EVOLUTION OF GARDENS

ORIGIN OF GARDENS
• Hebrew word GAN (Protect or Enclose) + EDEN (Paradise or Pleasure)
• In ancient times gardens were rarely used for pleasure – always served a purpose
• Did not have any economic benefit
• In ancient times were used as a kitchen garden, temple garden or a tomb garden
JOURNEY OF GARDENS
• Garden required time, money and space
• Developed when people started settling down
• From functional in ancient times – large gardens during the Renaissance, for strolling,
exhibitions, tea parties, etc.
• Driven by change in lifestyle – flourishing trade and commerce.
• Extravagant and luxurious lifestyles – status symbols

Small back yard kitchen Pleasure gardens for

garden relaxation
EGYPTIAN GARDENS
• Gardens existed as early as 2800BC
• Fully developed gardening techniques
• Secular purposes and attached to temple compound
• Before New Kingdom – private gardens attached for utilitarian purposes
• In the New Kingdom – houses surrounded by walls for leisure
• Climate – Arid. Gardens needed tending and irrigation
• Skilled gardeners employed for the temples for maintenance

FOUR TYPES OF GARDENS

1. Fruit and vegetable gardens – Grown in enclosures to protect from wild animals
2. Domestic Gardens – Cooking, eating, resting, working, relaxing and social interaction
3. Palace Gardens – larger spaces with internal courts, pools, plants and orchards
4. Tomb Gardens – believed in life after death, hence had special plots for gardens. Temples
represented heaven, hence small courtyards, avenue planting with ornamental trees and
scented flowers.
• Symmetrical planning along axis • Decorative Stone Kiosks
• Sides divided into 2 equal portions
• Decorative statues
• Entrance pylon at one end and house at the other
• Ponds for Fish and fowl
• Kitchen garden
• Tree lined boundary
• High enclosure
• Wooden trellies for vines
– shade from entrance to
house
• Enclosure for fruit trees
ROMAN GARDENS
• Separated gardens into utility and ornamental purposes
• Orchards were moved to the outskirts, early market gardens for medicinal plants and herbs
• PERISTYLE GARDENS – Attached to the house – pleasure gardens – fragrant flowers,
seating, fountains, murals, etc.
• Private gardens divided into 3 parts
• Xystus – A terrace that served as an open air drawing room
• Covered portico – Colonnaded connect between house and xystus
• Ambulation – Garden overlooked
from the xystus
• Some houses had atrium with pools to
collect water from roof tops
• Cool mediterranean climate encouraged
extensive use of out door spaces
• Influences by Egyptians, Persians and
Greek gardening techniques
PERSIAN GARDENS
• Arid country surrounded by snow capped mountains
• Water brought down from the peaks through under ground aqueducts – QANATS
• Presence and abundance of water – essence of Persian gardens
• Cools the atmosphere
• Adds humidity to the air
• Helps plants grow
• Psychological impact

CHARBAGH CONCEPT – Recreating Paradise

• Emphasis on geometry
• Four quadrants represented 4 quadrants of the earth
• Four river flowing from 4 quadrants culminate in the centre
• Concept followed by regions that followed Islam
• Jaali patterns, statues, pools, fountains, etc.
LAYERED RELATIONSHIP OF ARCHITECTURE AND LANDSCAPE
• Influenced by climate, geography, play
of light and reflection
• PERMEABLE / TRANSPARENT
BORDER between external and internal
spaces
• CARVED SCREENS, JAALI WORK,
VAULTED CEILINGS, DEEP
ARCHWAYS, etc. – inner to outer
courtyard connection
• Trees, trellises – BIOTIC SHADE,
pavilions, shaded corridors, structural
• Trees planted in JUBS – prevented
evaporation, access of water to roots
• Air cooling due to passing over WATER
BODIES
HANGING GARDENS OF BABYLON
• Considered one of the seven wonders of the Ancient World
• Built in 601BC by the king for his homesick wife who longed for trees and fragrant plants
• 100’ x 100’ garden built up in tiers – first example of TERRACE GARDENS
• Series of landscaped terraces accessed by a central stairway
• Water from the Euphrates continually supplied through chain pumps with buckets

LAYERS OF CONSTRUCTION
• Vaults made of stone
• Layer of reeds set in tar
• 2 courses of baked bricks
• Layer of lead – water proofing
• Top soil to support tall trees
MEDIEVAL GARDENS
Classified into 3 regions:
• Greek and Roman Gardens
• Spanish Gardens
• California and Mexico Gardens

GREEK AND ROMAN GARDENS

Roman houses followed the Greek pattern
Houses built flush to street with inward facing rooms on to an atrium
Pots, planting beds, stone water basins, marble tables and small statuettes
City centre had agricultural landscape, villas built on the outskirts
The Dark Ages – WAR, TURMOIL AND PLAGUE
Castles and monasteries had green spaces within the stronghold
Medicinal herbs, fruit trees, vines and vegetables and flowers
for the altar
At the end of the Dark Ages, castle gardens became larger and
elaborate.
Built for pleasure as well as utility.
Medieval manuscripts mention GARDENS TO BE IN
PERFECT HARMONY WITH NATURE
SPANISH GARDENS
• Highly influenced by the Persian gardens
• Moorish rulers introduced the concept of Paradise – combined with the Roam atrium
• Earliest example – Al Hambra, Spain
• Constructed by Moorish rulers – extended by various Muslim rulers
• Organic growth , built on a cliff, all rooms opening on to courts
• Famous landscaped courts – Court of Lions, Court of Myrtles, Generalife
GARDENS OF MEXICO AND CALIFORNIA
• Californian gardens were informal style of gardens – did not follow symmetry
• Mexico drew influences from both Spain and California
• Mexican gardens had both patterns – Formal Spanish Gardens and Informal Californian
• Closely linked to the rooms and buildings of the house
CHINESE GARDENS
• Ancient Chinese gardens were highly influenced by the dynasties, history, art and culture
• Considered the best gardens in the world

• Garden history can be divided across 6 dynasties:

1. SHAN DYNASTY (1600BC): ROYAL GARDENS – SHOW OF POWER OF THE
EMPIRE – built on a raised platform
2. HAN DYNASTY (206 BC-220 AD): GARDENS WITHIN A FORT – ON MOUNDS
in a large water body – connected by bridges
3. WEI DYNASTY (300 – 400AD): GARDENS SHOULD RELATE TO NATURE
4. SUI DYANSTY (700 – 800AD): GARDENS BASED ON POEMS AND
PAINTINGS
5. SONG DYNASTY (1100 – 1200AD): NATURE WAS ABSTRACTED AND
EMBELLISHED with water, rocks, plants and animals
6. MING DYNASTY (1700 – 1800AD): CONCEPT OF ‘GARDEN IN A GARDEN’
DESIGN METHODOLOGY
Pavilions placed at vantage points for best views possible
Thought process - Make garden natural looking
Design methodology divided into 5 parts:
1. CONCEPT – How best a garden reflect a POEM OR A PAINTING
2. APPROACH – How best the garden can IMITATE NATURE
3. LAYERS – PRIMARY FORMS (pavilions, ponds, mounds, platforms); SECONDARY
FORMS (Plants that imitate painting) and ACCENTS (rocks, sculptures, waterfalls to go
with concept)
4. SCENE – Every cone of vision to frame a different scene – INTENTIONAL DESIGN
5. BORROWING – Mountains and peaks at a distance to COMPLETE A SCENE
ELEMENTS IN CHINESE GARDENS
1. ARCHITECTURE – PAVILIONS with hipped roofs, undressed stone, wooden screens,
lattice work, calligraphy – placed at VANTAGE POINTS FOR BEST VIEWS
2. ROCKS – Gathered from beaches, wooded areas, WEATHERED OR WEATHER
BEATEN ROCKS (TAIHU) – selected based on colour, size shape and placement – used
on combination with ponds and streams
3. WATER - Used for REFLECTION OR AESTHETICS – most important to represent
nature (reflection of the moon, changing sky or landscape). Softness of water offset by
solidity of rocks
4. PLANTS – Used for decorating rocks and water – selection based on Shape and
appearance, Colour and Fragrance, Trees used to frame scenes
JAPANESE GARDENS
• Similar to Chinese gardens – highly abstracted and stylized
• 2 types of gardens:
1. Imperial Gardens – built for the emperor – recreation and pleasure
2. Contemplative Gardens – for contemplation and meditation in temples

Contemplative gardens - Zen gardens

Japanese infused the art of garden making with
other arts like calligraphy and ink painting also.
INFLUENCES
• Chinese neighbours – natural setting but completely man-made
• Physical features of the land – Volcanic terrain, narrow valleys, mountain streams,
cascades and waterfalls, white stone beaches, etc.
• Religion – Shintoism, Daoism, Amitabha Buddhism
• Distinct four seasons of Japan and flora and fauna of Japan
ELEMENTS OF A JAPANESE GARDEN

TEA PAVILION

BRIDGE
STONE LANTERN

WHITE SAND
GRAVEL
ROCKS

FENCE
• WATER – Used in direct or indirect representation
• BRIDGES & STEPPING STONES
• TEA PAVILION – Tea was introduced by the Chinese monks
• SCREENS / PERGOLAS / FENCES
• ROCK GROUPINGS
• STONE LANTERNS / SCULPTURES
TYPES OF A JAPANESE GARDENS
• KARESANSUI GARDENS – Dry meditative gardens influenced by Zen Buddhism. All
elements are symbolic and abstract in nature
• TSUKIYAMA GARDENS – Concept of borrowing – making the garden look bigger than it
actually is

• CHANIWA GARDENS – Held tea ceremonies, pavilion

in the middle of the lake – path to the lake an experience
in itself
• KANSHOH STYLE GARDENS – Residential gardens to be viewed from the residence
• POND GARDENS – Gardens designed to be viewed while moving around in a boat
• KAIYU SHIKI GARDENS – Designed to view a sequence of effect from a path that
circumnavigates the garden – uses un even surfaces, unexpected bends, etc. that prompts a
person to look in a particular direction. Hide and Reveal Design.
ITALIAN RENAISSANCE GARDENS
• New style of gardens that emerged in the 15th century – intended for pleasure
• Mostly private gardens in villas - inspired by the classical ideals of order and beauty

CHARACTERISTICS OF RENAISSANCE GARDENS

• Broke the wall between house, garden and landscape – large villas with extravagant gardens
• Followed symmetry – included fountains, topiary and statues
• Highly influenced by LEON BATTISTA ALBERTI (1404 – 1472); wrote De Re
Aedifactoria (Ten Books of Architecture)

You should place porticos for giving shade; planters where vines can climb, placed on marble
columns, vases and amusing statues provided they are not obscene. You should have rare
plants. Trees should be aligned and arranged evenly, each tree aligned with its neighbours.

• Power and magnificence – Political symbolism of the garden

• Influence of Literature – Poliphilo’s Strife of Love in a Dream by monk Francesco Colonna
ELEMENTS OF ITALIAN GARDENS
1. OUTLINING WITH BOX HEDGES
2. TOPIARY & STATUES
3. ARCHES AND PATHWAYS
4. FRUIT TREES
5. TERRACING
6. TRELLISES AND CLIMBING PLANTS
7. POTTED PLANTS
8. RELATIONSHIP TO THE VILLA
9. TIGHTLY PLANTED BEDS
10. WATER FEATURES
11. STRUCTURES
12. GARDEN FURNITURE
13. PERSONAL SIGNIFICANCE
VILLA LANTE, BAGNAIA
VILLA D’ESTE, TIVOLI
FRENCH GARDENS
• Largely inspired by Italian
gardens – ENORMOUS
PROPORTIONS in comparison
• Main contributor – Louis XIV
and his head gardener Andre Le
Notre (17th century)
• Epitome of ‘MONARCH AND
MAN’ – dominating and
manipulating nature to show
POWER, AUTHORITY AND
DOMINANCE
• Designed on flat topography – all terraces and mounds are intentional
• Applied FORMAL AND AXIAL PLANNING – central axis LEAD EYES TO THE
HORIZON
• Villa placed in the centre and landscaping front and behind
ELEMENTS OF FRENCH GARDENS
• PARTERRE
• BRODERIE
• BOSQUETS
• ALLE
• TOPIARY
• PATTE D’OIE
ARCHITECTURAL SYMBOLISM
• Considered garden as an extension of the building – nature ordered according to the rules of
geometry
• Walls – hedges; Stairs – Cascades; Tall Trees – Perforated walls; Mirrors - Long basins of
water, Carpets – Broderies, etc.

OPTICAL ILLUSION
• Accelerated sense of perspective – illusion of a greater distance

HA – HA FENCE
• Fences concealed from viewers

TECHNOLOGICAL CONTRIBUTIONS
GEOPLAISE; HYDROLOGY; HYDROPLAISE
Influence of the French Garden Style was not seen further in any other style of gardens
VAUX LE VICOMTE
ILLUSION
ENGLISH GARDENS
• Style emerged in the 18th century – replaced the formal and symmetrical French gardens
• Also called ENGLISH LANDSCAPE PARK
• SCALE bigger than French gardens; GRANDEUR differed

INFLUENCES
• Presented an idealised view of nature
• Inspired by paintings of landscape – Claude Lorraine and Nicolas Poussin
• Chinese gardens described by European travellers

FEATURES OF AN ENGLISH GARDEN

• LAKES
• SWEEPING AND GENTLY ROLLING LAWNS SET AGAINST GROVES OF TREES
• RECREATIONS OF GOTHIC AND CLASSICAL TEMPLES AND RUINS
• BRIDGES
• FEATURES RELATING TO PASTORAL LANDSCAPE
• Designed by William Kent and Charles Bridgeman
• Revived the Classical and Palladian architecture – used in bridges and motifs
• Worked for wealthy patrons who had large country estates
• Influenced future landscapes for Public parks and gardens
IDEOLOGIES OF ARCHITECTS
WILLIAM KENT
• Believed landscape should look MORE NATURAL
• Followed the NATURAL TERRAIN – introduced rolling lawns, clumps of trees, water
bodies, etc.
LANCELOT BROWN
• Succeeded William Kent
• Most influential figure in the development of the English landscape
• Great Age of English Garden – Capability Brown
• Removed all FORMAL ELEMENTS in a garden, influence of French gardens
• His style was called the GARDENLESS FORM OF LANDSCAPE GARDENING – made
the garden look much bigger
HUMPHRY REPTON
• Considered as successor to Brown
• Reintroduced the formal spaces in gardens – EMPHASIS ON THE HOUSE
• Produced the RED BOOKS
MODERN GARDENS – UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
• Gained prominence in the 20th century
• FORM FOLLOWS FUNCTION
• Garrett Eckbo, Dan Kiley and James Rose – Pioneers of Modern Gardens
• Used a mix of curved and architectonic designs – abstract art in geometrics and sculpture
• Defined spaces – thoughtful placement of trees and plants

INFLUENCES
• English Gardens – direct influence
• Industrial Revolution – Strength to Weight ratio changed
• Purpose of landscape was given importance
• Straight lines and simple designs – easy maintenance
• Decentralization of wealth
• Spread of communication
THE CALIFORNIAN GARDEN – THOMAS CHURCH
• First professional Landscape Architect
• Recommended modern materials and functional ideas
• Combined practicality of traditional gardens with modern design and style
• Yard was an extension of the house – outdoor living areas
• Asymmetrical lines, simplicity of form, lines and shapes, new materials, flowing patterns
• Texture and colour reminded of Cubist painters

PRINCIPLES
• SCALE – Planned for a family and guests to use
• FUNCTIONALITY – Design revolved around a purpose for which it was designed
• SIMPLICITY – Emphasis on practical usage of all available spaces
• UNITY – Combined home and garden – simple garden to blend with the most extravagant
homes
DONELL GARDEN, CALIFORNIA
FREDRICK LAW OLMSTEAD
• Wanted to preserve areas of natural beauty for use
• Worked with Vaux on the Central Park
• Advanced urbanisation – society divided and governed separately
• City planning introduced – official, residential, commercial, public, open spaces, etc.

PARKS IN THE CITY PLANNING SYSTEMS

1. LARGE URBAN PARK – Breather for the city
2. THE PARKWAY – Green way for several modes of transportation – connecting parks and
green spaces, avenue planting for roads
3. PARKS SYSTEM – Parks for neighbourhoods, city and district for recreation
4. PROTECTION AND CONSERVATION OF FRAGILE ZONES – protection from
destruction and commercial exploitation
5. ZONING OF THE MASTER PLAN
6. RESIDENTIAL UNIT LANDSCAPE – Back yards and front lawns – Individual
7. RESIDENTIAL CAMPUSES – Landscape in Gated Community Housing
8. INSTITUTIONAL CAMPUSES AND GOVERNMENT BUILDING GROUNDS
CENTRAL PARK, MANHATTAN
GARDENS IN INDIA
• Influenced by the multitude of cultures existing in India
• Changed under the political influences – Islamic, Colonial and Indo-Saracenic
• Exotic trees and plants introduced into the Indian landscape
• Purpose of the gardens – predominantly pleasure
TAJ MAHAL, AGRA
VICTORIA MEMORIAL, KOLKATA
RASHTRAPATI BHAVAN, NEW DELHI
ASSIGNMENT
• Mughal Gardens of the Taj
• Planning of Central Park
• William Kent
• Capability Brown
• Humphry Repton
• Garrett Eckbo
• Thomas Church
• Luis Barragan
• Roberto Burle marx
• Andrew Jackson Downing
• Fredrick Law Olmstead
• Charles Jencks
• Martha Schwatrz
• Peter Walker
• Dan Kiley
• Paul Bangay
• Russell Page
• Rainer Schmidt
• Michael Van Valkenburgh
• Kathryn Gustafson
• Lawrence Halprin