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Preserving a mature garden while completely transforming the space
Renovating a villa doesn’t always mean the garden has to be created from scratch.
On this project in Bahía de Marbella I faced a different task: to preserve the value of an already established mature garden (large trees, palms and natural boulders) while completely rethinking the landscape to suit the villa’s renewed architecture and the new owners' way of life.
The villa’s renovation was already under way, and part of the existing garden was damaged during construction. Some plantings were no longer relevant, the function of certain areas of the house had changed, and new balconies and terraces had appeared.
The garden’s own brief had changed too. The owner wanted to plant fruit trees, add more flowering and fragrant plants, and create a play area for his child.
The scale of the project was another particular challenge: the garden of about 3,200 m² spread across several levels at once: the main plot around the villa, the lower ground floor areas, terraces, second-floor balconies, canopies, and an accessible roof terrace with a lounge area and hot tub.
All of these spaces had to be brought together under a single landscape concept.
On this project in Bahía de Marbella I faced a different task: to preserve the value of an already established mature garden (large trees, palms and natural boulders) while completely rethinking the landscape to suit the villa’s renewed architecture and the new owners' way of life.
The villa’s renovation was already under way, and part of the existing garden was damaged during construction. Some plantings were no longer relevant, the function of certain areas of the house had changed, and new balconies and terraces had appeared.
The garden’s own brief had changed too. The owner wanted to plant fruit trees, add more flowering and fragrant plants, and create a play area for his child.
The scale of the project was another particular challenge: the garden of about 3,200 m² spread across several levels at once: the main plot around the villa, the lower ground floor areas, terraces, second-floor balconies, canopies, and an accessible roof terrace with a lounge area and hot tub.
All of these spaces had to be brought together under a single landscape concept.
Marbella villa façade seen
from the waterfall pool,
with mature palms
and planting on balconies,
canopies and the roof terrace
from the waterfall pool,
with mature palms
and planting on balconies,
canopies and the roof terrace
Project objectives
- preserve the mature trees and palms and integrate them into the renewed landscape
- restore the areas of the garden damaged during the villa’s renovation
- link the main garden, lower ground level, terraces, balconies, canopies and roof into a single composition
- adapt the landscape to the new architecture and the changed functions of the house
- create a play area for a child
- add more flowering and fragrant plants
- integrate fruit-bearing plants
- keep the large natural boulders as part of the existing garden’s character
- replace old and diseased plants
- completely renew the automatic irrigation system on every level
- restore the waterproofing of the built-in planters
- organise drainage and stormwater removal from the lower ground floor flower beds
Marbella villa entrance with a timber door,
granite steps, potted palms
and a planter with ornamental
grasses on the canopy
granite steps, potted palms
and a planter with ornamental
grasses on the canopy
Working with the existing mature garden
The first step was a survey of the existing planting.
Old and diseased plants were removed, while valuable mature trees, palms and shrubs were kept wherever possible and incorporated into the garden’s new structure.
Five large palms were transplanted rather than removed and given a new place in the composition.
This preserved the site’s main asset, a green volume that had already taken shape and would have taken years to create in a new garden.
Some of the mature trees had to be defended separately during the project approval process. The interior designer proposed removing some of them, but I was able to demonstrate their value for the future landscape and keep them.
As a result, the new garden did not lose the maturity and character the site already had.
Old and diseased plants were removed, while valuable mature trees, palms and shrubs were kept wherever possible and incorporated into the garden’s new structure.
Five large palms were transplanted rather than removed and given a new place in the composition.
This preserved the site’s main asset, a green volume that had already taken shape and would have taken years to create in a new garden.
Some of the mature trees had to be defended separately during the project approval process. The interior designer proposed removing some of them, but I was able to demonstrate their value for the future landscape and keep them.
As a result, the new garden did not lose the maturity and character the site already had.
Fruit garden, flower beds and new planting
A fruit garden was created on the sunny areas that had been cleared.
It includes:
The large natural boulders found on the site were also kept. They became the basis of a rockery with succulents and drought-tolerant plants and helped tie the new planting to the garden’s original character.
The new ornamental plants were selected so that the existing garden, the renewed areas and the planting on the villa itself would read as a single style.
It includes:
- mango
- bananas
- papaya
- fig
- loquat
The large natural boulders found on the site were also kept. They became the basis of a rockery with succulents and drought-tolerant plants and helped tie the new planting to the garden’s original character.
The new ornamental plants were selected so that the existing garden, the renewed areas and the planting on the villa itself would read as a single style.
Space for the family
After the change of owner, the garden’s functional requirements changed as well as its aesthetic ones.
The project introduced a play area for a child, which hadn’t existed before.
This meant reorganising part of the space in a new way and rethinking how the garden is used: where the family relaxes, where the child plays, which areas stay more private and which become part of the shared space for socialising and entertaining guests.
The project introduced a play area for a child, which hadn’t existed before.
This meant reorganising part of the space in a new way and rethinking how the garden is used: where the family relaxes, where the child plays, which areas stay more private and which become part of the shared space for socialising and entertaining guests.
Greening the balconies, terraces and roof
The landscape concept extended far beyond the main garden.
After the house was renovated, new terraces, balconies and other outdoor spaces appeared, and these were to be planted as well.
For the second-floor balconies, Corten steel planters were designed with compositions of succulents and ornamental grasses.
Planting also appeared on the house’s canopies.
On the roof next to the lounge area and hot tub, dwarf palms, succulents, flowering perennials and aromatic plants were placed.
A small culinary herb garden appeared next to the rooftop bar.
Container compositions in ceramic pots became an additional linking element between the villa’s architecture, the terraces and the garden.
As a result, greenery accompanies the house on almost every level.
After the house was renovated, new terraces, balconies and other outdoor spaces appeared, and these were to be planted as well.
For the second-floor balconies, Corten steel planters were designed with compositions of succulents and ornamental grasses.
Planting also appeared on the house’s canopies.
On the roof next to the lounge area and hot tub, dwarf palms, succulents, flowering perennials and aromatic plants were placed.
A small culinary herb garden appeared next to the rooftop bar.
Container compositions in ceramic pots became an additional linking element between the villa’s architecture, the terraces and the garden.
As a result, greenery accompanies the house on almost every level.
The most challenging part of the project: waterproofing and drainage
One of the most challenging tasks turned out not to be decorative but engineering.
The built-in planters on different levels of the villa required proper waterproofing so that water would not cause problems for the building’s structure.
The flower beds at lower ground floor level needed particular attention: drainage and stormwater removal had to be organised.
These solutions were developed together with the client’s construction team.
At the same time, the automatic irrigation system was completely renewed, from the main garden to the balconies, terraces and roof.
For a multi-level garden in the Costa del Sol climate, this kind of engineering infrastructure is essential: a landscape must not only look good when the work is finished, but also keep developing steadily afterwards.
The built-in planters on different levels of the villa required proper waterproofing so that water would not cause problems for the building’s structure.
The flower beds at lower ground floor level needed particular attention: drainage and stormwater removal had to be organised.
These solutions were developed together with the client’s construction team.
At the same time, the automatic irrigation system was completely renewed, from the main garden to the balconies, terraces and roof.
For a multi-level garden in the Costa del Sol climate, this kind of engineering infrastructure is essential: a landscape must not only look good when the work is finished, but also keep developing steadily afterwards.
Working as part of the project team
The garden renovation ran in parallel with the works on the villa, so landscape decisions had to be constantly coordinated with other specialists.
I worked together with the client’s builders and the interior designer.
This covered the waterproofing of the planters, drainage, the placement of plants, terraces and other elements at the intersection of architecture, interior and landscape.
Some decisions required separate approval and professional argument, including keeping the mature trees that were initially proposed for removal.
In this way the landscape became not a separate decorative layer around the house, but part of the villa’s overall renovation project.
I worked together with the client’s builders and the interior designer.
This covered the waterproofing of the planters, drainage, the placement of plants, terraces and other elements at the intersection of architecture, interior and landscape.
Some decisions required separate approval and professional argument, including keeping the mature trees that were initially proposed for removal.
In this way the landscape became not a separate decorative layer around the house, but part of the villa’s overall renovation project.
Result
After the renovation, the individual green areas around the villa came to be perceived as a single multi-level landscape.
The mature trees and palms that formed the backbone of the site were preserved and complemented with new ornamental and fruit-bearing plants, seasonal blooms and fragrant planting.
The garden gained new ways for the family to use it, including a space for a child.
Planting continued on the terraces, balconies, canopies and roof, and the garden’s technical side was fully adapted to the villa’s new structure: automatic irrigation was renewed, the planters' waterproofing restored and drainage organised.
The work was completed in time for the owner’s birthday.
At the party, guests particularly remarked on the transformed house and garden, and the client was very pleased with the result.
In the end, the villa received not a new garden in place of the old one, but a contemporary evolution of an existing mature landscape, keeping its most valuable elements and integrating it into the house’s new architecture.
The mature trees and palms that formed the backbone of the site were preserved and complemented with new ornamental and fruit-bearing plants, seasonal blooms and fragrant planting.
The garden gained new ways for the family to use it, including a space for a child.
Planting continued on the terraces, balconies, canopies and roof, and the garden’s technical side was fully adapted to the villa’s new structure: automatic irrigation was renewed, the planters' waterproofing restored and drainage organised.
The work was completed in time for the owner’s birthday.
At the party, guests particularly remarked on the transformed house and garden, and the client was very pleased with the result.
In the end, the villa received not a new garden in place of the old one, but a contemporary evolution of an existing mature landscape, keeping its most valuable elements and integrating it into the house’s new architecture.
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Request a Quote I create gardens that become a place of well-being for the family
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
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Created with care by the viakaizen.es team