Gisele Azad on Moving to the Forest, Building her Dream Home and Marrying Two Cultures

An owl perched in the ancient oak surveys the waking woods. The grass glimmers with dew, each droplet catching the sun’s soft glow. In winter, a quiet snow cloaks the landscape, softening the world to a gentle hush. “The most prevalent thing about living in nature for me is that our life has slowed down, and I truly live with the seasons here,” says Gisele, her dark chestnut-brown waves catching the morning light. “In the city, you might notice it being warmer or colder, leaves turning, rain falling. But here, it’s different – it changes every day, and you’re so much more aware of it all.”

In this interview, she shares her experience of building a home from scratch deep in the woods with her fiancé, and of creating a life together filled with love and beauty.

After years of a fast-paced life in Berlin and Sweden, she and her fiancé sought solace in the Dutch woods. Over time, she has embraced a slower rhythm – trading the hustle of city life for the grounding cadence of life among the trees.

Their property, nestled in the heart of the Drentsche Aa National Park, is to become a sanctuary not just for them but for others, too. Slowly, they’re transforming a cluster of cabins into serene retreats for friends, family, and perhaps even artists in search of inspiration.

Considerate Design Choices

As you approach the property, a long driveway lined with trees unfolds before you. The first cabin you encounter seems to float, its concrete stilts lifting it off the ground. Sun-drenched and framed by a spacious terrace, it blends seamlessly with its surroundings. Further on stands a distinctive house with a thatched roof, exuding rustic charm.

“One of our main design choices,” Gisele reflects, “is that we decided to minimise spaces and doors as much as possible. When you step into one of the cabins, you barely see any doors — it’s all open spaces.” She pauses, then smiles. “I think the longer you live here, the more you crave that sense of openness and freedom. Anything that feels even slightly closed or confined starts to bother me. We figured it might not be the most practical choice if we have kids later — they might not have their own rooms right away — but it’s such a beautiful idea to step into a space where the only focal point is the windows, framing the forest beyond.”

Slow Being

Slow living, slow travel, slow being — it’s become her way of life. It didn’t come naturally at first; she had to ease into it. But now, she wouldn’t trade it for anything. “You get up in the morning, you look out into the trees, and that’s all there is… peace and quiet, it’s completely still. The only thing I could do was surrender to it,” she says with a laugh. “In the morning, I’m out in my clogs with my camping mug, something I never could’ve imagined before. No phones by the bed, and an hour-long walk before the day even begins.”

She pauses. “Is it Monday today?” Every day feels the same to her, in the best way. There’s no rush, no pressure — just flow. She describes it as a state of being that fosters her best ideas, where nothing feels like an obligation but rather a natural unfolding. It’s a philosophy that echoes Rick Rubin’s The Creative Act, where creation is seen as a process rooted in presence and authenticity. Living this way isn’t about forcing ideas but being open to inspiration as it arises, letting life and creativity unfold naturally.

Building Your Own Home In Nature

Any tips for those looking to embrace the slow life and follow in her footsteps? “It’s the one question I get asked all the time,” says Gisele. “And my first answer would be: you really have to feel it. This kind of life isn’t something you can do halfway. You can’t have one foot in the city and one foot here. Your whole life has to shift — it demands your full attention. Everything you do becomes about this place.” Patience, she adds, is crucial, especially if you’re building something. “It’s not just the house but the land, the trees, the plants — how they’ll grow and what that means for the future. It’s a constant process, but that’s the beauty of it.” Her fiancé’s patience balances her drive. “He’s a perfectionist, while I’ve had to learn to let things take time. You plant a tree today knowing it’ll be years before it’s grown, but that’s the joy — you’re investing in the future.”

Wedding Plans

The couple has been engaged for three years now. Yet before their wedding ceremony, they are determined to realise their dream abode. “Financially, we didn’t have unlimited resources, and we wanted to invest in this first. Besides, we’d love to get married here, in the garden,” says Gisele. “It would feel almost like a housewarming. It would be so beautiful — we’ve worked so long toward this, and it would complete the circle.”

With Gisele’s Persian heritage and her fiancé’s Dutch background, their wedding will be a true marriage of cultures. “Where we plan to get married is a wilder part of our property,” she explains. “The previous owners landscaped parts of it, but this area has been left untouched — it’s a little forest. We want to place a long table in the middle of it, near the cabin, and have an intimate gathering that brings together our two cultures.”

Marrying Cultures

Cooking outdoors will play a central role, a nod to her Iranian roots. “In Iran, it’s common to cook outside, no matter the weather,” she says. “I’d love to invite a chef to create an outdoor kitchen and prepare dishes with Persian influences.” Traditional rituals will also play a part, such as rubbing sugar cones above the couple as a blessing for sweetness in life or serving pomegranates to symbolise fresh beginnings. Thoughtful touches like these, interwoven with the beauty of nature and elements meaningful to them, will make the occasion truly special. For Gisele and her fiancé, a celebration like this wouldn’t just about their wedding – it’s a reflection of the life they’ve built together and the bright future they’re creating, step by step, in harmony with nature.

For more information about Gisele, visit her Instagram.