How to create a unique look in parks, gardens, summer cottages and other similar territories? At first glance, the main element of landscape design is green spaces. However, only their presence is not able to create a complete holistic appearance of the site. And here, small architectural forms come to the aid of designers. Without any labor, they will create a peaceful atmosphere of unity with nature and relaxation, regardless of the size of the territory. Some small architectural forms (MAF) will not only be the final chord of the majestic symphony of the green area, but will also fulfill a very specific function.
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What do small architectural forms in landscape design refer to? These are all decorative elements and structures that not only create a mood, but also combine space to perform a single function. Moreover, the word "small" in the name of such elements is not in vain. After all, their sizes are limited and always smaller than those that the main construction of the site has. The word "architectural" indicates that a specialist certainly had a hand in creating such landscape elements.
LFAs sometimes talk about the purpose of a particular zone on a green site. Located in the garden or in the park, they allow visitors to navigate the area. The benches, statues and flowerpots placed on the territory will clearly indicate the purpose of the park area: for an active, relaxing holiday or for a walk.
Small landscape and architectural forms combine the external attractiveness and comfort of the destination. It is important to ensure that their placement does not create disharmony with nature. A special chic when developing the landscape of the park, cottage or garden is the use of copyrighted works. Moreover, already unnecessary old things, a little processed, and then turned into statues, benches or flowerbeds, will create a general harmony of the area and give it a unique look.
A bit of history
The first small architectural forms were created in the Renaissance. At that time, work on Italian park ensembles was first entrusted to a large number of specialists. Their list included everything from gardeners to great architects and sculptors.
In those same years, Japanese sages, who claimed that the search for truth is possible only in the process of contemplation, spoke of stone as the basis of the garden and its integral component. The mineral appeared in the gardens of the Land of the Rising Sun not only in its natural form. It was also used to create various sculptures that carried a sacred, and sometimes symbolic, meaning. The Japanese garden, the area of which, as a rule, did not exceed several square meters, never remained without the installation of small architectural forms made of stone. It could be decorative fountains or a small pagoda.
Unlike the Japanese who idolized stone, they worked with wood in Russia. Carved pillars were placed here in the gardens, on which you could see mysterious animals and birds, as well as epic heroes. Old Russian masters decorated green areas with other products. Small architectural forms made of wood that surrounded the space around the house made it possible to create the necessary stylistic concept.
Types of MAF
Small architectural forms of improvement can be very different. To date, a variety of materials are used for their manufacture.So, they perform small architectural forms of concrete, wood, metal, artificial and natural stone, as well as brick. In addition to size, the main difference between the LFA and conventional structures and buildings is the lack of a foundation. But at the same time, such elements are an excellent complement to the main building of a country estate.
Projects of small architectural forms should be designed in such a way that such components combine original design and convenience, in their material and appearance organically fit into the green landscape, create a general composition of comfort, functionality and beauty, emphasizing and ennobling the territory. At the same time, LFAs must be constructive and inexpensive. For their construction, it is recommended to take only high-quality materials.
There are a huge number of different small architectural forms for the park, garden, summer cottage and other green areas. There are so many of them that it is quite difficult to count all the objects. Consider the most common of them, allowing you to decorate the space, making it completely unexpected notes.
Pavilions and gazebos
These small architectural forms are the most common. Very often gazebos and pavilions occupy a central place on the site and become the most favorite place for hosting guests, relaxing hosts, gala dinners and family dinners.
Of course, the gazebo can be built from a variety of materials. However, the most common of these is wood. Metal forged structures as well as stone structures are also popular. But be that as it may, the design of small architectural forms should take into account the fact that they will stand in the open. At the same time, the roof in its design must withstand a lot of snow, as well as climbing plants, which often decorate such structures. It is worth remembering that each of the parts of the summer house should be resistant to external influences, temperature extremes and moisture.
In addition to performing its main function as a resting place, the gazebo is often used as a support for climbing plants. In this case, even the simplest design takes on a very beautiful appearance.
What can be the design of small architectural forms? Anyone at all. The gazebo can look like a cozy house-tower made of wood, and rise in the form of a wrought-iron baroque castle.
Rotunda
This is another type of fairly noticeable and large small architectural forms. They can also be found in green areas. A rotunda always differs from a gazebo in its only round shape, colonnade and dome. Such a structure is erected from concrete or stone.
Appropriately the construction of a rotunda will not be everywhere. For example, near the cottage it will look rather strange. Its best neighbor will be a mansion built in a classic style.
Trellis
These elements are designed to support climbing plants, without which they will look boring and too simple. Trellis is a small architectural form for giving, representing a light lattice. In combination with green plants, these designs FORM a kind of green screen.
Often trellises are used to isolate and enclose a recreational area, individual benches, arbors. Often such constructions mask economic zones.
Lattices are made of vertical, horizontal or inclined rungs. Sometimes pots or pots are hung on trellis or flower stands are placed on them.
The material for the manufacture of this design are metal rods of various sections, wire, wooden slats or reinforced concrete.
Arches
These small architectural forms are made in the form of a semicircle. Arches are used to highlight one or another zone of the green area. This design can be placed along the garden path and is covered with creepers.This will allow you to relax in the shade of those who are walking around the site.
If you put several arches close to each other, you can get a kind of shadow tunnel that will save from the summer heat. Traditionally, such structures are also placed at the borders of various functional zones. This could be, for example, the entrance to the garden. Use arches for climbing plants. In this case, they make out the paths.
Pergola
This design is more thorough than the arch and trellis. They perform it, as a rule, from metal or a wooden bar. Pergolas also serve as a support for plants, but always have a roof. Anyone who has ever visited a typical courtyard entwined with grapes is familiar with such a structure. The support for the vines is just such a design.
As a rule, pergolas are placed above the tracks. This allows you to create a shaded and very comfortable area in such places. Sometimes designs are large, which allows you to hide the entire territory of the yard. In such cases, garden furniture can be placed under a cozy roof. Such a recreation area will completely replace the gazebo, creating an atmosphere of privacy and romance.
Garden bridges
These MAFs are small structures made of metal or wood. Garden bridges have a railing and are installed over an artificially created pond - a stream or a pond. You can place them simply on the garden path.
The location of such a small architectural form should be dictated by specific conditions. These primarily include the size and shape of water bodies. The architectural and planning decision of the entire territory, as well as the possibility of creating interesting landscape compositions, are taken into account.
Often, garden bridges are designed to emphasize the scale of the territory or become a logical conclusion to distant prospects. The construction of such LFAs should be functionally justified. This requires the consistency of such a solution with a network of paths and alleys, as well as with their throughput.
Sometimes such bridges play the role of a viewing platform, opening picturesque panoramas to vacationers. Those MAF that are installed above the reservoirs are necessary to cross the other side, and those located on the walking path have a purely decorative purpose.
B-B-Q
This small architectural form can be installed even on the smallest suburban area. A barbecue is a stove with a metal grill mounted above an open fire. This attribute is necessary for cooking directly in the fresh air.
Of course, a barbecue can be completely simple, easy, mobile, occupying a minimum of space. But the owners of large areas quite often build a real furnace, the material for which is brick or other refractory material. Often, such barbecue facilities are located next to structures designed to store kitchen utensils or firewood.
It should be borne in mind that the IAF is not only functional objects. Beauty is also important here. So that simple iron box, sometimes serving instead of a forged stylish brazier, does not fall into the category of small architectural forms. After all, he will fry the barbecue regularly, but he will not bear the aesthetic load.
garden furniture
This is a rather diverse type of small architectural forms. That is why the listing of all items of garden furniture can become an occupation, quite a long time. But the first to this list, of course, are benches. Despite their relatively small size, they serve as an excellent complement to the overall improvement of green areas.
Benches are located in the gazebo and by the pools, along paths and in other places for walking and relaxing. In summer cottages they are placed near tables.
When placing benches, you will need to take into account their appearance, which must correspond to a high aesthetic level.These small architectural forms are pedestal, portable or stationary, as well as dug into the ground. For a short rest, benches without backs are installed. With a long stay on them - with backs.
Bench supports are best made of metal. Seats and backs, as a rule, are made of easily processed and available material - wood.
Fencing
Small architectural forms include solid fences that cover the area from prying eyes, and small pickets that separate the garden from the garden, a flowerbed from the path, a yard from the barbecue area, etc.
As for the internal fences, they are rarely made solid. After all, they are called not to hide, but visually separate the individual zones of the green area. Most often, fences are made of metal or wood in the form of light, openwork structures, the height of which is no more than one meter.
The fence, standing on the outer border of the green area, is usually solid and massive. Sometimes owners of cottages and cottages perform it in the form of a real fortress wall, behind which you can hide from a busy street and other external irritants.
Decorative MAF
Such small architectural forms mean various decorations, sculptures and flowerpots. Of course, they do not perform a practical function, but at the same time, design projects of the landscape of the territory are often not without them.
Such decorative elements are very diverse. For example, it can be flowerpots made in any shape and any size, the material for which is ceramic or metal, plastic, concrete or stone. Sometimes flower pots contain elements of sculpture. In such cases, they look like a work of art.
The list of sculptures for summer and garden plots includes bright gnomes who came to us from Europe and America. They can become wonderful small architectural forms for playgrounds. Sometimes sculptures for green areas are “boys with pipes” or “girls with jugs”. Sometimes they are abstract figures that allow you to give the site a special and original look.
Garden sculptures are made not only from stone or from ceramics. Very original figures are obtained, constructed, for example, from metal barrels or from other objects. Forged sculptures are also popular. Such products are distinguished by a variety of forms, as well as the ability to embody any image.
An ordinary stump, on which an old bowl with painted dots “under the fly agaric”, can also become an element of landscape design. An old cart can turn into an unusual flowerpot for flowers.
Sports and gaming MAF
Are necessary in green areas and small architectural forms for playgrounds. They allow you to allocate a place for the child, where he will relax and play in the fresh air. Such a zone is sometimes quite small. Sometimes only a swing and an ordinary sandbox are placed on it. However, such designs will allow kids to have fun and not distract parents from their affairs.
By the way, not only children will like the idea of installing a swing made in the form of a bench under an awning. Adults will be happy to spend time on such a cozy bench.
The most expensive option for MAF are gaming complexes made of plastic, metal or wood, containing houses, stairs, slides, etc. They are installed in large areas and if there are financial opportunities.