The modern garden is actually an extension of the house. Therefore, the owners pay special attention to zoning and require the same functionality, the same comfort and the same environmental friendliness from their garden as from their home
Before talking about the trends currently prevailing in the design of private gardens, architect and co—founder of the Utro architectural bureau Marina Yarmarkina reminds: it is important to understand that a private garden is an intervention in an already established natural context. Therefore, ideally, the house and the surrounding area are integrated into the existing environment and become its continuation.
Marina Yarmarkina is an architect and co-founder of the Utro architectural bureau. “When selecting crops for landscaping, preference is given to those plants that grow nearby in the wild. You can choose the same species, or you can use only their image: study their coloristics, behavior when the wind blows, the structure of the natural massif and choose a similar assortment based on these parameters. Also today, a natural garden with a minimum number of lawns is gaining popularity only in those places where functional playgrounds are located, for example, for picnics or sports games.”
According to Peter Lari, the art director of the L-BURO landscape studio, people specifically go to their company for the so-called Scandinavian garden.
That is, for the highly sought-after combination of naturalness and simplicity with convenience and functionality.
Peter Lari is the art director of the L-BURO landscape studio
“There is one bright trend, thanks to which we can talk about the complete victory of functional minimalism. The customer today wants the laconic visual beauty of the garden combined with low maintenance. The second direction can be called nostalgic style (in St. Petersburg it is a stylization of the Repinsky dachas of the Kurortny district, in Moscow it is the dachas of writers). In such projects, they deliberately create the effect of an overgrown garden with a history. Since this is most often a conscious approach of clients, we even put these projects in a separate section “Garden reconstruction”.
Continuing the theme, Estima designer Diana Levina answering the questions BFM.ru , noted: the new generation of gardeners really approaches the design of plots in a more meaningful way. The owners take care of nature and increasingly plant plants that benefit the local flora and fauna, prefer flowers that attract bees and butterflies. In addition, many gardeners began to dry herbs themselves, making healthy teas and seasonings, which is also an environmentally friendly solution. And this is just one of the colors of the overall picture called “Garden trends — 2024”.
— Among the new gardening trends is an increase in demand for professional gardeners. This is due to several factors, including the growing popularity of gardens and vegetable gardens as places for recreation and plant care, and increased interest in an environmentally responsible lifestyle. Gardeners not only help create and maintain green spaces, but also advise garden owners on plant selection, care, and environmentally sustainable gardening practices. This trend is especially relevant among summer residents who strive not only for visual, but also for functional improvement of their plots. Professionals help to implement modern methods of garden management, including the use of organic fertilizers, soil mulching, and the creation of sustainable and aesthetically pleasing landscapes. They can offer innovative solutions such as vertical gardens, hydroponic systems or the use of natural materials for decorative elements.
— Your colleagues have talked a lot about the special attention of modern consumers to the zoning of the garden. Do you agree that the attention is really special?
— I absolutely agree. Modern gardens are increasingly becoming an extension of residential spaces, where zoning plays a key role in creating a comfortable and functional environment. Recreation, lunch, work, and entertainment areas are an integral part of modern landscape design. Each zone is designed taking into account the needs of the owners and the specifics of the area, which makes the gardens both beautiful and comfortable at any time of the year. Decorative elements such as umbrellas, brightly patterned fabrics and pillows are added to the relaxation area, located in a secluded part of the garden, to create a cozy atmosphere. Canopies or pavilions are necessarily placed in the dining and reception area to create a space protected from the sun and rain. And in the gardening area, in addition to beds and flower beds, hanging pots or vertical gardens appear to maximize the use of space. By the way, a roof garden consisting of plants capable of adapting to intense solar radiation and wind effects is becoming an increasingly popular and in-demand solution in the modern world. Such a garden not only improves the appearance of the house, but also opens up wide practical possibilities. Previously unused space turns into a pleasant and functional area, ideal for growing plants, relaxing, spending time with family and friends, and even organizing small events.
— I wonder if there are other examples of such functionality besides roofs?
— So there are examples of combining aesthetics, practicality and comfort? Of course there is. For example, multi—level platforms and terraces make it possible to effectively use the irregularities of the landscape, creating various recreation and activity areas, and decorative partitions (hedges, elements made of wood and stone) – to zone the space, highlighting special secluded corners in it. Adding water elements such as fountains, waterfalls or ponds not only beautifies the garden, but also helps to create an atmosphere of calm and relaxation. But here, by the way, we can talk not only directly about zoning. For example, special lighting helps to extend the time that the family spends outside and emphasize the architectural and plant features of the garden. And the integration of audio and video equipment into the natural environment allows you to create a comfortable atmosphere for outdoor entertainment, including for evening film screenings in the family recreation area.
— Speaking about the importance of a functional approach (we are witnessing the victory of functional minimalism, as one of your colleagues put it), everyone notes a special request for environmental friendliness …
— I would say this: environmental sustainability has become a key aspect of modern landscape design. Therefore, in the design of gardens, more and more attention is paid to the choice of materials that are not only beautiful, but also safe for the environment. For example, natural stone plays a leading role in modern gardens due to its strength, natural texture and variety of shades. It is used for paving paths, creating geometric elements and fences. Pebbles and gravel are also appreciated in landscape design for their aesthetic appeal and practicality: they are used for mulching, covering paths and creating decorative areas. Wood and wood cuts are widely used in garden furniture, decorative elements and retaining walls. Their natural beauty and pleasant to the touch texture make them popular among designers and gardeners. Bark and wood chips are used as mulch to preserve moisture and decorate garden compositions, and they are harmoniously combined with ecophilosophy. However, the same porcelain stoneware is fully consistent with the trends for environmental friendliness. This material, used together with stone and natural granite, allows you to create unique and diverse spaces, the site becomes more lively and atmospheric. The paths made of porcelain stoneware look especially beautiful, but the material should be laid out so that grass sprouts between the slabs: it looks spectacular and natural. In general, porcelain stoneware reproduces the textures of natural materials, which makes it easy to fit it into any stylistic ideas — whether it is a house in a wooden style or completely in a monostyle using concrete or stone.
There are several other garden trends that inspire both modern professionals and their clients, the expert notes. They are related to how the garden should look in general, what associations to create, what emotions to evoke, what memories to raise from the depths of memory. So, the approach, which can be called partly futuristic, is based on the obvious fact that thanks to modern technologies, the most unusual plants can be grown on sites that were not originally intended for certain climatic conditions.
“The owners of the plots combine plants in flower beds that seem incongruous because of their contrasting and bright shades. There are many methods (including the use of special soils, greenhouses, containers, and so on) that allow you to grow even exotic plants in conditions that are not initially ideal for them. This approach, while maintaining respect for environmental aspects, contributes to the creation of aesthetic garden compositions. Additionally, it is worth paying attention to decorative elements with a metallic or mirror texture, which not only decorate the garden, but also reflect light, creating an impressive atmosphere,” says Diana Levina.
According to her stories, many clients, on the contrary, try to recreate paintings from childhood, planting plots with plants that their grandparents loved. “Here you can abandon the styles accepted in landscape design: individuality comes to the fore. Usually preference is given to lupines, peonies, delphiniums, irises and, of course, roses. To enhance the effect and add authenticity, you can use old garden furniture, for example, restored and inherited. Recreating the atmosphere of a summer cottage courtyard from childhood also includes the use of retro tools such as a hand basin, a stack of firewood or old metal buckets. These elements will help to create a cozy and warm atmosphere reminiscent of the warm days of the past,” advises the interlocutor. BFM.ru .
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Of course, there are concepts that make your imagination work, not your memories. Some create gardens inspired by their children’s favorite cartoons and fairy tales. When decorating, a variety of materials are used, including stones, sawn trees, sand, and so on, miniature furniture and various figurines are placed next to trees and shrubs — in short, parents try their best.
Others believe that the garden does not necessarily have to be well-groomed from all sides. “Add a bit of natural negligence to the plot. Make the space look like a long-abandoned and forgotten estate. Plant lots of climbing plants and “aristocratic” roses, lilies and jasmine. Slightly diversify the composition with unpretentious shrubs and Gothic statues. And you will get an amazingly emotional environment,” Diana Levina is sure.
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