This article is helpful. Boy do I struggle with the concept of stuff versus space!
Strike a Balance: Stuff vs. Space in the Garden
Article by Billy Goodnik, May 20, 2013.
Humans have a strong attraction to color (we don’t have 6 million cones in each eye for nothing), so it might seem logical to focus your design energy on conjuring up beautiful foliage and flower combos.
For me, that’s the last step. Before you get carried away, zoom out and think about how that inspiring garden uses the overall space. Not to get too technical on you, but observe how much stuff is in the garden and how much space is left. "Stuff" is a not-so-sophisticated term for the plants, boulders, furnishings and constructed elements that you’ll find in most gardens. "Space" refers to the unencumbered surfaces you can move through without bumping your shins or that you can look across: paths, lawns, paved areas or the surface of a pond. The principle of stuff versus space applies in many design disciplines; think of the way a graphic artist uses white space to bring visual balance to the text and images on a page.
Also, look at how these two complementary elements are arranged and balanced. Are the masses and objects formally aligned along an axis, or does the visual weight of the composition create a less-deliberate feeling? This simple but frequently overlooked design principle affects our fundamental spatial experience and needs to be considered whether you’re designing an entirely new garden or simply revamping a few beds in your existing yard.
Let’s see how this concept applies to a selection of gardens.
For me, that’s the last step. Before you get carried away, zoom out and think about how that inspiring garden uses the overall space. Not to get too technical on you, but observe how much stuff is in the garden and how much space is left. "Stuff" is a not-so-sophisticated term for the plants, boulders, furnishings and constructed elements that you’ll find in most gardens. "Space" refers to the unencumbered surfaces you can move through without bumping your shins or that you can look across: paths, lawns, paved areas or the surface of a pond. The principle of stuff versus space applies in many design disciplines; think of the way a graphic artist uses white space to bring visual balance to the text and images on a page.
Also, look at how these two complementary elements are arranged and balanced. Are the masses and objects formally aligned along an axis, or does the visual weight of the composition create a less-deliberate feeling? This simple but frequently overlooked design principle affects our fundamental spatial experience and needs to be considered whether you’re designing an entirely new garden or simply revamping a few beds in your existing yard.
Let’s see how this concept applies to a selection of gardens.
Schmechtig LandscapesI find this space delightful. The grid instills order to this vignette but avoids the overly static feeling of bilateral symmetry, as there are four grids to the right of the path and only one to the left. The fountain — the dominant mass in this space — sits two grids away from the path but is centered between the seat wall and the loosely clipped boxwood hedge. The checkerboard arrangement of paving and plants is playful and enlivening, while serving as a repeating theme that binds the garden together.
In the distance, the massive shrub at the gate is well balanced by an uninterrupted plane of lawn. Also, notice how your perception of this space is dictated by the arrangement of the elements, not the color of the flowers or character of the plants.
In the distance, the massive shrub at the gate is well balanced by an uninterrupted plane of lawn. Also, notice how your perception of this space is dictated by the arrangement of the elements, not the color of the flowers or character of the plants.
Jobe Corral ArchitectsWhen there isn’t a lot of outdoor space to work with, but the desire for living space is a high priority, utility has to come first. Consider the activities you desire and the furnishings needed to support those activities. Be sure to include enough space surrounding the area for unimpeded circulation.
As the young tree here grows, it will form a light canopy over the room, changing the proportions of mass and space, as will the leafy shrubs in the corner. If this arrangement of plants and open space feels too sparse for your liking, you could trade the gently cascading water feature for additional planting beds. In terms of how the space is arranged, all the forms are parallel and perpendicular to the building, creating a somewhat formal feeling.
I’d call this about 80 percent space and 20 percent stuff, at least until the tree puts on more growth.
As the young tree here grows, it will form a light canopy over the room, changing the proportions of mass and space, as will the leafy shrubs in the corner. If this arrangement of plants and open space feels too sparse for your liking, you could trade the gently cascading water feature for additional planting beds. In terms of how the space is arranged, all the forms are parallel and perpendicular to the building, creating a somewhat formal feeling.
I’d call this about 80 percent space and 20 percent stuff, at least until the tree puts on more growth.
debora carl landscape designUsing my very unscientific analysis method, I’d say this garden is 40 percent space and 60 percent stuff — hence the more intimate appearance. The garden has an obvious central axis, and the garden elements on each side of the imaginary line mirror one another. With the exception of the creeping fig (Ficus pumila) on the wall, all the plants will grow no taller than knee high, assuring that the beds will remain uncluttered. This approach retains a feeling of openness and focuses attention on the urn at the center of the “keyhole”.
Scot RagsdaleI just looked up the definition of "cozy." It didn’t have a picture of this exact garden, but it could have. Notice how much space was allowed for the voluptuous bed behind the chairs. The trunk of the tree and the shade pattern tell us that there’s a generous canopy sheltering this chill-out space, but it avoids seeming claustrophobic because the mass is balanced with a small, open lawn. Details matter: The placement of colorful potted plants flanking the chairs increases the feeling of intimacy by compressing and embracing the space.
Maria Hickey & Associates LandscapesThis might be a good garden to wrap up this design lesson with. It might sound obvious, but assuming you have at least average gardening skills, your plants will grow larger than they were the day you installed them. Unlike interior design, in which your coffee table more or less remains the size it was when you brought it home, your plants will keep changing. That means your stuff and space percentages will evolve over time. That’s not a good thing or a bad thing, but it’s worth thinking ahead when you decide how many plants to buy and how to space them.
This giddy garden appears to be devouring the path. Everywhere you look flowers are bumping up against their neighbors, like a mosh pit of perennials. It’s charming and well suited to the style of house and, I assume, suits the owner’s sense of style. The point is, if your goal is to maintain a certain balance of space and mass, pay attention to the mature size of each plant you select, allowing adequate space to achieve the size nature intended.
This giddy garden appears to be devouring the path. Everywhere you look flowers are bumping up against their neighbors, like a mosh pit of perennials. It’s charming and well suited to the style of house and, I assume, suits the owner’s sense of style. The point is, if your goal is to maintain a certain balance of space and mass, pay attention to the mature size of each plant you select, allowing adequate space to achieve the size nature intended.