A Garden with a View A Hidden Gem in the Hills of Oman.

By Ghida Abiad & Yolla El Khoueiry Landscape Architecture Associates -LAA-

It is said that gardens nurture the spirit, and the recently completed garden of a residential villa is a testimony of the beauty and tranquility of a garden surrounded by the majestic mountains of Oman.

The project was designed and executed during the pandemic with all the challenges that came with it. The magnificent result is a modern yet authentic garden overlooking the majestic mountains and palm oasis, created from Omani stone and local workmanship. The success of the project was seen in the delight of its owners whose expectations were exceeded. A key factor was the exceptional collaboration between all parties involved, including the villa owners who were involved in each step of the design and execution process. The multi-functional team of local professional suppliers, engineers and consultants also proved essential to keep the project going amid supply restrictions and lockdowns.

The owners have an active social life. They entertain often, their kids invite friends over and they love the outdoors. They had been struggling for years to find a solution for the outdoor space surrounding their modern villa. The client and his wife explained that shading was essential, as the land is very exposed to the sun and wind. Yet, they were also worried about blocking the view of the majestic mountains. Another dichotomy was that they wanted a space to entertain large groups and yet feel cosy for smaller everyday family gatherings. Finally, an “interesting” separation with the neighbour, one that does not appear like a linear divide, was needed without compromising the openness to the outdoor environment. It was important for us to spend time with the family and get to know them, so that they take a very active part in the vision and overall design —reflecting their lifestyle and values.

This boundary wall between the client’s house and his neighbour consisted of several sections, each serving a different function. While acting as a partition, the structure represented a versatile and interesting element that fulfilled the client’s different needs. The various materials used in harmony and symmetry, combined with the multi functionality of the structure ended up creating a unique character for the garden.

The Pergola: A main feature of the design

A nine-meter-long pergola was the solution for a shaded space for the family and guests. The immediate problem was executing a structure of nine meters without obstructing the view of the mountains. The steel structure was then completed with beautiful Sapele wood to form the highend shade covering the entertaining area. With attention to detail and without a single screw, we were able to design and execute this elegant pergola and make it stand out in the design.

The section of the wall under the pergola was used to create the BBQ and pizzaoven working counter, with a hood on top to suck the smell and smoke.

Opposite the pool, the partition ended with louvers of steel and wood which give privacy to the pool while providing some transparency. Along this wall, a shower was placed for swimmers going out of the pool.

Symmetrically, on the other side of the workstation, we placed a hand wash basin for the guests.

The space under the pergola was divided by a two-level counter, one serving the entertainment side and the other serving the BBQ area. The countertop consisted of a special travertine stone, while below wooden cabinets and shelves were placed. Altogether, the details and lighting produce a special effect, especially while entertaining guests.

The furniture:

The furniture was designed to follow the grid of the pergola and the tiles, creating the best layout for that space. The outdoor furniture was also fabricated in Muscat by the same professional wood supplier making the pergola, resulting in an elegant, integrated, and seamless look.

The stone tiling: local Omani stone

Beautiful white Omani stone was chosen for the flooring, stairs, and benches. The 5cm thick floor tiles where mostly cut to size to follow the grid of the pergola and pool which achieved a sense of harmony.

The other seating area: Solid stone benches with a fire pit

Another seating area was created out of solid Omani stone with a fireplace in the middle overlooking the pool to enjoy moonlit nights. The installation of these stones was an additional challenge, but the result was worth it. All the grooves in the benches follow the grid of the flooring which in turn follows the grid of the pool. This gives the feel of complete harmony and simplicity.

Finally, to create a connection between an outdoor kitchen and the new garden, another stone cladded staircase was created with a wooden and steel louvre handrail. Using the same details as the fence provides a feeling of balance and harmony.

The Omani stone was also used for the support of a one-of-a-kind buffet counter. For the top, we chose the same sapele wood. This buffet sits as a sculpture to one side of the pergola surrounded by beautiful plants on either side and flowering ground cover from below.

We used the space under the stairs to create a toilet and changing area for guests and swimmers.

Lighting and planting: No garden is complete without the lights and plants.

The lighting was carefully studied and selected to provide a variety of moods in the evening. Indirect lights were used to accentuate the floating steps and the benches while the pergola lights followed the grid and lit the necessary areas spot on. Up lights were chosen for the trees and pergola pillars.

The frankincense tree further gives it an authentic Omani character.

The plants followed the hardscape and accentuated its lines. Indigenous plants like the frankincense tree and the desert rose were chosen to give the garden its true Omani identity. The plants were carefully chosen and placed with precision to create focal points in the garden. Shades of pink and white flowers were repeated to give the sense of harmony. Gardenias and other plants with aromas were planted near the house to fulfil the sense of smell. The palm trees in the garden are a continuation of the palm oasis nearby.

Who we are:

Landscape Architecture Associates, LAA, is a multidisciplinary landscape architecture design team that includes a group of designers and architects collaborating on different projects across the Middle East. We offer innovative solutions to landscape design challenges, inspired by nature and driven by a passion to improve our client’s wellbeing and value of their property.

• Representative associate in Muscat Oman: Eng. GHIDA ABIAD

Email: ghid70@gmail.com, Mobile: +96898537005

• Representative associate in the USA: Architect Yolla EL Khoueiry

Email: khyolla@gmail.com

Mobile: +16264974297

Photo credit: Emmy Culianez

A wild rooftop haven sits above Taiwan’s urban jungle

Having a garden in a densely populated city of Kaohsiung in Southern Taiwan is a luxury, with this in mind it was decided that Star House would not only integrate greenery into the building’s design concept but it would become a focal point of the project. While all exterior façades are closed off from the street, every room has an unobstructed view and floor-to-ceiling glass doors that can open up towards the inner courtyard. Located on the ground floor of the courtyard, the Zen garden — inspired by Japanese gardens as a nod to the clients’ youthful years in Japan — employs geometry to represent an idealized version of heaven. A majestic Pine tree stems out from the middle of the calming infinity pool, which is also an ecological pond with Koi fishes. Irises are planted along a sloped path leading to the backyard, where a mini bamboo and fern forest surround the periphery of the lot, shielding the house from the public gaze. Lightings are kept minimal at night, mainly spritzes of LED lights supported by clear acrylic rods, mimicking the fireflies.

In contrast to the reserve and the calming nature of the ground floor garden, the roof garden is deliberately wild. It is symbolic of the plants natural state: tropical carpet grass is spread across the entire roof with zones of shrubs, a mixture of native Seremban, Pennisetum with Jasmine, Lantana and Rosemary, creating a prairie with therapeutic fragrances. At least five species of butterflies have been observed to take refuge and lay eggs in this floating prairie. The Thunbergia grown along the tall fence has also become popular among birds, where Chinese Bulbuls and Japanese White-eye check in to build their nests in the spring.

Besides being an ecological haven above the city’s urban jungle, the roof garden also benefits the house on a functional level. By installing soil on top of the roof, it has brought down the temperature significantly under the tropical sun. It’s also sustainable by re-directing rainwater into an intricate aquaponics water system where an underground reservoir recirculates pond runoff to irrigate the garden with natural fertilizer created by the fish.

And thus, a new type of relationship with nature is established: The daily routine is transcended from mundane to sublime, and one’s existence, terrestrial to celestial.

Project Title: Star House

Location: Kaohsiung, Taiwan

Client: Sheng-Lee Chang

Year of completion: 2022

Project Architect & Landscape Architect: Grace Ming-En Chang

Architecture office: atelier GRATIA www.atelierGRATIA. com

Collaborator: Jiang Fang-Nan Architecture Office (Architect of Record)

Consultants: Top Technic Engineering Consultant Co., LTD (Structure), LHLD Lighting Design, A.S Studio (Structure)

Contractor: Fuguach Architecture

Landscape: Green Empire Landscape

Total floor area: 613 m2

Photography: Yi-Hsien Lee, courtesy of atelier GRATIA