Welcome to Eden - Garden Designs by Wolterinck! Although this is my very first book dedicated entirely to gardens, the topic of outdoor spaces is nothing new to me. Several of my previous publications have included details of gardens as part of more comprehensive projects. Indeed, this is one of the primary benefits of our approach as an architect of buildings, interiors and gardens all rolled into one. Working with a single party for both the interior and exterior of a property – from design to execution – is the only way to ensure that all the elements are seamlessly aligned to achieve a perfect whole, without potentially conflicting visions, styles and preferences.
I have been fascinated by plants and flowers ever since I was a young boy. I have fond memories of my parents spending much of their time in the garden, pruning the flowers or tending to the vegetable patch. At just six years of age, I knew that I wanted to go to horticultural college and study floristry… and those plans came to fruition. While subsequently working at a high-end florist’s, my love of trees and plants continued to grow, and I actively sought to learn more. I visited country estates and found valuable sources of inspiration, such as the renowned garden designer Jacques Wirtz. When I finally took the leap and launched my own business, I helped a growing client base to incorporate plants and flowers in combination with different shapes and materials to reinforce symmetry and balance, create exciting contrasts and achieve a sense of visual harmony.
Fast-forward more than 35 years, and I feel immensely privileged to have injected the ‘Wolterinck flavour’ into countless projects around the world. In many of them, the outdoor space has been such an important element that I felt it was high time for a book showcasing some of those gardens. Moreover, there is a clear trend of ‘blurred lines’ between indoors and outdoors. People increasingly see the garden as a natural extension of their living space. Comfortable ‘garden rooms’ equipped with lighting, heating and in some cases even cooking facilities enable people to enjoy their gardens to the full whatever the weather, all year round.
This brings me to one of the reasons why I love gardens so much: it’s because of their dynamic and everchanging nature. In the following pages, you will see gardens at various stages of maturity. In the younger gardens, wooden fences or pergolas still look new, not yet weathered by Mother Nature. Other gardens, such as our own at the Wolterinck store, were created more than two decades ago. Like good wine, every garden improves with age. I also love observing the passing of the seasons throughout the year, each one with something special to offer. Lush green foliage in the summer transforms into spectacular autumnal colours. But even when a tree is bare in the winter, its fascinating shapes can be a joy to behold – not least when covered with a dusting of snow. And then the sense of anticipation when the first buds begin to form in early spring and the garden starts to reawaken, with a whole new summer to look forward to!
For this reason, I wouldn’t enjoy permanently living in a climate where the plants in the garden look the same all year round. Having said that, I am currently working on a very exciting project: creating my own dream house and garden on a one-hectare plot of land in Umbria, Italy. In fact, I am developing a whole new garden concept that I have never done before. It’s challenging, but when it’s finished it will be something completely different. Perhaps I will include some photos of it in my next book. For now, I hope you enjoy reading this one!
PHOTOGRAPHY: KARIN KAPPER
MISCANTHUS SINENSIS
Vinkeveen, the Netherlands
PHOTOGRAPHY: PETER BAAS
We had complete charge of this entire project, from architecture and interior styling of the villa itself to the design of the outdoor space. This meant that the garden could evolve in synchrony with the house. At the approach to this property, the zinc roof of the house inspired us to use light grey gravel, robust pale concrete for the path, walls and steps, and to plant Elaeagnus ebbingei (silverberry) on either side of the front steps. We clearly divided the borders into separate blocks planted with single species such as Allium, Taxus baccata and ornamental grasses, or a single evergreen Quercus ilex (holly oak) in tree form with neat hedging at its base. This all ensures that the trees and borders really stand out. Just beyond the house, we planted a sequoia tree to help the property blend into its natural surroundings.
The use of corten steel for the border edging and the pillars at the bottom of the steps creates extra contrast and enhances the industrial feel. Symmetry is key here, with the steps flanked by bamboo bushes and the oversized pergola at the top forming a bold centrepiece that emphasises the bespoke architecture of the villa. The towering oak front door is reached by crossing a small ‘bridge’ over the souterrain – featuring modern tubs of Agapanthus – but the lush wisteria prevents the overall effect from becoming too imposing.
While the front of this villa is impressive enough, it’s at the rear that the real magic happens. Our aim was to embrace the landscape, creating dynamic interaction with views of the water while maintaining privacy. Several features from the front are echoed here, including the strong lines of the pergola – albeit in a slimmer design to maximise the use of space.
Several steps lead down from the terrace to the lawned area, edged with minimalist blocks of Miscanthus sinensis (Chinese silver grass). These ornamental grasses are repeated in sturdy pots on the terrace itself, enhancing the sense of calm. Just as at the front, symmetry forms the basis here. This is emphasised by the decked ‘jetty’ extending from the patio doors in the exact centre of the façade, seemingly stretching all the way down to the water.
The playfully juxtaposed low wall, with four Amelanchier lamarckii (juneberry trees) and Stipa pennata (feather grass) planted on one side and partially camouflaged by beech hedges elsewhere, frames the view of the lake from the house, while providing privacy when the garden is viewed from the water.
The pool is surrounded by a mix of natural wooden decking and white gravel, creating a pebble beach effect. The functional yet modern picnic tables are an ideal spot for lunch or a drink under the natural canopy provided by the plane trees. A mix of hedges and a variety of pots containing trees and flowering plants enhance the sense of seclusion here.
BOUGAINVILLEA SPECTABILIS
Tel Aviv, Israel
The redesign of this garden in a chic neighbourhood of Tel Aviv was part of a full-scale project to realise a dream home for the Israeli family that had successfully purchased this plot of land. They commissioned us for the architectural design of the villa, the entire interior design including fixtures, fittings and art, and the outdoor space.
The striking pergola immediately attracts one’s attention to the impressive entrance. For once in our designs, we decided not to add greenery to the pergola, but to keep the lines clean and simple instead in order to anchor the architectonic design of the entire front façade. Meanwhile, the reflection of the pergola in the glass above the door creates tantalising depth. This draws the eye through the central axis of the house to the garden beyond, where eight round sand-coloured ceramic pots with ornamental grasses are strategically positioned on top of the wall for extra contrast.
The effect of the pergola is softened at the front by white bougainvillea, potted ornamental grasses and citrus trees. We kept the pots simple to maintain a sense of calm and arranged a pair of minimalistic water features on either side of the door to add symmetry. In terms of lighting, the Costa lamp echoes the strong lines of the pergola.
On the souterrain level, we created an al fresco seating area just off one of the bedrooms. Besides repeating the potted ornamental grasses, we added two tall bamboo plants to visually connect this ‘sunken garden’ with the rest of the outdoor space above.
The owners are passionate cooks and there is nothing more satisfying than using home-grown ingredients. Therefore, in the rear garden, we installed a row of potted herbs that are within arm’s reach out of the kitchen window. We supplemented this with a variety of citrus trees and shrubs that thrive in the local climate. We added interest by mixing and matching pots and tubs in various shapes, materials and textures, while grouping the same sort together to retain a sense of rhythmic cohesion.
For the decking and dining area by the pool, we chose to work with wood for a warm and welcoming effect. In the wooden pergola, we highlighted the interplay between nature and design by planting fruit trees and allowing them to merge into one. Additionally, these trees help the garden to blend in with its surroundings while also increasing privacy. They also provide welcome shade, as do the slats of the pergola which form attractive shadow patterns. We gave this whole area a modern twist by finishing it with dark feature elements such as the pool edging and the rear wall, which includes a waterfall.
The icing on the cake of this villa is undeniably the roof terrace, which provides stunning views of the cityscape. Here, we repeated the white bougainvillea to link this space to the rest of the garden and then enhanced the feeling of serenity with a row of ornamental grasses in understated pots. The stylish yet practical outdoor furniture completes the picture, resulting in a sublime sundowner spot.
