When our outdoor spaces become essential in the face of climate challenges

In light of the urgent news about the direct effects of climate change and facing heat waves that are lengthening and intensifying, properties with gardens and well-designed outdoor spaces are experiencing unprecedented demand. Today, outdoor space is no longer just a decorative asset: it becomes a refuge, a wellness area, and a shield against a destabilized climate. At De la Cour au Jardin, the leading network specializing in charming properties with gardens in France, we closely monitor these developments to better support our clients. Here’s a focus on the trends shaping real estate and outdoor living.

The Garden: more than a green space, a decisive criterion in Charming Real Estate

For several years now, and especially since the pandemic, the demand for properties with gardens has experienced spectacular growth. According to the Habitat Observatory (2023), 68% of buyers place the presence of a garden among their top 3 search criteria. Since 2020, demand for properties with outdoor spaces has increased by +38% in France, particularly in suburban areas and charming towns.

Countryside houses, properties with interior courtyards, residences with tree-lined terraces… Outdoor spaces have become a priority criterion.

What we observe at De la Cour au Jardin:

• Gardens, courtyards, and terraces are no longer just an amenity, but a true living space, reinforced by climate challenges.
• Vegetation is becoming strategic to limit the impact of intense heat.
• Well-designed outdoor areas significantly enhance property value in a selective real estate market.

Trend: Gardens, courtyards, and terraces are increasingly conceived as full-fledged living spaces, with furniture, shading, and cooling zones.

Garden lounges and pergolas: a revisited art of living

Historically, the garden lounge symbolizes French refinement: wrought iron furniture, stone terraces, gazebos… Today, these arrangements are modernizing to combine charm and comfort in the face of climatic realities.

New expectations:

• Bioclimatic pergolas to modulate shade and light
• Noble and sustainable materials: local wood, wrought iron, natural stone
• Outdoor spaces designed to withstand summer heat

The choice of how to design your outdoor space is also crucial to cool your living environment. Shade sails and pergolas to break the frenzy of the sun; installation of water features (fountains or ponds) to create a cool oasis; planting trees and vegetation – preferably very leafy – such as dogwood to absorb heat… There are many ways to lower the temperature around you!

At De la Cour au Jardin, we support our clients in enhancing their outdoor spaces to combine authenticity, aesthetics, and functionality.

Mini-pools: discreet luxury with responsibility

Just a few days ago, 84 departments in mainland France were on orange heatwave alert. This dizzying manifestation of climate warming is unfortunately expected to intensify. Parts of France are threatened by desertification. Water is scarce in some regions and – naturally – we must limit its use. This is how mini-pools have established themselves. Less energy-consuming, less water-consuming, they appeal to comfort lovers concerned about the planet’s future.

Why they fit perfectly with charming properties:

• Reduced surface area, low water consumption (up to 5 times less than a traditional pool)
• Simplified installation, often without a building permit
• Design integrated with existing spaces, in harmony with the character of the place

In the charming properties we offer, we are seeing more and more elegant mini-pools, perfect for discreetly cooling off without spoiling the aesthetic of a stone courtyard or tree-lined garden.

Climate warming: when the garden becomes a sustainable asset

The garden is no longer just a place of enjoyment: it actively contributes to thermal regulation and home comfort.

Good practices we encourage:

• Planting local species adapted to drought
• Favoring natural shade with vegetated pergolas
• Creating permeable zones to limit runoff
• Installing water collectors and efficient systems

Charming properties with gardens are now climate refuges that meet the expectations of discerning clients seeking comfort, aesthetics, and environmental respect. Increasingly, the garden is seen as an ecosystem (vegetable garden, fruit trees, hedges) to preserve rather than just a simple recreational space.

De la Cour au Jardin: more than properties, a sustainable art of living

Our mission at De la Cour au Jardin is to offer authentic properties with character, but also aligned with tomorrow’s challenges. Family homes with gardens, charming properties with landscaped courtyards, secondary residences with shaded terraces… we select properties where life is good, both inside and outside.

Dreaming of a property with a garden, combining charm and sustainable comfort?
Contact our network of experts passionate about heritage and outdoor living.

Because the charm of outdoor spaces is also a concrete response to climate challenges.