CLIENT

Brothers of the Trappist Abbey of Westmalle (Br. Nathanaël – Father Abbot)

LANDSCAPER

Ludo Willems

GARDEN CONTRACTOR

Tuin- & Landschapsarchitectuur Willems – Verdult (T&L WV)

CLAY PAVERS

SeptimA Ebony

PROCESSING

Stretcher bond, Jointex - basalt

A GREAT STORY

Garden architect Ludo Willems was asked to create a design for the Trappist Abbey in Westmalle for the renovation of the ‘Pandhof’ (courtyard garden), the green heart within the walls of the monastery. It is a unique project with its own micro-climate, being completely surrounded by the walls of the monastery. The challenge lay in reflecting the sober unique life of the Brothers in this special monastery garden. Indigenous planting with a natural and not ‘cultivated’, low-maintenance and frugal ‘Campine’ character was the most important cornerstone. The plans for the garden design were coordinated with architects Paul van Aerschot and Erik Van Herck in order to maintain cohesion with the architecture. The reconstruction also ties in with the major renovations carried out in recent years, with the aim of valorising the Abbey and giving it a new ‘cachet’.

Retaining the pond was a primary condition for the design. The statue of the Sacred Heart was also given a more central position. Naturally, sobriety and tranquillity were also important requirements. After all, this is a cornerstone that T&L WV has been addressing for years in every design and construction project, not only within but also outside the walls of the Abbey.

Fabian Verdult (Tuin- & Landschapsarchitectuur Willems – Verdult): “We based our work on photographs from the archive of the courtyard garden in 1902, in which we could clearly see the sloping forms. That gave us the inspiration to return to flowing lines, creating perspective and curiosity as well as places where Brothers can sit in peace, choosing a different spot each time. The intention is to create an oasis of pure tranquillity with a connection to spirituality.

Works were started in January 2021. All existing planting, apart from a number of solitary specimens, were removed, the lawn was dug up, paths were laid using clay pavers and four 20,000-litre cisterns were installed to feed the automatic irrigation system. The waste water (cooling water) from the Brewery was also connected to this in order to supply the drip irrigation. After that, everything was dug over and we brought in 225 m³ of black soil and 60 m³ of horticultural compost by hand. In the autumn, the turf was laid and the beds were prepared for planting. This will be finalised in the spring.”

Symbiosis between clay pavers and a green oasis
The mindset of T&L WV encompasses a close affiliation with nature but also with spirituality. The natural appearance, the durability and also the quality of fired clay pavers contribute towards the look of the whole renovation project. Each clay paver has its own unique character. They are also environmentally-friendly. Clay pavers lend themselves wonderfully to the fact that when the joints are washed in, maintenance is kept to a minimum, eliminating the use of sprays. The tumbled clay paver chosen – ‘SeptimA Ebony’ – has a dark tint with subtle shading, with an earthy undertone as its trump card. Once again, the emphasis is on sobriety. The curved outlines of the paths soften the overall look and create the tranquillity required. The combination with all the surrounding durable materials results in a harmonious whole.

The planting will also play an important role in the appearance and design of these clay pavers. The definitive planting plan is still in the process of being drawn up. It will be a combination of evergreen topiaries and deciduous solitary specimens in conjunction with ground cover, perennial plants and shrubs which are based on changing weather conditions and the many years of experience of T&L WV.

In addition, peat blocks were used as edging around the pond, a durable classic material with an extremely natural appearance. Over time, well-adjusted plants will grow by themselves on this material.

The collection of rainwater (60,000 litres) from all the roofs, recovery of the water from the treatment plant and robotic lawn mowers will limit CO₂ emissions and preserve the tranquillity of the surroundings. The gardening traditions of the past avoid the use of a root barrier membrane. Pruning and other maintenance tasks are carried out using battery-powered machines and attention was paid to biodiversity when choosing plants.

History and future of the plants in the garden
Fabian Verdult (Tuin- & Landschapsarchitectuur Willems – Verdult): “The camellia on the right by the entrance is a legacy of Br. Emmanuel. It was a gift from acquaintances that he wanted to see grow in the courtyard garden. The lime tree (Tilia) was planted more than 100 years ago and so there is a lot of history in its branches. It is an important tree that will provide most of the shade in the courtyard garden during hot summers. For that reason, a small seating area has also been provided underneath it next to the pond. Hedera helix ‘Arborescens’ was planted under the lime tree along with Hydrangea paniculata ‘Pinky Winky’. In the summer, 3 solitary specimens (Hydrangea) will provide a more light green inflorescence before fading to an attractive shade in the autumn. The columnar Taxus (which can also be seen on photographs from the past) has undoubtedly been standing for more than 100 – maybe even 200 – years. You can tell this from its enormous size since the columnar yew grows extremely slowly. The surrounding planting consists of a combination of lavender and a number of botanical roses: purple and white is always a solid and valuable choice in this case. 

The Ilex aquifolium (holly) is another solitary specimen that has been growing for decades. The branches used to spread downwards but the tree has now been pruned into the shape of an umbrella so you can sit under it in the summer. The idea is actually to prune this topiary so that it looks like a large cloud on a trunk. Because of its size, we absolutely had to keep the solitary magnolia by the pond too. It blossoms early so it is always a beautiful feature in the spring and its branches are also a sight to behold. It is always fascinating to see how nature finds it way. We will be keeping the ground cover of anemones under this tree.

The statute of the Sacred Heart was given a central position when redesigning the garden. We deliberately chose the 2 evergreen trees in order to screen off the guest rooms from the rooms of the Brothers but also mainly from their private garden in the long run. The silence of prayer has to be brought to the fore once again.”

Photo below: Pandhof in 1902 - p. Robertus Doutreligne, Willem Verelst, nov.Damianus Neetens 

Connection between T&L WV and Westmalle Abbey
The partnership between the Brothers and T&L WV goes back decades. Ludo Willems started gardening there as a student, working mainly in the fruit and ornamental garden, within the walls of the Abbey. In 1989, he started working as a self-employed garden and landscape architect and was asked to start on an initial project (designing the novitiate). He would combine this with all the tasks involved in maintaining the garden, working alongside Brothers and employees at the Abbey. Since then, this has grown into the bond of trust that is still strong today.

T&L WV specialises in historic projects. Besides this abbey garden, they have also designed, created or renovated other monastery gardens at Westmalle. These include a unique green cemetery at the heart of Westmalle which is connected to a residential care facility, the central point where many Sisters still come to rest today.

This article shows unique images. It cannot and must not provoke any visitors, because the Pandhof is purely monastic and not accessible to tourists. The mysterious and unique character of the Abbey must and will be respected and preserved at all times.

GREAT BRANDS THINK ALIKE

Quality
The unique clay pavers and facing bricks from Vande Moortel have exceptional quality characteristics and an extremely long lifespan. They have been used to create award-winning projects by leading designers worldwide. As one of the Trappist abbeys, Westmalle has been loved around the world for decades. The combination of tradition and state-of-the-art brewing techniques guarantees exceptionally high quality results for beer lovers to enjoy.

Authenticity
Pure authenticity is created by upholding traditions in both the manufacture of facing bricks and clay pavers as well as the brewing of beer.

Natural raw materials
There is one secret about Westmalle and Vande Moortel that we can reveal: both brands only work with natural, durable, high-quality raw materials.

Photo below: Pandhof from the past with cemetery