MONET'S GARDEN

Urla, Izmir

2022

Located in the low plains of Barbaros village, surrounded by low mountains at the heart of the peninsula’s three districts, the 2000 m² site was once used as a melon field. Bordered by woodland to the north, its western edge meets a seasonal winter stream, leaving the land exposed to floods and strong southern winds. The project set out to transform this land into a resilient ecological garden using native and climate-adapted species, creating a landscape that could thrive across seasons while remaining low in maintenance demands.

Evergreen trees such as olive and mastic were planted along the northern boundary, while deciduous species such as almond and fig were placed on the southern side to maximize winter daylight across the garden. The planting scheme combined aromatic herbs, culinary and medicinal perennials, grasses, vines, and a wildflower meadow mix, alongside a dedicated vegetable growing area. Together, they shaped a garden that balances productivity, habitat, and human well-being.

To enrich the experience, a continuous looping path was also designed, allowing for daily walks through the garden in a flowing, uninterrupted route. The pathways were formed with gravel sourced from a nearby mining site, subtly tying the project to its surroundings. Beneath these paths, a network of drainage lines channels excess water away from the planting zones, integrating infrastructure invisibly into the garden’s natural flow.

The land carried strong contrasts: in winter, rainfall from the surrounding hills flooded the site, turning soils into swampy ground; in summer, the same soil hardened and cracked under drought, making cultivation difficult. To address this, slight grading adjustments were made, and a network of French drains was installed to channel excess water into an underground tank, where it could be harvested for irrigation during dry months. While regular watering was required in the garden’s first season to establish the young plantings, over time the need gradually diminished as plants settled.

Through careful integration of ecological processes and infrastructural measures, the design transformed a difficult site into a living system that now balances productivity, biodiversity, and resilience. The garden shifts quietly through the seasons — in its scents, colors, and textures. It has become not only a resilient landscape but also a living expression of ecological renewal.

After the garden was made, life returned and the silence disappeared. Birds, butterflies, bees, shifting colors, and scents I had never noticed before... It’s truly incredible — every day I experience something new.

Insight that opened up the design space

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