I have always been delighted with the graceful form, vibrant colour and modernist shapes that constitute the very personal aesthetic of the landscape architect Steve Martino.

Simple selections of form, plants that hold the space visually and structurally, are enhanced by bursts of colour and strongly toned contrasts.

Below is a selection of garden projects that marry  formality with the poetry of desert light. The wild and sharp features of the planting, organised against the planes of built  and naturally occurring colour, are some of esterni’s favourite juxtapositions in residential garden design.

All images courtesy of stevemartino.net

In this post- we’re having a short break in the next couple of weeks – I would like to speculate on connections between the architect Carlo Scarpa’s and the garden architect Fernando Caruncho’s use of water.

This is prompted by an interesting post by an architecture student at Curtin University, Australia, blogging at architecture moves us. I am indebted to him for the use of the images below:

courtesy yang@yangsquare

Here is his quote:

Born as Venetian, water is one of the greatest elements of Carlo Scarpa’s architecture. The cemetery is carved with a series of everflowing canals; sometimes flowing aside the path and sometimes within a pond surrounding the steps and pavillion.

This put me in mind of Caruncho’s equally impressive, but more positive and sundrenched water parterres, large and reflecting to Scarpa’s minimal but exquisitely detailed.

And in turn, there is something about how both these men imagine and build with water which reminds me of Calvino’s meanderings in recollecting the city of venice…

“Kublai Khan does not necessarily believe everything Marco Polo says when he describes the cities visited on his expeditions, but the emperor of the Tartars does continue listening to the young Venetian with greater attention and curiosity than he shows any other messenger or explorer of his.” So begins Italo Calvino’s compilation of fragmentary urban images. As Marco tells the khan about Armilla, which “has nothing that makes it seem a city, except the water pipes that rise vertically where the houses should be and spread out horizontally where the floors should be,” the spider-web city of Octavia, and other marvelous burgs, it may be that he is creating them all out of his imagination, or perhaps he is recreating details of his native Venice over and over again, or perhaps he is simply recounting some of the myriad possible forms a city might take.

Quote from review for Invisible Cities, amazon.com

Happy summer break, see you at the beginning of September.

Continuing our research into the best examples of  integration between interior and exterior spaces, in this post we turn to the work of architect Kevin Low.

An esssay by Anoma Pieris, in New Directions in Tropical Asian Architecture, describes Low’s inner city projects as having an ‘agenda of reclaiming the direct effects of textures, often lost in modern urbanism…. Low’s designs draw on Modernist and Postmodern vocabularies: of the engineer and the bricoleur.   … responding to the material at hand in the Malaysian building industry and with a sympathetic appreciation of the local climate.’

We propose some of his architectural images as suggestions for a more intuitive and integrated approach to residential projects: the inventive use of simple and inexpensive materials- a strategy that reflects the Esterni ethos of creativity and sustainability- allies with the concept of the extended house as a series of  courtyards or garden rooms. Austere spaces mingle with luxurious pools, achieved with low maintenance materials and planting.

Louvrebox House- Kevin Low

Image Courtesy of small-projects.com

Image Courtesy of small-projects.com

Image courtesy of small-projects.com

Brickwall House

Image Courtesy of small-projects.com

Image Courtesy of small-projects.com

Lightwell House

Image Courtesy of small-projects.com

During this Easter there has been much gardening and visiting of open gardens and National Trust properties.

Some time ago, I heard garden designer Chris Beardshaw talk on Gardener’s Question Time of his initial interest in gardens being inspired by Stowe Landscape Gardens, Buckinghamshire, and so went to visit last week.

Stowe Landscape Gardens

The large proportions of the landscape are  brought into human scale by the follies, ornamental monuments and pleasure temples dotted around the estate. The naturalistic style of the landscape is punctuated by large trees and shrubberies of box, yew and mixed native species, within which the garden buildings contrast their geometric, architectural forms. This is quite reminiscent of the renaissance approach seen in some of the Bosco Sacro gardens in Tuscany, where the esterni design influences are well embedded!

Among these we came across an Italianate grotto, of which we may see other lovely examples in Monty Don’s current programme on Italian Gardens.

The grotto is unusual in that it is a semicircular shape, and that it is reminiscent of a mosaic decoration as seen in the roman villas of Southern Sicily, but it is entirely made of coloured pebbles set in pale, old cement mix.

We propose it in our blog as it has a light contemporary feel, and it is something that could be included in the treatment of pebbled flooring…a contemporary approach to decoration-  coat of arms may also be applicable…..

A less insitutionalised approach to designing for  schools is something the esterni partnership have been interested in for a long time.

Urban greening is one of our key messages, and we now have an opportunity to suggest some starting points for discussion at a local school.

The site is relatively modern, dating from the 1970′s, with extensions and additions in brick and render.

The entrance to the school is currently dominated by a car park, and rather threadbare grassy islands. The brief was to introduce the ethos of learning and nature, starting from the physical approach to the school.

The suggestions you see below are designed to provide a welcome into the school grounds, emphasise the idea of multiple forms of learning and provide shade and seating for waiting parents.

Here is our initial report: if you like or use the images, please send a trackback to this site.

Alternatively, if you think we can help with your exterior projects, send and e-mail to clio@esterni-design.com

We have recently been asked to advise on developing a zen garden for a residential client.

Esterni’s philosophy and ‘look’ is grown out of the rugged, dry country of the Maremma, in southern Tuscany, and this project, at first glance, is quite removed; for those of you who have been exploring our blog, we posted some time ago a link to a great book, The Modern Japanese Garden (right hand column), and so we are bringing some research images in this post.

Co-incidentally I was sent  a picture of a friend’s walking holiday exploring Japanese landscapes, so I include that here as it is, I think, nature at its best….

The East/West connection I am working with is based on a similar regard for elements that stand against time and the seasons, stone, water and evergreen planting: while in Italy these elements are used to suggest coolness and shade, in Japan they re-inforce the mysterious, hidden, wet glades of an enclosed and secretive nature. Granite is prevalent in Japan, found naturally as large stones, or beautifully and soulfully carved by skilled craftsmen. Stones can be laid in many metaphorical patterns: my favourite is a concentric configuration called ‘fallen petals’.

Bamboos and camelias replace the large box and laurel hedges of the renaissance garden, but  are similarly used to define space, bring structure and stillness to the garden and be a strong visual presence in the winter months.

Water is silent, not the playful, tall arcs of fountains, but contemplative, large and mainly still ponds.

After these ruminations..enjoy the images, all gratefully borrowed from the Modern Japanese Garden.

And finally, a walk through long grass….

This article is submitted by this week’s guest contributor, Wood and Beyond, which we have the pleasure to host on our blog! At Esterni we are big fans of decking: smart, durable and a good link between garden and home, it features in several of our designs.

Decking is a type of flexible out-door structure which is made from composite or wood. Decking makes great addition to residential homes of all ages and is superb for businesses like pubs, clubs & hotels. If you are new to garden decking, and no one will blame you if you are, the amount of options might be confusing.

Why is decking popular?

Decking popularity originates from the structure’s ability to make better use of the garden by creating steps, recreational areas and because it is an affordable means to cover unwanted areas. For all but the simplest, low-level garden deck, property owners should satisfy themselves that planning regulations do not apply to their proposed structure which is another reason why decking is so popular. With the right care, decking will last for 25 to 30 years which is competitive with other garden structures. Decking could and should be sourced from sustainable forests. These are forests habitats where the wood is always replenished, so your garden structure is not only practical, but also environmentally friendly.

Ipe Decking: Originating from South America, Ipe is considered one of the strongest decking woods.

Ipe decking wood

Iroko Decking: Iroko is extremely strong and durably, characters which make it a favorite wood in the boat building industry.

Iroko decking wood

Teak Decking: Originating from Indonesia, Teak contains several natural oils which eliminate the need for any preservatives.

Teak decking wood

Is garden decking hard to maintain?

The key to garden decking up-keeping is regular cleaning. Cleaning will prevent the surface from becoming slippery in wet conditions due to deposits such as mildew, algae and fine mosses are allowed to build up over time. The best means to maintain the deck is to give decked surfaces a frequent brush with a stiff broom and to give them a thorough clean once a year in spring or autumn using either a power spray washer or a proprietary deck cleaning product.

If you are interested in garden decking talk to your garden designer or landscapers. Having the decking fitted by a professional is essential for achieving an optimal lifespan. It will give you access to the wealth of designs possible and top advice on finishes and maintenance procedures.

Article by Wood and Beyond. FSC accredited wood flooring and hardwood suppliers.

Having posted some lovely examples of Piet Oudolf planting design for the Venice Architecture Biennale, we promised to show something from another hero, Carlo Scarpa, but in a totally different modernist and minimal aesthetic.

Below are some images of this approach, that includes extensive use of hard materials, concrete, brick, stone, bronze and mosaic to offset the green areas in the design. The constant of Italian garden design since the Renaissance,  that is, the use of  few elements, grass, dark box or yew topiary and very few flowers, is reprised here in modern form.

There is little exhuberance in the planting, just  textures, shades of green and the use of water - all to deliver the sensation of cool and repose in the intense summer heat and humidity of Venice…

The garden of the Fondazione Querini Stampalia is well known, but good photos and text can be found in Gardens of Italy, by Ann Laras. Link included also on the sidebar!!

Thanks to iris and weyerdk on flickr  for their great images.

Carlo Scarpa, Fondazione Querini Stampalia, Venezia, 1961-63 flickr iris photostream