There are several aspects to consider when considering building a residential garden. The way in which the relationship between the house and garden is established, the fact that it is an extension of the rest of the house and how the empty spaces are used after the implementation of the house are discussed in this article.
The house-garden relationship
The residential garden as a space dominated by natural elements that involves a built structure of housing, plays the important function of establishing the contact between man and nature in a controlled, comfortable and safe environment. In this way the creation of links between these two elements (house-garden) is fundamental so that their experience is felt continuously and closely.
The visual contact and ease of movement between the spaces must therefore be constant, allowing the contemplation and enjoyment of both the garden and the house, regardless of where the user is. Respecting this dynamic, it is possible to use the most varied palette of colors, textures, shapes and complexities, guaranteeing a sober and coherent final result creating ambiences in total harmony between the interior and exterior, between the built and the natural space.
The garden as an extension of the interior of the house
The fact that the garden is a natural, open and changing space tends to conceptually push it away from what we understand to be a room / room of a dwelling. In this perspective it becomes difficult to create harmony between the house and the exterior since they are being seen as disparate and dissociated elements. It is important to avoid this kind of interpretation when thinking about a residential garden.
Knowing with certainty that an interior partition of a building (for example a living room) is unequivocally different from an outdoor play space (for example a lawn), it does not mean that it is impossible to make them function as one. For this it is important to interpret the dynamics of functioning of both spaces and to make them coincide in such a way that they begin to make sense only in the existence of each other.
When it comes to spaces with possible physical connections, the consistency of them should be inescapable and allow a complementary experience, allowing us to “slip” from one area to another making us feel as if we had not left the same space. When we are only allowed visual connection, this should be captivating and persuasive, functioning as an element of aesthetic framing par excellence in all its dimension.
The garden “after” the house
Many times, in the various architectural projects which we work, we find ourselves with spare spaces on the ground, once the dwelling is implanted, to which the garden competence is assigned. This type of situation arises due to the undervaluation of the exterior spaces relative to the building. The ideal proposal would arise with an articulated project between the two strands (exterior and building) with a holistic view of space and not just focused on built structures.
It is crucial, from the initial phase of the project, to create logical and “natural” links between what will be exterior and interior and in this way be possible to create a perfect harmony. The experience of the spaces can be totally compromised when this does not happen, creating some incompatibilities of difficult resolution after the process of construction of the housing is completed. In extreme situations we can find the appearance of “dead” areas whose purpose of existence ceases to make sense, losing space useful for usufruct be it functional or simply of aesthetic framing.
Planning your garden and the way the spaces will be created is fundamental to home-garden harmony. If you need a specialized service at APROplan we have landscape architects who can help you! Contact us.
