WORK IN PROGRESS
The execution of Finca Avola was conceived as a meticulous journey that respects the natural topography of La Mairena and enhances the integration of the garden with the architecture.
CREATIVE DESIGN
The creative concept for Finca Avola originates from a desire to reinterpret La Mairena’s landscape with a contemporary, refined Mediterranean approach.
RESULT
This outdoor space is alive with natural light and transforms throughout the day: at sunrise, soft eastern light illuminates plant platforms and aromatic beds; at midday, shadows cast by light pergolas provide relief; and at sunset, water reflections adopt warm, golden tones. The atmosphere encourages pause, introspection, and sensory enjoyment: a garden designed to be explored as much as it is admired. Finca Avola exemplifies garden design in La Mairena / Marbella, where nature and architecture combine to create a space of enduring beauty and balance.
Vegetation is selected with a refined Mediterranean sensibility: aromatic shrubs, young olives, structured native species, and ground covers connecting hardscape and green areas. Shaded seating—stone or natural wood benches beneath light pergolas—complements the garden’s material palette, offering pauses along the path. Integrated agricultural zones provide fragrance, freshness, and functional beauty.
By night, landscape lighting is subtle and indirect. Warm lights embedded in the ground or walls accentuate garden lines, highlight vegetation, and create an intimate atmosphere. The interplay of artificial light with water emphasizes volume and texture while maintaining Mediterranean elegance after dusk. La Menara incorporated efficient irrigation and drainage solutions tailored to the hot climate, ensuring vitality without compromising aesthetic integrity.
Perched atop La Mairena with views that intertwine the sky and the surrounding Sierra vegetation, Finca Avola is defined as a sanctuary of serenity and sophistication. Developed by La Menara, the project transforms the plot into a contemporary garden where architecture, topography, and the Mediterranean landscape interact seamlessly from the very first moment. The main entrance is revealed gently: a calm path meandering through shrubs, natural stones, and soft elevations, foreshadowing the contemplative and leisurely experience that this exclusive space offers.
The garden unfolds across terraced levels that take full advantage of the land’s natural slope. Each level serves a distinct purpose—outdoor seating areas, viewpoints overlooking the surrounding greenery, contemplative shaded spaces—while integrating into a coherent visual narrative. Water, expressed in shallow ponds and reflective channels, acts as a visual filter, adding freshness and lightness to the environment.
MATERIALS
The materials used at Finca Avola reflect a clear intention of integration: with the natural environment, contemporary architectural style, and the sustainability values that define modern landscaping. Pathways are crafted from local natural stone in warm tones, polished for a smooth tactile experience suitable for barefoot walking. Gaps and edges allow subtle drainage and add texture underfoot.
Retaining walls and raised planters employ neutral-toned rubble stone designed to harmonize with the façade and surrounding vegetation. These planters structure planting areas, protect roots, define spaces, and offer visual organization without rigidity. In select areas, treated timber is featured in decking and lightweight pergolas, adding warmth and a connection to La Mairena’s forested surroundings.
Water appears as an element of restrained elegance. Shallow ponds and reflective surfaces not only provide visual freshness but also amplify spatial perception, multiply light, and enhance views. Stone edging, carefully chosen to match pathways, reinforces the garden’s color unity. At the owner’s request, the design incorporates an agricultural touch with espaliered olive and vine trees and a large terraced vegetable garden for personal enjoyment, whose produce is shared with visitors.
WORK IN PROGRESS
The execution of Finca Avola was conceived as a meticulous journey that respects the natural topography of La Mairena and enhances the integration of the garden with the architecture. The first step involved leveling terraced platforms, designed to create seating areas, viewpoints, and contemplation zones, while respecting the natural slope and the views of the mountains and the Mediterranean.
Simultaneously, retaining walls and stone rubble planters were built, chosen for their neutral tones, which structure the space without disrupting visual harmony. The platforms and pathways were constructed with local natural stone, polished for a smooth touch, with joints allowing subtle drainage, ensuring comfort along the route and aesthetic continuity.
Vegetation was planted following Mediterranean and functional criteria: olive trees, espaliered vines, aromatic shrubs, and groundcovers were arranged to create rhythm, shade, and texture. Each species was positioned considering its growth, form, and flowering, ensuring a garden that evolves over time without losing visual coherence.
Water features, in shallow ponds and reflective channels, were strategically installed to amplify light, multiply perspectives, and create a visual freshness effect. The integration of efficient irrigation systems and drainage solutions guaranteed the garden’s sustainability and the vitality of the plants throughout the year.
Finally, landscape lighting was deployed delicately: recessed spotlights and warm lights highlight the architecture, vegetation, and water reflections, creating an intimate and serene atmosphere that extends the sensory experience beyond daylight hours. Each phase of the construction was executed with precision, resulting in a garden that combines elegance, functionality, and natural harmony, faithful to the philosophy of La Menara.
CREATIVE DESIGN
The terrain’s slopes create micro-vegetated viewpoints: small recesses with benches, perspectives toward pine-covered mountains, and corners alternating light and shadow. Light pergolas crown terraces, offering soft shade and defining outdoor living spaces with visual continuity to existing vegetation. Agricultural zones are integrated carefully, blending aesthetics and function while respecting overall harmony.
Herb and vegetable gardens are organized for both function and beauty: Mediterranean herbs (rosemary, lavender, thyme) harmonize with structured shrubs that provide shape and volume. Plants are positioned according to height, texture, fragrance, and bloom rhythm, so the garden evolves with time, inviting observation as part of the experience.
Water reflections are deliberate: each pond or reflective surface is positioned thoughtfully, aligned with sunlight and visual access from interior spaces. Visitors transition smoothly from indoors to outdoors, guided by changes in material, vegetation, and level, yet maintaining a clear sense of continuity. Terraces and viewpoints are strategically placed to maximize views and create a journey that blends sensory experience with contemplation.
The approach is elegant Mediterranean: subtle, structured, with a soft color palette, and vegetation responsive to climate. Finca Avola transforms architecture from static form into inhabitable texture; every shadow, plant, and water surface participates in a unified harmony, integrating sustainable solutions in every detail. Exceptional views of the Mediterranean Sea and the distant African mountain ranges are emphasized to leave a lasting impression.
Ultimately, Finca Avola embodies La Menara’s philosophy: crafting signature gardens on the Costa del Sol that blend natural beauty, technical sustainability, and continuous sensory experience. A garden that endures, breathes with the Mediterranean wind, and offers a visual and emotional sanctuary for its inhabitants.
The creative concept for Finca Avola originates from a desire to reinterpret La Mairena’s landscape with a contemporary, refined Mediterranean approach. From the start, the La Menara landscape architects established a direct relationship between architecture and nature: building lines extend visually into the garden, softened by vegetation and organic textures. A subtle nod to traditional Andalusian farmhouses (cortijos) integrates local heritage elements into the overall composition.
The design is structured around movement axes radiating from the house, expanding into vegetated terraces with varying levels of privacy and exposure. As the terrain slopes downward, open areas connect with dense, aromatic beds that soften transitions and provide visual retreats. This dialogue between architectural geometry and the organic flow of vegetation creates a controlled sense of fluidity: nothing feels imposed; everything appears naturally situated.
