Amy’s Garden
Date: December 2025 – ongoing
Activity overview:
Preliminary design — technical and economic feasibility study for a 450 m² private garden in Umbria.
1. A garden learning to breathe again. Listening to the place.
At the first site visit, the space felt small and fragmented. I clearly remember the sensation as I walked in for the first time: a shortened breath, as if energy couldn’t quite flow. There was always something in front — a hedge, a structure, a visual barrier.
And yet, the site plan told a different story: nearly 450 square meters of garden. Standing there with the drawing in my hands and that strong sense of hidden potential, the core idea of the project emerged — to open views, connect spaces, and restore continuity, allowing the garden to relate once again to the surrounding landscape.
The slope beyond the hedge, rather than being a limitation, revealed itself as the element capable of giving depth and spatial breadth to the entire garden.
2. A garden for the person who will live it. Listening to the person.
Amy is a successful entrepreneur in the tourism sector. Ten years ago, she chose to move to Italy from Australia, drawn by a deep love for the history and architecture of ancient Rome. This is the first home she has truly imagined as her own, and she wanted every part of it to reflect who she is.
She longed for a garden that would feel welcoming, with spaces that offered protection without ever feeling enclosed — much like the garden of her mother in Australia. In the photographs she shared with me, vertical elements appeared again and again — tree trunks, posts, light structures — surrounded by greenery and light. They conveyed a sense of grounding, of gentle shelter.
These images guided the design decisions more than any functional diagram could.
I designed a sequence of pergolas that accompany movement through the garden: beginning close to the house along the path toward the central area, creating an invitation to enter. Then they pause, opening the space to light and air near the relaxation zone between the pool and the deck. Finally, they reappear in the dining area, where shade becomes essential during the hottest hours of the day.
Sun and shadow, openness and shelter alternate throughout the space. The grapevine that will grow over the structures will provide shade in summer and, once bare, allow winter light to filter through.
Another of Amy’s wishes was to feel rooted in this place. On the eastern side, I envisioned a Mediterranean garden with gravel paths inspired by the shape of roots. Here, a small almond tree will be planted by Amy herself — a symbolic gesture of belonging — beside the existing olive tree, which we carefully repositioned to make space for the house extension.
This emotional layer of the project is supported by careful technical work. During the second site visit, I carried out a survey using Moasure to record distances and elevation changes, and reconstructed the existing conditions in a 3D model. This made communication clearer and allowed us to make informed decisions, particularly regarding the slope.
3. Spatial structure and design choices
The path from the entrance is accompanied by light wooden structures that guide movement and create a gradual transition between house and garden. At a slightly lower level, an infinity pool is positioned to maintain a visual relationship with the landscape. The remainder of the slope becomes a naturalistic Mediterranean garden, stabilized using a crib wall system that ensures safety, integrates with the terrain, and supports long-term sustainability.
In areas closest to the drop, I introduced a low internal wooden fence — a discreet feature that increases the sense of security while remaining visually unobtrusive.
Plant selection follows a Mediterranean language suited to the local climate, inspired by naturally occurring plant communities, with low water requirements and balanced maintenance needs.
The preliminary study also includes an initial cost estimate. To manage the investment thoughtfully, the garden is planned to be implemented in phases over two to three years, while maintaining a coherent overall vision.
4. Lessons and satisfactions from the project
The garden was developed in close collaboration with the architect responsible for the house extension. Working together from the earliest stages allowed us to coordinate levels, views, materials, and the relationship between interior and exterior spaces, creating a harmonious whole.
This project reaffirmed the importance of trusting the sensations that arise from the meeting of place and person. At an early stage, I suggested using only part of the slope rather than creating extensive terraced areas that would be difficult to inhabit. Amy’s response was simple and moving:
“You understood me before I did.”
Finally, the naturalistic slope and the “Roots” area hold special meaning for me as well — a space where I will be able to nurture the growth of a small Mediterranean ecosystem and observe its evolution season after season. I am preparing a botanical planting chart for Amy, with notes on the chosen species, so she can follow the life and transformations of her garden over time.
