landscape architecture tips

Therapeutic Landscape Designs for Mental Well-Being

November 22, 2014

Are you bogged down with stress and looking for an outdoor escape? Gardening has long been considered an activity that can be cathartic and calming for those who enjoy working with plants and soil. The idea of nurturing plants to produce a bounty of vegetables and fruits, or creating a beautiful display of flowers and greenery, can provide a space for healing, meditation, restoration, and contemplation.

Traditional Landscape by Atlanta Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers Dargan Landscape Architects

Recently, scientists, doctors, and landscape architects have started collaborating to create therapeutic landscape designs for mental well-being. Unlike traditional gardens, landscape planning for therapeutic gardens involves specific goals.

While a healing garden is designed to encourage overall health and encourage meditation, restoration, and contemplation, therapeutic gardens are designed to go beyond these goals to promote health and well-being. Landscape architects often work closely with the medical community to create gardens that will measurably contribute to a patient’s healing.

While this form of landscape planning is often used in long-term care facilities or rehabilitation centers, you can also opt to work with a landscape architect to develop your own therapeutic garden. Since the goals and measurable outcomes vary with the client, it’s essential to know what you want your therapeutic garden to accomplish.

For example, a garden created for a hospice may focus on quality of life and restoration for families, while a rehabilitation center’s therapeutic garden may serve as an actual component of therapy that provides respite from the hard work of physical therapy.

With 40 years in the business of landscape architecture, Dargan Landscape Architects would be happy to consult with you on a therapeutic garden design. Browse our portfolio of completed projects and contact us to learn how we can help.

How do I Bring Eye-Catching Textures into My Garden?

November 17, 2014

As sensory beings, incorporating texture into your garden design ideas will generate appeal that draws all passers. Not only will your garden provide a beautiful visual effect with color and depth, it will exude wonderful scents to fulfill the sense of smell and stimulate the sensations of touch and sight when you add texture.

Many people shy away from experimenting with texture worrying that their garden may take on an air of messiness or become overly cluttered. But when done properly, eye-catching garden texture can bring beauty and serenity into a number of settings.

Source: Dargan Landscape Architects

To create a sense of luxury, try layering colors and textures in your garden beds by combining short and tall plants with similar colors. Shorter plants and flowers should be situated toward the front of the garden, while taller varieties can go in the background. This simple garden design idea really draws to your landscape.

For a look that can be striking, while still giving a sense of serenity at the same time, combine textural elements in a single color such as paving bricks or garden path tiles. These textural elements can be surrounded by smooth pebbles in muted shades or bordered with lush green feather grass. Not only will you be adding several textures, you are adding a striking contrast with the foliage that borders your design.

If you have limited space for your garden design, there are many different options when container gardening. These eye-catching vessels can lift up a garden while incorporating texture. To keep the setting cohesive, you may wish to center your design on a single color scheme.

Finding the right garden design can be a difficult challenge. Dargan Landscape Architects are experts at taking the concept you visualize in your head and bringing them to life. Please visit our website to learn how we can help you bring your design to life.

Outdoor Sanctuaries

April 25, 2014

As spring continues to bloom, it’s hard not to spend your day outdoors. In an outdoor sanctuary, you’ll find the best of both worlds — wonderful fresh air and natural beauty, along with the intimacy of the great indoors. In Mary Palmer’s book Timeless Landscape Design, she shares some features of the best in class for this category to help you get the most out of your outdoor sanctuaries, whether you’re looking to add a terraced perimeter, courtyard, walled garden or all of the above.

Terraced Perimeters
A terraced perimeter is a paved outdoor area that behaves as an extension of the nearest room(s). They make the adjoining rooms feel and appear larger and can add space and seating that may be lacking otherwise. Consider adding a series of these areas to create a linked perimeter that wraps around your home. By simply bordering your home with a terraced perimeter, you’ll create a 24/7, multipurpose space for relaxing, eating and entertaining.

Buckhead landscape architects — Dargan Landscape Architects
Photo Featured in Timeless Landscape Design

Cashiers landscape architects — Dargan Landscape Architects
Photo Featured in Timeless Landscape Design

Courtyards
Courtyards are paved outdoor sanctuaries in which two out of four enclosing walls are shared with the home itself. The size, wall height and wall material used in courtyards vary depending on building codes and personal preference. It’s best to choose a style that will appear seamless with your home’s existing style instead of making a separate design statement.

Charleston SC landscape architects — Dargan Landscape Architects
Photo Featured in Timeless Landscape Design

Atlanta landscape architects — Dargan Landscape Architects
Photo Featured in Timeless Landscape Design

For privacy, walls enclosing courtyards are typically six to eight feet tall. Growing vines and creeping plants along your walls can soften their solid appearance. To achieve this effect, try adding a custom treillage to your wall, or support lattices that guide the direction of your plant’s growth. Water elements are perfect for drowning out unwanted noise, creating ambiance and providing a lovely focal point. Remember that every decision and selection appears magnified in smaller spaces, so your area should be carefully planned and executed.

Walled Gardens
Walled gardens cover a wide variety of functions and are less room-like than courtyards. They enclose everything from swimming pools to formal gardens to lawns. They also operate as separate entities, not necessarily adjoined to any other rooms or walls of the home. You can even situate a small courtyard within a walled garden to create more dimension.

Charleston landscape design — Dargan Landscape Architects
Photo Featured in Timeless Landscape Design

Are you inspired by these lush garden ideas? Contact Dargan Landscape Architects, and let us help you turn your home’s outdoor sanctuary dreams into a reality.

P.S. – Don’t forget to join us at The Garden Show of Buckhead this weekend! Hugh and Mary Palmer will unveil their miniature landscapes at the event, which takes place at The Buckhead Theatre Friday through Sunday. Be sure to stop by on Saturday from 4 to 5 pm for Mary Palmer’s Big Birthday!

Adding a Terrace to Your Landscape’s Perimeter Spaces

April 23, 2014

Terraces are one of the most important aspects of your landscape’s perimeter spaces, especially for those who live in smaller suburban homes and townhouses, where they may comprise the majority — if not the entirety — of your landscape plan. A terrace, or patio, is any paved surface that joins the house, regardless of its size. A well-designed terrace will be congruent with the existing architecture and will also create a seamless transition to the subsequent landscape, providing homeowners with more ways to use their outdoor living space to the fullest.

Atlanta GA landscape architects — Dargan Landscape Architects
Photo Featured in Timeless Landscape Design

If you’re considering the addition of a terrace for your landscape, consider the following tips from Mary Palmer’s book, Timeless Landscape Design:

Size: The first thing you’ll want to consider is how large or small your terrace should be.

Small. A small terrace is ideal for an intimate bistro table for two. In cases where outdoor space is limited, a 6’x6′ space will suffice. For a sightly larger dining area, you may want to allow for a 12’x12′ area.

Buckhead GA landscape architects — Dargan Landscape Architects
Photo Featured in Timeless Landscape Design

Medium. If you entertain often and enjoy dining alfresco, we recommend at least a medium-sized terrace, measuring 12’x18′. This will accommodate two 60-inch round tables, which can each comfortably seat six to eight people with room to move.

Large. If you commonly host large gatherings, a large terrace should measure at least 24’x36′ and accommodate three 60-inch tables.

Charleston landscape architects — Dargan Landscape Architects
Photo Featured in Timeless Landscape Design

Larger terraces are often required in backyards with a pool to provide enough patio space for entering/exiting the pool and lounging. Without ample space, the pool may become littered with landscape debris.

Shapes. A terrace’s shape is usually determined by its function. If the terrace will have a grill, that should be accounted for to prevent impeding traffic flow. Pools and water features affect the shape, as does the size of the house — the larger the house, the larger the terrace for proportion’s sake. Ground-level terraces are often designed with a round or bowed shape to create a graceful aesthetic that flows into nature.

Western NC landscape architects — Dargan Landscape Architects
Photo Featured in Timeless Landscape Design

Materials. The two most traditional terrace materials are brick and stone. The largest surface area is called the “field.” If you choose a different material for the edge, this area is referred to as “edging” or “banding.” The materials and colors you choose are completely dependent on your existing architecture and landscape features. Monochromatic palettes are optimal for a soothing ambiance. Contrasting colors and patterns will also liven things up.

Sea Island GA landscape architects — Dargan Landscape Architects
Photo Featured in Timeless Landscape Design

For more information on terraces and perimeter spaces, purchase a copy of Timeless Landscape Design, or contact Dargan Landscape Architects for professional assistance with your next master plan or tuneup project.

Blending Functions: Linked Perimeter Spaces

April 11, 2014

When warmer weather begins, homeowners are looking for ways to spend more time outside. The perimeter of your landscape offers you the opportunity to enjoy the spring and summer by extending your living space into the great outdoors. Perimeter spaces are the landscaped areas that can be immediately accessed by stepping outside your home, including dining areas, grill gardens/outdoor fireplaces, swimming pools and more.

Linking perimeter spaces gives your landscape a whole new dimension, allowing you to spend more uninterrupted time outdoors. Linked perimeter spaces are connected by pathways throughout your landscape, so that they can easily flow from one to the other.

Cashiers NC landscape architects — Dargan Landscape Architects
Photo Featured in Timeless Landscape Design

Today’s linked perimeters are reflective of the trend toward multifunctional outdoor spaces, which are necessary for smaller lots. Rather than walls, designers use other techniques to designate where one activity area begins and the other ends, such as changes in elevation, texture changes, planting beds and even open lawns.

When creating a perimeter dining area, you’ll need to consider the amount of seating required, the size of the terrace where it will be staged and the amount of available flat space. Having a furniture plan will help ensure success. Several dining tables may be needed for large groups, while side tables and etageres also can add functionality to dining areas.

Grill gardens and outdoor fireplaces are commonly found near dining areas in linked perimeter landscapes. Placing the grill near conversation-friendly areas keeps the chef engaged with guests and makes the cooking process a part of the entertainment. Outdoor fireplaces can serve as an attraction in themselves and can also be used for cooking food and providing warmth.

Growing kitchen gardens and flower gardens around the perimeter makes it easy to step outside and water plants, as well as pick fresh flowers or herbs. Besides these conveniences, you can enjoy looking at beautiful flowers and plants growing outside your window and throughout your yard.

While it can be a challenge, incorporating swimming pools in linked perimeters is possible with careful planning. Even narrow lots can accommodate a lap pool, which can also serve as an art piece in the landscape viewable from both the outdoors and indoors. Adding an infinity pool on the other hand can help make your property appear larger, while also capturing views of nature.

Open lawns are the area rug of outdoor living spaces. These are the ultimate multifunctional spaces because they can be customized to the owner’s lifestyle. Whether a space for recreation is needed or just a visual break in the landscape, grassy areas should be factored into the perimeter of your landscape.

Florence SC landscape architects — Dargan Landscape Architects
Photo Featured in Timeless Landscape Design

Could your landscape benefit from a design featuring linked perimeter spaces? If so, contact Dargan Landscape Architects to discuss developing a master plan or tune up for your property.

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