Basic Guide: Garden Design

The design of the garden, as an open space, plays an important role in its correct use in terms of usability and liveability, necessary conditions to ensure that it is actually experienced.  
Depending on the size of the space we can talk about landscape design for very large spaces or garden design for smaller spaces.
Gardens depending on their location, for example whether rural, suburban or small, can differ from each other due to some key elements. 
In the case of suburban gardens, which are generally very spacious, they may have elements in the background that complete the view of the garden itself and which should be left unchanged, or in the case of small gardens in the city, screening with evergreens or trees may be necessary to hide unpleasant spots.  

In all cases, an essential aspect is to observe the space, taking into account the physical aspect, the location, its size, its proximity and connections with the surroundings.

The book the poetics of gardens, (1991) is one of the most interesting books to grasp strategies and compositional moves for the design of space. The design of the external space is a set of aesthetic components and knowledge of its characteristic features that is configured as an architectural extension of the home space.

The design of the external space is made up of different phases, the first is the reconnaissance of the actual state of the places through the analysis of the context.
These data require continuous interaction between spaces, both in terms of the ideation phase and the implementation phase.

You can start from a good bibliography, from a series of interviews with users of the future open space, from a collection of photographs and sketches and the choice of these varies according to the result we wish to obtain in the case of a public garden.
In the case of a private garden, however, observation and listening are fundamental points in the first phase.

First of all, it is useful to have a plan of the current state of the places, which combined with a planimetric survey, aerial enlargement and photogrammetry, help us to understand at least in a first phase the characteristic points, whether they are to be enhanced or improved, of the site.
The planning of the survey phase as a tool for knowing the places is a fundamental aspect for the correct acquisition and cataloguing of the data; this will help us in the subsequent study phases of the project.
In this perspective, the project on Scarzuola in Umbria and the related survey project is an example that can be useful for the preliminary study. 

La Scarzuola between idea and construction – Representation and analysis of a symbol turned into stone by Alfonso Ippolito

INTRODUCTORY INTERVIEW

Usually the introductory interview phase with the client suggests ideas and needs to consider within the project, it can be useful to note down suggestions in this phase and conduct the interview with targeted questions previously prepared.
In the needs analysis, a list of necessary functions is identified, the determination of particular areas or parts of the garden, or the use of a particular color or a characteristic material.
 
It is generally useful to understand if there are materials, colors or furnishings that arouse a particular interest, whether positive or negative, to take into account in the design phase.

Site inspection 
Different types of inspections can be carried out, even at different times, depending on the information we need to obtain and the size of the work we are carrying out.
During the preliminary inspection it is useful to take into account both the geographical position and the context in which we find ourselves, both in architectural and vegetation terms, useful for the design.

Furthermore, the morphology of the land, the type of existing vegetation, the climatic conditions, the characteristic points of views and panoramas, will define the fixed points from which to start.

AUTHORISATIONS AND CONSTRAINTS

In the initial phase of the project, it is useful, if not essential, to consult the municipal regulations and verify the presence of particular restrictions for which permits, authorizations or active constraints on the area are required.
Generally, permits are required for the construction of swimming pools, greenhouses, earthworks and vary depending on the municipality and the specific regulation. 
In the case of the construction of structural elements, however, as in buildings, it is necessary to obtain authorization from the civil engineering department, or to verify the seismic zone.
For utility connections, it is necessary to take them into account whether they are already prepared or whether they must be carried out in advance. In the latter case, an authorization must be requested from the competent company, if they are already available instead, it is necessary to take them into account when carrying out excavations.
In the case of constraints, they generally report any precautions to be used for the design or limitations and are normally subject to authorization.

CONCEPT

Generally, the synthesis of the data received from the inspection phase and the search for any necessary constraints and authorizations is elaborated through a conceptual planimetric scheme of the garden that summarizes continuous, overlapping areas and specific correlations between the parts. In this phase it is not necessary to be accurate in the design and representation since the priority is to identify the specific functions of the spaces and elements and how they interact with each other on an organizational level, rather than aesthetic.

Function and practicality
The fundamental aspect in defining the project is to identify the functions from which the forms will come to life. A garden to be well designed must necessarily be thought of as a single entity, where all the elements are in the right place. As is good practice, the concept of simplicity is always preferable to very loaded spaces.
To properly balance the solids and voids, you can use the law of equilibrium, where larger masses, in our case trees and shrubs, are visually contrasted with heavier objects, such as walls and buildings.

GENERAL DESIGN

After defining the functions, we begin to design the design elements, also taking into account the proximity of the characteristic points, identified in the preliminary concept study.
At this stage it is useful to start organizing the space in a more thorough manner, taking into account the percentage of lawn coverage, or the paved part also based on its maintenance.

Then start placing the zones with the details of their respective functions, such as the dining area, the mirror of water, a shaded area, a winter garden, a pergola and finally a parking lots for car parking.
As a final step after defining the type of vegetation, we begin to define the green system and a correct disposal of rainwater.

Focal points 
The focal point is a view or more than one that enhances the garden and characterizes it. It is usually always different as it is an aspect of the place that ties it to the context in an essential way making it unique. Focal points are simple and can be a statue, a water feature, a splash of color in a flowerbed, a panorama or even a particular tree.
The design will be aimed at the same by making sure that the parts adapt for example with paths, vegetation, changes in altitude.  

GREEN DESIGN

Green design takes into account both the specific functions and the functional and maintenance needs desired. In choosing plants, the geographic position, the orientation with respect to the sun and the function that you want to assign to the vegetation such as visual screening, shading, delimitation, scenic effect are taken into account.
Plants can be chosen based on the flowering calendar and the alternation of these with the changing seasons. Generally, it is useful to focus on the flowering of plants in the seasons in which the space is most lived.

In the choice and design of vegetation, the choice of plants and their combinations must take into account various principles in balance with each other such as:

Heterogeneity: it can be declined in its meaning of the term by size of the plant, color of the blooms, type of leaf and color of the foliage etc...

Detailed Points: These are particular elements that can attract attention, we will see them in detail later. 

Rhythm: it is the dimensional relationship of the elements that through a sequence marks the space and controls the gradual change of shapes, colours and spaces.

Scale and Ratios: in the project the relationship with the measures and relative sizing define functional and aesthetic objectives according to the priorities. In a garden with a particular view, for example, the project will focus on minimum dimensional ratios giving priority to the view towards the surrounding landscape.

Balance, as we will see later in detail, it is composed of alternating full and empty spaces. To a medium-sized sculptural element, we contrast a small or medium-sized plant element in relation to the available space.

Less is more: as Ludwig Mies van der Rohe indicates to us.

When creating the garden some of the most common mistakes in the first phase can be the disorder or a not perfectly successful color combination. To overcome this problem it could be useful to use a color table with the colors already present such as those of the walls, floors, fabrics and greenery and try to match those proposed for a more conscious choice
The type of planting also plays a fundamental role in the choice of plants. In general, the quincunx arrangement is nothing more than the planting of species placed at the vertices of equilateral triangles.

In this way, even in the case of different heights, the plants are all equally visible as well as having a more homogeneous and compact appearance.

SEASONAL VARIATION PATTERN AND COLOR USE

When choosing a plant, both its age at planting and its growth development must be considered.

There are different types of plants with different growth times, it follows that if you need a “ready-made” garden, you will use more adult species.
The advantage of introducing younger plants is that they will take root more easily and adapt to the context, as well as in terms of the durability of the plant itself (age of the plant).
The choice of plants can also vary based on maintenance and the related cost/benefit ratio.
There is no right or wrong choice, but we can rather talk about a conscious choice. Through the support of a specialist, such as a landscape architect or an agronomist, it is possible to be helped in the choice.

THE CHOICE OF MATERIALS

The materials that make up the garden, whether they are flooring rather than furnishings must be chosen carefully taking into account the quality of the material itself in relation to atmospheric agents and comfort first and foremost. 

The use of resistant materials means savings in terms of comfort and time. In addition, artificial furnishings and materials contribute to achieving a uniformity of language in the garden.
In this case, it will be possible to intervene with different shapes and materials, combining them exactly as in the design of a living room, for example.

IRRIGATION AND LIGHTING

Last in the design phase but first as an element in the construction phase is the theme of lighting and irrigation.

The irrigation system can be of three types: 

Above ground, with drop, underground. The type of above-ground irrigation is the most commonly used and the simplest to implement, in fact the water is transported through the distribution of water jets or nozzles. 

The drip irrigation system and consists of a main tube and relative joints with holes. The tube is placed near the plant and is generally above ground to facilitate its maintenance, it also allows for jet or disappearing indication.
The choice to be made is made in relation to the type of plants, the shape of the garden, the flow rate of the water network.

The lighting system It is an important part of the garden, as it allows its use during the night hours. In this case, it is necessary to take into account the functions and define the types of light that can be more diffused in areas such as lawns, flower beds and hedges, or more intense in areas dedicated to conviviality.
There are different types of lighting fixtures on the market that vary in type of lighting, aesthetic relationship, and functional relationship.

Cover photo by Izuddin Helmi Adnan on Unsplash
Garden Design Manual: F. Zagari

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