Tomasz Kurtek of Krakow's Kurtek landscape design studio has created a modern garden in the Swiss village of Genolier. The design, full of colors and contrasts, opens up to a view of Lake Geneva and the summit of Mont Blanc.
The landscape architect began work on the garden design back in 2018. A small plot of land with a southeastern exposure was divided into three parts, creating garden interiors: a geometric outdoor living room, a main garden and a so-called secret garden.
Read about the inspiration of English and Dutch gardens, design work, color handling, respect for nature and, what modernity means in an interview with Tomasz Kurtek.
A garden with a view of the Alps
Photo: Piotr Michalik, Christopher Miller
unusual garden
Dobrawa Bies: Where did the idea for such an unusual garden come from, what was your inspiration?
Tomasz Kurtek: The idea for the garden was born after visiting the development site and talking to the investors. We are all lovers of British and Dutch gardens, where the main base is formed by mixed perennial plantings, interspersed with annuals and higher greenery in the form of shrubs and trees. The main design guideline was to divide the elongated and narrow southern part of the plot into smaller interiors with different functions, which is also characteristic of English gardens with garden rooms of different functions and character. The juxtaposition of strong in perception molded shrubs, hedges with delicate perennials is a perfect combination and reference to the garden created a few years earlier. It was extremely important, but not often, to preserve the view opening. The garden offers an incredible view of Lake Geneva and the Alps, including Mont Blanc, which appears from time to time. As a rule, most people assume to surround themselves with tall greenery on the side of their neighbors, complete isolation. In this case it was different, because the plot borders a tree nursery, which visually enlarges the garden, all the way to the horizon.
The garden was divided into three parts
© Tomasz Kurtek
