“I want everything we do to be beautiful. It’s the way I want to live my life.” – Saul Bass
About me
Great Britain is the country of gardens and gardeners. That is why I studied garden design at internationally respected The Oxford College of Garden Design in England (Diploma with distinction). Among my teachers were landscape architect and author John Brookes (the father of contemporary British garden design), Anthony Paul, Luciano Giubbilei, Susan Dunstall, and Duncan Heather. I keep connected to the British and international garden design scene through networking in Garden Masterclass, and The Society of Garden Designers.
I had an inclination towards nature since I can remember. I grew up at the outskirts of Warsaw at the time when the city was underdeveloped and abundant with swaths of ruderal meadows and abandoned gardens. I spent long summer holidays in the countryside among forests, lakes and mountains, picking berries and mushrooms. In my work, I always aim to capture the essence of these natural landscapes. I am convinced that gardens are important—for us, here and now, and for future generations.
Biologist, neuroscientist and academic educator
I also hold a doctor degree in biology. For many years, I researched the connection between environment and individual brain development. The studies gave me full appreciation of how our surroundings and the way we interact with them can influence our wellbeing.
During my scientific career, I successfully taught generations of biomedical master students the statistical methodology to model experimental biological data. Teaching means explaining complex matters in such a way that they become simple to understand. I use skills acquired as an academic teacher to help my clients understand intricacies of garden design during garden coaching sessions.
How I work
The garden should harmonise with the architecture of the house and its location. To create a sense of flow and unity I develop attractive shape patterns in the layout plan using as a guide proportions of the house. Larger country gardens allow for flowing curvilinear designs that blend with the landscape.
During work, I combine creative, visual pattern analysis and the logic of the site analysis in iterative manner. The garden plan evolves through multiple hand sketches that refine or alter initial concepts. The design is finalised in CAD (computer aided design) software to ensure the precision and accurate detailing.
Knowledge
Horticulture abounds with myths and practices brought from agriculture that are not suited for growing trees and ornamental plants. The departure from labour-intensive traditional gardens in favour of more naturalistic plant communities with lower level of intervention and reduced need for resources on one hand, and the challenges of climate change on the other, call for new approaches to design and maintenance methods. I regularly attend seminars and conferences, and network with colleagues in fields of ecology and horticulture to ensure I can give you best up-to date advice.
Sustainability
In the modern world we cannot afford wasteful solutions any longer. However, it does not mean we have to sacrifice aesthetics and pleasure. The solutions I propose take into account both people and wildlife. The sustainable design above all ought to withstand the trial of time by being well executed, satisfying for the garden owner and flexible enough to accommodate future changes in family life—all to make sure you will enjoy your outdoor space for years to come. Good quality materials increase longevity, while preservation of existing mature trees and use of excavated soil on site whenever possible all lower the environmental impact of the construction. Choosing plants appropriate for the existing conditions and the climate change minimises waste of energy and resources. What is more, richly planted gardens greatly increase local biodiversity. If you wish, I can perform an analysis of carbon footprint of your project and optimise the design for carbon use and recapture.
