The Japan Times - £10,000 garden project transforms a UK home into a miniature Greece

The brothers have built a miniature Greece in the garden (Picture: Michael Scherrer/SWNS) As the days get colder, you might be dreaming about heading off to a Greek island, sipping a cocktail at a beach bar. And for Michael Scherrer, he doesn’t have to go to far to make that a reality. In fact, Greece is right there, in his garden.

Well… sort of. Michael, 48, a content creator and gardener, has spent £20,000 creating a tiny theme park in his garden, alongside his brother, Samuel – complete with a £10,000 miniature Greek village. Featuring all the signature features from white walls and blue shutters to cobbled streets and a tiny bar, it might be the perfect place for dancing to Voulez-Vous and having your Mamma Mia moment.

In fact, all that’s missing is a sea view. Though it’s not a replacement for the real Greece, the details and life-size construction are incredibly convincing. And, unlike Santorini this half term, you’re unlikely to spend half your visit squeezing through crowds looking for the best sunset spot.

It’s like stepping into Mamma Mia (Picture: Michael Scherrer/SWNS) The little slice of Greece, which is at Michael’s home in Lake Konstanz, Switzerland, has been a passion project, with every detail meticulously seen to – there’s even plastic cats dotted about to feel like a true Greek alleyway. However, building the 15 by 15 metres site was not always straightforward. ‘It took longer than you think to build because of permissions in Switzerland – and having to break for the weather,’ says Michael, explaining that in the winter the temperature can get below freezing. Describing his initial conception, which literally paved the way towards his Greek getaway, Michael says, ‘The idea to construct the theme park came from us just wanting to garden and build. ‘All in all, we have 1,500 square meters to build over and – we have built on 600 metres so far.’ The brothers, who share their projects on social media, say that the idea behind the tiny Greek village was to recreate the atmosphere of a sun-soaked holiday destination and ‘endless’ sunny days.

Michael plans to market it as a guest room for visitors next year (Picture: Michael Scherrer/SWNS) ‘Because it’s summer, whenever I go in there I feel like I am transported,’ says Michael, adding, ‘We tried to build the bar point so you are completely submerged in the mini village – and it really does feel like you are there. ‘My friends come to the bar and love taking pictures – they fool their friends and people actually believe they are on holiday. ‘My sister did it once to her co-workers, and when she came back, six different people came up to her in the office and asked her how her holiday weekend was!’ Online, the duo share the building processes of their various projects, such as digging up the garden, putting in gravel, installing flooring, and landscaping. Michael has also built a fairy tale alleyway (Picture: Michael Scherrer/SWNS) Other miniature creations The Greek village now forms part of a wider backyard theme park filled with magical rooms and themed areas inspired by different countries, ideas and seasons. Michael and Samuel have been working on miniature themed villages for over four years and are already planning future additions.

They started their Instagram account, which now has over 70k followers, in November 2024, when they first shared their fairytale alley, which also doubles as the theme park’s entrance. Complete with a tower for Rapunzel to throw down her hair, the area lets you step into different scenarios, such as a garden with 150 planted tulips, a small Irish bar – with obligatory Guinness, a hidden fridge in the fairy tale chimney – and Halloween-themed spaces which have hosted haunted houses. ‘We have already made a Japanese garden with stonework and maple trees, and now we are planning to move on to a fishing village and a room for the guests – but we have to work this all out first,’ Michael explains. https://www.instagram.com/p/DB4QCw8NNFj/ The pair have also teased on their account about ‘an exciting new project at a hotel,’ in Zermatt, Switzerland, that they said is coming ‘in October.’ And the pair clearly aren’t short on ideas. Their bucket list of builds reads more like a Hollywood set designer’s wishlist.

For those who have always dreamed of sitting in Monica’s iconic kitchen, or trying out Joey’s recliner, future building plans include the flats from the TV series Friends. Or, if you grew up watching Pirates of the Caribbean, they hope to build a pirate ship too (Orlando Bloom not included). The duo also plan to turn their Greek escape into a guest room, advertising on Instagram that they will open in 2027 via Airbnb.

If it does, it’ll surely be one of Airbnb’s more unusual stays. Whether it’s sipping a drink in the tiny taverna or wandering its cobbled streets, the pair have created a fun escape. Just don’t forget to swap your Greek phrasebook for a Swiss one.

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M.Matsumoto--JT