Design with Nature

Close analysis of any bushland setting will suggest ways to transpose the natural simplicity of colour, texture and species to create an attractive and tranquil bush garden – Chermside Hills, Brisbane. 

Tangible and intangible elements offered

These are some of the tangible and intangible elements that a garden of any scale offers to those who experience them: stroll along the avenues; meander the pathways; explore progressively, enticed by glimpses, views and vistas; appreciate the innovative natural or built focal points; stop and smell the roses (or preferably the Lemon Myrtle); appreciate the seasonal diversity; experience the sun and shade patterns; and importantly understand the preferences of plants suited to differing environments and soils.

Inspiration for landscape and planting design

In commencing a project I do not consciously set out to ‘design’ a landscape, my initial approach is practical rather than artistic. The inspiration is primarily derived from a detailed understanding of the physical site, the visual attributes and the imposed functional components of a project. This is complimented by identification and evaluation of the range of related issues that may be used to influence the planning and detail design – for instance related natural or cultural heritage stories can inspire layers of interest. To be successful the final outcome must have a strong sense of place and ready acceptance by those who use it – without the combination of these two aspects any park or garden can never reach its intended potential.

Careful selection of species provides an inviting meandering enticing garden approach, and the aspect offers a diverse range of microclimates for optimum plant establishment and display – Kawarra Gardens, Melbourne

Plant knowledge is fundamental

The primary element of a landscape of any scale is the plant material. This dictates that the designer has a thorough knowledge of plant species for the region, the climate, their form, physical and functional suitability, amenity horticultural potential and particularly availability. Species selection and massing that considers growth habits, specific forms, seasonal effects and colours is the fundamental palette used to inspire the overall design.

Built form and character

Similarly, understanding the materials chosen for the built landscape elements will inspire and enhance the design, specifically when using innovative approaches to their use in construction. A park or garden can be distinguished as special or unique if the built elements are inspired by the forms found in the regional landscape or in the detail shapes and textures of rocks, plants or water. The ability to innovatively synthesise, interpret or conventionalise nature provides a range of planning and design opportunities that will firmly place any project in a logical relationship with its surrounding environment whether this is urban or rural.

Linking with natural and cultural heritage

Design of any garden, public or private, is fundamentally a creative endeavour; you are constructing a contrived place that, in its planning and design must react appropriately and sometimes innovatively to imposed site constraints and opportunities. Generally these functional impositions (drainage issues etc) can be designed to be positive elements of the garden – this is the creative challenge that can lift a design above the ordinary.

Understanding nature and natural processes

Critically analysing the forms and forces of nature provides strong prompts that suggest how to creatively combine the various hard and soft landscape elements. Whether the creative result is subtle or blatant, the opportunity exists for these artistic elements to enhance the observers understanding of the processes of nature. This is fundamentally important in a botanic garden where it is vital to define the environment or habitat for specific plants or plant communities so that the scientific value of the plant collection is enhanced and understood.

Close careful observation of a rocky waterway informs how to create this ‘natural’ garden stream – Brewery Hill Garden, Gympie

Applying observation of the associations of landform, rocks, mulches and plants in a natural landscape, assists design and establishment and interpretation in a built garden – Gold Coast Botanic Gardens

First impressions are the most lasting

Therefore, it is important to set the scene at the arrival locations by creating a strong visual and physical experience that attracts the observer and tempts deeper exploration into the park or garden. It is important to incorporate or interpret local physical and heritage elements appropriately into the planning and design process to achieve local character and relationships. This requires detail research into the history and heritage of the site or locality.

Be inspired by Nature

It is important not to copy or imitate nature but aim to plan gardens and create associated elements that are inspiring due to their physical and / or aesthetic connection with nature. Be inspired by nature and natural processes in the planning and design process. These built or sculptural elements might be stylistically embellished to enhance the experience, sometimes using subtle messages or even frivolity to enliven and make a walk through a garden more memorable.

Built environment

Design with Nature applies to the full spectrum of our environment – it is just as vital that the structures we build should also consider the dictates of nature’s laws. For example, until comparatively recently Brisbane was characterised by the predominance of traditional timber framed houses raised on ‘stilts’ and surrounded by wide verandahs, and protected by corrugated iron roofs. Visitors to Queensland, insensitive to the functional reasons for this design style, made derogatory comparisons with the architectural styles of other cities. It is not generally recognised that the ‘Queenslander’ was a logical and direct response to the extremes of the tropical and subtropical climate – this responsive style evolved to be in harmony with nature – the only housing style to be so classified throughout the continent.

Climate Ignored

Unfortunately, in recent decades the citizens of Queensland have turned their backs on the wisdom of past generations and are clamouring instead to build ‘brick veneer fortresses’, complete with sliding glass windows where only one half can be opened and in addition there is virtually no protective roof overhang to exclude the sun or the rain.

“But don’t worry! The air conditioning will isolate us from the sun, wind and rain, as well as the perfumes of plants and the sounds of birds in the garden outside.”

To add insult to injury, these houses are crammed together closely, on small lot estates carved out of bushland slopes, denuded of trees, with no room for gardens, let alone shade trees. No wonder the residents question why they roast in their unprotected houses throughout the long hot summer, completely isolated from the benefits of nature.

Towards the future

For more than 60,000 years the Aboriginal people trod very lightly on this continent; but after only 200 years of less than exemplary stewardship we contemporary Australians must accept the responsibility to radically change direction toward a sustainable, environmentally aware future. We must similarly come to terms with this land, to understand that every mountain, river, lake, plant and animal is part of the Australian web of life ….. and like it or not we humans are integrally entwined within that web.

Whatever the future holds for the planning and design of our cities and towns, their parks and gardens I believe it is fundamentally important that Australian native plants are widely acknowledged as a principal component of our built landscapes of any scale.

That is the significance of practicing …… Design with Nature!

Lawrie Smith AM
Landscape Architect (retired)
B.Arch (UQ) Dip Land Arch (QIT)
ARAIA FAILA