Alaçatı, Izmir
2023
Set in the dry Mediterranean climate of Alaçatı, this 500 m² plot was transformed into a resilient house garden. Planting focused on native and local species that are naturally drought-tolerant and pest-resistant, reducing maintenance needs while strengthening the ecological character of the space. The garden captures the essence of a Mediterranean landscape—resilient, seasonal, and fragrant.
The design draws from the calm tones of the Mediterranean landscape. Silvery foliage, soft greens, and muted textures define the base palette, while darker evergreens create contrast and depth. This interplay of cool and dark tones shapes the garden’s atmosphere: calm yet grounded, reflective yet lush. In daylight and moonlight, the foliage catches light like brushed metal, while the gray and white gravel enhances the garden’s quiet luminosity. As the seasons turn, ornamental grasses shift to golden hues, adding warmth and movement to an otherwise cool composition.
Designed around a newly built house on a flat, stone-walled plot, the site receives full sun and partial protection from northern winds, allowing distinct planting zones to form around the house and pool. On the north side, between the pool and the boundary wall, citrus trees benefit from southern light while remaining sheltered from wind. The lower southern edge of the plot carries fruit trees and lavender in a looser, more seasonal composition. Mediterranean shrubs define subtle transitions between areas, balancing productivity with visual depth.
A continuous pathway connects the garden, with compacted local gravel throughout and stepping stones leading the way to the interiors. Along the eastern side, a four-metre-high boundary wall is fully covered with jasmine supported by a network of metal ropes. Each spring, the wall becomes a vertical bloom—its scent filling the garden and softening the architectural enclosure.
Within a few months, the poolside garden established vigorously: fast-growing grasses filled the space quickly while slower species such as creeping rosemary took hold. The result is a dense, textural landscape that aromatic, and immersive where movement through the pathways becomes a sensory experience.
