Zümra Timur

Landscape Architect · Peyzaj Mimarı

Texture and colour in the succulent garden.

Orihuela Costa Garden

The residential garden at Orihuela Costa connects a series of outdoor spaces around the house. Narrow passages, a corner terrace, succulent beds and the rear garden share a character shaped by stone, warm gravel and blue-grey planting.

Location
Orihuela Costa · Spain
Date
2026
Role
Landscape design · planting · CAD · material take-off
Status
Design Development

LANDSCAPE APPROACH

One garden.
Connected spaces.

The residential garden at Orihuela Costa connects a series of outdoor spaces around the house. Narrow passages, a corner terrace, succulent beds and the rear garden share a character shaped by stone, warm gravel and blue-grey planting.

Corner terrace and succulent layers.
Corner terrace and succulent layers.

LAYOUT AND MOVEMENT

One garden
around the house.

The front garden, corner terrace and rear area share one circulation route. Narrow side passages remain open, with denser planting held within the beds. Terrace paving and gravel distinguish places to stay from routes through the garden.

Overall garden layout.
Overall garden layout.

CONNECTING THE SPACES

  1. Arrival
  2. Terrace
  3. Side path
  4. Beds
  5. Gate
  6. Shed
The spatial relationship of terrace, front garden and rear passage.
The spatial relationship of terrace, front garden and rear passage.
Slate stepping stones and the house threshold.
Slate stepping stones and the house threshold.

LAYERS OF THE GARDEN

Stone steps.
A clear passage.

Slate stepping stones connect the house threshold with the garden. Gravel and planted boundaries define the route while keeping the passage open. Warm material tones balance the cooler colours of the succulents.

  • Route — slate steps connect to the house threshold.
  • Bed — planting concentrates outside the walking line.
  • Texture — warm gravel, cool foliage.

MOVING THROUGH THE GARDEN

A new garden
at every turn.

Slate steps mark the arrival, the corner opens into a terrace, succulents line the side facade, and a palm frames the rear gate. One planting and material family takes a different spatial role in each part of the garden.

Slate stepping stones and the house threshold.
Slate stepping stones and the house threshold.
Corner terrace and succulent layers.
Corner terrace and succulent layers.
A succulent border beside the house.
A succulent border beside the house.
Palm planting and passage in the rear garden.
Palm planting and passage in the rear garden.

PLANTING CHARACTER

Planting texture.
Seasonal accents.

Agave rosettes, low blue-grey masses and aloe flowers work at different heights. The corner terrace and rear focal palm carry this planting language into distinct parts of the garden.

Texture and colour in the succulent garden.
Texture and colour in the succulent garden.
Agave ‘Blue Glow’

Agave ‘Blue Glow’

Sculptural rosette

Brahea armata

Brahea armata

Upper-layer focus

Senecio mandraliscae

Senecio mandraliscae

Blue-grey ground layer

Cotyledon orbiculata

Cotyledon orbiculata

Fleshy foliage

Kalanchoe thyrsiflora

Kalanchoe thyrsiflora

Upright foliage accent

Echeveria ‘Perle von Nürnberg’

Echeveria ‘Perle von Nürnberg’

Low colour accent

Form

Agave attenuata · Agave Blue Glow

Flowers

Aloe ferox · Aloe striata

Ground texture

Senecio mandraliscae

LAYERS OF THE GARDEN

From planting
to layout.

Species groups, routes and hardscape come together within one garden arrangement. The overall plan and planting composition explain not only the visual effect of each group, but also its place in the garden.

Planting layout and species groups.
Planting layout and species groups.
Composition of planting groups.
Composition of planting groups.

MATERIALS AND TEXTURE

Slate and gravel.
A quiet ground.

Brazilian slate in 90 × 90 cm units defines the stepping route; warm 12–20 mm gravel connects the surrounding ground. Stone edging defines the beds. A pale shed finish and black steel gate complete the restrained material family at the rear.

Stone and planting along the rear path.
Stone and planting along the rear path.

Slate

90 × 90 cm stepping units

Gravel

12–20 mm mineral ground

Boundary

Stone edging and black steel

PLAN AND DETAIL

Materials.
Continuity in detail.

Slate, gravel and stone edging create a continuous family of surfaces along the route. Junction details and the material take-off bring together the elements needed to develop that language through construction.

Path and hardscape arrangement.
Path and hardscape arrangement.
Path, edging and junction details.
Path, edging and junction details.
Material take-off.
Material take-off.

LAYERS OF THE GARDEN

The rear garden.
The route continues.

The route beside the house continues to the rear passage and garden shed. Planting, stone and gate placement make this narrow area part of the garden experience rather than simply a service corridor.

Stone and planting along the rear path.
Stone and planting along the rear path.
Garden shed and rear connection.
Garden shed and rear connection.

SPATIAL EXPERIENCE

Inside the garden.
Texture, light, space.

From the house threshold to the rear garden, leaf forms, gravel colour and the rhythm of stone work together. Closer views reveal how the boundaries established in plan are experienced at garden level.

Low planting layers and a clear route beside the facade.
Low planting layers and a clear route beside the facade.
Rosettes, flowers and blue-grey texture above the gravel.
Rosettes, flowers and blue-grey texture above the gravel.
Corner terrace and succulent layers.
Corner terrace and succulent layers.
Palm planting and passage in the rear garden.
Palm planting and passage in the rear garden.

PROJECT CONTRIBUTION

Project.
My role.

Landscape design, planting, CAD, material take-off and visual presentation: Zümra Timur. In collaboration with Mediterragarden Landscapers. Mapping bases: Catastro / IGN PNOA. Context assets: Poly Haven, CC0.