Ecologically grounded gardens, shaped through time.
Marais Landscaping is a Cape Town-based garden design and landscaping studio, founded by Guillaume Marais together with his father.
Our work brings together planting, material, and spatial thinking to shape gardens that feel connected to their surroundings and meaningful to inhabit.
A quieter way to think about gardens
Most gardens are treated as finished products. Installed, perfected, and maintained into stillness.
But a garden is not a static object. It is a living system — shaped by climate, soil, time, and the life it supports.
When these forces are ignored, gardens become fragile. High-maintenance. Disconnected from their surroundings.
We approach things differently.
How We Work
Our process is structured, but not rigid. It allows for clarity at the outset, and responsiveness as the garden takes shape.
01
Understanding the site
Careful observation of land, climate, and use.
02
Design direction
A clear spatial and ecological framework.
03
Planting and material decisions
Every element considered as part of a whole.
04
Build and implementation
Direct, hands-on involvement in shaping the work on site.
05
Ongoing stewardship
Guiding the garden over time.
What defines the work
Our projects are not driven by style, but by response — to place, to ecology, and to how a space is lived.
— Rooted in place, not imposed
— Structured, but not rigid
— Planting-led, not surface-led
— Designed to evolve over time
Marais Landscaping is led by Guillaume Marais.
The business was started together with his father, whose experience and practical understanding continue to shape the way the work is approached today.
With over a decade of hands-on involvement, the studio brings together design thinking and on-site craft — shaping gardens not only in concept, but through careful implementation.
Each project is approached with care, attention, and a long-term view.
If you’re considering a new garden or transforming an existing space, we’d be happy to explore it with you.