ARCHITECTURAL IDEAS - GARDEN GALLERY - Garden Design (2015)

Garden Design (2015)

Garden Gallery

ARCHITECTURAL IDEAS

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The bold, clean lines of a formal rill contrast dramatically with the landscape beyond, while the grassy planting mimics the surrounding arable countryside.

DESIGN BY SUE ADCOCK

Practically every successful garden has architectural elements embedded in it, performing a whole host of roles. In its widest sense architecture is used to provide the structure or bones of a design in which other elements sit. These various built structures may be the focus and on show all the time or, conversely, they may be subtle and only apparent in the depths of winter. It is the intriguing way that all the elements relate to each other creating an alchemy of effects that raises a garden from the prosaic to something special.

In this chapter we explore ways in which architecture and architectural elements can be used to best effect through the creative eyes of different designers, using a wide spectrum of materials and evolving technologies.

In ‘Defining spaces’ we present solutions for boundaries and internal divisions within gardens of all sizes and styles. ‘Making an entrance’ provides a portfolio of ideas for entering or passing between spaces, illustrating how character can be defined through architectural detailing. ‘Journeys and routes’ defines how we move around the garden and explore its attractions. Decorating and personalising outdoor spaces is essential and ‘Ornamental flourishes’ displays a gallery of artworks, ranging from the monumental to the poignant and amusing. Lighting can transform a garden in exciting ways to enhance its atmosphere, and ‘Dramatic illumination’ shows how daytime experiences can turn into night-time theatre at the flick of a switch. Finally, ‘Inspirational water’ studies an element central to garden design for centuries, showing its astonishing versatility and contribution to wildlife and the environment.

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A rigid forest of horsetail stems, their invasive roots contained in a trough, flank a ghostly mesh sculpture, adding character to the formal setting.

DESIGN BY ANTHONY PAUL

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Mellow stone paviors make an understated yet timeless contribution to this sunken patio in a country garden.

DESIGN BY ACRES WILD

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Natural materials, such as timber decking, gravel and cobbles, chime with a casual array of cubed timber seats, which are functional as well as decorative.

DESIGN BY ANDY STURGEON

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A series of plinths, each formed from a mosaic of paviors, seem to float on the water that runs between them.

DESIGN BY LOUISE HARRISON-HOLLAND