LuxeBook February 2022

W ith the growing commercialisation of cities, spaces with 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 andhigher into the sky. Within these spaces, having a garden is difficult, but not an impossibility. Suneet Mohindru 12| L U X E B O O K | F E B R U A R Y 2 0 2 2 F E B R U A R Y 2 0 2 2 | L U X E B O O K | 13 BY SCHENELLE DSOUZA Experts in the landscape industry weigh in on the evolution of the landscape within the borders of one’s own home Building your dream garden at home GREEN E S CAPES