Introduction to Garden Planning and Design

Session 4 – Design Grids, Theme and Layout Drawings. Materials – Hard Landscaping.

Learning objectives Creating the outline design

Explain the use of a design grid in beginning a garden design.

Describe how to draw a concept or theme design Material choices - hard and soft landscaping

Choices in hard landscaping - suiting materials to style, budget, maintenance considerations, texture, line and form. State three hard landscaping materials and

relate these to particular garden styles. Identify three maintenance issues one for

each of the materials named above Identify budget considerations for each

material

Group Discussion – ‘mood board’ and design ideas exercise

How did you go about finding ideas? How are you storing and organising

them? Why did you choose the

images/ideas/objects that you did? Is there a theme at this stage or did you

just go for interesting stuff? How can you use this process to find

new ideas, rather than just confirming existing tastes/attitudes?

Design Grids A guide not handcuffs! But a useful

trick to help keep design in scale and proportion to the house and, therefore, people.

On tracing paper over the scale plan. Draw horizontal and vertical lines from house corners, then add lines from corners of windows, doors etc. Add sight lines in another colour.

Choose a subdividing line to create a grid – it does not have to be regular (but this may be better) nor in squares!

Theme drawings Theme drawings are those based on strong

shapes that divide the grid into different areas. Use the grid to place the shapes.

Circular, rectangular, square themes –aligned with the house or at an angle.

Start to locate use and circulation spaces in the areas you identified in the appraisal process

Scale up the grid for use away from the house in large gardens, scale it down to plan smaller, intimate spaces close to the house.

Design grids – use to create themes

Place another sheet of tracing paper over the grid and begin to draw use and circulation spaces in – strong shapes work best (squares, rectangles, circles).

Create several of each type of shape – looking for balance between the use spaces and the planting etc spaces.

Angle the grid for diagonal use – 45 degrees. Just outlines at this stage – looking for a

satisfying theme to work further.

Design Grids – layout plan Choose the theme plan that you like best.

Secure over your scale plan. Take another sheet of tracing paper and

secure over the top. Add the grid lines in fine pencil and the

theme lines in pencil, adjusting them for scale and use. Once you are happy then ink the theme lines in.

Allocate uses and note materials and features. This brings in style and design choices.

Then draw the master plan – transferring all the scale and design information (not the grid lines) to a final large sheet of tracing paper. Add the North point and plan block.

Materials -Hard Landscaping

Refers to everything in the garden design that is not living.

A wide range of choices of varying cost, difficulty of construction, maintenance requirements and appearance.

The choice will be partly dictated by the style of the design – rough stone in a cottage garden for example.

Design principles - reminder

Scale/proportion Balance Rhythm Line and shape Colour Texture Simplicity Styles?

Hard landscaping – horizontal surfaces

Material Benefits Limitations

Wooden decking Can be painted or stained to any colour. Cheap. Relatively easy to install.

Not for heavy loads. Can become slippery in damp. Short life.Regular maintenance

Paving slabs or stone

Hard wearing, little maintenance. Wide variety of sizes and colours. Can bear loads.

Requires skill to lay. Does not suit irregular shapes well. Stone is expensive

Concrete Very hard wearing, can be coloured or textured. Relatively cheap.

Can look rather industrial. Large areas will need expert installation.

Pavers Can be matched to the house bricks. Variety of patterns possible in bonds.

Not easy to lay well. Expensive.

Hard landscaping - verticals

Vertical elements in design provide interest. Focal points. ‘Borrowed views’

They break up the design – providing a ‘journey’ and dividing use areas from each other.

If hard landscaping they provide permanent structure and features

They can provide shelter and privacy in overlooked sites

Hard landscaping - verticals

Material Benefits Limitations

Wood – fence panels

Painted or stained. Define garden boundaries; provide security. windbreaks for productive areas. DIY possible. Cheap.

Require regular maintenance. Limited life span.

Brick - wall Bricks come in a variety of colours and textures. Very long lasting. Create microclimates

Require expert construction. Expensive.

Metal – e.g. pergolas

Can be painted, create interesting detailed shapes not possible with wood etc.

Expensive, require regular maintenance. Large structures need expert fitting.

Stone Natural appearance, link to location.

Most expensive, stone walls need a mason to build.

Learning outcomes Creating the outline design

Explain the use of a design grid in beginning a garden design.

Describe how to draw a concept or theme design Material choices - hard and soft landscaping

Choices in hard landscaping - suiting materials to style, budget, maintenance considerations, texture, line and form. State three hard landscaping materials and

relate these to particular garden styles. Identify three maintenance issues one for

each of the materials named above Identify budget considerations for each

material