Copyright©Andrew van Egmond - Contemporary Landscape Architecture - Modern Garden Design Plan Drawing - Nature

Into the forest  .  Blaricum  .  The Netherlands 



 


The play of vertical gestures of the trunks is the basis for the design. In the design, the perspective is steered towards a group of long vertical larch trunks.

A composition of horizontal lines and floating boardwalks creates a frame which steers the view.

 

 Andrew van Egmond -  Landscape architecture - Forest garden - Minimal Design - 't Gooi - Europe

This unique property is located close to a nature reserve in the middle of The Netherlands.

 

It's a forest lot with a significant height difference, especially for a flat country like The Netherlands.

 

The house is located in the higher part of the lot and interacts in a humble way with the majestic trees around it. The front garden was already realized and only needed renovation. The main focus was on the back garden.

 

As you approach the house and enter the front door, you are drawn towards the living area, where a fascinating view of a play of trunks is revealed. From the living room and the kitchen, you have a poetic view through the big windows into the forest.

 

The play of vertical gestures is the basis for this design. The viewer's perspective is steered towards a group of long vertical trunks of Larches. A composition of horizontal lines and floating boardwalks create a frame which steers the view.

 

The whole perspective is framed by the garden design, which is like a living composition, with nature changing through the year while the frame stays the same. Imagine the group of Larches having fresh green leaves in spring, maturing towards a darker, more blue colour in summer and colouring yellow in the fall.

 Andrew van Egmond -  Landscape architecture - Forest garden - Minimal Design - 't Gooi - Europe
 Andrew van Egmond -  Landscape architecture - Forest garden - Minimal Design - 't Gooi - Europe
 Andrew van Egmond -  Landscape architecture - Forest garden - Minimal Design - 't Gooi - Europe
 Andrew van Egmond -  Landscape architecture - Forest garden - Minimal Design - 't Gooi - Europe - design detail

Photography: 

by Emiel van den Berg

 Matthijs van Roon

 and Andrew van Egmond

 

Architect building

BOS architects

 

Green contractor:

Van Dijk Tuinen

 

Publicity:

De Tuin in vier seizoenen 

September 2016




In this garden, the forest is the garden! We did not go for a conventional approach. In conventional gardens, the lawn is mostly situated directly against the house. In this situation, the concept is to have the forest floor situated directly to the edge of the house. This way, you experience being in the forest while being in the house and sitting on the terrace. The lawn is a bit further away and is like a blank canvas, creating space for the composition of straight vertical trunks of Larches.

 

The terraces and paths are incorporated in a modest way. You’re a guest in this forest. Floating runners strengthen this experience. The long diagonal lines are not connected to the composition of the building but have their own lives. They strengthen the visual depth of the property. The floating paths create an experience of walking above the natural surface and provide a subtle stillness. There is a feeling of being a guest in the landscape as well as being part of this landscape.

 Andrew van Egmond -  Landscape architecture - Forest garden - Minimal Design - 't Gooi - Europe
 Andrew van Egmond -  Landscape architecture - Forest garden - Minimal Design - 't Gooi - Europe

Using the natural elevation in the property. Dramatizing the depth of field into the forest.

The play of trunks, especially the rhythm of strait vertical Larch trunks

is a starting point for the design process.

 Andrew van Egmond -  Landscape architecture - Forest garden - Minimal Design - 't Gooi - Europe
 Andrew van Egmond -  Landscape architecture - Forest garden - Minimal Design - 't Gooi - Europe
 Andrew van Egmond -  Landscape architecture - Forest garden - Minimal Design - 't Gooi - Europe

The composition of long lines frames the spontaneous play of lush green and the rhythm of trunks in the forest.

 Andrew van Egmond -  Landscape architecture - Forest garden - Minimal Design - 't Gooi - Europe
 Andrew van Egmond -  Landscape architecture - Forest garden - Minimal Design - 't Gooi - Europe
 Andrew van Egmond -  Landscape architecture - Forest garden - Minimal Design - 't Gooi - Europe