Mayans lined walkways leading to their temples with intricate plants and flowers, the Romans created courtyard gardens within the boundaries of their properties for the enjoyment of their family and friends, and royalty would plant profuse amounts of flowers and trees as a symbol of their wealth. In the 17th century in Jamaica, slave plantation owners would line the walkways to their mansions with Royal Palms. Throughout history, landscaping was used as a sign of not only beauty, but also wealth, power and respect.
Hardscaping is the use of the terrain itself, or rocks and stones brought in from other places. Nowadays it’s mostly just rocks and stone walls for aesthetics, but hardscaping was also used for practical purposes. The most obvious example of this is the Great Wall of China. Qin Shi Huang unified all the states of China in 221 B.C. and to block invasions from the Xiongnu people in the north, ordered that the wall be built to help protect his new borders from enemies. Of course in this case hardscaping was completely utilitarian.
Another example of hardscaping is the mystical Stonehenge of England. The mystery of these rocks is that though they are in England now, they actually came from Whales, which means that the builders somehow transported these rocks over 200 miles. This has led to many theories of everything from aliens to astronomical miracles. Most likely these creators were just very dedicated (or well-paid) individuals committed to finishing the product.
Nowadays, from the San Joaquin Valley of California to New York’s Hudson Valley, landscaping and hardscaping are now used for personal homes and commercial businesses as a way to improve the quality of peoples’ physical surroundings and to give a sense of nature in an increasingly material world.
Landscaping
Water-conscious Landscaping
By Savitha Hira Photography: Courtesy Ar. Kakoli Sikder
The Water Habitat Retreat at Jodhpur is a laudable exercise in traditional rainwater harvesting, and landscaping this heritage property has effectively brought it into the limelight-
Socially responsible architecture is quietly being practiced by many an architect in various pockets of the globe. Thanks to socially responsive patrons, who make an unwavering commitment in tandem with the architects. Ar. Kakoli Sikder is a landscape architect from Delhi, who has creditably been a significant team member of the Bijolai Palace conservation at Jodhpur.
Water Habitat Retreat was once the famous Bijolai Palace at Jodhpur. It was conserved and restored to house a boutique hospitality venture under the aegis of the Jal Bhagirathi Foundation. It is said that the scenic, sprawling summer palace built in the early 19th century is nestled between the Aravalli Hills surrounded by lakes as an oasis in the desert. With the civil work being completed as far back as 2008, Ar. Kakoli Sikder stepped in to make her valuable contribution to the expansive landscape.
Beginning from the entrance paths – there were two distinct ones – both over a culvert; one towards private quarters and the other towards the admin and hospitality facilities; Kakoli worked on a well-manicured garden, arched jharokhas to frame panoramic views, square paved plazas, lush green palms, circular planters with shade-giving trees and diligently selected native species of -Jaal Peelu’ , -Rohina’ and -Babool’ as the focal planting among other things. Largely, there are three courtyards within the living quarters, which have been designed tastefully as trellised spaces for outdoor seating and occasional dining. As in any landscaping project, the material palette and the selection of flora and fauna have been methodically determined. With the project tabling water as an exemplary rainwater oasis, where it is not only supposed to be entirely self-sufficient of its water needs, but is also said to use 100% recycled rainwater and provide water for the drinking-water needs of severely water-distressed local communities, care has been taken to use plants that require less water, absorbent soil, and loosely laid Jodhpur stone pavers that together aid in recharging the natural water table. The walls, toe walls, retaining walls, etc. are all made of locally available Jodhpur dark stone in random masonry. The paths are made of loose stone chips. The planter coping, plazas, steps, amphitheatre seats and stage are made of polished Jodhpur stone. And as far as the lighting is concerned – wall lights, tree up-lighters and bollards have been strategically used to enhance the mood of this place.
As Kakoli sums up, -The challenge lay in accomplishing heightened aesthetics within a contextual vocabulary, staying grounded in terms of giving back to the project and doing all of this within the limitations of cost-effectiveness.-
to view images click on inditerrain.indiaartndesign.com
Choose The Services of Expert Contractor When Seeking Landscaping Denver Projects
Every homeowner has different reason for landscaping their home.
However, the main criteria are it enhances the beauty of your home and
give an imperial look to your garden or yard. Also, some people
landscape their home as an appreciation of plants that endow with
seasonal color and interests. A good and fine project of landscaping
should involve many aspects as it will make your yard or garden area
look more attractive and eye- pleasing. Some plans of landscaping Denver
may include flowers that are used to attract the attention of birds.
Also, it gives a majestic look to your place. As landscaping has become a
trendsetter of modern era, almost every homeowner wants to install some
unique landscape to their place. If you are among those who are seeking
a landscape for your garden or yard, it is suggested to take assistance
of expert company that caters your need and offers complete solutions
of your landscaping projects.
Other than this, it is important to consider experience, reputation,
and referrals from other satisfied clients as this will help you to
evaluate the type of service they offered. There are many companies that
offer landscaping Denver services, but it is vital to ensure that it
will accomplish your needs along with quality services and affordable
rates. The other things you should look at when seeking landscaping
contractor in Denver are – portfolio, available references, good
reputation, capable and reliable handling of project, qualified trained
staff and proper licensing along with liability insurance. Also, the
other key factors, such as safety promotion, well-maintained equipments,
timely services, top-notch services and detailed written quote with
costs, must be keep in mind when seeking a landscaping contractor.
If you are unable to find a suitable contractor for your landscaping
Denver project, then it is advisory to seek help of your friends and
acquaintances and ask them. Also, if you do not get any sort of idea,
then you can seek internet and look for different websites that offers
the landscaping services. After analyzing the websites you can ask for
different quotes from each websites and evaluate the rates and the
services provided by them. After matching up the services with your
requirements, you can end up the search of a perfect landscaping
contractor. Also, reviewing testimonials and reviews of clients on the
website is an instant way. With this, you can get an overview of the
quality services provided by them along with the prices. Regardless your
requirement of landscaping for a place, it is imperative to attain
services of experts who knows the core of landscaping and suggest you
the best ideas.
Interior Landscaping For Greener And Healthier Environment
Imagine yourself in a place where flowers are swaying gently and the scent of freshly pruned plants are blowing across the yard and you with your friends sipping a frosty glass of ice-cold gently sweetened blueberry slush to make your day unforgettable. Such a place often relaxes and restores your inner peace. To enhance the interiors of your home or office, nowadays, people are opting for interior landscaping. It is a practice of designing, arranging, and caring for living plants in indoor environment. It reshapes the interior by adding ornament, color, sculptural elements, focal points, in the spaces and makes your area more lively and beautiful.
Interior landscaping is no longer restricted to home or residence, as it has gained the importance in public places, hotels, business and corporate world. No matter what is the time of year, you can start doing interior landscaping to make your area or yard greener and healthier. Some points that need to be considered while doing landscaping in indoor areas are:
* Check the total dimensions of the area where you want to do interior landscaping, and then decide which type of plants and flowers your want plant. The bigger area needs more landscaping than smaller area.
* Select the plants and flowers that suits well in your space. The main motive behind interior landscaping is to attract the person.
* Select the plants on the basis of seasonal, annual or common flower that can grow well in your yard. On timely basis, these plants must be given proper manure and water so that it looks beautiful.
* Colorful plants and designer pots can attract the attention of many people.
* To enjoy the feel of interior landscaping, you can place your sofas, chairs and couch around it. Lights around the landscaping can make the area more enthralling.
Interior landscaping is very helpful in purifying the air around you. Moreover, the people can improve their health and reduce the work stress. Lastly, for maintaining a great looking interior landscaping, a person must do a routine and consistent care as right task at right time can be the secret of healthy landscaping .
Landscaping An Art Work for Your Home
Landscaping is one of the methods to beautify your home and giving
it a pleasant look. This involves manoeuvring the natural environment in
any surrounding or area trying to bring out authentic effect to your
home. It chiefly focuses on gardening but landscaping also deals with
wall installations, construction and keeping in mind the area as a
whole. There are many reasons people opt for landscaping that ranges
right from desire to have attractive surrounding to trying to utilize
the place for some kind of recreational activities of your choice.
Landscaping generally acts as giving personal touch
to your outdoor space and making it part of your home. You have option
of hiring a professional landscaper who will take care of designing and
suggesting the theme that would complement the look of your home or if
you think you have certain ideas in your mind and what to implement it
then you can go ahead with it. But you need to make sure that you
discuss openly about your expectation and be open to ideas from them
also. You never know the brainstorming might help in coming up with a
much better solution. Don’t settle for anything less than the best as
this is one time investment for life. The landscape is the first
impression anyone who comes to your home would have.
If you are
nature loving person and interested in gardening then you can anytime
create a beautiful landscape for yourself or hire someone to take care
of it and bring out the essence as well. Landscaping is restricted to
its area and surrounding and if you plan to hire a landscaper his first
step is to make rough sketch of the building. This helps in establishing
the context and getting a clear idea about the natural establishment
like environment and surrounding buildings and then come up with the
limitations. Once the landscaping company comes with the final blueprint
then they can to establish the design and layout and getting started
with it.
The first step for landscaping is to clear the place and make layout
for the pathways and from there on it is carry forwarded to other
aspects that you are keen on or have being decided. The next thing you
do is decide what is your requirement precisely based on the locality
and the outdoor area you have. You love swimming then pool is the best
option, if want to give your home a grandeur style fountain does it the
best, you are a thinker or a lover by heart looking out for quality time
then go for benches and bring out that effect. Once you cleared this
hurdle, the landscaper now starts adding the natural look to your place
to bring it to life by adding shrubs, trees, plants, stones and other
such materials to bring out the desired effect.
The utmost
important thing to keep in mind is that this is not about just
individual designs or accessories but it should blend in as whole right
from the color to the theme. Finally opt for the best landscaping
company with credibility and don’t forget to maintain it later to give
your home lively feel for many years to come.