Pathway Pizazz

Long or winding, short or sweet, a pathway adds a “come-hither” element to a landscape design, introducing a sense of mystery or comfort, and can throw up a surprise or two along the way.

Pathway of Boons

Lends definition to a garden and provide the bones or structure of the garden.

Allows enjoyment of interesting features installed in and around the garden.

Provides access to an entryway, or to the hidden or distant areas of a property.

Connects the multiple areas lending the garden a cohesive appearance.

Contributes a groomed look to the garden landscape.

Complements or reinforces architecture of the house and its site.

Serves as a focal point, as in the case of decorative stepping stones.

Getting it right

Pathways can pose a daunting design challenge to any gardener. Start off on the right foot and you set just the tone for the garden but go off track and you throw the garden out of whack.

Pointers to Pathway Pizazz

Mark a beginning

Signal a start of a pathway with a landmark such as a specimen plant, a sculpture or an archway or it could be something as subtle as a paved sitting area.

Provide a destination or retreat

Herald the end of the destination by installing a container garden, a bench or a gate so that you can stop and linger before you retrace your steps.

Design a path that winds out of sight

This will tickle the imagination and arouse the curiosity as to what lies yonder and tempts one to venture farther.

Punctuate the path with incidental interest

Create change in material used underfoot such as brick to gravel or change the width of path or simply let the path take an unexpected turn or let it to pass through different spaces in the journey to the destination. A bench placed along the pathway can certainly provide a welcome break.

Provide an element of assurance

Remove every possible source of hazard or anything that may shatter your peace of mind at any point of the path. Anticipate any possible problem on a route by considering the users and design the path accordingly. Use textured surfaces to increase traction and provide garden lighting to improve visibility during the evenings.

Practise common sense

Keep the path simple if its sole purpose is for handling foot traffic. Too circuitous and you encourage the traveler to take shortcuts unless it is meant for a leisurely stroll.

Ensure compatibility with setting

Use materials that tie in with other garden structures or the house. The pathway should also complement the architecture of the house and its site, hence extending the house into the outdoors. For example, repeat motifs established in the house or pick up elements of the house exterior such as using bricks for the pathway for a brick facade.

Wise up to widths

A width of four feet or more will encourage two people to walk side by side and help guide them through a garden. A narrow path with a width of 18 inches or less is a cue to tread slowly and is perfect for those who want to linger and do a leisurely inspection of the garden, especially if the footing is uneven. Narrower pathways of a foot wide can potentially be a source of instability especially if the surface is rough or slippery. Bear in mind also that a seemingly ideal spacing for some may actually be tricky to navigate for others such as the elderly.

Drainage and run-off patterns

To facilitate water flow, pathways may need to be recessed or to be installed with adjusted grades. If large areas of root zones are to be covered, permeable materials such as flagstone or brick will permit air, water and nutrients to penetrate into the roots to keep trees healthy.

Materials Underfoot

Choice of construction materials is crucial in determining the style and safety of the pathway.

Aggregates

Available in a wide array of colours and textures, they are made up of small particles stone, glass, metal or shell. They are well-suited as decorative mulches and surface finishes especially in areas with low foot traffic.

Slate A natural stone, it is sought after for its rich tones and colours. It can be finished to produce different textures: riven, split or polished into smooth
slabs.

Crushed slate Though an unstable material, its aesthetic appeal lends itself well to decorative schemes involving special surface finishes such as that found in Zen gardens. It is best suited for areas with low traffic.

Granite setts Ideal for heavy-duty slip resistant paths, their small size are also effective as edgings and useful for curved pathways. They also introduce textural contrasts into any garden landscape scheme.

Bricks Available in a wide variety of colors and textures, they can be laid in a myriad of geometric patterns.

Railway sleepers Durable, they team well with contrasting materials such as pale gravel and chippings to great effect and can be easily assembled to create a series of steps for a rustic path. New sleepers, or timber cut to similar dimensions, can look a snap with their crisp edges and grained surfaces.

Cobbles, chippings & gravel They can be laid in complex patterns and shapes and can be useful in reflecting light; pale chips can help dispel the gloom in a garden.

Concrete An exceptionally versatile material, it is also reasonable in cost. It can look either utilitarian or contemporary and can be cast on site in panels, freeform shapes or mixed with other aggregates to produce a range of textural finishes and colors.

Style File

Bricks laid in old-fashioned basketweave pattern set a relaxed tone and work well in a traditional while a straightforward pattern is appropriate for a contemporary style home. Bricks when used as edging can positively transform a plain exposed aggregate pathway. Old bricks can also be used to great effect as a decorative detail in a rustic scheme; fill in cracks between chipped bricks with tiny plants or moss to add an instant patina of age.

A few large flagstones laid in a random or non-grid fashion give a stylish effect in a garden with tight space but smaller slabs in different sizes laid in the same fashion can create a fussy look, making the small space appear even smaller. But if the small slabs are identical in size and laid in a geometric grid, the result is a unified all-over pattern.

For a more formal finish, go for flagstones with mortared joints. For a casual look, lay flagstones on sand and ease creepers into the cracks.

Pebbles set in cement or laid loosely on gravel look comely teamed with shrubs or small pines. Rocks used with pebbles and gravel can add visual interest and are a boon to an inward-looking small space garden.

Concrete surface texture can be enhanced by adding in aggregates, stamped with a decorative pattern or tinted to match or contrast with nearby features. Or set in personal mementos such as broken china, marbles, foot or paw prints to leave an expressive personal touch to the path.

Railway sleepers being long in relation to their width can be used for directional emphasis They are either laid in straight lines or at right angles as they do not curve easily.

On a last note, as with any design project the rules of the game are never cast in concrete; after all creating your own design can leave a unique stamp on the look and mood of the garden.

A Garden Shared is a Garden Doubled

A striking showcase in the clever use of space and design, this garden getaway also sows the seeds for strengthening sibling ties.

When two families decided to build their houses next to each other with both dwellings being mirror image of the other, they came up with the unique solution of pooling their resources in creating a larger garden that both can enjoy. What with space going at a premium, both lots would have otherwise ended up with a narrow strip of lawn each. And it helps that they aren’t just good neighbours but are families of two brothers who take great comfort in having kin close by.

The siblings sought the services of Artistic Landscaping & Furnishing in planning a garden design that would accommodate their needs in terms of style and content. When a garden starts out as a blank slate, the available space can be exploited to best advantage with the final outcome being an outdoor living space that not only embraces key elements that render it both functional and ornamental, but create the illusion of a larger space.

Sharing space and views

Both properties have their own separate gateway into a covered porch which serves as a foyer to their respective front lawn. The combined lawn area which lies in between both houses has a watery oasis, consisting of a duo of cascading pools that culminates in a placid koi pond. A line of golden painted bamboo planted strategically in front of the water garden forms a living privacy screen with a decidedly Oriental-feel, and has the added bonus of providing vertical interest and greenery to an otherwise sterile front patio and driveway. A wraparound porticoed walkway leading from the porch of each house faces each other and abuts the water garden, and serves as a vantage point from which to enjoy a range of sensory pleasures such as the reflected light and sound of moving water while taking advantage of scenery beyond their property lines. With a shared lot, both families are able to borrow the views across the other’s property making the pooled spaces appear larger as a result.

Highlighting the landscape

Blessed with a gently sloping terrain, the properties boast commanding vistas of the surrounding emerald-green fairways, which probably counts as the site’s best kept secret. The lawn terraces in the back yard have been designed to provide comfortable, people-size spaces for relaxing in the outdoors. Low boundary walls, softened by hedgerows of native shrubs and ground covers allow the garden to blend into the surrounding landscape, which the owners can ‘borrow’ to give the appearance of being a part of their outdoor space.

Planning for low maintenance

Paved areas and modest swaths of lawn, the use of a host of heat-loving native plants and an environmentally sound approach to garden design contributes to a manageable landscape.

The water garden with its tumble of cascades and continuous ripples bestows a combination of micro-climatic conditions that the surrounding plants can benefit from; the dappled shade cast by the bamboo screen, the cooler temperature and the stray sprays of water are ideal for moisture-loving plants to flourish in.

Planning for privacy

Converting two gardens into one does not mean that all the spaces are in full view of the neighboring residence. Each property features small lawn areas in the front and back yards to call their own, and which are adorned with pocket gardens that help lend a distinctive look to their respective front and back entryways.

Using shrubs of varying heights beyond the water garden, such as the plantings of the square bamboo and monstera delicosia, help block the view from one end to the other. This technique gives the impression of reducing the length and affording glimpses of the rest of the garden through partially-hidden spaces, and at the same time averting the end result of a solid division.

Creating views from indoors

All three ‘compartments’ – the front and back lawns, and the water garden - are seamlessly linked to the indoors through generous expanses of glass and easy access provided by the porticoed walkway. The inviting views not only enhance the indoor living spaces but entire family members and guests into the outdoors.

The foliage and flowering plant forms around the water garden with its continuous parade of color, shapes and textures are vignettes that visitors will be sure to enjoy. Birds and butterflies will also come to savor some cool refreshment from the gushing tsukubai fountain, or the larger-than-life ornamental carp and frog both spouting water into the pond and lending an element of surprise to first-time strollers.

Combining styles in a single design

The garden design is a casual mix of both the formal and naturalistic styles, with the entire garden functioning as a cohesive whole. Clipped topiary shrubs and hedges fringing the front and back lawns lend an air of formality to the outdoors while the koi pond and cascading pools form the informal garden area. Stepping stones, walkways and short flights of steps provide transitions from one area of the garden to the next. Repeating the use of plants finished in different styles, such as clipped hedges or topiaries are used in the formal, or left to grow naturally are found in the informal, is also a design element that helps tie the garden together.

A large clump of towering lush green square bamboo not only serves as a point of symmetry between the two properties but infuses the informal area with an emphatically naturalistic flavor.

Enhancing space

Space is always a welcome commodity in any suburban lot and this garden is no exception. With the clever use of a variety of landscape design tricks, the eyes can be fooled into believing that the limited spaces are larger than they actually are.

Developing the vertical dimensions in the garden such as by introducing varying heights of plants as provided by low-lying beds and borders and structural plantings such as hedges, or the upright clump of the square bamboo, and the raised bed of mass plantings around the ponds can dramatically alter the look of the garden making it feel larger.

Hidden or partially concealed pocket of spaces such as the bed of flowers and foliage plants in a cozy nook beside the back entryway into the house or a secluded space behind the clump of bamboo and the boundary wall is another clever ploy used in pulling off the illusion of bigger space, as these areas suggest an element of mystery and beckon the visitor to explore what lies out of sight. The faux rocks used to edge the ponds also play host to a rustic assortment of plantings not only make gardening easier but add height, lifting the plants from out of harm’s way such as bicycle wheels or human and dog traffic.

The gently curved paved walkway with its imposing series of columns is another design principle used to make the space appear larger while leading the eye vertically upwards. The flight of steps leading graciously down to the backyard lawn encourages the visitor to pause and appreciate the garden landscape.

This garden design also links one part of the of the property to the next in a sequences of spaces that both families can use and enjoy, giving it an overall sense of expanded outdoor space by demarcating and connecting at the same time such as using the foot bridge to traverse the pond or following the randomly placed concrete pavers around the water garden

The koi pond and the pair of cascading pools, for example, serve not only as a focal point but bisect the garden and provides the structural details to an otherwise plain swath of lawn. They also bring the vista of the surrounding emerald-green fairways into focus.

From the selection of plants to establishing the outdoor spaces and the development of transitions between them, this two-in-one sanctuary underscores the central principle of a unified design layout but strikes an especially sentimental chord when the payoff in pleasure is jointly experienced between two families of brothers housed within a combined garden.

Ornaments : Adding Oomph to the Outdoors

Plants may be the raison d’etre of a garden but ornaments, such as sculpture and art pieces, are what gives the outdoor space its finishing touch. If you are on the lookout for that whimsical piece to place near the pool, beside a pathway, or on the patio, check out the tips and tricks and takes of ornamental options.

Art for Garden Pizzaz

These days, DIY and garden centers stock a dizzying array of art pieces and hardscapes, and if you have until now only relied exclusively on plants to shape the style of your garden, then you have probably missed half the fun.

Ornaments that furnish the garden spaces help express your personality and the ideas that inspire your design. They add life to the outdoors and can be employed to surprise or stupefy, distract or delight visitors exploring the garden grounds.

Sculpture lends unity to a garden composition or simply helps mark a path. It aids in creating a direction or movement in a garden landscape. A piece of sculpture can lead you down a meandering path and gives you the impression that you are heading in the right direction.

Sculpture is often used in the crossroads of intersecting garden walkways in a sprawling traditional garden while in a small urban garden, it can be used to screen off an unwanted view such as a neighbor’s dining area or family room.

Material Matters

• The choice of material is dictated by the style of the piece. Wood, stone and marble are used for carvings while castings are fashioned from bronze, terracotta, resin and cement.
• Stone is ideal in a courtyard and is also a natural choice for calligraphic inscription.
• Wood feels right at home in the garden.
• Synthetic materials such as polyresin and fiberglass, albeit not eco-friendly, can be finished to imitate natural materials such as wood or stone.
• Glass and metal are increasingly used in a modern contemporary garden.

Ornament Savvy

The choice may be limitless and personal. Still, check out the following tips on selecting and decorating with ornaments.

• Choose pieces that hold up and weather well in a garden, such as ornaments of stone or terracotta.
• Buy pieces you love, and not just to fill in the void spaces. Trends or fads should also not dictate your choice. Do rely on gut instincts in your choice of garden ornaments just as you would for choosing the bric-a-brac for the house.
• Ornaments should look as if they have always been a part of the garden; which is to say they don’t have to be chipped or cracked, derelict or distressed, just comfortable where they are.
• A question of scale. Choose a suitably sized ornament for the space in which it will be displayed. For example, a six-foot sculpture will look out of place in a small lawn.
• Beef up an object’s presence by placing it on a pedestal, a pergola or a partition.
• Group families of ornaments together. Natural materials such as terracotta, stone and timber will sit comfortably together while fiberglass, steel and glass will resonate with modern contemporary chic.
• Experiment, by all means. Move the ornaments around until you find just the right spot for each piece. After all, finding what fits and what doesn’t is always an intuitive exercise.
• Visualize the ornament in the garden before purchasing. Ask yourself if the color matches the patio tiles or the brickwork of the boundary wall. Will the style of the object clash with that of the other garden elements?
• Focal point or accent piece? Choose a striking bronze sculpture of you want to let the eyes come to a rest, or go for a small figurine if only to provide accent. This will guide you in planning your plantings such that the plants either direct or distract from the ornamental piece.

Care Tips

• Before you paint your outdoor ornamental pieces to stall the destructive process of rusting, use a wire brush to remove rust. Then coat the pieces with a primer before painting it. As rust bleeds through light-toned paint more easily than through dark colours, use multiple coats to cover a rusty surface.
• Display only teak, mahogany or hardwood pieces in the garden.
• As marble is highly susceptible to high humidity and rain, have the surface of any marble pieces professionally sealed. Never place iron ornaments on top of marble. This can leave a rust imprint which can be difficult to remove.
• Never use bleach to get rid of organic matter, such as algae, from ornaments. Instead, direct a jet of water from the garden hose on the object and use only mild detergent, if necessary.
• Do not roll terracotta or concrete pot on its sides as this can split it into half.

Growing a Malaysian Garden

A garden landscape designer’s passion for recapturing “carefree outdoor living” inspires this homegrown landscape design concept that knows no end.

Garden with Attitude

Our infatuation with all things foreign is an all too familiar fact. Well, not for long – if Desmond Ho of Terra Garden has his way – as far as gardens go. Not content to borrow from well-established garden themes such as the English, Mediterranean or Japanese gardens, Desmond and his team meticulously researched outdoor living spaces throughout the length and breath of Malaysia in search of the quintessential Malaysian garden. He was determined to rekindle the love of the great outdoors among Malaysians – urbanites especially.

Although the starting point of any garden design is the question of style, it is in the fleshing out of the substance of this concept that leaves its mark of distinction. Ho goes back to his early roots and speaks of long hours spent outdoors: catnapping in the dappled shade of trees, frolicking in the afternoon sun, sluicing off the heat with cold water from the village well, and feasting under the moonlit skies during the mid-autumn festival. The concept would not only be a showcase of our rich heritage of arts and crafts but would also embrace outdoor living as a lifestyle. Thus was birthed the Neo Nusantara garden. The felicitous term “Nusantara” is used in a cultural context to mean the “Malay Archipelago.”

Desmond was keen to point out at the very outset that he was not out to make a fashion statement with the Neo Nusantara garden because as with all style statements, they come and go. He wanted a garden that Malaysians can claim as their own, just as we have the Malaysian batik. In short, a classic garden that truly reflects Malay architectural culture, taking into account traditional design elements and craftsmanship, local materials and weather conditions.

The result is a garden that sets the stage for a veritable feast of the senses: rich hues of timber set off by verdant foliage that titillate the eye, soothing sound of gurgling water, fragrant whiff of flowers and herbs in the air, interesting interplay of textures, and the piquant flavor of edible of spices. The Neo Nusantara garden can serve as an enchanting extension to entertain alfresco, a peaceful retreat to shed the cares of the world, or even a boudoir to kick back in style.

Striking A Theme

Physical reminders are the thread that binds us to the past. In the case of the Neo Nusantara garden, the team preserves a slice of our rustic past by introducing a stunning range of traditional outdoor furnishings that are both practical and decorative, with each item bearing a whimsical Malay term. A garden dressed in these enchanting accoutrements harkens to a bygone era brimming with the allure of the exotic East.

The pangkin, or raised timber decking, takes pride of place as a resting spot. The dayang bunting is a terra cotta pot used as a water feature with elaborate carvings of tropical motifs of the bunga ketumbit or kerrawang on its frame. The kuda-kuda (kukur), a multi-purpose timber bench named after a traditional coconut scrapping device, doubles up as a bench or a display unit for potted plants. Lighting, provided by the ceramic lampu obor and mounted on a lattice screen patterned after the kain pelekat (traditional kilt), casts a dramatic silhouette in the stillness of night.

From Desmond’s point of view, it is national pride in our cultural identity that should form the basis in designing our outdoor space. “Although I refuse to accept that the Malaysian garden is made up of carpet grass lawn with a couple of fruit trees thrown in, there isn’t a right or wrong when it comes to interpreting our garden culture,” he admits. “A Malaysian garden must reflect a tropical theme that is a harmonious fusion of the Malay, Chinese and Indian cultures. Apart from that, it’s all up to you,” Ho asserts.

Nestled in Nostalgia

Uncovering ideas for designing a garden from ground zero can mean taking a nostalgic trip down memory lane. What emerges is a scent-filled sanctuary with a soothing sense of déjà vu.

For many homeowners, deciding on an appealing outdoor design can involve duplicating specific garden styles, going with the flow, or simply be the outcome of long drawn-out planning. But in the case of the lady of this custom-built house in a gentrified sprawling neighborhood of Shah Alam, childhood memories of the glorious outdoors provided valuable clues to her personal style.

At street level, a neat formal planting of ficus mopheads, with their base encircled by a border of white-flowered cuphea on a wide fringe of grass makes for a cheerful welcome at the entrance to the property. On entering the gates, a well-manicured lawn beside the gently graded driveway greets the eye. Despite not having the luxury of a sprawling space, the homeowner has not succumbed to the temptation of paved parking or patios under the scorching sun. The long, narrow side- and backyard lawns wrap around the house providing easy access from one section of the garden to another.

What is striking about this contemporary tropical garden is the absence of any trees along its perimeter to screen out the outside world, yet it is designed to provide plenty of space for shrubs, container plants, vines and specimen plants arranged within an attractive framework. This planting style hints at the wide open spaces of kampong homes where maintaining a friendly continuity with adjacent properties makes for a good neighbor policy.

What this garden design lacks in vertical height provided by trees is more than offset by the charm from the rich diversity of plants that has been woven into its design fabric. Foliage and flowering plants either planted into the ground or nurtured from ornamental containers border the perimeter of the garden grounds not only provided the bones of this garden but fill this garden with bright, cheerful colors, interesting textures and a myriad of forms. A number of shrubs and creepers add both color and fragrance such as the cananga odorata, agardenia carinata, murraya paniculata, rangoon creeper and the vallaris glabra. Clearly, favorite plants have not only dictated the selection of plants. The landscape designer has also chosen plants that fit in with the garden theme and plants that complement the framework such as those that repeat the colors, textures and forms of other plants, which is ideal for connecting the spaces in the garden.

This ornamental garden with its rich assortment of native plants is not only alluring to the human eye but is an ideal habitat for birds, butterflies and other wildlife with seeds, fruit and edible flower buds providing abundant sources of food. It is also an example of a garden that celebrates the colors and textures of our native landscape with a simple approach to design that requires relatively low maintenance.

The juxtaposing of two or more plants has a pleasing visual effect and is a repetitive element in the planting style of this garden; a lively mix of blooms such as the showy clusters of heliconia rostrata and the cheery drifts of tumera provides an interesting blend of tone and texture and softens the edges of the hardscape.

While the masses of plants around the garden may provide a sense of flow, it is the distinctive countryside charm of the stilted cengal gazebo installed above a pool located at the north-facing sideyard that brings this garden into focus. A straight pathway of timber slabs helps guide the eye from the front lawn to a raised cengal decking bordering the gazebo. The decking doubles as an effective way to deal with the sloping ground on which the house is sited. In addition, the raised structure forms a vantage point not only for taking in attractive views within the property but those beyond its boundaries.

The timber-floored gazebo, which takes inspiration from the anjung of traditional Malay houses, has been given a modern twist; a square slab of tempered transparent glass in the centre of the timber flooring creates a sensation of being afloat. This airy shingle-roofed structure is a pleasant getaway from everyday existence for the family to lose themselves among the sounds of rustling foliage, cascading water and birdsong, evoking a romantic atmosphere of the exotic tropical East. The occasional splashes of colour of birds flitting from plant to plant add an element of surprise to the garden setting.

A two-tier wall fountain, powered by a recirculating pump forms the backdrop to the raised decking and gazebo. The yellow, timber-grained palimanan stone walls interspersed with granite panels give textural interest and lend contrast to the dark tones of the gazebo and decking. Cascades of water gush invitingly from three niches into a trough, which then plunge loudly in a broad shimmery curtain into a rectangular pond installed below the gazebo.

A cosy terrace sited opposite this compelling scene is outfitted with a roof of tinted polycarbonate which guarantees reprieve from the pelting rain. Furnished with stylish, comfortable teak furniture, this extension of the house provides the family with an inviting setting for eating fresh-air meals on a balmy evening, relaxing with friends and drinking in the fragrance that wafts in the night breeze. This outdoor room built at the same level as the decking and the interiors also serves as the main crossroads between the house and the garden, and makes for a comfortable transition between the indoors and out.

A herb patch is strategically located at the far end of the backyard. Inter-planted with other edibles such as the cilli padi and pandan, the herbs thrive in full sun and in well-drained soil. Heading for the herb patch placed right outside the kitchen is like visiting the pantry for culinary ingredients. One can imagine the delight of the lady of the house nipping out of the kitchen and snipping a few curry or kesum leaves for that extra zing to a traditional family recipe.

A meandering path of leaf imprinted concrete pavers leads from the service access gate and ends at the bottom of a short flight of steps leading to the raised level of the sideyard directly opposite the decked area around the pool. The flight of steps provides a welcome vertical dimension to the garden as well as tempts the visitor to explore the garden beyond the path.

The ornamental terracotta and sandstone urns that are placed sporadically around the garden introduce accent and balance to the garden design. They also pull double duty as garden lighting, and together with the wayang lights lend a rustic and romantic charm once the sun has gone down.

Movable furniture such as the wrought iron dining set with a bronze finish as opposed to the timber bench built-into the deck rails helps make the visitors feel at home in the garden as guests feel more at ease in individual chairs. Placed just outside the pergola, its delicate details and curves blend nicely with the surrounding plants. Finished with a powdered coat ensures it lasts longer and is rust-free.

With all the design elements to make this garden as comfortable as it is alluring, it is no small wonder that guests to this spacious home never have to be invited outdoors. With its scintillating combination of sights, sounds and smells, who needs to?

Minimalist Magic

Minimalism is hitting the high C’s with its crisp contemporary lines, and clutter-free concept. And why not in this day and age?

We may have just breezed into the month of August but already landscape designer YK Tang of Nature Décor, a local garden landscape company, is witnessing a noticeable trend emerging in the suburban garden landscape - minimalism.

What’s Minimalism?
The mantra of “less is more” couldn’t be more appropriate in defining the minimalist garden: simple forms and a restrained palette of natural materials and plants drawn into a unified whole through repetition and geometry. The minimalist garden can probably trace its roots to the Zen gardens of the classical Japanese era. These were gardens of harmoniously arranged rocks and white raked gravel cultivated by Japanese Zen monks as a quiet haven for peaceful contemplation. Unlike the stark minimalism of Zen rock gardens, the contemporary minimalist garden has a simple, pared-down elegance, occasionally with a hint of flamboyant self-expression.

With fewer components used in the minimalist garden, the viewer is able to appreciate and enjoy the spaces between the elements such as stone, wood or plant as individual showpieces in their own right.

Why Minimalism?
And is it any surprise at all that with so much of our lives in overdrive that this understated garden style is currently enjoying its demographic moment, and ideally expressing the mood of the times. “While garden landscape trends can be swayed by designer’s influence, homeowners are to a larger extent inspired by lifestyle and economics. Just as clutter-free indoor spaces are the trend these days, so it is for the garden and landscape,” reveals Tang.

With land prices going at a premium, the suburban garden is shrinking in size. Whether it is brand new construction, generous extensions or total makeover, hulking homes or multiple-car porches are surely swallowing up the outdoor space. “Certainly, today’s tight-spaced gardens bode well for the minimalist garden,” adds Tang

It is the very essence of restrained simplicity of the minimalist garden that allows a spectator to unwind from the clutter, noise and frantic activity of modern life, making it an oasis of serenity. Its combination of clean lines, clearly-defined hard landscaping and unmistakable sense of space is especially appropriate alongside contemporary architecture. With a restricted palette of plants and building materials, this particular style can also be decidedly low-maintenance and is ideal for the suburbanite stretched for time.

Piecing the Minimalist Mosaic

So when it comes to nailing the minimalist mood for the outdoors, what are some of the defining features?

Harmony Rules The combination of natural materials such as wood, bricks, gravel and stone laid out in a configuration of bold, simple lines or in geometrical patterns appears united and cohesive.
Strong design Striking hardscaping is used to great effect, providing drama and character.
Limited plant palette A restricted number of plant varieties with one plant dominant and any others minor achieves a sense of order and balance. Architectural plants with a fuss-free nature such as sanseviera, dracaena margarita, bamboo or the cycad against stark neutral colored walls can make strong statements. Ornamental grasses make for softer planting and are wonderful as ground covers and accent plants. Alternatively, dwarf trees and shrubs in containers are also ideal.
Pathway panache Stone walkways or stepping stones add pattern and a sense of destination. They are usually curved or meandering.
Water Wonder Formal, geometrical, raised or flush, it can be single level or several, the water feature takes on the important role as focal point and as a source of white noise. Aquatic plants or ornamental fish enhances further its visual interest.
Neutral colours set the tone for a soothing colour scheme, sometimes with a touch of accent colour.
Strong inside-outside relationship An extension of the living space is seamlessly created by a restrained geometric layout and a unifying colour scheme. The use of a pared-down style of outdoor lighting, garden accessories and furniture also adds to this effect, allowing the space to feel larger than it is.
Simple, earthy and organic accessories Containers with clean, sleek lines such as a tall narrow planter with a height higher than its diameter or those with vertical sides or sculptures and ornamentation bearing a stripped-down appearance or are inspired by Zen or Oriental influences.
Focal point in its own right Every feature and plant has its own sense of place and has been carefully chosen and sited.
Functional furniture Comfortable outdoor furniture with simple planes allows the spectator the luxury of simply sitting back and enjoying the all-pervading ambiance of calm and serenity. Hardwood, concrete, or granite products are not only weather-resistant but blend well within the minimalist milieu.

If there’s one thing we can learn from the rising popularity of the minimalist-inspired outdoors is that a garden design need not always be complex to be successful.

Thinking of a minimalist makeover for the garden but still mystified on how to proceed? Now might just be as good a time as any to consult the professionals.

Going the whole nine yards

When it came to landscaping and greening the outdoors of a high-end property, going the whole nine yards was par for the course.

Admittedly, a pat formula for designing a garden landscape simply does not exist but a good place to begin would be to understand who you are and what you want in a garden while keeping in mind the existing site features, boundaries, municipal laws, availability of materials, ideas and turnaround time.

“And it certainly didn’t hurt when money was no object and that the owner kept an open mind to our ideas and suggestions,” admits landscape designer, YK Tang of Just Right Design. “However, the bottom line was that we should make the most of the outdoor spaces,” adds Tang.

While Just Design was commissioned with designing the landscape, another landscape company, Nature Decor, was roped in for the logistics and landscape planting work. The finished product was an outdoor sanctuary that not only resonates with owners and guests all year long but one which is a fitting tribute to the stately property located within a gated community.

Tang nails down some key features in getting this garden off the ground.

Setting out a “Selamat Datang” mat

Plantings such as palm trees, lush shrubs and thick groundcover outside the walls create an inviting atmosphere and soften the buttoned-up appearance of this impressive property. On entering the imposing wooden gates into the driveway, the visitor is at once greeted at the front yard with a lush planting of trees and shrubs, among which a trio of gardenia carinata trees decked with vivacious fragrant flowers perk up the front garden instantly. As an added bonus, at certain times of the year, the trees will shed their blooms, rolling out a luscious natural carpet of welcome on the driveway.

Seeing spaces

A trick of the landscape trade in making the garden look larger is by creating hidden nooks or areas with a “come-hither” dimension. In the case of this decidedly irregular structure of the house, hidden areas come aplenty. The raised beds and borders, paved pavilion terrace and the curved koi pond contribute to an element of surprise and beckon visitors to venture into the garden.

Incorporating vertical dimensions into the garden is another nifty way of making a garden seem larger, such as by varying the surface and level of the garden ground, and introducing plants of varying heights and structures such as the cengal timber pergola and the pavilion. Built-in furniture such as the cengal bench hugging the perimeter of the koi pond is a space-saving solution and acts as part of the overall composition.

Constructing an imposing crescent-shaped pergola to shade a curved walkway that wraps around the koi pond is another versatile device that has been employed to make the space look larger while extending the garden vertically.

Bringing the outdoors in

Unobstructed views of the outdoors through large expanses of glass and generously sized doorways not only expand the indoor living areas but lure the owners and visitors alike into the garden grounds.

Architectural and specimen plants that offer an array of rich details such as colours, textures and shapes are also planted near the guest room and dining area which besides contributing to an intriguing view from the window also encourage the visitors to enjoy the garden spaces close to the house.

A pair of frangipani trees planted in the courtyard and specially selected for their sculptural form can also be viewed from the indoor living rooms through the many glass walls, doors and windows. Sporadically planted trees in the corners and nooks around the house not only blur the line between the indoors from the outdoors but provide much needed shade and shield the house from prying eyes.

Celebrating with friends & family

There is something decidedly convivial about entertaining good friends in an outdoor living space amidst the soothing sound and sight of moving water. The back terrace built within a pavilion structure with its pebbblewash flooring set flush with the koi pond is the ideal outdoor room to hold a barbecue feast and do a spot of anecdote telling or for morning coffee or afternoon tea, or simply to watch the symphony of movements of fish in the pond.

With wide steps leading from the terrace down to the walkway outfitted with a long bench hugging part of the koi pond, guests can stretch their limbs after the satiating meal and travel along a path with unexpected turns along the length.

The space around the walkway can also be modified as the needs of family change. A play structure or a spacious swing set can be installed on the lawn area when the grandchildren arrive or it could be transformed into a small orchard or an organic vegetable patch. After all, a meaningful garden design is always evolving even as passions and needs will surely change.