In the heart of Restelo, one of the most privileged areas to live in Lisbon, the renovation of this 400 m2 garden – a project by RPV Landscape Architecture, carried out by Horto do Campo Grande – developed alongside the renovation of the house, made it possible to harmonise the different spaces and create continuity between indoors and outdoors, completely transforming the experience the current owners can enjoy – a natural refuge where serenity and beauty meet.
The challenge was to create a balanced setting that combined elegance and functionality, while respecting the essence of the place. The new design and layout favoured organic shapes, paths that invite you to stroll and enjoy, and leisure areas designed for the residents’ comfort and wellbeing.
The choice of plants was made with special attention to the climate and the characteristics of the space. Native, low-maintenance species were combined with exotic elements, creating a lush palette of greens, punctuated by vibrantly coloured flowers throughout the year. Small nooks were strategically created for moments of pause and rest, reading, or simply contemplating nature.
Lighting played a key role in transforming the garden. Soft, strategically placed lights highlight the outlines of the plants, create charming shadows and allow the space to be enjoyed at night too, making evenings outdoors even more inviting.
The result is a home and garden that reflect the personality of its residents: a welcoming, sophisticated space, yet full of life. A true green refuge in the heart of the city, where every detail was designed to provide a unique sensory experience, bringing peace and wellbeing to those who experience it.
How was the garden designed?
The garden was divided into three distinct areas, each with a specific purpose:
- Entrance area: This area was designed to serve as a framing space and for pedestrian circulation. Its function is to welcome visitors and create a smooth transition between the outside and the inside of the house, using a concrete slab path that leads to the other areas of the garden. The plants chosen for this area took into account the architecture of the house as well as the atmosphere of the neighbourhood, so the space was given a more Mediterranean feel, where you can find a Photinia fraseri hedge and recognise plants such as the aromatic Rosmarinus officinalis.
- Vehicle access area: To ensure functionality and aesthetics, a pavement of concrete slabs made ‘in loco’ was created. This material was chosen for its durability and for allowing a seamless integration with the natural surroundings, ensuring practical and safe access. In the garage access area, in the transition between the entrance and the rear, there is a Eugenia myrtifolia hedge along the wall, and to separate the access from the gable end of the house, a bed of Agapanthus africanus.
- Main garden: This is the central area of the garden, where the swimming pool is located, along with a porch featuring colourful Bougainvilleas glabra. Previously, the pool was disproportionate to the available space, giving the impression that it dominated the entire garden. “With the renovation, we made use of the existing space to reconfigure the pool, making it smaller and better suited to the client’s needs, and thus promoting visual balance, allowing the garden to stand out,” explains the Landscape Architect, Rosarinho Pulido Valente, who led the project. In the area surrounding the pool, the planting is more lush and tropical; the Strelitzia Nicolai, Chamaerops humilis, Phormium tenax and Nephrolepis cordifolia planted here help transport us to a more humid, green and luxuriant setting.
What were the main materials used in the garden renovation?
The choice of materials was essential to ensure the project’s harmony. Predominantly natural materials were used, such as ceramic paving in the pool area and planting perfectly adapted to Lisbon’s climate. Roll-out turf was laid across all areas of the garden, creating visual continuity that connects the different spaces and contributes to a unified reading of the whole.
The garden renovation not only revitalised a previously outdated space, but also improved the functionality and aesthetics of the plot as a whole. The final result is a garden that reflects the home’s contemporary essence, while also paying tribute to the roots of Portuguese architecture with Mediterranean planting, keeping some specimens already present in the original garden, providing a pleasant and harmonious environment, ideal for leisure and family get-togethers.
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE PLANTS IN THIS PROJECT
© Companhia das Cores for Horto do Campo Grande
