There’s something in the bushes: Enea

Landscape artists ENEA have been celebrating the beauty of nature for over 25 years, bringing their holistic approach to bear on green spaces not only in their native Switzerland, but all around the world.

By Enea and Julia Hauch

August 26, 2020 | 10:00 pm CUT

The perfect composition of elements: Landscape architecture is an art which we can experience with all our senses – and in a completely natural way. Photo: Enea Landscape Architecture

The faster our world turns and the more complex its challenges become, the greater our longing becomes for the simplicity and tranquility of nature. For a place where we can get some fresh air, breathe deeply and find ourselves again. To do this, we walk amongst trees and through parks, float over lakes or simply open the patio door and step outside – into our own piece of nature outside.

The garden as a place to retreat to and find ourselves: Swiss landscape artists Enea create living spaces that meet our needs in every facet and function. Photos: Enea Landscape Architecture

The aesthetic design of parks and outdoor spaces has been part of our cultural story since ancient times, and it was not for nothing that it was established as an art form in the baroque era. After all, nature serves us not only as a recreational retreat, but also as an inspiring ideal – in many different ways and from various perspectives.

After all, nature serves us not only as a recreational retreat, but also as an inspiring ideal – in many different ways and from various perspectives

For more than 25 years, Enea has been celebrating the beauty of nature, in both private and public spaces. Founded in 1993 by industrial designer and landscape architect Enzo Enea – who expanded his father's garden decoration company – Enea is now one of the world's leading landscape architecture companies with offices in Rapperswil, Zurich, Miami and New York and an interdisciplinary team from over ten countries.

Founder Enzo Enea allows interior and exterior spaces to merge in architectural unity. Founded in 1993, Enea is today one of the world's leading landscape architecture companies. Photos: Enea Landscape Architecture

The creative concept of the award-winning founder follows our desire to intuitively blend inside and out, to create a natural scope of activity and a more conscious being in harmony with nature – a philosophy that today more than ever fits the spirit of the times.

These Swiss landscape artists take on the complex design and realisation of terraces and gardens in a holistic way – from the planning and construction phase, including the installation of irrigation and lighting systems, to exquisite furnishing and garden maintenance.

Thanks to this extensive know-how, Enea has designed a multi-faceted portfolio of private gardens, restaurant and hotel complexes, holiday resorts and public parks all over the world.

All roads lead outside: Whether private gardens, hotel resorts or public facilities, every corner is designed down to the last detail and holistically coordinated with selected furniture. Photo: Enea Landscape Architecture

Every corner of the garden space is composed down to the last detail. From the terrace to the pergola to the appropriate plants and their different colours and formations. Even the furniture is precisely matched to the exterior design.

Enea Outside In – the two concept stores in Zurich and Rapperswil-Jona – offer a first impression of this subtly orchestrated interplay, presenting exclusive collections for outdoors and indoors, as well as a limited selection of unique, high-quality pieces.

But Outside In is more than just the name of a showroom. Here, the mission can be experienced in all dimensions, as living spaces of the highest standards are created from open space. Some of the curated brands available here, as well as products developed in-house, can also be found at selected partners in the luxury sector.

On steady ground: Long oak planks allow spaces to flow into one another (top). For the terrace, the Alignum floor system offers extensive possibilities, together with the Powerbrella shade system (above). Photos: Enea Landscape Architecture

But for furniture to work in the first place, it first needs the right floor beneath it, one which combines quality, craftsmanship, refinement and durability. Indoors, Enea recommends special long and wide oak floorboards, ones that flow seamlessly into the open.

Outside, the Alignum terrace and pool deck modular flooring systems serve as a sure-footed and sustainable base. This is because the precision system doesn’t consist of solid wood alone, but rather also a supporting frame made of 100% recycled aluminium, which, consequently, also minimises wood consumption.

In order to enjoy being outside even on hot sunny days, Enea offers not only trees, but also parasols of the highest quality. Powerbrella and Cantilever create the right balance between design and functionality, as the self-opening mechanisms of these airy umbrellas – made of FSC-certified wood – work with just a light touch.

Holistic thinking: In the Arboretum Tree Museum, not only is the beauty and power of nature felt, but the interplay of botany, art and design too. Photo: Enea Tree Museum

Those who prefer to find their shade beneath a real tree will be spoilt for choice at Arboretum, the Enea Tree Museum near the Zurich Obersee. On this 75,000m2 site, home to over 50 trees of 25 species, Enzo Enea has, for the first time, realised his vision of combining landscape, botany, architecture, art and design.

And the fact that some of the trees are over 100 years old only serves to remind us of timelessness of the natural world.

There’s something in the bushes: Enea

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