DH: Adding a touch of green to your homes
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Adding a touch of green to your homes
By Nandhini Sundar
A bungalow or a terrace certainly looks bare without greenery. Earmarking green spaces has become an essential aspect of any construction. Even balconies in an apartment look cheerful when dotted with pots and plants.
A bungalow or a terrace certainly looks bare without greenery. Earmarking green spaces has become an essential aspect of any construction. Even balconies in an apartment look cheerful when dotted with pots and plants.
The structure and character of green spaces depend on individual requirements and the character of the building it complements. The green space should be an extension of the building. In other words, the style of the building would have a major role to play in determining the kind of landscaping that will adorn its space.
The condition of the site too needs to be ascertained to determine the nature of the green space. For instance, the type of soil, the amount of sunlight, the location of the site, the existing vegetation, all have important roles to play in deciding its structure and character.
Thus, a busy road abutting the green space would call for tall trees to shut out the noise and pollution. A tall building shutting out sunlight would make a lawn impractical. If the site has tall trees and unique vegetation, it would be sensible to incorporate that into the structure and work the rest of the green space around it.
Says Landscape Architect, Dhruva Prasad, “it is very common for clients to have pre-conceived notions about the kind of landscaping required. Most of the time, this notion is not in tune with the structure of the building.”
Three factors
According to him, before embarking on designing a green space, three factors need to be ascertained. First is the hard structure, which encompasses the driveway or pathway, the water bodies to be installed, the stone structure that needs to be incorporated, be it bricks or small boulders, cobble stones or pebbles.
The second factor is the landscaping services that include lighting, plumbing and the type of irrigation to be used. The third aspect is the actual greenery, which pertains to plants and the soil.
Since landscaping is an extension of the building it complements, whether it is a bungalow with sprawling green spaces or a terrace garden, Prasad advocates planning the green space right at the initial stage when the building is being designed. “This ensures not only integration of the landscape with the building but also helps to plan the plumbing and other features pertaining to it well in advance.”
For instance, in a terrace garden, waterproofing is vital and this needs to be planned well in advance when the construction is in progress. The various features of a landscape are commonly referred to as elements. These elements pertain to the landforms, the materials used, the water bodies and vegetation. Normally these elements are chosen based on individual preferences and their practical application.
Says Landscape Architect, Chengappa, “there can be a blending of different elements from different themes.The important factor is to blend it right and ensure that it complements the building. Given the lifestyle pressures, these elements should also be practical and maintainable.” To elaborate his point, he talks about the impracticality of having expansive lawns in the presence of pets. According to him, a landscape needs to be designed with the same attention to detail as an internal space.
Combining themes
If a thematic green space is planned, there is no hard and fast rule that the elements featuring in the landscape need to represent the theme in entirety. Similarly, elements from different themes can be fused and incorporated into a green space, keeping in mind the requirements of the user.
Landforms refer to the free flowing space that can be in the form of slopes, different levels, pathways and rock formations. Their structure should be designed based on the expanse of the area. It is best to use natural materials like stone, brick, timber and terracotta tiles, as these look best in the outdoors and blend well into the ambience.
Water bodies lend a certain charm and mystery to the landscaping. However, they involve a lot of maintenance, warns Prasad. “It is important to note how the water bodies appear when the water supply is shut down.The sight of the water pipes projecting out, stands out like a sore thumb, ruining the landscape.”
Water bodies are of different types; they can be structured to flow as streams, waterfalls, fountains, or flowing out of statues. It can also be one that generates sound. “Using too many jets in a water body spoils the façade,” says Prasad.
Vegetation depends on the soil, the existing flora on the site and the level of maintenance planned. Typically, resorting to exotic flora calls for high maintenance. If the site already has plenty of trees or rare plants, it would be a good idea to retain them and work the landscape around it. Retaining the trees or planting trees is a very good option where maintenance is an issue. Says Chengappa, “in one of our projects we had plenty of trees and coffee shrubs. Some of them were retained and the landscape was worked around it.”
Use planter boxes
In case of terrace gardens, if there is an issue about water proofing of the roof, having a dry garden is a good option. Here pebbles, boulders, stone lanterns and the cacti family of plants can be made use of.
Alternatively, if plenty of greenery is desired and yet the terrace requires to be dry, planter boxes can be used on the periphery with a simple mechanism to drain out the excess water.
Says Prasad, “having planter boxes is a fool proof system where water proofing of the roof is an issue. This provides the greenery, yet keeps the terrace dry.”
If a water body is desired in this dry terrace, it can still be worked out. “A stream can be simulated by using blue tiles and boulders can be placed in strategic places. This gives the illusion of water flowing, especially with appropriate lighting,” he says.
It is quite common to incorporate an entertainment unit into a green space or terrace. Installing a barbeque counter with a tiled roof, a granite serving counter with a thatched roof to infuse that aura of wilderness, sand pits for kids, stone or log wood seating in the garden, could be some of the ideas for entertainment, keeping in mind the natural ambience.
The writer can be reached at nandy6488@yahoo.com Copyright: 2004 The Printers (Mysore) Private Ltd., 75, M.G. Road, Post Box No 5331, Bangalore - 560001
Adding a touch of green to your homes
By Nandhini Sundar
A bungalow or a terrace certainly looks bare without greenery. Earmarking green spaces has become an essential aspect of any construction. Even balconies in an apartment look cheerful when dotted with pots and plants.
A bungalow or a terrace certainly looks bare without greenery. Earmarking green spaces has become an essential aspect of any construction. Even balconies in an apartment look cheerful when dotted with pots and plants.
The structure and character of green spaces depend on individual requirements and the character of the building it complements. The green space should be an extension of the building. In other words, the style of the building would have a major role to play in determining the kind of landscaping that will adorn its space.
The condition of the site too needs to be ascertained to determine the nature of the green space. For instance, the type of soil, the amount of sunlight, the location of the site, the existing vegetation, all have important roles to play in deciding its structure and character.
Thus, a busy road abutting the green space would call for tall trees to shut out the noise and pollution. A tall building shutting out sunlight would make a lawn impractical. If the site has tall trees and unique vegetation, it would be sensible to incorporate that into the structure and work the rest of the green space around it.
Says Landscape Architect, Dhruva Prasad, “it is very common for clients to have pre-conceived notions about the kind of landscaping required. Most of the time, this notion is not in tune with the structure of the building.”
Three factors
According to him, before embarking on designing a green space, three factors need to be ascertained. First is the hard structure, which encompasses the driveway or pathway, the water bodies to be installed, the stone structure that needs to be incorporated, be it bricks or small boulders, cobble stones or pebbles.
The second factor is the landscaping services that include lighting, plumbing and the type of irrigation to be used. The third aspect is the actual greenery, which pertains to plants and the soil.
Since landscaping is an extension of the building it complements, whether it is a bungalow with sprawling green spaces or a terrace garden, Prasad advocates planning the green space right at the initial stage when the building is being designed. “This ensures not only integration of the landscape with the building but also helps to plan the plumbing and other features pertaining to it well in advance.”
For instance, in a terrace garden, waterproofing is vital and this needs to be planned well in advance when the construction is in progress. The various features of a landscape are commonly referred to as elements. These elements pertain to the landforms, the materials used, the water bodies and vegetation. Normally these elements are chosen based on individual preferences and their practical application.
Says Landscape Architect, Chengappa, “there can be a blending of different elements from different themes.The important factor is to blend it right and ensure that it complements the building. Given the lifestyle pressures, these elements should also be practical and maintainable.” To elaborate his point, he talks about the impracticality of having expansive lawns in the presence of pets. According to him, a landscape needs to be designed with the same attention to detail as an internal space.
Combining themes
If a thematic green space is planned, there is no hard and fast rule that the elements featuring in the landscape need to represent the theme in entirety. Similarly, elements from different themes can be fused and incorporated into a green space, keeping in mind the requirements of the user.
Landforms refer to the free flowing space that can be in the form of slopes, different levels, pathways and rock formations. Their structure should be designed based on the expanse of the area. It is best to use natural materials like stone, brick, timber and terracotta tiles, as these look best in the outdoors and blend well into the ambience.
Water bodies lend a certain charm and mystery to the landscaping. However, they involve a lot of maintenance, warns Prasad. “It is important to note how the water bodies appear when the water supply is shut down.The sight of the water pipes projecting out, stands out like a sore thumb, ruining the landscape.”
Water bodies are of different types; they can be structured to flow as streams, waterfalls, fountains, or flowing out of statues. It can also be one that generates sound. “Using too many jets in a water body spoils the façade,” says Prasad.
Vegetation depends on the soil, the existing flora on the site and the level of maintenance planned. Typically, resorting to exotic flora calls for high maintenance. If the site already has plenty of trees or rare plants, it would be a good idea to retain them and work the landscape around it. Retaining the trees or planting trees is a very good option where maintenance is an issue. Says Chengappa, “in one of our projects we had plenty of trees and coffee shrubs. Some of them were retained and the landscape was worked around it.”
Use planter boxes
In case of terrace gardens, if there is an issue about water proofing of the roof, having a dry garden is a good option. Here pebbles, boulders, stone lanterns and the cacti family of plants can be made use of.
Alternatively, if plenty of greenery is desired and yet the terrace requires to be dry, planter boxes can be used on the periphery with a simple mechanism to drain out the excess water.
Says Prasad, “having planter boxes is a fool proof system where water proofing of the roof is an issue. This provides the greenery, yet keeps the terrace dry.”
If a water body is desired in this dry terrace, it can still be worked out. “A stream can be simulated by using blue tiles and boulders can be placed in strategic places. This gives the illusion of water flowing, especially with appropriate lighting,” he says.
It is quite common to incorporate an entertainment unit into a green space or terrace. Installing a barbeque counter with a tiled roof, a granite serving counter with a thatched roof to infuse that aura of wilderness, sand pits for kids, stone or log wood seating in the garden, could be some of the ideas for entertainment, keeping in mind the natural ambience.
The writer can be reached at nandy6488@yahoo.com Copyright: 2004 The Printers (Mysore) Private Ltd., 75, M.G. Road, Post Box No 5331, Bangalore - 560001
posted by kubera at 11:20 PM
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