The 2003 exhibit designed for the Mercedes Benz design marquee was again a medal winner, being awarded a bronze. The exhibit entitled ‘The Garden as an Art Form’.
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The Garden as an Art Form
The imaginary clients for whom this space has been designed are a young couple
in their 30’s, without children, wanting an outdoor environment in
which to relax and unwind after a working day.
The requirements of this couple are that the area be functional, easy to maintain
and most importantly a creative space that incorporates their love of native
and subtropical plants with art in the garden. To this end, the garden has
been designed to not only fulfil the functional requirements of a contemplative
space, but to be an original piece of artwork in its own right.
Natural products have been utilised such as the macrocarpa timber in the
surrounding walls, raised planters and boardwalk, Bombay bluestone as the
paving medium
and natural rock in the construction of the water feature. The variety of
plant species used has been purposely kept to a minimum in order to create
visual
impact. This has been achieved by the drifts of subtle colour, in combination,
with the contrasting foliage textures of the wonderful divaricating species
used and the broad leaves of the hemerocallis and bromeliads. The organic
shapes and patterns created by the plantings have been inspired by traditional
motifs
used in Maori carving and a variety of small schist chip has been utilised
to create the negative space in the pattern. These factors all combine to
create a uniquely kiwi identity to this garden space.
Art has been introduced into the garden through other aspects also, such
as the original handpainted screen situated within the paved area, specifically
created for this design. The desire to incorporate stone and steel and the
influences of Burle Marx and modern sculpture have culminated in the functional
light towers flanking the entranceway. These have a dual purpose of not only
lighting the boardwalk but also being contemporary pieces of garden sculpture.The
use of steel has also a very kiwi feel to it, be it in the corrugated form
( as in the inset panels ), or in the stainless form as previously mentioned.
Form, texture and colour – all important aspects of this design, have
come together to create a space that not only offers its imaginary occupants
an area in which to relax to the soothing background sounds emanating from
the water feature, but also one which fulfils all the stated requirements
of the design brief.
Alex Schanzer Landscaping
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