Nature Always Outbuild Developers

From planting his first seeds at age six to advising large-scale developments today, Belgian landscape architect Matthieu Mehuys has built a career around one mission — proving that working with nature is not only good for the planet, but also good for business. In this episode, Matthieu shares the journey from his family’s farm to studying in Munich, traveling the globe to learn from regenerative projects, and ultimately developing strategies that help real estate developers create beautiful, low-maintenance landscapes that increase property value. We discuss why stripping topsoil can be a costly mistake, how irrigation systems can create “lazy plants,” and why smart, nature-based design can outperform conventional methods in the long run. Matthieu also talks about his award-winning book 12 Universal Laws of Nature: How to Get the Most Potential Out of Your Land and how it distills his core principles for working in harmony with the environment. 

Guest Bio 
Matthieu Mehuys is a Belgian landscape architect, regenerative garden designer, and lifelong nature enthusiast. Raised on a farm, he fell in love with plants early, amazed that a tiny seed could grow into food, shelter, or a thriving ecosystem. That fascination became his calling. Driven to understand ecological systems more deeply, he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Landscape Architecture, followed by a Master’s in Landscape Architecture in Munich, Germany, where he honed the rigor and precision that define his work. Through his landscape design studio Paulownia and his online course Garden of Your Dreams, Matthieu helps people create beautiful, low-maintenance gardens that work with nature. His approach blends aesthetics, biodiversity, and practical regenerative principles to bring outdoor spaces to life, no matter the size. Believing gardens are more than just pretty spaces, Matthieu’s mission is to inspire and guide people to reconnect with nature, regenerate the land, and create thriving outdoor environments rooted in natural balance — leaving the Earth better for future generations. 

Episode Highlights and Chapters 

[00:01:06] Childhood fascination with plants and the seed that started it all 
[00:03:53] From corporate landscape architecture to global eco-projects 
[00:04:15] The Amazon rainforest’s impact and a turning point after illness 
[00:06:48] Regenerative design vs. sustainability — moving beyond “less harm” 
[00:08:00] The 12 Universal Laws of Nature and applying them to land use 
[00:09:05] Applying regenerative design to large-scale developments 
[00:11:27] Addressing the “profit first” developer mindset with real numbers 
[00:14:45] Case study: higher property values through quality landscaping 
[00:17:00] The hidden costs of stripping and replacing topsoil 
[00:19:52] Maintenance myths — how conventional landscaping inflates costs 
[00:21:30] Irrigation pitfalls and growing deep-rooted, resilient plants 
[00:23:33] Building in floodplains and wetlands — design strategies for resilience 
[00:27:10] Biggest professional mistake: ignoring gut instinct with a client 
[00:29:04] Key takeaways: profitability, patience, and designing with nature 

Contact Information 

Matthieu Mehuys 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthieu-mehuys-64b0b5111/ 
Book: 12 Universal Laws of Nature: How to Get the Most Potential Out of Your Land 
Podcast: The Regenerative Design Podcast 
Host Contact: Eugene Gershman – https://giscompanies.co/podcast/