We have been collaborating with our Clients on the garden and landscape architecture for this school-house – turned private escape in the hills above Citta di Castello, in the Region of Umbria.  The house and garden is situated on a ridgeline, with olive groves and pasture land falling off to the east and west.  The initial intervention concentrated on the design and establishment of the main gardens surrounding the house and pool areas as well as the restoration of woodland buffers with oak, maple, hawthorne, and apple species to offset the impact of declining elms.  The pool is situated like the bow of a ship on the south ridge, and partially tucked-in under the shade of a spectacular grove of mature oaks.  Going forward, our design work will gradually shift from the domestic garden areas to the meadows, vegetable gardens, and orchards.  In addition, the Client has engaged a Team of naturalists to assist in defining best-practice strategies to improve the biodiversity of the property for all future landscape interventions.