From the outset, the garden in the Vladimir region was conceived of as a traditional Russian garden. The site itself – with its natural surroundings, the church domes visible from nearly every vantage point, and the houses adorned with intricately carved traditional window frames – inspired this choice. Yet, the owners are modern individuals, so the layout was designed to be bold and unconventional. It is structured around perpendicular lines that divide the entire garden. At the centre, these lines form squares of flowerbeds planted with wild species, separated by strips of neatly trimmed lawn. The gazebo, positioned centrally, features clean, straight lines that subtly counterbalance the ornate detailing of the nearby houses. Constructed from wood and glass, it appears light and transparent against the backdrop of gently swaying grasses. Along the main path, rectangular metal ponds reflect the surrounding grasses, towering pines, and the vast, open sky in their tranquil surfaces. In select areas of the garden, ancient apple trees – vestiges of the previous owners – have been carefully preserved. The newly planted pines seem to have naturally emerged from the surrounding landscape, seamlessly linking the garden to its environment while shielding it with their sturdy branches throughout the winter months. Scattered almost haphazardly, the spherical thuja bushes add a subtle architectural rhythm to the space – offering structural interest during the garden’s winter dormancy and providing a vivid contrast to the grasses in summer.

Though the “Russian field” of wild grasses is enclosed within the garden’s strict geometric layout, it remains a seamless, inseparable part of the whole. Within this space, one feels deeply protected –in a calm, familiar sanctuary where ripening apples on the trees, the strong silhouettes of pine trees, dewdrops on tall grasses, and the distant church domes merge into a nostalgic tapestry of memory and sensation. Contemporary elements gently root the garden in the present, without disturbing its profound sense of tranquillity and harmony.

Photos: Asya Gordeeva

Illustration: Inna Korneeva