Piet Oudolf's Sculpture Garden at Singer Laren Museum
A look at the garden designed by Piet Oudolf at the Singer Laren museum in the Netherlands, where over 70 perennial species are arranged to complement a
The sculpture garden at the Singer Laren museum in the Netherlands was redesigned by renowned landscape designer Piet Oudolf. The garden, which opened to the public in 2018, features layered plantings of perennials and grasses specifically arranged around contemporary artworks.
Singer Laren is a museum and cultural center with a long horticultural history. The original garden was laid out by landscape architect L.A. Springer, with later contributions from designers including Mien Ruys. Following a major redevelopment of the complex, the institution brought in Oudolf to rethink the entire landscape.
Design Philosophy and Plant Selection
Piet Oudolf began his design process with the sculptures, not the plants. He arranged more than 70 perennial species around each art piece, considering plant height, texture, and seasonal change. Repetition of certain plants creates a visual rhythm across the beds. Ornamental grasses and upright perennials weave through these planted masses and are chosen for their natural movement in the wind.
Art Interacting with the Garden
The placement of sculptures dictates how they interact with the planting. For example, Caspar Berger's Self-Portrait 3 from 2005 rises on a wooden base above the surrounding plants, acting as a strong vertical focal point. In contrast, Levi van Veluw's In the Depths of Memory sits directly among asters and foliage, where flowers partially obscure the figures. This contrast shows how art can become an integrated part of the garden composition rather than just an object placed within it.
Another piece, two sheep created by Dutch artist Guido Geelen, stands among specific perennials. The source notes the sheep are placed near globe thistle (Echinops cultivars, Zones 3-9), lamb's ear (Stachys byzantina, Zones 4-8), ornamental grasses, and other perennials. Geelen created the sheep after seven sculptures were stolen from the museum in 2007.
Blurring Indoor and Outdoor Spaces
A key feature of the design is the connection between the garden and the museum building. From inside, the sculpture, ornamental grasses, and architecture are seen as one continuous scene. A large window helps blur the boundary between indoors and out, making the art and garden feel connected. The source, a Fine Gardening article by Danielle, shares these observations from a garden tour stop.
The article's author expresses a personal preference for Levi van Veluw's unusual arrangement of heads, calling it "a little strange, but that's exactly what I like about it." The garden serves as a prominent example of how planting design can frame and enhance outdoor art throughout the seasons.
