Wednesday, March 5, 2014
Behind The Scenes Minimalist Stone Garden
Ive been planning a garden over the last couple of months that has made me quite excited. The house itself is quite contemporary, and in a great setting. Its flanked on one side by 2 magnificent, verdant green fig trees, and on the other side by amazing views over Beechwood Golf Course and out to sea. Its quite close to the existing house next door, which makes for an interesting challenge in trying to soften the views from both sides whilst not creating too much shade.
The owner and the architect had some great ideas, which gave quite strong direction as to what the garden should eventually look like. They wanted to create an almost minimalist, oriental feel with rock and grasses. After several concepts, we settled on a simple approach to the design, which would would require some very large rocks, which would in turn compliment the natural stone that has been used as a strong design element in the house.
Our first step was to remove the alien vegetation on site, which would also open up the views from the house. This would also create more space for the main rock garden area.
Using the initial concept sketches, I finalised the design, and worked out the position and rough size of the rocks that we would need for the space.
To get a better feel for the size of the rocks, I drew the site on Sketchup, and moved the rocks around to find the best position, shape and size. I wanted to also plan the position of the rocks around the possibility of adding some decking into the design at a later stage.
The drawings and sketches are more of a guideline to use when the choosing the rocks, because its quite easy to be overwhelmed by the size of the rocks when youre looking at them by themselves in a quarry.
The tendency is to choose smaller rocks when youre looking at the rocks by themselves. I went into the quarry armed with my sketches showing the shapes and measurements of the rocks that I wanted. I took photographs, and numbered each rock according to the position it was going to fill.
Even with all the preparation there are always a few slight hiccups. Unfortunately this job was no exception. The crane company I had hired to move the rocks got cold feet the day before the rocks were due to arrive. They were nervous because there was no way that we could know (and plan for) the weight of the rocks until they had been weighed on the weigh-bridge and were on their way to site. I had been given figures of anything from 1-7 tonnes per rock. Fortunately, after several anxious hours of phone calls, I managed to get a rigging company - Lovemore Brothers, to step in at the last minute (for a considerably higher fee), to handle the process of moving the rocks from the truck into position.
True to their word, the 55 tonne crane arrived at 7h30 the next morning. After several days of rain I knew that we had a window period of a few hours of good weather, so I began to grow quite anxious when I was told that the rocks were delayed by a broken down truck.
Eventually, at 14h30 the first load arrived, just as the clouds began to roll in. We worked quickly knowing that a storm was approaching, and that we had only a few more hours of light to get the remaining 16 tonnes of stone onto site. We finished the first load as the lightning began to strike around us. (An especially worrying thing when you have a 30-40m lightning-conductor sticking out above everything around it.) The very cold rain began soon after, which was just the precursor to the large hailstones that followed. It seemed like everything that could make our work harder, was going to happen. Fortunately, as is the norm with storms like that in Durban, it didnt last long.
3 long hours later, the second load arrived - just 25 minutes before the cut-off time that Devan (the very capable rigger in charge) had put in place.
With the light fading, and the dangerous prospect of positioning 3 tonne rocks in place in the dark, looming quickly, we tried to work fast. But before we knew it, the light was gone, and we were literally positioning rocks by lamplight.
Next week, Ill do a follow up, showing the completed garden, with the rocks and plants all in place.
Read More..
Our first step was to remove the alien vegetation on site, which would also open up the views from the house. This would also create more space for the main rock garden area.
 |
| The almost blank canvas... |
To get a better feel for the size of the rocks, I drew the site on Sketchup, and moved the rocks around to find the best position, shape and size. I wanted to also plan the position of the rocks around the possibility of adding some decking into the design at a later stage.
 |
| Sketchup drawing of the area showing the volume of the rocks |
 |
| Shorty stands in front of Rock No.9 |
Even with all the preparation there are always a few slight hiccups. Unfortunately this job was no exception. The crane company I had hired to move the rocks got cold feet the day before the rocks were due to arrive. They were nervous because there was no way that we could know (and plan for) the weight of the rocks until they had been weighed on the weigh-bridge and were on their way to site. I had been given figures of anything from 1-7 tonnes per rock. Fortunately, after several anxious hours of phone calls, I managed to get a rigging company - Lovemore Brothers, to step in at the last minute (for a considerably higher fee), to handle the process of moving the rocks from the truck into position.
True to their word, the 55 tonne crane arrived at 7h30 the next morning. After several days of rain I knew that we had a window period of a few hours of good weather, so I began to grow quite anxious when I was told that the rocks were delayed by a broken down truck.
Eventually, at 14h30 the first load arrived, just as the clouds began to roll in. We worked quickly knowing that a storm was approaching, and that we had only a few more hours of light to get the remaining 16 tonnes of stone onto site. We finished the first load as the lightning began to strike around us. (An especially worrying thing when you have a 30-40m lightning-conductor sticking out above everything around it.) The very cold rain began soon after, which was just the precursor to the large hailstones that followed. It seemed like everything that could make our work harder, was going to happen. Fortunately, as is the norm with storms like that in Durban, it didnt last long.
With the light fading, and the dangerous prospect of positioning 3 tonne rocks in place in the dark, looming quickly, we tried to work fast. But before we knew it, the light was gone, and we were literally positioning rocks by lamplight.
 |
| Thats the last rock being lit up with a light in the top left corner |
Allowing History to Erode without Erasing It
Layering design
Without destroying previous intent.
Without destroying previous intent.
Having compassion for the past
While greeting the dynamic present.
Creating something new
That cradles the old.
While greeting the dynamic present.
Creating something new
That cradles the old.
Uninhibited creativity
Contentedly discovering restraint.
Embracing the native
And the visitor.
And the visitor.
Landscape PING!
So I think I need to start with the boring stuff. What’s this blog about? Other than allowing me somewhere to spout off my sometimes, irrational views about the modern world (like who the hell thought that flavoured water would be a good idea?). Anyway, as I’m a Chartered Landscape Architect and hence spend quite a lot of time thinking about this, it seemed not a bad starting point for me to write about landscape architecture.
Errrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrm, but there’s a problem here, isn’t there? You don’t know what landscape architects do or what landscape architecture is about, do you? What do you think it is then?
No! Don’t say that word, godammit!!!
OK. *Takes deep breath*
Well for a start don’t worry, I suspect you’re in good company here, as not many people seem to know what a landscape architect does either. Sadly, I’d probably include many of the people I seem to encounter through work in that too. But where can you find out, you cry?!?
Well you would think a good place to start would be the Landscape Institute’s website, http://www.landscapeinstitute.org/, seeing as how they’re like, the people what look after landscape architects (including me of course). Hmmmmmm, not a lot of explanation of what we do there, but there is the lovely slogan, “The Landscape Institute – Inspiring great places.” Not really inspiring an understanding of landscape architect unfortunately. Handily, it also has a link to http://www.iwanttobealandscapearchitect.com/. This is the Landscape Institute’s propaganda site for grooming children into the profession; luring them to their gingerbread house on Great Portland Street with pictures of fountains, fopps and fauna. To be honest, you’ll actually have to look pretty hard amongst, “The Genius of Place” and “The Power to Change”, before you find some sort of definition, but here it is:
“Landscape architecture combines environment and design, art and science. It is about everything outside the front door, both urban and rural, at the interface between people and natural systems. The range of ways in which landscape architects work is staggering.”
It continues in that vein for some time and then if were beginning to get some sort of idea about the subject, it then has videos of a whole load of landscape architects, giving ‘their definition’ of landscape architecture. Anyone would think we are a little bit unsure ourselves. Personally, I think it’s ‘staggering’ that we can’t all agree on a common definition. So here’s mine.
Landscape architecture is the design of exterior space.
Easy and inclusive of trees, planting, paving, management, urban design, masterplanning, ecology, public realm and a whole heap of stuff that is not immediately springing to my befuddled, mind. Crucially for me, it has nothing to do with landscaping.
You see landscaping, pronounced, “land ·skeyp ·PING (see what I did there?) is often assumed to be one in the same with landscape architecture, and there our problems start.
We all like gardening and some people think landscape architects are gardeners. Gardeners are game amateurs - cheery, ruddy faced types, with muddy fingers, no bra’s and who turn up at your house unannounced and makeover your garden, accompanied by the Batley Colliery Brass Band. But would you want Alan Titchmarsh and Charlie Dimmock involved with your multi-million pound urban regeneration scheme?
Landscaping is the commercial end of gardening, but their reputation is less cosy. You see landscape-ping is closely associated with tarmacing. People who do tarmacing turn up at your house unannounced, tell you they they’re doing some landscaping round the corner and that they can do you a great deal on a new drive, before edging your house with flapjack, slapping you with the Royal Bank of Scotland’s debt and threatening to sell your Granny to the white slave trade if you don’t pay up.
So you see, people round the country are assuming that landscape architects are either bumbling amateurs or the type of people you see running away from Roger Cooke. I hope you see my problem and why I hate the term landscaping with such vehemence.
My solution is simple.
The first rule of landscape architecture is, you do not talk about landscaping.
The second rule of landscape architecture is, you DO NOT talk about landscaping.
Finally, if you really have to say that word, adopt an incredulous expression and pronounce it “landscape-PING!?!”, as if you’ve never heard it applied to your profession before.
Read More..
Errrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrm, but there’s a problem here, isn’t there? You don’t know what landscape architects do or what landscape architecture is about, do you? What do you think it is then?
No! Don’t say that word, godammit!!!
OK. *Takes deep breath*
Well for a start don’t worry, I suspect you’re in good company here, as not many people seem to know what a landscape architect does either. Sadly, I’d probably include many of the people I seem to encounter through work in that too. But where can you find out, you cry?!?
Well you would think a good place to start would be the Landscape Institute’s website, http://www.landscapeinstitute.org/, seeing as how they’re like, the people what look after landscape architects (including me of course). Hmmmmmm, not a lot of explanation of what we do there, but there is the lovely slogan, “The Landscape Institute – Inspiring great places.” Not really inspiring an understanding of landscape architect unfortunately. Handily, it also has a link to http://www.iwanttobealandscapearchitect.com/. This is the Landscape Institute’s propaganda site for grooming children into the profession; luring them to their gingerbread house on Great Portland Street with pictures of fountains, fopps and fauna. To be honest, you’ll actually have to look pretty hard amongst, “The Genius of Place” and “The Power to Change”, before you find some sort of definition, but here it is:
“Landscape architecture combines environment and design, art and science. It is about everything outside the front door, both urban and rural, at the interface between people and natural systems. The range of ways in which landscape architects work is staggering.”
It continues in that vein for some time and then if were beginning to get some sort of idea about the subject, it then has videos of a whole load of landscape architects, giving ‘their definition’ of landscape architecture. Anyone would think we are a little bit unsure ourselves. Personally, I think it’s ‘staggering’ that we can’t all agree on a common definition. So here’s mine.
Landscape architecture is the design of exterior space.
Easy and inclusive of trees, planting, paving, management, urban design, masterplanning, ecology, public realm and a whole heap of stuff that is not immediately springing to my befuddled, mind. Crucially for me, it has nothing to do with landscaping.
You see landscaping, pronounced, “land ·skeyp ·PING (see what I did there?) is often assumed to be one in the same with landscape architecture, and there our problems start.
We all like gardening and some people think landscape architects are gardeners. Gardeners are game amateurs - cheery, ruddy faced types, with muddy fingers, no bra’s and who turn up at your house unannounced and makeover your garden, accompanied by the Batley Colliery Brass Band. But would you want Alan Titchmarsh and Charlie Dimmock involved with your multi-million pound urban regeneration scheme?
Landscaping is the commercial end of gardening, but their reputation is less cosy. You see landscape-ping is closely associated with tarmacing. People who do tarmacing turn up at your house unannounced, tell you they they’re doing some landscaping round the corner and that they can do you a great deal on a new drive, before edging your house with flapjack, slapping you with the Royal Bank of Scotland’s debt and threatening to sell your Granny to the white slave trade if you don’t pay up.
So you see, people round the country are assuming that landscape architects are either bumbling amateurs or the type of people you see running away from Roger Cooke. I hope you see my problem and why I hate the term landscaping with such vehemence.
My solution is simple.
The first rule of landscape architecture is, you do not talk about landscaping.
The second rule of landscape architecture is, you DO NOT talk about landscaping.
Finally, if you really have to say that word, adopt an incredulous expression and pronounce it “landscape-PING!?!”, as if you’ve never heard it applied to your profession before.
Landscape masonry edicate
As I have always mentioned before... Landscape Architecture is about using materials from an existing structure to bring into the landscape and tie things together. This particular project was about just that...
The homeowner was very fun to work with from the start. When I first arrived on his project he asked me to drive up and down his street and pay attention to all the homes on his street....look at all the landscape ideas they have done....then come back and show him something different!!! (I like a challenge!)
I did exactly that and came up with the walls and pillars matching the stonework on the home. I decided to go with squares and rectangles as the paving shapes for the pathway rather than sweeping curved lines.
In the end, the client was very pleased and the look of the landscape was said to bring a bit of the old Forest Hill in Toronto look... into the Suburbs of the G.T.A. (Greater Toronto Area).Tuesday, March 4, 2014
Landscape Design Ideas Add Character to Your Home
If you have just bought a new home or are planning to add some character to your existing home, you know just how important landscape design ideas can be. You sure are excited about adding your personal touch to the home. So where do you get started?
Landscaping can make a big difference to your home. It adds character and makes your home a special place that is a reflection of your tastes and personality. The first look of your home is what leaves an impression on your visitors and all those passing by and thus, Landscaping is what you need to bring in the desired effects to transform your home into a dream space. Landscaping does not mean having to shell out a huge amount and getting in professionals who charge an enormous sum as consultation fees. With all the material available online and in the form of books, you could get started with your ideas all on your own. It surely gives a lot more satisfaction putting things together all on your own.
There are also a number of software today that allow you to design your landscaping project before you actually begin with the work. Landscaping projects is an area where good planning is required or else you would end up spending a lot of time and money and still not achieve the desired effects. Good planning and good research to back the work would ensure that you are able to put your ideas into practice and that too within your budget.
Landscaping design ideas can actually transform the home giving it a personality and character that you would fall in love with. The exterior of the home needs careful attention and the colors that you use would have a great impact on the overall appearance of your home. Make out a complete plan before beginning with the action. Checking out on the possible colors and the combination is important. There are also special paints for exteriors that can withstand the harsh weather conditions. Coming to the next stage of the greenery, it is important to make the right choice when it comes to the plants that you would like to use for beautifying your garden.
It is important to choose plants that are suitable to the specific weather conditions and regular maintenance and care is essential to keep them happy and smiling. Fountains, building walkways, a beautiful lawn and some good lighting are some other landscaping design ideas that can give a face lift to the overall appearance of your home. Make sure that you have every little detail planned and all material ready before you begin work. It is important to have harmony in thoughts and ideas and have a clear understanding of the bigger picture.
Landscape designing ideas can actually transform the home giving it a personality and character that you would fall in love with. dont you interested to know these fantastic ideas? Get them here Landscape Design Ideas
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Satya_Narayan_Das
http://blogspot.com/
Read More..
There are also a number of software today that allow you to design your landscaping project before you actually begin with the work. Landscaping projects is an area where good planning is required or else you would end up spending a lot of time and money and still not achieve the desired effects. Good planning and good research to back the work would ensure that you are able to put your ideas into practice and that too within your budget.
Landscaping design ideas can actually transform the home giving it a personality and character that you would fall in love with. The exterior of the home needs careful attention and the colors that you use would have a great impact on the overall appearance of your home. Make out a complete plan before beginning with the action. Checking out on the possible colors and the combination is important. There are also special paints for exteriors that can withstand the harsh weather conditions. Coming to the next stage of the greenery, it is important to make the right choice when it comes to the plants that you would like to use for beautifying your garden.
It is important to choose plants that are suitable to the specific weather conditions and regular maintenance and care is essential to keep them happy and smiling. Fountains, building walkways, a beautiful lawn and some good lighting are some other landscaping design ideas that can give a face lift to the overall appearance of your home. Make sure that you have every little detail planned and all material ready before you begin work. It is important to have harmony in thoughts and ideas and have a clear understanding of the bigger picture.
Landscape designing ideas can actually transform the home giving it a personality and character that you would fall in love with. dont you interested to know these fantastic ideas? Get them here Landscape Design Ideas
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Satya_Narayan_Das
http://blogspot.com/
A Multitude of Disciplines Required in Landscaping Design
Most people going about their daily lives pay little attention to Landscaping Design. Little do they know how important it is to their overall mental well being. The visual environment plays a subtle part in how we see the world and thus how the world affects each of us.
Such an important and ubiquitous feature of our world is all around us. Yet it is all but "unseen" by most people. Some say that it a measure of its success. Like something subtly beautiful. It uplifts, but doesnt impose.
Landscapes that are not well Designed, or have little or no Design thought invested in them, are subconsciously offensive to our spirit. They tend to offend something deep within all of us. Something perennial.
Design in Landscaping is a very broad term. It can mean the clever structuring of the land around a small private residence. In that regards it means the careful planning of the position of various plant bed. It means deciding which plants should be grown in which bed. It also means the placing of ornamental non plant objects and items.
http://blogspot.com
Nothing is Certain but Death of Plants and Taxes
Taxes. A swear word in most peoples vocabulary.
Nobody likes paying them, but we all enjoy the benefits of public libraries, smooth roads and waste removal.
I had an epiphany the other day - that having a beautiful garden requires the same investment as paying taxes. You only notice the problem, when its too late, and the infrastructure isnt there.
The insight came to me when I visited a garden recently, where I had been called in to consult (a few years ago), during the preparation stage of this garden.
At the time, my client was more concerned with the final product than with what went into getting it there (and trying to get there as economically as possible).
They rashly ignored my insistence that they pay more attention to the preparation of the soil. I suggested that they should almost spend a larger portion of their budget on remedial work for the soil, than on the plants. It fell on deaf ears - or perhaps I didnt articulate it well enough.
Either way, two years later, the result is a problem that is far more difficult to address. The plants are pale and sparse, and the grass is patchy and full of weeds.
My suggestion if youre still in the early stages - pay your garden taxes now. Youll reap the rewards later (literally). If your soil is in overdraft, its not too late to start making regular payments now.
Start by topdressing your lawn with a thin layer of good, rich compost, add copious amounts of compost to flower beds, and mulch wherever possible. It may take a while, but the fruit will be so much richer.
Read More..
Nobody likes paying them, but we all enjoy the benefits of public libraries, smooth roads and waste removal.
I had an epiphany the other day - that having a beautiful garden requires the same investment as paying taxes. You only notice the problem, when its too late, and the infrastructure isnt there.
The insight came to me when I visited a garden recently, where I had been called in to consult (a few years ago), during the preparation stage of this garden.
At the time, my client was more concerned with the final product than with what went into getting it there (and trying to get there as economically as possible).
They rashly ignored my insistence that they pay more attention to the preparation of the soil. I suggested that they should almost spend a larger portion of their budget on remedial work for the soil, than on the plants. It fell on deaf ears - or perhaps I didnt articulate it well enough.
Either way, two years later, the result is a problem that is far more difficult to address. The plants are pale and sparse, and the grass is patchy and full of weeds.
My suggestion if youre still in the early stages - pay your garden taxes now. Youll reap the rewards later (literally). If your soil is in overdraft, its not too late to start making regular payments now.
Start by topdressing your lawn with a thin layer of good, rich compost, add copious amounts of compost to flower beds, and mulch wherever possible. It may take a while, but the fruit will be so much richer.
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