Landscape architect in Zakopane and Podhale – mountain garden design

Who we design for in the mountains

Roughly half of our mountain projects are private homes. Many belong to business owners, and more and more to people who have moved to Podhale from Kraków, Warsaw or Silesia. They are looking for quiet, a view and contact with nature, and for a garden that brings these out rather than needing daily work.

The other half are holiday rentals and investments: cabins in the Tatras and Beskids, smaller developments in the mountains and larger properties in Zakopane. Here the garden is part of what guests pay for: private guest areas, fire pits, hot tubs, easy maintenance and views that look good in listing photos. More on this: Gardens for hotels and guesthouses.

Mountain gardens are a speciality of their own

A garden in Zakopane cannot be a copy of a garden near Kraków. Every day we work with:

• slopes and level changes: terracing, low walls of local stone, garden steps, planting on steep banks,
• run-off after heavy rain and snowmelt,
• frost, a short season and wind: plants of proven hardiness and windbreaks that do not block the view,
• shallow, stony soil,
• deer: fencing where it is needed and plants they are less likely to browse,
• the Podhale building style and local planning rules: timber, stone, native species and the requirements of local development plans.

Garden design in Podhale and the Beskids

With our office in Rabka-Zdrój, we visit plots in Podhale and the Beskids in person. These are the areas where we design most often:

Zakopane, Kościelisko and Bukowina Tatrzańska

Plots with views of the Tatras, often on steep slopes and with holiday rentals. A garden in Zakopane has to balance the view with privacy for residents and guests, the harsh climate, and local plan requirements on style and materials. In Kościelisko, with views of Giewont and the Western Tatras, we plan gardens for homes and guesthouses so that the terrace and windows frame the mountains, and the guest area is kept apart from the private part.

Nowy Targ and the surrounding area

The Nowy Targ Basin is open, windy country with some of the coldest winters in Poland. In gardens in and around Nowy Targ, including Szaflary, Ludźmierz and Czarny Dunajec, windbreaks and plants that easily withstand hard frost are especially important. The gardens are built by contractors we work with. The design gives them a full set of drawings and a plant list, so they can price the work and start straight away.

Rabka-Zdrój and the Gorce

Our office is here, so we can easily visit plots in Rabka-Zdrój and nearby villages such as Chabówka and Skomielna, several times during a project if needed.

Limanowa and Beskid Wyspowy

Hilly plots in valleys and on slopes, often with views of one summit after another. An example is our mountain garden with a natural swimming pond: a garden in a stream valley with planted slopes and a swimming pond.

Slovakia

We also design gardens across the border in Slovakia. Depending on the location, we visit the site in person or work remotely, based on a site plan, photos and video calls. The documentation is prepared so that a local contractor can carry out the work.

We also work in Białka Tatrzańska, Poronin, Szczawnica, Krynica-Zdrój and throughout Podhale, the Tatras and the Beskids.

Mountain projects

• Mountain garden with a natural swimming pond – Beskid Wyspowy – a garden in a stream valley surrounded by fir forest, with a swimming pond with jetties, a large stone and timber pavilion, planted steep slopes, a fire pit, a play area and a wine cellar built into the slope.
• Modern garden with Mediterranean touches – Podhale – a large garden on mountain terrain designed around the views, with a terrace with a water wall, a birch grove with hammocks, a pavilion with a stone fireplace, an outdoor cinema and a small vineyard.
• Mountain garden with a spa area – Beskid Wyspowy – a naturalistic garden for a modern house, screened from the neighbours but open to the mountain views, with a sauna and hot tub tucked into the greenery, a birch grove with hammocks, a fire pit and a terrace with a pergola.

Frequently asked questions

How do I get a quote?

Send us a site plan and photos of the plot. We will prepare a proposal, usually in two options, and send it by email. Once the proposal is accepted, we meet in person or online.

Do you design for holiday rentals and developments?

Yes. They make up about half of our mountain projects, from a few rental cabins to larger properties in Zakopane.

Does the garden have to be in the traditional Podhale style?

No, but it should suit the house and the landscape. We design both gardens that draw on regional tradition and modern ones, such as our garden with Mediterranean touches, always taking local conditions and regulations into account.

When should I commission a mountain garden design?

Ideally in winter or early spring. The planting season in the mountains is shorter, so it pays to have the design ready before work starts.

Do you recommend contractors in Podhale?

Yes, we work with contractors we trust, though the choice is always yours. Design supervision is available for an additional fee.

Do you visit the plot in the mountains?

Yes. In Podhale and the nearby Beskids we work on site, and one of our offices is in Rabka-Zdrój. In Slovakia we visit where the location allows. For plots further away, a site plan, photos and online meetings are enough.

Do you work in English?

Yes. Weronika Rosa, who leads every project, works with clients in English and Polish.

What does a mountain garden design include?

A concept with plans, dimensions, a planting plan, a plant schedule with quantities and requirements, and a materials list. On a slope, a grading plan is usually added. In the extended option, we also prepare 3D visualisations. The whole process is described on our How we work page.

What is design supervision?

We make sure the garden is built according to the design. The garden is built by a contractor of your choice, and design supervision is ordered separately. If needed, we also advise on buying plants and materials.

How to start

Send your site plan and photos of the plot to kontakt@rosadesign.com.pl and we will reply with a proposal. Go to contact

Projects are led by Weronika Rosa, landscape architect (MSc Eng.), owner of the Rosa Design studio, in the profession since 2012.