Creativity associated with nature, performed on a summer residence or on the territory of a family estate, always brings pleasure to both the specialists in landscape design and the owners of this site. This article discusses in more detail this type of activity, styles in which landscape decor can be performed, what idea can be covered in the image of the area, as well as all kinds of components of a future project, starting with architectural structures and ending with plantations.
What is landscape design
Landscaping is a kind of art, with which it is possible to smooth out the discrepancy between architectural urbanistic forms and natural nature, making the latter even more expressive.
Activities in the field of landscape design include several following one of the other stages:
- territory planning and architectural design;
- plant growing, gardening of the site and its improvement;
- accounting for historical and philosophical elements in the appearance of the territory.
The last stage is important in the design of thematic garden compositions (country style, Japanese and Chinese gardens), since the history of culture, its philosophical direction can be perfectly reflected in such a deep semantic form.
Important! One of the important points that should be taken into account in the process of developing the site design is the topography, climatic features of the area, and soil properties. Thus, you need to choose the right green spaces, which will not only look harmoniously in combination with other objects, but also successfully take root, and also develop rapidly over the years in a specific personal plot.
Today, due to the variety of designer landscape components, it is possible to create an imitation of "paradise" right in your garden or on such a personal plot.
Such elements that make up the basis of architectural design are divided into specific thematic groups:
- grass cover from certain varieties of grass;
- planting of green plants (shrubs, trees, flowers in the form of rock gardens, flower beds, rockeries, rabatok and similar plantings);
- aquacomponents (waterfalls, ponds, fountains, streams, mini-pools);
- access roads and platforms;
- small building forms (pergolas, benches, arches and arbors);
- small decorative objects (figures of animals and characters from a fairy tale, lamps, historical and other sculptures, musical pendants).
Important! Early planning makes it possible to establish the composition and procedure for performing engineering technical operations, such as, for example, installing mechanisms for watering the territory, installing drainage systems, wiring the site lighting, and similar works.
Style selection
As in any art, in the field of landscape design there are various stylistic trends. The history of the formation of landscape design is rich in a wide variety of styles and directions in terms of the formation of a certain image, however, from a professional point of view, it is customary to distinguish only 3 main trends:
- Traditionalor classic style (symmetry of the forms of present objects, plants with topiary haircuts, hedge, stalls).
- Landscape style (the image of natural nature, the exclusion of accuracy and symmetry of forms, a chaotic, free arrangement of landscape components).
- Subject (thematic) orientation (attachment to a specific culture, ideology, compatibility with a specific geographical area, originality and uniqueness).
The thematic style, in turn, includes most of the popular areas:
Of course, everyone who has even dealt a little with landscape planning and designing their garden plots heard about such styles as a rock garden (Japan), feng shui (China), a classical garden (France). The Japanese direction of landscape design is saturated with the philosophy of East Asian Zen Buddhism, which includes a special rich symbolism. The Chinese style is filled with elements of spiritual Taoism.
Planning and zoning of the site
The very first and most significant element in landscape design is the zoning (design) of the terrain and the display of ideological objects on paper or in electronic form using special programs and applications. This stage is not just the arrangement of individual objects, but competent planning, taking into account the stylistic combination of all their inherent features. As a result, the territory of the planned garden plot should turn into a solid and beautiful composition.
In the case of the color palette of elements of the home area, styles do not play such a categorical role - the owners can completely surrender to their taste and imagination. Having decided on the idea invested in the image of the estate, you can safely proceed to the creation of sketches that will more clearly show how the territory will look “in kind”. First of all, it is necessary to take measurements of the perimeter, based on the master plan, to transfer the received data in large scale to the paper version.
Layout of the summer cottage 10Dvor 5 acres landscape designLandscape design at the cottage project It is also necessary to make room for small architectural figures (fountains, arches, statues, etc.). For a complete sketch, it is recommended to invite a surveyor to help plan the placement of streams, waterfalls, alpine slides, terrace beds. A mandatory addition is also a drawing of engineering structures planned for location on the ground.
Did you know? Story toItan Garden Zhan-Yuan in Nanjing has about 600 years. The surviving buildings of the Ming Dynasty and specially crafted stone paths in the landscape design of this garden make it a real miracle of the world: before laying the paths out of stones, the latter were kept at the bottom of Chinese Taihu Lake for many years.
DIY site design ideas
The idea of the project can be a secluded corner for a relaxing holiday and nature watching at a pond with decorative carps, on a meditation site or in a bamboo rocking chair. Or, for example, it can be a place for friendly gatherings or family gatherings with barbecue, barbecue, cinema, table for eating and talking, as well as a large swimming pool for swimming and water activities.
Many create for their children, as well as young guests, a fantastic "fairy tale town" with magic bushes, a mini-theater, fountains or waterfalls. Having chosen an idea, you can also determine the style: restrained in form or semantic with stones and bridges. The French style is a strict image with geometrically trimmed trees, shrubs and a lawn.
Lighting and track design
Paved paths, first of all, play the role of a practical way of moving around the cottage area. And if they are also made with designer taste (paving with ceramics, mosaics, pebbles, sand, stones of various types and sizes) and the addition of decorative lighting options, then the paths seem to lead all visitors to the garden into a separate world - the home world of wildlife curbed by man . Lighting can be background, contour, zonal, from flashlights, garlands, lamps, multimedia and graphic.
Video: lighting paths in the country
Fencing
In the modern world, the fencing of a personal plot performs not only a protective, but also a decorative function.
Did you know? The famous Palace of Versailles, built in the XVII century and is a symbol of the absolute power of the "sun king" Louis XIV, is a real masterpiece not only among architectural monuments, but also landscape design options. A lot of effort was spent on the construction of the palace, because it was first necessary to drain the swamp area, fill it with stones, soil and sand, and then build gardens and alleys that diverge from the center of the palace in the form of sunlight.
If you want to decorate your site, you can use the following building blocks:
- monolithic, concrete, wooden, combined fences;
- translucent, wire fencing;
- wattle, a combination of metal rods;
- hedge of weaving plants.
Lawns
The evergreen ground cover serves as a background for the separation of certain zones of the country territory and emphasizing the beauty of the bright areas. If you choose a mixture of seeds of fescue, ryegrass, timothy and bluegrass, then on the grown lawn you can not only walk barefoot in the early morning to feel the dew, but also play, lie down, sunbathe.
Creating flower beds on the site
If you are tired of the usual group flower plantings, you can create flower beds with complex flower transitions that create stunning designs. In this case, you need to compare the height that certain varieties of flowers, color balance, flowering time and decorativeness reach among themselves.
Rock gardens
Alpine slides on the site will definitely add the color of the highlands. Imagine the mountain slopes of different levels and sizes, complemented by dwarf shrubs, moss or small flowers. Paths and steps can be laid out in the style of miniature mountain valleys and slopes, forest ravines and waterfalls.
Video: how to make an alpine hill
Artificial ponds
Decorative ponds, reservoirs, fountains, springs, cascades with their full and proper design are almost the main objects that attract attention in the design of the garden. And with the addition of artificial reservoirs with outlandish shapes, unusual plants or underwater inhabitants, you will have the opportunity to get real aesthetic pleasure and peace after a hard working day.
Slowly, the options for summer estates, surrounded by vegetable and fruit orchards, are going back to the past. More and more often, owners of summer cottages create real oases in their home, in which you can not only relax with your soul, just contemplating the unearthly beauty, but also have a great time with guests.
