Arc 403

The Different perceptions of Landscape and History of Gardening

A. The Different perceptions of Landscape

The terms landscape, landscape architecture, landscape design and landscaping are words often
used in relation to the shaping, beautification and modification of the built and natural
environment

Landscape:

The way people perceive landscape differ from person to person. But the European Landscape
Convention (ELC) defines landscape as “an area, as perceived by people, whose character is
the result of the action and interaction of natural and or human factors,” meaning that
landscape arises from the interaction of people with their environment.

Landscape can therefore be defined based on the above as ‘scenery of natural and man-made
features within the built and natural environment defined by man’s interaction and activities
within his surroundings’.

Landscape Architecture

The American Society of Landscape Architecture (ASLA), Defines landscape architecture as

the art of design, planning or management of the land, arrangement of natural and man-made
elements thereon through application of cultural and scientific knowledge, with concern for
resource conservation and stewardship to the end that the resultant environment serves a useful
and enjoyable purpose. So, it the profession which applies artistic and scientific principles to
the research, planning, design and management of both natural and the built environments

Landscape Design

Landscape design on the other hand, focuses more on the artistic merits of design, while
landscape architecture encompasses the artistic design as well as management. So in defining
landscape design, it is the art of arranging or modifying the features of a landscape for aesthetic
or practical purpose.

Its main concern is the creation of attractive outdoor environments, and is concerned with the
selection of design components, materials and plants.

Landscape designers can be said to be different from landscape architects, primarily because
of a variation in training and differing vocational tendencies, a landscape architect is literarily
an architect of landscape, who brings together the natural balance between the needs of man
and ecology.
Landscaping

Landscaping is the art of modifying and creating beautiful environments using various
elements such as living elements and man-made elements. It is the beautification of outdoor
terrain through the process of planting trees, flowers, and shrubs.

B. History of Gardening
The different types of garden are discussed below

a. Types of Gardens

When we talk about gardens, there are different ways of looking at the various styles of
gardening. A garden could be formal, informal or natural.

A formal garden has the characteristics of having:

• A strong geometrical arrangement of design.

• Strong colors are used in contrasting arrangements.

• Balance is given a high priority.

• There is fine detail and finish in everything (e.g. stone is cut with straight square
edges rather than in rough form ... joints in brick walls are raked etc.)

• There is symmetrical design in everything.

• Spaces and forms are controlled ... shrubs are clipped rather than left to ramble.

An informal garden

• There is not strict regimentation of design.

• Design is asymmetrical.
• Shapes and forms are not as controlled.
• Contrasts can be great or subdued ... either way.
• There is much less fine detail.
• Shapes or forms aren't necessarily controlled.
A Natural garden

• Not too much contrast of color.

• Informal with an attempt to reproduce nature.
• Designed and managed so that the garden largely looks after itself. Nature happens;
whatever nature makes the garden into is what the garden is meant to be.

It differs to other forms of gardening in that instead of planting or putting into a landscape
what you want ... naturalistic landscaping concentrates on taking out what is not wanted
and then letting the garden grow itself. This is really not so much building a garden as it is
understanding nature and manipulating the way an area develops naturally.

b. History of Gardening.
So how did Gardening start?

Landscaping has long been in practice since the creation of the earth.

The term landscape architecture was formerly referred to as landscape gardening, and
involved gardening around private homes which was later extended to cover parks, open spaces
and highways. As the earth was created with nature, man has constantly modified his
surroundings to suit his taste and needs as well as to achieve security and well-being and for
the provision of physical and biotic needs.

This can be seen to date as far back as the 3rd millennium BC.

1. The Egyptians were known to plant gardens around their homes and later extended
their planting around their ponds with ornamental plants and fruit trees.
Egyptian gardens were formal, symmetrical and strictly functional providing food (date
palms, vegetables etc) and herbs. A papyrus dating 2000BC lists 85 different herbs used
by the Egyptians. Stone columns or palms were frequently used to create avenues.
These early Egyptian gardens were found only amongst the rich classes.

2. In Mesopotamia, (ancient region of southwest Asia- between the Tigris and Euphrates)
 ✓ There was the palace of Nebuchadnezzar II and the hanging gardens of
Babylon which is referred to as one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient
World.
The other wonders of the world are
1 pyramids of Egypt
2 the statue of Zeus at Olympia
3 the temple of Artemis at Ephesus
4 the mausoleum at Halicarnassus
5 the Colossus of Rhodes
6 the light house of Alexandria
✓ The Assyrians and Persians in the north developed tree-filled parks,
planned formal gardens and set up pools and canals shaded by trees for
irrigation purposes. There gardens symbolized paradise and inspired Persian
carpet designs.
Look up the Persian garden and the hanging gardens on the internet

✓ In Ancient Greece, they had sacred grove(orchards) which were preserved

as habitats of divinities and in addition had most of their houses surrounded
by colonnades

✓ Roman houses also had gardens similar to the Greeks surrounded by

colonnades, they had garden terraces in Rome and the rich had lavish
pleasure gardens, banqueting halls and sculptures.

Their gardens utilised walls heavily and were commonly courtyards in the
centre of a house. Murals, mosaics and paving were common. There are
records of fish ponds, small trees and stone columns also being used in
Roman courtyards.

3. In the non-Western world between

In the 17th and 18th century, in areas where the climate was hot and dry,

✓ The Muslims, inspired by the desert oasis and ancient Persian paradise garden,
centred on water for meditation. Their gardens were enclosed courts with plants
 such as trees and shrubs. Fountains and pools characterized their gardens and the
interplay of light and shade. The most notable of their gardens were Agra and
Shalima gardens in Lahore and The Taj Mahal garden which had a symmetrical
design and is an example of the 17th century landscape architecture.

Look up the Taj Mahal Garden (in India)

4. The Chinese had courtyards within their temples, palaces and houses, with trees and
plants, planted in pots and usually changed with the season. An example of a Chinese
garden is the imperial city in Beijing which has an elaborate garden with trees,
artificial lakes and bridges. Chinese gardens tend to lack formal or symmetrical design,
the artificial manipulation of water or the extensive use of lawns all characteristics
common to western gardens.
Rocks are an important component of the Chinese garden because they symbolize
permanency. Aged trees reveal qualities of strength, lengthy contemplation and
grandeur.

5. The Japanese gardens were influenced by the Chinese and Korean. Their gardens were
well planned and made use of elements like pools, rocks, waterfall, plants and sand and
created an effect of restraint, harmony and peace. An example of such a garden is the
palace garden in Kyoto

Balance is asymmetrical rather than symmetrical. There is not an attempt to achieve

any type of effect through repetition. The garden is meant to represent nature. The effect
of the garden being bigger than it really is, is achieved to some extent by planting larger
trees or placing bigger rocks etc. in the foreground and smaller ones in the background.
Unique effects are achieved by surfacing areas with gravel or sand which are raked
regularly to maintain subtle patterns in their surfaces. Often clusters of rocks are placed
in the centre of such gravel areas. Ponds, streams and other water features are common
- these fit very well with the natural theme. Rocks (seen as pieces of natural sculpture)
and stepping stones are also commonly used.

6. In medieval Europe,(middle ages) due to wars and invasions, gardens were small and
usually protected within fortified walls of monasteries and castles. Their gardens were
inspired by Persian gardens, with fountains or wells at the centre.
However, landscaping disappeared only to reappear later during the renaissance
period which developed between 16th and 17th centuries when conditions became
stable. Palaces and villas replaced castles in Italy and had extensive landscapes in the
Roman tradition. The symmetrical and classically inspired plan of houses was repeated
on the grounds and laid out along a central axis with steps leading to terraces, giving
good views. Flower beds, fountains, sculptures were used. Examples of these are the
Villa Medici in Rome and the villa d’Este in Tivoli.

In the 17th century, the Baroque(artistic) style was used in the Italian gardens with
lavish use of serpentine lines, sculptures, fountains and waterfalls. In France also are
the great chateaux of Loire valley. Still in the 17th century, the building programmes of
Louis XIV included symmetrically arranged gardens designed to give an impression of
limitless grandeur. Also notable in the 17th century are the works of Andre Le Notre at
Vaux–le–Vicomte as seen in Figure 2.18 and Versailles and other locations.

In the 18th century, a new breed of landscapers such as William Kent, Humphrey Repton
and the famous Lancelot “Capability” Brown emerged in England. He was nicknamed
“Capability” because he was fond of using the word ‘capability’.

Changing to a romantic style and replacing the symmetrically arranged flower beds and
straight walks with sweeping lawns, sloping hills, curved paths, rivers, ponds and
planted groups of trees to achieve the effect of wilderness; he designed over 170
gardens of which 44 are still in existence.

The English style spread in the 19th century to other parts of Europe such as France,
Germany and Austria with the works of notable landscape architects like Jean-Charles-
Adolphe Alphanol in Paris and Prince Hermann Von Puckler Muskau in Berlin. The
Romantic style spread to North America and Thomas Jefferson used it on his private
estate.

Just as England had capability Brown, America had Fredrick Law Olmsted who was
born in 1822. Fredrick law Olmsted and Calvert Vauz used the Romantic style in the
design of the famous Central Park which had an impact on park design, urban open
space, pedestrian parkways and the transportation system. Through the works of
Olmsted, Landscape Architecture profession was later to be established.
 Gilbert Laing Meason in 1828 coined the term ‘landscape architecture’ when he used
it as part of the title of his book “The Landscape Architecture of the Great Painters of
Italy” which was later taken up by John Claudius Loudon and Andrew Jackson
Downing and has since then been adopted by landscapers. Thereafter and presently,
landscape architects have become the leaders in social reform and in making cities
liveable. They offered plans for new towns and pointed out the need for parks and open
spaces in cities and suburbs.

Read wide on gardening on the internet.