So green: garden design and outdoor collections

Right at the start, before the analogue, olfactory adventure – one that fills you with fresh vitality – can begin, you should have gathered the key information about your future garden project. Ideally, you should engage a landscape architect who is familiar with the building and legal regulations applicable to each specific context and who can then develop the plans accurately in accordance with these requirements.

After all, almost everywhere there are minimum distances and height restrictions for trees, hedges and fences that must be adhered to; planning permission for small structures or water features that must be obtained; site and soil conditions that should be analysed; and the possibility of installing energy and water pipes for automatic irrigation, outdoor kitchens or outdoor saunas – all of which, at first glance, may sound restrictive, but it isn’t. If you’ve done your homework properly beforehand, this provides the best foundation for the freedom to create a successful garden design.

Even if a garden is intended to flourish as a paradise that is as natural as possible, it never hurts to give it a certain structure in the form of ‘garden spaces’. These can be defined through sightlines and pathways, open spaces and spreading groups of plants, but also by creating changes in level within the garden area. In this way, the interplay of changing light conditions and foliage means the garden can be experienced anew from every perspective.

Finally, the ‘green living room’ is given its finishing touches, its own character and personal contours through accents such as charming path lighting, the creation of water features or solitary plants as eye-catchers, a private pavilion and an invitingly furnished terrace, which is usually enjoyed with the family and, all too often, with guests as well. The idea of setting up the outdoor kitchen near the herb garden – not far from, not to say within easy reach of, the open-air dining area – may seem almost traditional.

It is never a mistake to create cooler spots, as relaxation is one of the garden’s most important functions. Alongside smell and taste, the sense of touch must never be neglected here: fine wood or the finest ceramic porcelain tiles blend seamlessly into soft grass, right down to the cool water. They all caress the soles of your feet, which discover even the slightest differences anew.

In the established neighbourhoods of south Munich, the garden is not merely an afterthought. Large plots and mature trees are as much a part of the house there as the floor plan itself. This also applies to a layout that incorporates sightlines and secluded spots. What this article describes regarding garden planning with a landscape architect can be seen in properties in Grünwald. There, hedges replace walls, terraces extend the living space outwards, and water features serve as eye-catchers.

When it comes to selling a property, this means two things. A well-maintained garden contributes more to a property’s appeal than many realise. And, just like an interior, it can be prepared for viewings – this is where property staging comes in. Anyone planning a new build should find out what is permitted under planning regulations before purchasing a plot of land. The Munich market report shows how supply and prices have developed recently.