Mien Ruys had already developed a method of designing what was seen as groundbreaking and revolutionary (international) at that time.Īt this time came for Piet Oudolf all the interest in the use of grasses and native perennials. In the first years of his designs Mien Ruys was his great inspiration, Ms. Along with his devoted wife he started back in 1982 at Haarlem a garden consultancy which soon became a success. Piet was at a young age involved in running the family catering business from his parents but noted in his twenties that his future was not here. The design for the Highline in New York, for example and the Lurie Garden in Millennium Park in Chicago have a large number of enthusiastic volunteers engaged in the maintenance or education. His designs have become an experience where almost everyone is attracted to and feel concerned. His designs are ‘natural’ and far from static and change constantly so visitors often return and people feel very comfortable in there.

His designs are often experienced as a kind of natural landscape, he brings nature close to man and precisely that turned into a need to provide.

In The Netherlands, but certainly internationally he is highly regarded.Piet’s gardens and landscapes appear to have a great appeal on people around the world. No longer was the color the first criterion, but rather the structure of the plant and its properties for flowering and thereafter became more important, color was from that moment on secondary and structure has become more important for gardens and landscapes which had a different experience throughout the year. His designs are also characterized by a totally different perspective on the use of mostly perennials. Piet herein was the trendsetter and inventor.

The use of native plants on a much larger scale than usual and the many grasses he is using took care for a landslide in planting design and from that moment was much imitated.

In the international field of Garden & Landscape Design his planting-designs are pioneering and innovative. Piet Oudolf is from the mid 90′s of the past century the leading figure in International Garden & Landscape Design.

Piet oudolf landscapes