Renée Santema Garden- and Landscape architect
Since 2001, I work as an independent Garden-and Landscape Architect in The Hague. With great enthusiasm I design all sorts of, mainly private, gardens: small and large urban gardens, roof terraces, country gardens. In my garden designs, the planting plays a major role: without planting, no garden. Nice, carefully chosen planting supports and strengthens the spatial design en creates live(liness) in the garden, throughout the year.
Occasionally, I work on large scale landscape projects.
Projects
Backgarden Laan van Nieuw Oost Indië Den Haag
Patio Canadian Embassy The Hague
Backgarden Van Bleiswijkstraat The Hague
Backgarden Laan van Meerdervoort Den Haag
Backgarden Stephensonstraat Den Haag
Backgarden Pauwenlaan Den Haag
Backgarden Kamillestraat Den Haag
Backgarden Oostvoornelaan Den Haag
Backgarden Anton de Haenstraat Den Haag
Backgarden Sijzenlaan Den Haag
Backgarden Klaas Geertsplantsoen Amsterdam Noord
Backgarden Vijverhof Voorburg
Backgarden Wethouder Sonneveldhof Delfgauw
Backgarden Copernicusstraat The Hague
Backgarden Carel Reinierskade The Hague
Garden Kwartellaan The Hague
Backgarden Therese Schwartzestraat The Hague
Backgarden Arabislaan The Hague
Backgarden Beatrixstraat Noordwijk
Backgarden Schiefbaanstraat The Hague
Backgarden Steigerstraat The Hague
Backgarden Tapijtweg Den Haag
Back garden Oosteinde Voorburg
Back garden on a parking garage Westeinde The Hague
Back garden Jacob de Graefflaan The Hague
Back garden Van Speijkstraat The Hague
Back garden Paramaribostraat Den Haag
Back garden Rijnstraat Katwijk
Back garden Baljuwsteeg Delft
Process
Vision
A well designed garden is a green oasis which is naturally linked to the house and its surroundings, and where one is pleasantly surprised. The planting with all its growth and flowering forms, and its variability through time, is essential: without planting no garden. The wishes of the client, the architecture and interior of the house, the context of the garden (location, views) plus the planting possibilities (soil, light and water) lay the basis for the design. My design style: a clear structure with a contrasting, lush planting adds an extra dimension. The result is a unique, custom-made garden.
Approach
Based on the wishes of the client, the garden and its context, I make a quote. The design costs depend on the size of the garden and the complexity of the commission. After approval, I make at least two sketches. A more elaborate design follows, with detailed plant- and landscaping plans. After consultation, I make the final design. The result is a complete design, incl. planting and paving, sizes, complemented if necessary by cross sections and detailed elaborations, plus a shopping list for the planting. When the design is being constructed by a gardener, I discuss the design with him beforehand. During construction I’ll keep an eye on the work and come along as often as necessary.
Cooperation
For construction works I cooperate very pleasantly, and to the satisfaction of clients, with the following gardeners, for many years already: Martijn Zuurmond Tuinen (www. martijnzuurmondtuinen.nl), Heijbers and Verkleij Hoveniers (www.heijbersverkleij.nl), Kroon Tuinverzorging (www.kroon-tuinverzorging.nl), Buitensfeer Tuinen (www.buitensfeer.nl), Henri de Jong Tuinen (www.henridejong.nl)
About Renée
Experience
After my study Garden- and Landscape Architecture in Wageningen (1988) I worked for national and provincial governments (1988-1993); for a private Landscape design office (H+N+S, 1993-1996); and as an independent Garden-and Landscape Architect in England (1996-2001). In addition to regional design projects I have always designed private gardens as well. I enjoyed that so much that, after returning from England by the end of 2001, I decided to make designing gardens as my main business.
Since then, I have also worked on large-scale landscape projects: the organization of an international follow-up workshop on Coastal Development in England (Going Dutch II, 2008); a vision of the Green Heart (2008); and the organization of an International Design Workshop on Coastal Issues of Zuid-Holland (June 2012), the last two commissioned by the Provincie of Zuid-Holland.
Title of Architect
I am member of the Dutch Association of Garden- and Landscape Architects (NVTL) and registered in the Registry Office for Architects as an acknowledged Garden-and Landscape Architect under the Architects Title Act (no. 3900403001).
Contact
Renée Santema
Koningsplein 41
2518 JH Den Haag
06 – 23704087
