A family actively using the front garden rather than allowing it to become yet another space for plants animals and other critters . I asked the owner was there enough space in the back garden for the trampoline and she replied ‘oh yes but we wanted to make use of the back and the front’

Interesting use of the trampoline and granitic sand – not an intended outcome but nonetheless her child was happily under the trampoline for shade whilst using the sand to move his imaginary cars.

To date I have presented three front gardens all designed with a  focus on active usage. And guess what? All three houses are within a stones throw of one another. We are in Northcote Melbourne.

Here are the other two posts

http://www.gardenbeet.com/garden_design_blog/2011/06/19/front-garden/

http://www.gardenbeet.com/garden_design_blog/2011/05/14/a-front-garden-full-of-vertical-gardens-recycling-and-community/

Garden Design Blog

“Jeese Jack that Tasmania Devil in a cage looks great…..Why did you put it on the wall?”

“…oh it was sitting on the ledge and it just looked ordinary”

“Oh gosh that is what we are about…brilliant …oh no.  …oh no …we are shallow”

“No its about making the most out of what is…you can have the most ordinary things in your life but its a different way of looking …you can easily transform anything you want..its just the way you see something”

…….phew back to rearranging

.

Garden Design Blog

Sometimes the biggest challenge in getting your fruit and veg garden started is the need for help. Its hard yakka getting all the weeds under control. Plus digging the beds in preparation for the seedlings is not much chop either.

And if you have children it can be even harder!

I was most excited when I learnt of a mothers/gardening group that meets every Monday. Each week the group descends on a mother’s garden and a work intensive begins. The children are kept  busy amusing themselves (in theory anyway).

I really like the concept -partly because you are outside rather than inside eating chocolate biscuits but more importantly its a real help for any time poor mother. A veg garden is easy to achieve with 6 or so pairs of hands so why not?

Or what about this for an idea – get a veg garden designer to help you out. I spotted Jessica posting her leaflet in my letter box in Melbourne Australia – if it takes your fancy her email address is veggiegardenjess@gmail.com. She is in the picture above.

Garden Design Blog

What is crowd source design on the web?

A brief summary of a website that offers crowd source design is detailed below (99Designs )

where individuals and small businesses can post graphic work that they need done. ….within hours of a project being posted, designers from all around the world compete by uploading fully completed concept designs, which are than reviewed and rated by the project poster. At the end of the project period, a winning design is chosen and paid out the prize money

 

Can crowd source design work ?

Garden Beet used 99 designs for its logo and two graphic templates for its main website.

For those who are not familiar with web design: The graphic templates are the static designs or skins applied to the site architecture. They act as the intereface between the webuser and the code that sits behind the graphics. The graphics are sent to the web developer who then applies code to make all the buttons work.  The two templates are shown here  garden art and  copper flowers.

In under a week we had graphical images ready to use!

We were thrilled with the work produced by 99 designs. We had access to some great design ideas and were able to hone the design very quickly. Most of the designers responded to our comments with great agility and speed.

So yes the design process worked for Garden Beet.

Are all customers suited to using crowd sourcing for a design project?

It appears that the success of crowd source design is very reliant on a customer’s (the competition holder) ability to articulate what they need.

Throughout the logo and web competition for Garden Beet I did wonder how an individual without a design background would get on with the crowd source design process. This issue is of particular concern given the time frames are very tight and there is limited opportunity for discussion. Signficant issues may not be identified (let alone  resolved).

Can crowd source design work for gardens and landscapes ?

My feeling is no. Why?

Well I would assume that the customer wants a garden not a graphic. A graphic designer can supply a finished product over the web (eg logo) but a landscape designer can not. Yeah sure a landscape designer can supply drawings but a built landscape – NO.

Of course there is benefit in receiving a series of landscape concepts for your back garden but I suspect most people will be a tad dissapointed to learn that they only get a ‘design idea’.  Design ideas are great but many ideas are simply unworkable.

Is the designer (or the customer) going to really know if the design idea will work?

Who is going to undertake the site analysis. Surely the site needs to be surveyed, existing vegetation recorded, soils, view lines etc – all the normal site analysis stuff?

Perhaps all these issues can be overcome – perhaps contestants become educated on the site analysis process . Yep could work..maybe.

Landscape Crowd – will this group make crowd sourcing work for gardens and landscape?

Landscape crowd (a new crowd sourcing outfit) was tweeting ‘Still looking for landscape designers looking for freelance work’.

I was very curious how they were going to run this operation so I jumped at the idea and began the process of registering my interest.

I entered a built project to demonstrate my landscape design skills. I chose a recent design and assumed that would demonstrate my ability to build design ideas.

When reveiwing the other entrants I was suprised to only see drawings and 3 d models. I gave the website the benefit of the doubt. Surely they wanted to attract people with built experience.

To my total surprise I was informed that photos of built works were not allowed. I was then informed

Typically if someone were to ask for a landscape design to sic [it]  would be assumed that it would be delivered as a drawing, sketch or model.

Oh! Really? To me  ‘landscape design’ infers a ‘landscape’ that has been ‘designed’ – not a drawing of a ‘landscape’ that represents ‘design ideas’.

This is lesson number one for those new to holding a design competition. You need to write a clear brief – people will be annoyed if they spend time on your project only to be informed of the rules at some later stage.

I was also accused of sending in photographs of finished works to promote products that I sold. That was unintentional.  I am sorry you misinterpreted my actions. Perhaps some rules are needed?

If you buy a crowd sourced landscape design don’t you need to know that it can be built?

The whole idea of the site is for people to get their design projects online and this first contest is to show  prospective users the quality of design that would be entered into their contest.

Oh dear what is the intention of this website ?

I get the point that Landscape Crowd wants to show competition holders the type of work that will be submitted – hence the preference for drawings or models – but if they really wanted to serve prospective customers well  – surely they would want the customer to feel confident that a designer who is preparing their landscape concept design can get their ideas built?

I would be issuing caution to anyone who engaged landscape design services without adequate built experience (unless it is a highly discounted service – which maybe Landscape Crowd’s market ).

Can a design prepared by a crowd be useful?

As mentioned earlier a fully resolved logo or web landing page can be passed over at the end of a crowd sourcing competition but I doubt whether a fully documented well resolved landscape design can be handed over at the end of play.

What are the customers really getting?

I love crowd source design but gardens and landscapes are a tad more complicated to resolve than a 2 dimensional drawing. There is little time for the designer to educate the client – and there is no alternative for the designer to do anything but deliver what the client requests. This may spell disaster for sites that require more sensitive design solutions (ie gardens next to native wildlife corridors etc).

Do designers like crowd sourcing?

Crowd sourcing is great for designers who have excellent graphical representation skills and are able to translate ideas into images quickly. The process is not great for those who work slower, prefer to develop rapport with their client or believe in a more rigorous design approach.

Some designers are against the concept. It is argued that it denigrates the design profession and undervalues the study, time and commitment required to be a good designer. One industrial designer friend argues strongly that it is a form of exploitation.

For a summary of the debate take a look at http://www.wired.com/epicenter/2009/03/is-crowdsourcin/

Garden Design Blog

The Drawing Room Garden

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This small walled garden has sound, attractive sandstone paving throughout.  However, due to lack of planting the space has a school yard/car park feel to it and is walled on three sides.  Although the garden is east facing it does get quite a lot of sun and is generally warm due to the heat generated by a neighbouring dry cleaners.  Access is an issue as the property is a basement flat located on a ‘red route’ into central London.

The clients have eclectic taste and are comfortable with juxtaposing different styles within the garden.  They like colour and intend to use the space for entertaining.  There is an existing, well-constructed shed which is to be retained and improved.
 Solution

The overall layout of this small urban space will not change in the re-design. The existing paving will be cleaned and slabs removed from around the edge of the upper level to accommodate flush planting beds. The roof of the existing shed will be covered with luxury artificial turf to improve its appearance and add a dash of colour to the space, and the shed will be moved to face into the main section of the garden. A large box pergola will be constructed in the centre of the space from green oak timber, from which will hang a series of silver aluminium chain link curtains to form a fluid decorative ‘wall’. The client’s existing table and chairs will be placed inside this structure to create a unusual and intimate area for alfresco dining.

The existing wooden daybed will be moved to the rear left of the space and a bespoke water feature constructed against the rear wall. This feature will be based on a traditional fireplace, to give this section of the garden a ‘living room’ ambiance. Constructed from chunky sections of green oak timber, the feature will comprise a stainless steel water blade mounted on the fireplace ‘mantle’ from which water will cascade into a cobble dressed reservoir in the flower bed below. The alcove above the mantle will feature a section of powder-coated stainless steel outdoor wallpaper on a Perspex backdrop. Taking pride of place above this will be a life-sized moose head light, formed from poly-resin and lit from within to create an eye-catching talking point.

The right hand boundary wall will be adorned with a series of bespoke trellis screens of various dimensions. Fashioned from stainless steel mesh mounted on green oak ‘noggins’ to raise the screens away from the wall, the screens will provide a unique frame upon which climbing plants can be trained.

Earth Designs, London Garden Design and Build

Garden Design Blog

I think most designers would probably seek inspiration from far and wide. Whilst Garden Beet has a focus on the contemporary we certainly enjoy stepping outside our ‘normal’ visual field. We enjoy a dib and dab in the retro, vintage, etc.

We certainly enjoy mixing context (ie outdoor tables painted high polish red and inserting into kitchen – image below).

Image above thanks to contemporist

Garden Beet is now exploring the possibilities of placing say a Victorian Lamp Post  – within say one of  the newest garden types – vertical gardens. 

A marriage between the minigarden (image below) and the Victorian lamp post could be interesting.

If you are in need of an old lamp — try the English Lamp Post . My lordy these guys make their lights in the UK and have loads of other period lamp styles.

Garden Design Blog

This is me peeved. I have big hair and my arms are crossed.

Being a landscape architect and winning an Australian Institute of Landscape Architect Awards for involvement in a  large scale government project is a good thing.

It should not really matter who did what on the project as long as the project is completed well and all parties are acknowledged.

But life it seems is not like that.

Institute awards bring money to Landscape Architecture firms.

And it seems that some firms have no qualms in misleading the importance of their role in a project that has won an award.

If a firm is paid to document a detailed design concept are they really justified in using the imagery of the project as a promotion of their design capabilities?  Of course every project is different and its not possible to make a blanket statement. But really guys? Where is the respect?

So what happens when a Landscape Architecture  firm decides to overstep the mark and promote an award winning project  as if the design was highly reliant on their input?  My own personal experience indicates that people remain silent.

What is going on in the small little world of Landscape Architecture in Melbourne? Is it a fear of being seen as a trouble maker?

Given it is now common practice to divide a  design into 2 or 3 stages (Stage 1 Concept/Master plan, Stage 2 Concept Development, Detailed design and tender documentation, Stage 3 Contract Administration)  at both state and local government the whole design process is going to get more muddied.

We really need to foster a design community of respect.

Or I am going to start a name and shame domain.

I am so close to writing the name but as my dear friend told me …do I really want to invoke the bad spirits …..i need to get over it too – its been a long time

Garden Design Blog

Front gardens are getting interesting – at least in Thornbury, Melbourne Australia. Here is another front garden that has been designed as a functional living area.

And guess what? The young family actually use the space. It makes loads of sense.

The back garden faces south and the front faces north. Why forgo the joys of the winter sun simply because it is harnessed at the front garden rather than the back (northern hemisphere readers – yes Australia is upside down)?

The front garden incorporates timber seating that is also referred to as ‘the stage’. Children can provide a performance on either the ‘snake’ or the ‘circle’ .

Fabulous. After all if you are going to be out the front why not exaggerate the public display and perform ?

This design reminds me of how much wasted space exists in cities like Melbourne Australia.

To have a front garden is a luxury. Ignoring its possibilities is just overwhelming idle.

If an entire street was forced to use their front gardens for at least 1 hour per day I wonder what sort of streetscape would be created? Hopefully it would be a tad more interesting than hectares of water guzzling green (brown) lawn.

This garden was designed by Georgina Martyn from Bold Simplicity.

Garden Design Blog

Choosing a garden design is a big commitment and not just a financial one. Gardens are extensions of our homes and to a certain extent a reflection of our personalities. Creating a vibrant and contemporary garden that emulates your style and requirements is no simple task. Garden designer, Helen Ellison, shares some of her thoughts on the fundamentals of contemporary garden design.

Layout

A large part of designing a contemporary garden is getting the layout right. Creating a simple clean contemporary garden requires the use of simple lines and shapes. This doesn’t mean you have to use straight lines and squares to divide paths, lawns and features. Bold circles and curves can create the same contemporary effect if they are clearly defined and separated.

Materials

Choosing the right materials to match your contemporary design is crucial. Try not to use too many different colours or different kinds of materials. Instead use materials with clean lines, defined edges and similar colours to create consistency and clarity throughout the design.

Planting

Plants in a contemporary garden should reflect the aesthetic principles that have been used elsewhere in the design. Species like the Japanese Maple with its purple, finely cut leaves or the New Zealand Flax with bold sword shaped leaves create stunning contrasts that look great in modern gardens. Their bold colours and defined shapes perfectly match modern design.

Lighting

Lighting is a massive part of garden design, as at night, lighting transforms the way a garden looks. During the long summer nights garden lighting allows you to entertain guests outside and enjoy your garden for as long as you please. In winter lighting will make your garden visually accessible while you’re snuggled up indoors. In a contemporary garden lighting can have a dramatic effect by highlighting individual features like raised flower beds and seating areas. Inset lighting can be used to mark out path ways and patio areas making your garden safer. Clear and frosted lighting is quite common but the use of coloured lighting will add a bold effect that will really make your garden stand out from the crowd.

Features and functionality

What we do in our gardens and how they look is mostly defined by the features we include. Deciding what you want to have in your garden is a big part of the design process. Being imaginative and creative means you can make the most of your available space, regardless of how big or small it is. Clients we speak to are often surprised by what they can fit in their garden once they start thinking outside of the box.

BBQs have always been popular but more people are now taking things a step further by designing their very own outdoor kitchens. Although the thought of including a kitchen may go against minimalist principles, if you love the idea it can still look great as part of a contemporary garden. Cooking areas can be designed to look clean, simple and modern. However ensuring you continue the theme of materials used for the rest of your garden is essential! For example if you used decking elsewhere in the garden continue the timber theme when designing the kitchen. Otherwise it may start to stand out and disrupt the theme you’ve already worked so hard to build.

Water features can be used to create a strong focal point. They also provide the added dimension of sound which can help to block out disruptive noises like traffic or aircraft. Stainless steel, glass and natural rocks make fantastic water features as they look great in contemporary gardens and can easily be manipulated to reflect modern design

Fundamentals

Overall designing a contemporary garden is about being consistent and thorough with the design concept you’ve chosen. As with any form of design there are no rules, but sticking to the principles we’ve discussed will allow you to create a design you can enjoy and be proud of for years to come.

Garden designer Helen Ellison designs gardens for Floral and Hardy who specialise in garden design in Kent as well as covering the rest of the South-East.

Garden Design Blog

The Bin Bar Garden came about because my front garden was doing what most front gardens do – nothing much. Also my rubbish bins were taking up too much space in the back garden

PLUS I could not believe that my streeetscape had not been given a major overhaul in the last 10 years by my local Council (City of Darebin). An upgrade is proposed in the next 10 years. No way hozay!!

I’ll do my own bluddy streetscape improvement program thank you.

And while I am at it I am also going to provide a place that will allow neighbours to meet. Surely I can improve on our closest community space – the archetypal lifeless pocket park located around the corner, over a major road and around another corner.

For further design explanation check out my previous posts on the garden clocks. If you want to know a bit about the design process check out my last blog on demolition of a 1950s garden wall.

DESIGN VERDICT

Whilst I think the design improves the streetscape I am aware that not all would agree.

Notwithstanding the design has certainly made people stop, knock on the door, chat,  wave to me as I sit working in the front room. Really they are amazed by the wall planters or vertical gardens (built using Woolly Pockets)

BUT there has also been two spontaneous gatherings (of 4-5 people) since its build last month – and they were nothing to do with me.

Last Friday morning my friend Janoel Liddy (the photographer) and I hung out in the garden for 40 mins – in that time we had four passerby guests into our space. We both thought that was pretty good? Its just a residential street.

While a garden design will not create a community it can certainly facilitate happy happenings and silly pop-up events.

What I found interesting is that the landscape contractor’s  next job (Daniel from Garden Outdoor Design) also involved constructing a community decking/seating area in the front garden.

Really what are suburbian  front gardens about?  Surely we should be striving for something other than  hectares of stupidness?

@annewareham @gardenbeet Best bit really really is the invite your neighbours both with look and design and intention. Revolutionary!

Garden Design Blog