Terrace Garden on a Slope

Namur, Belgium

At home

Evening view of a terraced garden beside a brick-and-stone house, with warmly lit sculpted trees, a long wooden dining table with benches on a deck, and a lounge area glowing in the distance.

Creating a garden with a swimming pool on a slope presents quite a few challenges. The owners of this home near Namur enlisted the team of landscape architect François Charlier to tackle the task—resulting in a terraced garden with multiple levels, each offering a delightful atmosphere for every moment of the day.

Long rectangular swimming pool bordered by wood decking, with a sloping lawn, young trees, and a round picnic table under a white parasol at the edge of the garden.

Trees as the Foundation

Many trees were in poor condition due to disease, prompting the architect to start from scratch with the planting design. At François Charlier, trees take center stage, thanks to the team's extensive expertise in this area. Trees often form the backbone of their projects. Here too, robust tree species have become the framework of the design.

Wide daytime view of a modern house and terraced garden on a slope, with layered planting, a wooden dining deck, and a pool beside the house under a clear blue sky.

Rust-colored bistroo with a small round table on a wooden deck, set among dense greenery and ornamental grasses in a sunny garden corner.

Tall leafy tree rising from a circular planter above a rust-colored retaining wall, with lawn and garden planting around it and a picnic table with white parasol in the background.

Living zones

Winding strips of concrete define the terraces and lead to a wide staircase connecting them to the various "living zones". These zones include a covered lounge with an expansive Walrus sofa set, a dining area featuring a Hopper table with black legs on a stunning IPE wooden deck, the lookout terrace with a Bistroo two-seater and finally, a picnic zone on the grass, where the Pantagruel table with Inumbra parasol can be recognized. And, of course, the pool area—with its pool house—is an inviting spot to relax.

The selection of trees and plants was carefully planned to provide a variety of color palettes throughout the seasons. This allows for choosing a different living zone at any time of day, with each season transforming the garden’s appearance. It’s a garden designed to continuously evolve and surprise.

Covered outdoor lounge beneath a cantilevered upper floor, furnished with grey walrus sofas and round coffee tables beside a pool and broad white stairs.

Long wooden outdoor table with benches on a deck beneath a neatly pruned tree, surrounded by planting, gravel, and views across the terraced garden.

Small bistroo two-seat table on a lookout deck with a bottle and glasses, overlooking a sunlit lawn, layered planting, and terraced garden paths

Night view of the dining terrace with illuminated trees, a long wooden table set for dinner, a lit fire bowl, and the modern house glowing beside the garden.

Terrace Garden on a Slope

Trees as the Foundation

Living zones

Featured products

Bistroo

Pantagruel

Inumbra shade

Walrus

Hopper wood