The Garden Defined
This question is so fundamental to learning
about design that it is worth looking at the instant image in your mind's eye
of a garden. I believe that on this design
learning curve you will shed many of
your pre-conceptions and open your mind and your eyes to a myriad of new
and exciting possibilities.
Gardens have been created all over the world for many hundreds of
years, arising from many different cultures. They have served and continue to
serve a multitude of purposes including
the provision of shade, cool air and the conservation of water in desert climates, as an expression of
wealth and opulence, as a place of contemplation and meditation, a restorative
space, a means of providing food and increasingly as an extension to the living
space in the home, incorporating some or all of the above.
 |
| Alhambra, Grenada |
A garden can be any exterior space that has
been made by humans rather than occurring naturally in the landscape. The
famous American garden designer Thomas Church observed that gardens are for
people. In essence, gardens demonstrate man's ability to impose order on and
thereby control nature.
A garden is always artificially contrived, whether or
not it attempts to recreate nature and even if it uses entirely natural props
such as plants or boulders, because these are selected, chosen for inclusion. It may use entirely artificial materials to
achieve the ambience and style desired by its maker.
Or it may redefine an
existing natural landscape, manipulating and enhancing it with the lightest and
most sensitive of touches. It may be
high on a rooftop, deep in a gulley, in the middle of a desert, on a housing
estate, or on a beach. It may be formal,
contemporary, naturalistic or traditional.
 |
| Derek Jarman's Dungeness garden |
It may be wholly or partially contained and
does not necessarily need to include plants, depending on its function and
aims. There is no minimum or maximum size to qualify as a garden. It can be
made on a tiny balcony, or in a miniscule courtyard (even in a stairwell, with
some light).
Or it may comprise several acres of managed and cultivated land.
It will frequently reflect the ethos, aspirations, interests, priorities,
culture and lifestyle of its owner.
 |
| Ian Hamilton Findlay's Scottish Garden |
There is no limit to the possibilities for
interpretation of the notion of a garden.
It may be well or badly designed, more or less pleasing aesthetically or
functionally, but it is still a garden, very often crying out to be rescued with
the help of an empathetic and sensitive designer. We can explore later how
important your contribution will become.
A garden may have multiple uses or a single
purpose for its existence.
 |
| Topher Delaney roof garden |
The successful realisation of any garden
depends significantly on its aspect, soil conditions and position. It may be
dry, damp, wet, shady, sunny, exposed, or all of these things. A well-designed
garden draws on every factor and turns them to advantage wherever possible,
accentuating the positive and minimising (sometimes eliminating) the
negative.
Every garden is completely unique in its
aspect, soil conditions and position.
A garden can evoke many moods. It may be
relaxing, calm and peaceful, exciting and vibrant, mysterious and
thought-provoking, witty and humorous.
The role of the designer is to make the
absolute most of a given space, whilst being realistic about its possibilities,
its limitations and potential costs, carefully respecting the client brief
while guiding your client towards the best possible outcome.
That will usually delight him or her as you
will be introducing ideas and solutions that they never would have thought
possible. The making of a garden is a challenge. It is not easy but it is
always exciting and you will never stop learning.
Gardens may aspire to recreate to scale
elemental natural forms such as mountains or waves, or they may, less grandly
provide a more intimate oasis of tranquility away from the bustle of the city,
the buzz of traffic and the tensions of workaday life.
An area of lawn edged by
flower beds, a brown, timber garden shed in the background, with a bike propped
up against it, some sort of path through the middle and maybe some children's
toys, a football, and a small sitting
space with a table and chairs. The whole contained by fences, hedges or walls.
This is just one of a myriad of examples of what might be thought to be 'the garden fence'.
I think it is exciting to explore and research
how and why gardens have been made and doing so will inform and inspire your
own progress into the amazing and challenging world of garden design.
Article by Sue Hook
Article by Sue Hook
