The site is shaped with sculptural earthwork and structural planting. The home is sited at a fold between plateaus in former pastureland. The landscape path follows the forest's edge in gentle curves between the existing and new forest. One lawn overlooks St. Mary's Church and the forested ridgeline follows a view to the Kumisi Reservoir. The home opens to a pool and garden terrace with a shade structure. Surrounding the pool is meadow terrace with a cherry trees and near the forest edge shaded garden with a fire pit.
The landscape is planted with forest patches of local species to define spaces and orchard species to provide points of interest and color. The range of plant and tree species highlights seasonal textures, atmosphere, and shadow. Unlike neighboring properties dominated by high block retaining walls, here the earthwork is fitted to the landscape with careful contouring.
Narikala Ridge Forest
Narikala Ridge rises between the National Botanical Garden and the Sololaki neighborhood of Tbilisi. Attractions include the historic Narikala Fortress and Mother of Georgia Monument. The landscape is linked to the city by a walking path and a cableway that connects to Rike Park across the Mtkvari River. As part of the larger Mtatsminda reforestation project, Ruderal developed a new forest planting for the ridge with a mix of mature trees and seedlings from the Sartichala nursery.
Betania Forest Garden
Spliced into former hillside pastureland, the Betania Forest Garden is a “living diagram” and an ongoing experiment in adaptive forestry and meadow management practices. The garden is located in the village of Betania, which is 1000 meters above and 19 kilometers from the Georgian capital of Tbilisi in the climate resort area of Korjori, known for its healing forests and clean, cool air. The garden is a mediator between the domestic and the wild, with a simple stairway and forest planting bridging from the home to and leading into the Kojori forestlands and beyond.