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Projects / A garden on a slope

The slope is the starting point.

A terrace beside the house, a pool and a gathering place further down the garden. Different levels become different ways to spend time outdoors.

3D visualisation of the same site with a pool, connected terraces and hillside planting.
The hillside garden before the concept design: existing levels, steps and grassed areas.
Drag the slider to compare. Existing space / 3D visualisation.
Location
Zagreb
Type of space
Private gardens
Project status
Landscape concept design
Landscape design
Dandelion Studio / Bruno Jelinić
Key challenge
Level changes · restricted machinery access

Steps connect the levels. Each becomes a place to spend time.

01 / Context

The garden slopes down from the house towards the street. The design needs to connect everyday access to the terrace, time spent by the water and the lower part of the site.

02 / Constraints

The slope wasn’t the only major constraint. An excavator couldn’t easily reach the lower part of the site, so the design couldn’t depend on extensive excavation and a complete reshaping of the ground. Open spaces for outdoor living alternate with planted sections of the slope.

03 / The design decision

Rather than trying to level the site, we organised the garden across several connected levels. A terrace sits beside the house, with the pool and waterside space below, and a circular fire-pit area at the bottom. Steps and planting bring them together.

04 / Planting structure

A group of birches stands beside the open lawn. Rounded shrubs, ornamental grasses and lower planting alternate across the slope. Planting frames the steps and places to sit.

Hillside garden: a terrace by the house, a pool and steps through layered planting.
3D visualisation · The terrace beside the house, pool and hillside planting.
Hillside garden: an overview with the pool, terraces, steps and circular gathering space at the lower level.
3D visualisation · The whole site, from the house and pool to the gathering space below.
Hillside garden: a view down towards the pool, lawn, terrace and circular seating area.
3D visualisation · Looking down the garden reveals the relationship between the pool, lawn and lower gathering space.
A view from the planted slope towards the steps, pool and terrace by the house.
3D visualisation · Steps, water and terrace connect the levels.
Hillside garden: a closer view of the social terrace, pool, birch lawn and steps.
3D visualisation · Steps connect the social terrace with a place to relax by the water.
A pool with a small waterfall, timber deck and white loungers beside the lawn.
3D visualisation · A closer view of water beside a place to rest.
An evening view of the garden with illuminated steps, pool and birches.
3D visualisation · The same garden at night. Lighting follows the paths and picks out the trees.

05 / Project stage

A concept design shown through 3D visualisations. Views of the whole site are paired with closer views of the waterside spaces, terraces and evening atmosphere.

Challenging sites and slopes
Your space, the next step

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