The spacious garden stretches along the riverbank, where seasonal flooding submerges much of the land each spring. Rather than working against this natural rhythm, the flooding became the defining element of the landscape design. The challenge was to create a space that could be enjoyed year-round, remain resilient to seasonal changes, and preserve the delicate river ecosystem – all while fulfilling the clients’ desire for a tranquil retreat for family life, seamlessly woven into its natural surroundings.

Young and open-minded, the owners embraced bold ideas and granted the designers full creative freedom. The result is a spacious, harmonious, and deeply atmospheric garden – one that feels both rooted in its environment and elevated by thoughtful design.

The house, with its clean, open forms, was deliberately elevated well above ground level to protect both the structure and the surrounding garden from seasonal flooding. To accommodate this height, a terrace and a system of retaining walls were introduced. These elements not only echo the building’s angular geometry but also visually anchor it – softening the transition from architecture to nature. The driveway was paved with granite cobblestones, while the pathways, riverside terrace, and the descents into the forest are laid with granite slabs of varying sizes. Wide green joints between the stones allow the hardscape to blur into the landscape, becoming an organic part of it. Water also serves as a unifying element throughout the site: two ponds – one decorative, nestled within the patio, and another intended for swimming – and the calm surface of the river visually echo each other and nearly blend into a single, seamless plane when viewed from the living room windows.

The floodplain area of the property was, from the beginning, a natural meadow of mixed wild grasses filled with daisies, and bellflowers, and required little intervention. It was preserved as-is, with only one essential addition: elevated wooden walkways on stilts, making the area accessible even during high water. Their sturdy construction withstands the pressure of spring floods, allowing visitors to move through the landscape freely. These walkways introduce a new way of experiencing the landscape: the visitor is at once inside and outside of it, engaging with nature without disturbing or disrupting its natural rhythms.

Photos: Asya Gordeeva

Illustration: Inna Korneeva