Landscape design is a three dimensional art, which is a continuous process – especially in creating gardens. Plants grow and sunlight changes as tree canopies mature. All design derives from impressions of the past, conscious or subconscious. My ideas are generated from a mix between historic gardens, parks & nature, and the architectural style of your home and its landscape. I chose to specialize in residential design because these projects are more personal, and allow me to focus on the relationship between art and function.
Great residential landscape design involves the art of making a functional and aesthetically beautiful setting, where every part fits harmoniously into the whole. It takes great skill to be able to transform ideas into a workable garden composition, which has many requirements. For example, it requires getting to know the site and the client to develop a sense of how the various elements will affect one another. These elements, the earth, paving, wood, and plantings, are designed to influence the celebration of inter-spatial relationships. Furthermore, these elements are chosen to create the three planes of enclosure used to create outdoor space.
To elaborate on the three planes of enclosure there is the ground plane, vertical plane, and overhead plane. The ground plane represents the horizontal surfaces that cover the ground. Examples would be gravel, paving, ground covers and grass. The vertical plane represents all types of walls, plantings, fences, walls, berms, garden structures, etc. Lastly the overhead plane consists of trees, pergolas, arbors, trellis. Endless effects can be created with these three planes. From spatial layout to various degrees of spatial separation, to screening to framing views, as well as creating movement and mystery, are carefully thought out. The overhead elements are used to play with casting shadows with sunlight to providing deep or dappled shade for a more comfortable outdoor environment. Overhead elements also help to frame and celebrate the sky as part of the overall design. Essentially I create outdoor rooms within the overall landscape with landscape materials.
I have intensely studied how to use these three planes of enclosure along with tried and true design principles in order to create memorable works of art for my clients. I consider dozens of possibilities, rejecting many, and adapting others, before settling on a workable solution for your sitescape.
As a landscape designer practicing for over 30 years I quickly learned to appreciate that every garden and its owners are unique. Their needs and requirements vary in scope. Reviewing my portfolio will demonstrate that every design solution was site specific and unique to each site and client’s needs. Sitescapes provides a working knowledge and educational background to present various solutions to address the clients wishes and concerns. Contact Us today to find out how Sitescapes Landscape Design can transform you space.