Elements of Garden Design | Water
It is difficult to imagine another element so central and so vital both to basic life and to a diverse range of aesthetic and recreational pleasure. The use of water in the built environment is thousands of years old and is interwoven throughout its long history with symbolism and religious rites as well as with sensual delight. Aqua landscapes or Water Gardens, as they are known, have been prominent in English Imperial Gardens, French Baroque Gardens, Chinese Classical Gardens as well as the Moorish Royal Gardens.
Water Gardens typically include the integration of artificial ponds, streams, waterfalls, statues, rocks, aquatic plants, fishes, watercourses and fountains with the natural surroundings and environment in order to create a pleasing atmosphere.
Technical Transformations in Architecture | Impact of Industrial Revolution
Posted by BenzuJK in Architecture on January 31, 2010
Architectural transformations were the main focus since the beginning of industrial revolution.
Three major types of architectural transformations were brought about:
- Cultural transformations that we discussed in the earlier article
- Technical transformations
- Terrotorial transformations
In this article, we will deal with “Technical transformations in Architecture”.
Kew Gardens - Cast iron house at the Botanical garden
Industrial revolution brought about in the development of machines working on steam power which brought about the development of railways.
Rotary steam power and the iron frame came into being at around the same time through the interdependent efforts of three men:
- James Watt
- Abraham Darby
- John Wilkinson
Beautiful French Gardens | Magnifique Baroque Style
The French are practical people. They were the ones who launched the French Revolution, a revolt against the ruling class while the rest of Europe bled under the thumbs of despots. But the French have a deep love for beauty and liberty. They have an open mind for new experiments, and thus French Architecture French Food and French Gardens have no match.
French Gardening Style
There was little chance to apply renaissance principles when the garden was within the fortress as in medieval France. Orchards and kitchen gardens were a part of this garden. By the beginning of the 17th century, royal palace gardens in Paris were largely Italian in plan. But it all began to change. The royal gardener Claude Mollet is credited with the creation of the parterre de broderie and the importance of the avenue.
Another genius garden designer was Le Notre, who worked for Claude Mollet. He was really very impressive and creative. Nicolas Fouquet, Chancellor to the King of France, Louis XIV, met Le Notre and commissioned him to design the gardens at Vaux le Vicomte.
Architectural & Cultural Transformations after the Industrial Revolution
Posted by BenzuJK in Architecture on January 20, 2010
Industrial Revolution had a great impact on the field of Architecture. Technological innovations brought about a great deal of change in the work of an Architect. This was the period of “expansion of creativity” and brought about various Architectural Transformations.
The three major divisions of the Architectural Transformations are as follows:
- Cultural Transfromations
- Technical Transformations
- Territorial Transformations
Cultural Transformations
The architecture of Neo-classicism seems to have emerged out of two different but related developments which radically transformed the relationship between man and nature.
Neoclassical style - Monticello House
There was a sudden change and increase in man’s capacity to have control over nature, which by 17th century had begun to advance beyond the technical frontiers of Renaissance. There was change in the nature of human consciousness, in response to major changes taking place in the society. It gave birth to the cultural transformation taking place in the society.
Origin of the Italian Garden Style | Influence on Modern Landscape Architecture
Italian Garden Architecture is another style that evolved after the Persian Gardening Style… This added another element of interest in the “Development of the Modern Garden Architecture”.
The possibility of building a villa arose at a time when control of the hinterland by cities rendered fortified rural settlements unnecessary. Existing country houses belonging to the large land owning town nobility could be converted and newly built villas built solely for enjoying rural life did not need to be defensible as a castle. Both types represent the cultural ideal of rural life the so called villeggiatura.
Italian garden Design Style
Italian gardens are characterized by the abundance of architectural features or built features in the garden. Staircases, balustrades, cascades pavilions and pavements – even the cypress avenues are imitations of colonnades. The origins of the style are to be found in ancient Rome. They took the pains to site their villas on the countryside with exceptional views, where cooling breeze would reach them above malarial valleys. Within the villas there were courts and colonnades designed for every phase of wind and weather.