is also a chestnut tree, white hydrangeas and evergreen ground cover.

A low box hedge was planted along the decked sun terrace, providing a living border between the platform and the pergola. The timeless Ancienne Belgique Lava Clay Paver was chosen for the paving. Their natural appearance enables them to blend in subtly as part of the garden design. Hand-Made clay pavers were also used for the paths at the front of the house.

Comparable case studies

Ancienne Belgique Lava heightens the rural feel

Landscape and garden architect Jonas D’hoore from Creatief in groen created this landscaped garden around a renovated square farmhouse in Poperinge.

The design integrates the farmhouse into the surrounding landscape of fields in the Westhoek.