Its purpose of an English formal garden is to create a scene that offers the viewer an idealized portrait of Nature. This style originated in England during the 18th Century, where panoramic paintings of sweeping landscapes with groves of trees, rolling lawns, tranquil lakes, and pastoral vistas inspired a garden design that sought to recreate these elements in microcosm. Clearly recognizable geometry helps define the aesthetic of an English formal garden. This geometry is centered on a dividing line that runs the entirety of its length. Plant materials and decorative elements are then equally balanced on either side of this line, lending the garden its sense of symmetry and order. These materials are normally arranged in segments composed of interlocking geometric shapes. They can be squares, triangles, or rectangles, and they can be made from any number of shrubs, flowering plants, or herbs (see knot garden for details on using herbs to create geometry).
The English formal garden is then completed with some type of unifying focal point that is placed in the very center. Due to the fact that this is a much more “relaxed” formal style than say, Italian or French, the use of classical sculptures is very rare in an English garden. Instead, geometric organic elements or water elements are used to create geometry symmetry throughout the design. Topiaries or small trees, for example, can add beautiful vertical impact to the scene. Flower beds can be used to center the garden on rich patterns of color. Or, any number of water features can be used to create either a sense of controlled, vibrant fluidity or calm, grounded tranquility.
No comments:
Post a Comment