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Marbella is full of beautiful gardens. Expensive materials, mature plants, palm trees, perfectly trimmed lawns.
But when you actually live in these homes, something else becomes clear: the garden is rarely used. It exists — but feels disconnected from the life of the family.
But when you actually live in these homes, something else becomes clear: the garden is rarely used. It exists — but feels disconnected from the life of the family.
Where does this come from?
Often, the garden is created as an extension of the architectural project.
The main focus is on the house, while green areas are simply marked on the plan.
Then garden centers or contractors step in — each handling their own part of the work.
The garden ends up being "filled" with plants.
This is a normal process.
But it almost always lacks one essential element — a holistic vision of the garden as a functional living space.
The main focus is on the house, while green areas are simply marked on the plan.
Then garden centers or contractors step in — each handling their own part of the work.
The garden ends up being "filled" with plants.
This is a normal process.
But it almost always lacks one essential element — a holistic vision of the garden as a functional living space.
The garden as decoration, not as a space
As a result, the garden becomes decorative.
It frames the house beautifully, creating a backdrop.
But it doesn't invite you in.
At most, children occasionally go out to play.
And the gardener comes to mow the lawn — which usually occupies around 70% of the space.
And that’s it.
It frames the house beautifully, creating a backdrop.
But it doesn't invite you in.
At most, children occasionally go out to play.
And the gardener comes to mow the lawn — which usually occupies around 70% of the space.
And that’s it.
No life scenarios
The garden is not designed with functionality in mind.
There are no spaces where you can:
— sit in the shade
— spend time alone
— work
— exercise
— let children play
And so, all life remains on the terrace.
There are no spaces where you can:
— sit in the shade
— spend time alone
— work
— exercise
— let children play
And so, all life remains on the terrace.
The garden does not extend the home
A good garden is an extension of the interior.
The same atmosphere, the same rhythm, the same way of living.
But often there is no connection between the house and the garden.
No transition, no continuity of space.
And the garden remains just an external area.
The same atmosphere, the same rhythm, the same way of living.
But often there is no connection between the house and the garden.
No transition, no continuity of space.
And the garden remains just an external area.
What matters to me in my work
I don’t only think about how a garden will look.
I think about how it will be lived.
Where the shade will be.
Where you can be alone.
Where children will play.
Where you can sit with your morning coffee.
A garden should give you a reason to step outside.
It should create emotions and states.
It should become a place of energy and balance for the family.
I think about how it will be lived.
Where the shade will be.
Where you can be alone.
Where children will play.
Where you can sit with your morning coffee.
A garden should give you a reason to step outside.
It should create emotions and states.
It should become a place of energy and balance for the family.
If this approach resonates with you
A garden is not about the number of plants or the budget.
It is a system with logic, function, and comfort.
And when this is in place, the garden stops being just beautiful.
It becomes part of life.
It is a system with logic, function, and comfort.
And when this is in place, the garden stops being just beautiful.
It becomes part of life.
Blog Author
Svetlana Kolpak Sabirova (Shibanova)
I have been designing private gardens since 2005. I live and work in Marbella on the Costa del Sol and undertake projects both in Spain and internationally.
Three things matter equally to me in every project: how the garden looks, how it will be used and how it will function technically five or ten years from now.
I begin every project with a personal site visit. I need to see the land, understand the light and levels, listen to the client and understand how they intend to use the space.
For me, a good garden is not simply decoration around a house. It is a space that is genuinely used — in the morning and evening, with family and guests, or simply as a place to spend time outdoors.
I begin every project with a personal site visit. I need to see the land, understand the light and levels, listen to the client and understand how they intend to use the space.
For me, a good garden is not simply decoration around a house. It is a space that is genuinely used — in the morning and evening, with family and guests, or simply as a place to spend time outdoors.
Landscape design projects in Marbella, Estepona and the Costa del Sol
For more than twenty years, I have designed private gardens for villas, residential developments and terraces in Spain and internationally. Every project responds to a specific property, architecture, climate and way of using the outdoor space.
Planning a new garden or renovating an existing one?
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© 2026 Svetlana Kolpak
Created with care by the viakaizen.es team
Created with care by the viakaizen.es team