Building the perfect urban escape
- Featured Lifestyle
Schenelle Dsouza- 20 minutes read
Schenelle Dsouza
With the growing commercialisation of cities, spaces to have gardens are increasingly more difficult to come by.
Today, landscape architecture is no longer just about physical spaces outside. It is a major part of city planning, incorporating green spaces within metropolises in novel ways such as elevated parks. Additionally, landscape architecture is no longer confined to the outdoors, but also the spaces within one’s home, where people incorporate a piece of nature inside.
LuxeBook spoke to Ankon Mitra, Partner & Design-Director, Hexagramm Design Private Limited, Kunal Maniar of Kunal Maniar & Associates and Suneet Mohindru, Founding Principal & Partner, Oracles, to discuss the transformation and evolution of landscape architecture in India.
Landscaping
According to Suneet Mohindru, the key difference between architecture and landscape designing is the use of natural elements. “Architecture is the art of organising a space, whereas landscape architecture deals with the outer realm within nature.”
Maniar adds, landscape architecture is a true form of art. “It is the only form of art that is alive, because it has life. It is characterised by seasonal changes.” In addition, Ankon Mitra believes that a landscape designer himself must aspire to be an artist, prepared to sculpt his piece of art with natural elements.
Landscape designing on its own has come a long way. “Landscape architecture is almost as old as architecture,” says Ankon Mitra. “It used to play a second fiddle to it. But now, landscaping is an integral part of building and designing any space. In the realm of real estate, it has become the essential piece that transforms any building from mundane to one that is aesthetically appealing.”
“Instead of looking like concentrated matchboxes, contemporary architecture now provides a seamless flow of landscape within itself giving us green balconies or podium level gardens to elevate the look of a building,” adds Kunal Maniar.
Indoor gardens
Given the growth of infrastructure within metropolitan cities like Mumbai, Delhi and Bengaluru, buildings are growing taller and higher into the sky. Within these spaces, having a garden is difficult, but not an impossibility.
“Those who live in high-rise apartments with a few balconies can utilise them as their outdoor space, decorating with potted plants and other green elements. The luckier ones with a terrace to themselves can aspire to have a terrace or rooftop garden. These are a sight to behold, given the expansive sky view,” says Ankon Mitra.
However, Kunal Maniar believes that one need not have an expansive balcony or terrace to build their own indoor garden. “Growing your own plants is so therapeutic, watching it (the plants) grow has such a soothing effect, which is why I believe if people don’t have a balcony or a terrace, a windowsill is perfectly fine,” he says.
Having a green lung attached to your indoor space is a boon. It is important to decorate the space around it with the utmost care, because you don’t want to overdo it, but at the same time, you do want to enhance the space according to your liking.
Décor
Suneet Mohindru believes that the way a space is designed usually differs from person to person. “While some people prefer smaller plants to sit on their windowsills and tables, others prefer slightly bigger, denser plants.”
One ongoing trend, according to Kunal Maniar is the demand and appreciation for succulents. “Because they are xerophytic in nature, they require a lot less water, and are relatively easier to maintain and thrive well in such settings.”
Carefully arranging the plants and pots can lead to a dense and attractive ‘mini-garden’. Because it is indoors, it is probably in a place where you can see it. “When you have an indoor garden, you want to spend time in it, simply because of how beautiful and peaceful it is,” says Ankon Mitra.
Planters are an integral part of a home garden, and decorative planters help add texture and style to these spaces. Metal planters made with different materials like aluminium, bronze and brass, are all the hype today in elegant designs.
Logam’s Santos Planters are iron sculpture planters that have a beautiful gold sheen and are perfect for small indoor plants. Fleck’s Raku and Black Dust Planters have clean lines, structure and are perfect for minimalist spaces.
“Stacked shelves, hoop rings on walls, bottle gardens, and vertical gardens, trellises, hanging gardens, terrariums and window boxes are all great ways to maximise a garden in a tiny outdoor area. These can really transform a dull, mundane space into a green haven,” says Ankon Mitra.
Open spaces
The trick with outdoor gardens, in this case, rooftop and terrace gardens, is to reimagine them in the same manner as an outdoor garden. Kunal Maniar advocates abundant greenery, especially flowering and a few fruit-bearing plants, which pose as the perfect combination.
But it is also important to factor in sunlight and plant accordingly. “Growing plants on the roof leads to an abundance of sunlight in some spots, whereas not enough in others. So, it is important to arrange your plants accordingly,” says Suneet Mohindru.
The most exciting thing about rooftop gardens, according to Kunal Maniar, is that they pose as a patio of sorts. And here is where furniture plays the trick. “You can try to experiment with furniture for outdoor gardens, but keep in mind good, comfortable seating,” he adds.
Ankon Mitra suggests pool deck recliners, rocking plantation chairs under a tree canopy, comfortable log stools, or even jhoolas for seating areas, which can go a long way in accentuating the garden experience. “Strategically placing a bench along the garden path is another great trick to enjoy a panoramic view of the garden,” he concludes.
Illumination
Aside from seating, other pieces of furniture such as lanterns and lamps also help enhance the garden.
Everything within nature finds expression when it is lit up. Given the fact that people are often occupied with work during the day, they can only enjoy the beauty of their gardens in the late evening or at night. And that is where lighting comes in.
“Among other things, lighting is the one thing that can easily make or break a garden,” says Kunal Maniar. He further adds, “Good lighting is what sets the mood and adds to the ambience of the garden.”
Aesthetic lamps and hanging lanterns are a great way to bring in the light without blinding LEDs.
Flowing water
“A reigning trend among outdoor gardens is installing a source of water, big, or small, among the greenery. It is something people tend to find extremely therapeutic,” says Kunal Maniar. Agreeably Ankon Mitra believes it is the flowing and gurgling sound of water that has a calming effect on people, helping them relax and unwind.
However, added water structures aren’t all about their decorative appeal. They’re more of a celebration according to Suneet Mohindru. “Water is more than just a decorative feature for your garden; it is an important part of our existence. And so, adding water features like ponds and fountains are a way to celebrate that very fact.”
Leaving aside the therapeutic beauty and meditative aspect of water installations, people often worry about maintaining these installations. “People in the landscape design industry are increasingly worried about wasting water. And so, it’s on us landscape architects to design a water feature that doesn’t take up too much water,” says Suneet Mohindru.
According to our experts, one need not install a large fountain or an expansive pond to be able to surround themselves with water. A shallow basin is perfect for terrace or rooftop gardens.
Ankon Mitra suggests using a basin with a dark stone base, which acts like a natural mirror. “A dark stone base with a shallow layer of water, no more than two inches, acts like a beautiful, natural mirror reflecting the trees and sky. If you fit a bubbler into it, it creates that beautiful gurgling sound, which is so peaceful and soothing.”
Ankon Mitra is also a renowned origami artist, who sometimes tries to incorporate his artistry into landscape designing. His recent creation, a set of Origami Fountains is an example of simplistic water bodies that are simply fascinating to look at.
Sustainability
While sustainability is prominent in almost every field today, Sunnet Mohindru believes calling it a trend absurd. “Sustainability is not a trend; it shouldn’t be referred to as a trend. Sustainability has to be an attitude, about building and designing responsibly.”
Speaking about sustainability, Ankon Mitra believes that “it is one of the most essential roles of the landscape designer now to be the frontline messenger for sustainability.”
But the most important step in sustainability is planting the right species. For Kunal Maniar, planting something that is indigenous to the region is a great way to ensure its longevity. “We encourage people to use plants that are indigenous to the region in question, rather than something that is trending, which might not even survive in that specific region.”
Ankon Mitra prefers the ancient technique of mixed tree planting, popularized as Miyawaki forestry technique in the West. “Mixed tree planting is an efficient technique wherein different species of trees help each other to secure different kinds of nutrition in the soil. This way, they help each other grow, while ensuring that the soil is balanced; not too acidic or too alkaline.”
“Xerophytic plants like succulents are a great way to conserve water, because they require a lot less water,” says Kunal Maniar.
Apart from this, basic water conservation concepts like rainwater harvesting, grey and brown water harvesting, and bioswales (shallow landscaped depressions that infiltrate stormwater) for water distressed areas are a great way to reserve and recycle water, according to Ankon Mitra.
Finally, the use of natural products including planters, especially in home and roof gardens, is of utmost importance. Materials like fibreglass, jute planters etc., are a great way to limit carbon footprint.
Fibreglass is made with natural ingredients like sand and limestone, and so it is highly durable to the elements and poses great chemical resistance. Fibreglass planters from Bonasila and Studio Palasa, or jute planters from Kaksh Studio are some eco-friendly planters.
