This project sits in a truly unusual place. The house stands on a hilltop, and the land drops several meters down toward a small river flowing through the property. To make the steep terrain comfortable and usable, we designed a system of angular steps and retaining walls. The geometric layout breaks up the slope visually, makes the narrow plot feel wider, and creates a gentle, safe descent instead of a steep staircase.

The steps lead down to a remarkable feature — a river that begins at a natural spring called Marishka, now a protected natural landmark. Historically, this river once flowed through the center of the city before it was placed underground in the late 19th century. On this property, the owners brought the river back to the surface, restoring a piece of the landscape’s original character.

The spring itself lies just beyond the boundary of the garden. Local folklore tells of a young woman named Marishka, whose story gave the spring its name. Inspired by this connection, we proposed a subtle, symbolic sculpture — a quiet figure seated near the water — as a gentle nod to the history of the place.

This garden blends geometry, terrain, and story: a hillside transformed into a sequence of spaces connected by movement, water, and a sense of place that reaches back through time.