The renovation of this villa involved the landscape requalification of the space and the installation of a swimming pool. The landscaping proposal designed and executed by Horto do Campo Grande consisted of creating more visually pleasant areas and spaces for better enjoyment by users.
With a privileged and surprising geographical location, this single-family villa is part of an area characterized by houses set in large plots that descend the cliff slope to the sea, which they overlook directly. The scenery and natural landscape of Azenhas do Mar, a former fishing village, have made this place a pleasant and peaceful location for holidays and a source of inspiration for painters and artists. In this requalification project, the creation of a garden with a visually richer image in terms of colors and textures of plant material was proposed, with undulating beds to the south and a minimalist area with succulent species with gravel covering to the north. The existing paving at the villa, irregular stone slabs that connect the vehicle and pedestrian access to the villa and the side entrance, were all maintained.
Regarding the plant cover, it was noted that in the tree layer there are several poorly maintained cypress (Cupressus sempervirens) clusters in poor phytosanitary condition. In this regard, a field study was carried out to identify the botany and phytosanitary classification of existing plant species, which allowed us to determine which specimens should be kept, transplanted, or removed.
The Horto do Campo Grande Proposal
From Horto do Campo Grande’s proposals for the space, in the shrub layer, two clusters of sea orache (Atriplex halimus), four specimens of Spanish dagger (Yucca gloriosa), and one bougainvillea specimen (Bougainvillea glabra) were highlighted and preserved.
In the garden area, three tree specimens were highlighted, namely one Norfolk Island pine (Araucaria heterophylla) and two stone pine specimens (Pinus pinea) that punctuate the main façade of the villa.
To create a visual barrier for views within the plot, a single-species hedge was suggested along the western and northern perimeter walls, and a mixed hedge diversified in textures with high color variation throughout the year along the southern perimeter.
Next to the pool, a space for more intensive use covered with lawn was proposed, with climbing species of different colors and textures as a backdrop together with undulating beds with small shrub species.
At the rear of the plot, due to the original slope, Horto proposed the creation of several levels interconnected by ramps that assist in moving machinery for maintenance and by stairs with wooden slat risers and rice-grain gravel covering. Between each level there is a rock garden with planting of ground cover shrub species and other larger shrubs, which provide dynamism.
Along the northern perimeter of this area, the planting of several large tree species, both native and exotic, was proposed to provide floristic diversity and protection from the constant prevailing winds in this region. On the last level, at the eastern boundary of the plot, an orchard area with a wide diversity of fruit tree species was recommended, as well as a pet place area with wooden slat fencing for the dogs’ enjoyment.
Regarding paving, Horto do Campo Grande proposed permeable pavements, serving as lawn grids covered with gravel for vehicle access and on the ramps connecting the garden levels at the rear of the plot, rice-grain gravel covering over the ground of the undulating beds to the north at the front of the plot and in the undulating beds next to the villa in the pool garden, concrete slabs over the ground in the transition of levels next to the pool, and wooden slat stairs with rice-grain gravel covering connecting the garden levels at the rear of the plot.
Project developed and executed by the HCG Projects and Exterior Works Department.
Discover some of the plants selected for this project
(Cupressus sempervirens)
(Pinus pinea)
(Atriplex halimus)
