Radically cleaning the house, browsing through old stuff, and similar actions can also lead to some interesting findings. Like this illustriation for - I guess it was - the functions of forest (which I obviously draw during my studies, it must have been something like middle of year 2009). :)

Concept for a private garden in Pula, Croatia (made about a month ago). Mediterranean plants, some typical tall landmarks (cypresses), use of covering plants. Details: lights, water and fire feature. Not my favourite garden (the client is always right, or something like that?), but I loved how the "night view" groundplan turned out much more expressive than the regular one. ;)

Though I'm not really a fan of roses ;) Logo, signs, schematic map and brochure for a series of small rose gardens in and around the town of Postojna (also made the concept and greening plan for five of these).

Private garden in Izola (October 2012). Poor, browned grass in most parts of the garden require a more suitable solution for warm and dry climate. The garden is transformed in a low-maintenance combination of fine gravel (typical for the littoral region) and various mediterranean, durable plants and also succulents and ground cover plants.

Private garden in a village on Karst (August 2012). Renewed old Karstic house with a typical introverted garden, surrounded by a dry stone wall. The gravel part with parking places and near the terrace - greened in spots with dense ground covering plants. The lawn part has an interesting edge of shrubs, climbing plants and succulents that are planted directly into spacings in the wall. There are also three round "islets", intended for relaxation, lying, reading, ... The first - the one that gets the most sun - is a sandy circle, which is bordered with taller shrubs that provide intimacy. The second one is a wooden platform, surrounded by mediterranian aromatic perrenials. The third spot is in the shade of three trees - the ground under them is partly covered with low plants (which you can occasionaly step on). There is also a hammock hanging between the trees.

Private garden of a summer residence (October 2011). The site is situated on a slope and offers a nice view over the hills to the sea. The higher trees are positioned on the edges as landmarks and in the lower parts of the property. There are some olive and fruit trees, and low hedges of mediterranian plants.

Private garden of a small villa near Koper (September 2011). Smooth lawns with low edges of mediterranean plants. A couple of olive trees and an old pomegranate tree. Tall pine trees used as landmarks.

The theme of my graduation thesis were the Potentials for the landscape design of breakwaters on the Slovenian coast (graduated in December 2010). I tried to offer some additional usage to these rather overlooked structures near/on the sea. On the link above you can find the whole thesis, and below is a short abstract. 

Breakwaters as coast-protection structures are one of the components of all littoral environments. Besides their main (protective) function, breakwaters are usually designed to allow berthing and mooring of vessels. Breakwaters with rock rubbles are part of the typical view of the Slovenian coast. The interaction between the sea and the shore results in an interesting and intense experience. Consequently, the offshore areas are attractive to use. From this point of view the breakwaters on the Slovenian coast are not so well utilized as they could be. With (re)organisation and (re)design of some of the breakwaters, it would be possible to obtain or establish well-functioning and attractive coastal areas. The review of breakwaters on the Slovenian coast is made on the bases of different criteria, the most important of which are: accessability, usage and additional activities, integration into the surrounding area, additional urban equipment and maintenance. Considering these parameters the breakwaters are divided into three groups, according to the extensiveness of intervention. The brakwaters in the first group are left as they are, as they function well and have an adequate urban equipment. The second group represents the breakwaters that need just some smaller interventions (greening/planting, new urban equipment, improvement of the access to the sea). The third group consists of three breakwaters, that are completely renewed, and also have a new program. The breakwater in Portorož is converted into a multipurpose event place, the breakwater in Izola is used as a new beach, while the complete surface of the new breakwater in Koper is intended to be occupied by a marine park.

Portorož - event venue

Izola - beach

Koper - marine park

The stone sculpture near the main road in Črni Kal was build in 1966 as a dedication and remembrance of the victims of the occupation during World War II in this area. The author, Slovenian architect Edo Mihevc, described it as a representation of three sterns of Istrian boats and a "window" to the Slovenian sea.

The entire site is a little unmantained and in a need of a refreshment. On the request of the Veterans Associations of Koper we made a concept for revitalisation of the area (but unfortunately it stopped there and were not made further, detailed projects - for now).

Anyway, the idea was to clean the area, to emphasize the qualities of the location and to make it a pleasant spot for a pause on your way to the Coast. On the other hand, we cannot forget this is a memorial park, and therefore a quiet and calm place.

Existent vegetation represents a nice frame for the sculpture: cypresses as tall dark landmarks and cedars as a lighter green bacground. The trees also provide a pleasant shade for eventual benches and walking paths. At both entrances there could be installed some information boards for visitors.

Selection of new plants for the memorial park is based on idigenous species. Red could be used as a symbolic colour throughout the year: shrub blossoms in spring, meadow flowers in summer, interesting foliage in autumn, and distinctive bark in winter.

Private garden in a village above Izola (March 2010). Simple and neat forms of the architecture and its almost uniform colour (light grey) suggest a minimalistic garden design. Use of smooth lawn surface, straight edges, few species and even fewer colours (different greens with touches of white and light blue). Cypresses represent dark, tall landmarks. Special feature are the three olive trees planted on the terrace. The rectangle under them contains a water element that flows in a soft line between dark gray pebbles.

Private garden in a village near Komen on the Karst (February 2010). Soil alternates with rocky surfaces (use of succulents and durable ground-cover plants), the whole garden is quite on a slope (terraces are necessary). On its edges the garden blends into the surrounding woods (use of indigenous shrub species).

Private garden in a village near Koper (January 2010). Mediterranean garden with an orchard and some olive trees, outdoor kitchen and two big oak trees (shadow, framing the view over the valley). Colour palette of the plants is more gray-green with some purple and blue.

New sports park near Novo mesto (June 2006). The recreational areas are integrated in the lanscape, the sports grounds for basketball, footbal, handball, volleyball, tennis are placed in a meadow, more quiet activities, like yoga, take place in specified areas in the nearby woods. The facilities also provide a climbing wall, place for table tennis and bowling (for local people), BMX track, and also - in the winter time - an ice skating ring and a small hill for sledding. The jogging track and walking paths also go through the woods. Every intersection in the woods is marked by a dense group of different trees, like birch, for example. The woods also include a intimate place for outdoor concerts and similar events. This sports area also includes a protected willow (natural heritage), which is integrated in the park. The nearby field represents a visual bacground for the old tree - changing colours through the seasons.