Private garden Stuttgart

German Landscape Architecture Award 2013 | Appreciation Special Prize Living Environment
2011 | Award "Exemplary Building" of the Baden-Württemberg Chamber of Architects

A garden on a steep Stuttgart slope with accentuated views of the valley basin. Concrete and natural stone retaining walls terrace the terrain and create levels with their own "garden floors". The seating and lounge areas on the different levels create a variety of garden experiences. The concept of transverse bands of plant structures structure the garden. A long water basin spans the entire width at the entrance level of the building. Shell limestone coverings create a warm expressive atmosphere.

The newly created garden on a hillside plot in the west of Stuttgart combines consistently with the architecture of the residential building, which was also newly built. The steep, rectangular cut plot has a height difference of 12 m from the lower access level to the upper property line. The design of the garden consistently refers to the existing topographical situation and responds to the steep slope in the form of so-called garden levels and garden terraces. These structure the garden and create different atmospheres through their location, design and the various large-scale plantings. All of the garden's paved surfaces, in the form of shell limestone slabs, are continued into the building as flooring. Across the slope are the three garden levels as main levels, as well as two garden terraces. These terraces structure and structure the property and span the entire width of the property. Reduced staircases provide access to the different garden levels and levels of the house. The main terrace of the garden and the 23 m long water basin are located on the ground floor level. On the garden level are two terraced lawns with the pool as the garden's termination to the city. In the upper part of the garden there are two more garden terraces and another seating area on the top level. These terraces, designed with planted perennial themes, are accessed via stepped slabs set into the concrete retaining wall on one side.

Appreciation Special Prize Living EnvironmentGerman Landscape Architecture Award 2013

Jury verdict: The extreme layout of the site, with a height difference of twelve metres, led to a high proportion of architectural elements, walls, stairs and different levels in the structure of the garden. Consequently, a close symbiosis of garden and architecture was strived for. The architectural language and vocabulary were, as it were, further spoken with the means of garden design.

Natural stone walls form the base zones and ground the stair and terrace elements executed with white concrete. With different levels from the lower pool with sunbathing area to the evening sunlit seating area at the highest point of the site, with planting beds and lawn terraces, the steep slope is used to provide interesting and varied places to stay and sit. The shell limestone flooring extends into the interior of the house, linking inside and outside to create a holistic living space.
Much attention was paid to the rear retaining wall, which, with elegant cantilever steps and an upper timber slatted wall, became an eye-catcher rather than a barren wall despite its height and proximity to the house. This is also helped by the water as a further design element, which, running down a wall in relief, sets the moat, which extends across the entire width of the property, in motion.

Through skilful use of the steep topography, few but distinctive design elements and perfect craftsmanship, it has been possible to give the ambitious house with the garden an adequate aura.