Lessons from the designs of specialised gardens
THE rapid urbanisation we are experiencing has meant more commercial activities, buildings, and a growing urban population. This often results in air pollution and a lack of green spaces. In Sarawak, we are still very blessed to be able to enjoy greenery in our cities and towns.
However, this will require careful planning to preserve. Beautifully landscaped gardens can provide shade and reduce heat, glare, as well as dust and noise. Appropriate garden designs can often be stark contrasts to large concrete buildings. Specialised designs are necessary to ensure urban folk have enough green areas for a better quality of life.
When designing public buildings such as institutions of higher learning, schools or hospitals, green spaces should also be included. Hospitals, for example, can benefit greatly from well-designed gardens that can project an atmosphere of tranquillity and relaxation. Such beautiful surroundings can greatly help in the healing process for patients. For institutions of education, gardens can help with the learning process. Therapeutic gardens As mentioned, gardens can have a therapeutic effect on patients. Therapeutic gardens can blend softscapes and hardscapes to give users peace of mind through sight, sound, touch, and smell. They can include facilities such as pebbled pathways for reflexology. The design must ultimately give users a sense of serenity, with fresh natural scents to replace the pollutants of an urban landscape.
Such gardens can further improve concentration and one’s capacity to rest and relax. Scented plants have a positive effect, as fragrance from plants can evoke pleasure and promote healing. Public parks should consider such dimensions in their design so those going for a walk or other forms of exercise can be healed in the natural surroundings.
Vertical gardens
This is another way to include gardens in busy cityscapes. As mentioned, urbanisation has left us with a shortage of land for large gardens. To overcome space constraints, clever designers began to convert indoor spaces or sections of buildings into green areas.
Creating vertical gardens adds another dimension and creates more space for plantings. This is not an easy achievement due to the lack of water or light in some locations. However, these can be incorporated and even automated with the right planning.
Vertical gardens require specialised pocket containers that are sturdy and can hold the planting medium and plants on frames. Internal areas with low light intensity can incorporate creepers that thrive as undergrowth in the jungle. Just bear in mind that the plants will need a good level of humidity to do well. My previous experience in putting up greenery inside a hotel in Kuching involved various problems including the unfriendly height of 30 feet from the first floor upwards inside the small sky vent. There would not be enough light and moisture without constant careful management. To be successful, a water supply system and artificial lighting had to be planned and installed. The need for fertiliser also had to be fulfilled by implanting a slow release fertiliser in the medium for less involved maintenance. Herb gardens
Many medicinal plants, shrubs and herbs of old are gaining greater recognition today as science has proven their benefits. As such, setting up a herb garden is ideal to enable us to recognise and appreciate the beneficial qualities of herbs. Walking among the plantings of a herb garden can help one to feel closer to healing and recovery.
The late Professor Dr CC Wong, in his book ‘Introduction to Malaysian Herbs’ promotes the use of local herbs for their healing properties. This book lists more than 130 species of herbs that can be found locally.
Besides the believed healing properties of herbs, they are of course ideal for the kitchen garden. What could be better than flavouring various dishes with herbs fresh from the garden?
With the beginning of a new year, perhaps it is time to consider specialised gardens for your home or neighbourhood. If you do not have much land, perhaps you could consider a vertical herb garden along the backyard wall? There are plenty of ways to bring green spaces into our urban environments with a little planning and imagination. Do send me an email if you have questions, comments, or suggestions.
Happy gardening.