Sweden's Aquascape™ Team
A remarkable story…
“When two little boys of exactly the same mettle meet for the first time, a light seems to kindle in their eyes.”
— Astrid Lindgren (Emil i Lönneberga)
The master without a market
Malcolm Grieve
Nothing in Malcolm's early life suggested he'd end up building water features in Sweden. He comes from a place far from here. Far from water.
From a farm in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia.
The dream of aquascaping began in 2016 at a festival where he worked part-time as a machine operator. When site manager Corrie saw his skill at the controls, he was asked if he wanted to start building ‘Aquascape Water Features’ together.
Just like Malcolm, almost nobody in Australia had heard of Aquascape Ecosystem™ — but that was about to change. When he saw the photos, he could hardly believe his eyes.
Was it really possible to create crystal-clear water features with babbling streams and thundering waterfalls — without chemicals?
Three months later came the call… “So, are you in?”
Through SA Waterscapes, they became part of the Aquascape wave that swept across Australia. Their nature-identical style was widely appreciated.
And soon came the invitation to help build the world's largest natural pool in 2018: Lake Gkula in Woodford, Australia. It was completed in 2019 and won the Sustainable Landscape Award 2020.
And with the acclaimed Crafers Aquatic Habitat, they won the Master Landscaper Award of Excellence the same year.
But despite the recognition, nothing compared to the clients' reactions.
His career path was set — until a woman from Lidköping, Sweden started working on the family farm. Malcolm fell so deeply in love that he named one of the waterfalls at the world's largest natural pool, Lake Gkula, after her: Ella's Fall.
And in 2021, he followed her to Sweden.
The nature pools were put on hold until the time was right. Here there was neither the knowledge, the network, nor the demand needed to continue.
The visionary without a network
Max Johnsson
Max had always been drawn to moving water — streams and waterfalls — ever since he was a child.
When he graduated from secondary school, the largest homeowners' association in Malmö's Western Harbour was looking for a new water contractor.
As the world's first climate-neutral district, tourists from around the world flocked there — and Green Landscaping had failed to keep the experimental stormwater system and ponds looking beautiful enough.
He won the contract.
The difference after the first season led the second homeowners' association to replace their contractor with Max as well.
And as a self-taught professional, he defended the contract against the industry giants for 6 years.
The stormwater systems were optimised, the ponds improved. Neighbours noticed the difference and asked him to renovate their ponds too.
That's when the idea was born…
What if you could build water features from scratch — that looked and worked like nature? Surely everyone dreams of living by a babbling stream they don't have to maintain themselves?
But in Sweden, there was nobody to learn from. Nobody doing what he wanted to do. Then life got in the way, and the years passed.
But one summer day in 2025, he was reminded of his old dream… when he discovered Aquascape Ecosystem™ on YouTube.
And when he finally took the step towards nature pools, he happened to meet the person he'd always been looking for…
Our unlikely meeting
Five years after Malcolm landed in Sweden, our paths crossed on a nature pool project in Gotland, working as subcontractors for the same company.
The master without a market.
The visionary without a network.
We clicked immediately.
And after the project, we felt the same way.
BÄCKAHÄSTEN was born.
And now it's Sweden's turn to discover something that until very recently seemed impossible here: bringing the waterfront to you.
We look forward to hearing about your dream and proving that you really can have exactly what you wish for.
Because with us, nothing is impossible… just another challenge.
Together we create the ‘impossible’
With the right conditions, nature continues to do the heavy lifting.
That's the difference between trying to tame nature and working with it.
With Aquascape Ecosystem™, we create water features that both look and function like nature.
Sweden's most experienced Aquascape™ Team
Aquascape Ecosystem™ is not a ready-made system that anyone can install.
The modular system offers full artistic freedom and requires precise formulas to function properly.
Long-term beauty and function can therefore only be guaranteed by an experienced contractor.
BÄCKAHÄSTEN's expertise traces back to award-winning projects.
Beauty
Malcolm Grieve, experienced Aquascaper
Aquascape Artist with extensive experience in Aquascape Ecosystem™ and an award-winning portfolio.
Function
Max Johnsson, experienced water contractor
6 years of experience strengthening the stormwater systems in the world's first climate-neutral district.
BÄCKAHÄSTEN's background — Crafers Aquatic Habitat
Adelaide Hills, Australia. Master Landscaper Award 2020.
"We are blown away! We love our new massive nature pool." — Jim & Deb
Lake Gkula
Woodford, Australia. Sustainable Landscape Award 2020.
World's largest natural pool • 5,700 m² • 5.5 m deep
"We know Lake Gkula will be an attraction; it's that beautiful." — Bill Hauritz, Founder of Woodfordia
Transform your garden into a water garden
Nature pool
As close to waterfront living as you get without moving. Swim year-round, with fish. Aquascape Ecosystem™ Pool
Garden pond
A living ecosystem for your fish. Without the algae blooms. Aquascape Ecosystem™ Pond
Stream & waterfall
A babbling stream with rushing waterfalls. Needs less maintenance than your lawn. Aquascape Pondless System™
Fountain
Bubbling water on a minimal footprint. The simplest way to water in your garden. Aquascape Fountainscape™
Questions & Answers
Do you work outside Sweden?
Yes. Rooted in Australia, newly founded BÄCKAHÄSTEN is Sweden's most experienced and award-winning builder of nature pools, garden ponds, streams and waterfalls. We carry out projects throughout Sweden and Europe.
Where is BÄCKAHÄSTEN located?
We are based in Skåne, Sweden, but take on projects throughout Sweden and Europe.
How long have you worked with Aquascape?
Malcolm has worked with Aquascape Ecosystem™ since 2016 — from award-winning projects in Australia to Sweden. Max has worked with water features and stormwater systems for over six years. Together, we have the broadest Aquascape experience in Scandinavia.
What awards have you won?
Our project leader Malcolm was directly involved in two award-winning and widely recognised projects. The world-record Lake Gkula won Landscape Queensland's 'Sustainable Landscape Award' 2020. The same year, their Crafers Aquatic Habitat won Master Landscapers South Australia's 'MLSA Award of Excellence' 2020.
Have any other questions?