Discover the enchantment of a fresh coastal resort in Sardinia, boasting a breathtaking wild garden.
Italian architect Maria Meratti has hired landscape designer Marco Scano to create a unique garden at her 300-year-old farmhouse, Borgo Lianti, located on the northern coast of Sardinia. Scano, who is working towards a PhD from the Department of Landscape Architecture at the University of Sheffield, is known for his naturalistic approach to Mediterranean garden design.
The garden, spanning 1,000 square metres of mainly sandy soil with crushed granite and some pockets of clay, will be divided into two main areas. One will be centred around the stone holiday houses, while the other remains unspecified. The climate at Borgo Lianti is Mediterranean, with temperatures often exceeding 40°C in summer and very little rainfall.
Scano's design philosophy emphasises summer dormancy and the use of native species. The garden will showcase the striking Ferula arrigonii, an endemic plant to Sardinia and Corsica, as well as Limonium perezii, which tolerates occasional waterlogging. The use of local gravel as the planting medium is intended to prevent topsoil erosion.
The garden aims to connect Borgo Lianti to the coastal landscape overlooking the Maddalena archipelago. In line with his ecological approach, Scano plans to incorporate sustainable practices such as using organic fertilizers, minimizing water usage, and incorporating natural pest control methods.
The garden will also feature a variety of drought-tolerant plants, including Armeria pungens, Helichrysum italicum subsp. microphyllum, Watsonia borbonica subsp. ardernei, Anigozanthos flavidus, Phillyrea angustifolia, Lavandula dentata 'Ploughman's Blue', Senecio vira-vira, Salvia namaensis, and Malva subovata. The planting in this area is limited to low-growing, coastal prairie planting that includes Armeria pungens and Teucrium marum.
Borgo Lianti was envisaged as a "remote nest", a place of tranquillity and comfort where guests would feel immersed in a natural, wild world. With Scano's design, it seems that this vision is well on its way to becoming a reality. The garden, set to include new stone buildings, two apartments with sea views, and a swimming-pool terrace, promises to be a stunning addition to the Sardinian coastline.
- Landscape designer Marco Scano's design for Italian architect Maria Meratti's 300-year-old farmhouse, Borgo Lianti, emphasizes a naturalistic approach to Mediterranean garden design, with a focus on native species and summer dormancy.
- Scano's garden at Borgo Lianti, spanning 1,000 square metres, will showcase a variety of drought-tolerant plants, such as Armeria pungens, Helichrysum italicum subsp. microphyllum, Anigozanthos flavidus, and Phillyrea angustifolia, to create a coastal prairie planting and mirror the surrounding landscape.
- In adherence to an ecological approach, Scano's plan includes sustainable practices such as using organic fertilizers, minimizing water usage, and incorporating natural pest control methods, making Borgo Lianti's garden harmonious with the environment.
- With the addition of new stone buildings, two apartments with sea views, and a swimming-pool terrace, the upcoming garden enhancements at Borgo Lianti will create a lifestyle within a natural, wild world, providing guests a tranquil and comfortable experience, in line with the original vision of the property.
