urban gardener entrances that make a big first impression
use texture, architectural form and splashes of gold to create a statement to the entrance of your home
Rock My World
The simpler the design, the bigger the statement. Less is more in this case. select plants that reflect the architecture of your home and personal style and limit it to a few form varieties only – agaves, aloes, Euphorbia
candelabrum and low-growing carex grass will give you an architectural look. If you have to increase numbers, up quantities of a single variety as opposed to increasing the variety of plants. Lucky enough to unearth rocks during site excavation? use these. otherwise, rocks For The King
(8 rocksfortheking.co.za) and Wild cape (8 wildcape.co.za) have a large variety.
Field Of Gold
‘Because of the wind, one enters the house from a large courtyard enclosed by unembellished tall, white walls,’ says landscape designer Franchesca Watson. The success of this entrance courtyard lies in its singularity of vision. With a highly disciplined design approach and the luxury of space, this entrance is filled with a simple mass planting of Aristida junciformis.
‘We purposefully keep the grass uncut so that one experiences the full seasonal change throughout the year,’ Franchesca says.
Crossing Over
The power of a threshold should never be underestimated. If you’re not big on garden gates, fine-tune your planting, ornamentation and surface detail to create a sense of having transitioned from one space into another. here, landscape architect Patrick Watson uses a sculptural tree, two contemporary wooden plinths and a refined change of surfacing – breeze blocks (seeded with Mayford all seasons evergreen) to wooden decking – to do just that. The result? sublime.
Nature Nurture
This thrilling entrance by chilean architect and landscaper Jaun grimm at his own home is a bold design response to the strong architecture of the building. Juan has planted a single Puya chilensis, which locally can be replaced with the indigenous Krantz aloe. Both plants develop into magnificent multiheaded shrubs from a single specimen, making this an affordable option and requiring very little water, too. The building façade is greened with Ticky creeper, which is kept clipped to accentuate the built form. natural stones set into gravel is a brilliant alternative to pavers.
Go Large
Whatever space one has available, create the impression of a generous arrival area. a few tricks include using a pareddown selection of tall feature plants or trees (height at least above eye level). here, the leggy, unusual-coloured stems of Acacia
xanthophloea balance the height of the building effortlessly. With clever design and planting by dds Landscapes, one can both conceal flaws and highlight your property’s architectural qualities. For emphasis at the front door, extra-large pots bring drama to the experience – and you can take them with when you move. For a range of pots, try Weylandts (8 weylandts.co.za) and Plaisir du Jardin (8 plaisirdujardin.co.za).
Contacts
Franchesca Watson franchescawatson.com DDS Landscape ddsprojects.co.za Patrick Watson pwdc@mweb.co.za Juan Grimm juangrimm.retazo.cl/en/