Suburban Oasis

This small suburban back yard was transformed into a lush garden retreat for a young family of four. The Master Plan was developed to allow for a staged implementation by the owner.

A quiet sitting area was created under a vine-covered pergola. A stone pathway transports you from the deck at the back of the house down through the garden to the pergola.

An existing cherry tree provides shade. New shrubs and colourful perennials evoke the feel of an English garden.

Four Design Languages

As part of a project, garden designs were developed to illustrate four major design ‘languages’. These high-level preliminary concept plans are all designed for one space – a long and narrow corridor between two large buildings at a major university.

The Plans provide typical examples of classical, naturalistic, modern and postmodern design styles.

Classical: classical spaces are symmetrical and mathematically organized, often set out on a grid or in a nine-square pattern. The spaces tend to have a distinct beginning (entry), middle and end (exit). The perception of the garden as an idealized and perfected space drove the design style.

Naturalistic: Naturalistic spaces are organic and ecological with respect for natural processes and forms. They are often asymmetrical with smoothly curving, flowing lines creating a procession - a journey - through the garden. Historically, the design was driven by a desire for harmony, balance and beauty. Native plantings requiring minimal maintenance are frequently used. Plants are layered using canopy, understory, shrub and ground cover. Ecological features such as rain water capture and re-use and permeable paving are employed.

Modern: Modern space is defined by the ‘form follows function’ beliefs of the mid-century modernist movement and use a sequential design process starting with the characteristics of the land and the needs of the client. The spaces may be asymmetrical utilizing irregular but geometric grids with circles, triangles, rectangles interconnected throughout the garden. Aspects of both classical and naturalistic design are incorporated, for example, minimalism uses basic forms, grid and order and expressionism uses experiential movement through space. Materials in the landscape may be man-made or natural.

Postmodern: This style uses spaces and materials in fresh and unusual ways. Geometric forms may be overlaid in a clashing, seemingly haphazard, manner. Structures made of materials such as steel and concrete are painted with bright colours. Mirrors and glass are used to create reflections and illusions. Non-traditional plant materials may be used, as well as unusual plant placement and organization. Surprising, even startling, visual effects are the hallmark of this design style.

Green Roof Garden Designs

Three design options for a Green Roof atop a downtown Toronto building were created in this design project. A Green Roof uses planting medium on top of roof membranes for the purposes of placing living plants within a contained space on a roof. Green Roofs help manage stormwater, filter air pollutants and save energy. They can replace the plant materials that have been eliminated in our urban development – plants convert carbon dioxide to oxygen, necessary for human life.

There are two basic categories of Green Roofs:
• Extensive: light weight, low maintenance plantings, generally not designed for human accessibility.
• Intensive: heavier structures with greater plant diversity, usually designed to be accessible as useable garden spaces.

The Concept Plans to the right are designed as Intensive Green Roofs, while the Concept Plan below is an Extensive Green Roof.

Extensive Green Roof

Scanlon Creek Conservation Area Farm House Garden

Scanlon Creek Conservation Area is the jewel in the crown of the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority’s properties. Within this jewel is an elegant 1880’s farm house. A landscape project is currently in progress which will encompass this farm house with conservation focused gardens. The garden design will be naturalistic in style and will employ native plantings reflective of the larger conservation area as well as rainwater capture and reuse. The garden will be designed for use by the employees working in the farm house and by visitors, hikers and skiers using the trails.

The project is a partnership with the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority. The Farm House Garden design is being donated in support of the Authority’s ecological mandate and commitment to sustainable landscapes, both public and private.

Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority

Niagara River Parkway Residence

This work in progress will redesign the back yard garden of an elegant Niagara River Parkway home. The client has requested an ecologically sound approach employing rainwater capture/reuse and native plantings with low resource requirements.  A water wall, outdoor fireplace and a secret garden for quiet reflection will be key features of the design.

Back Yard - Before