CASE STUDY #4

Line is an essential component of design used for creating division, direction, organisation, movement and emphasis. They can be clearly well defined and easily detectible, or alternatively they can be subtle and invisible. In design the simple line has the ability to influence the space within and all around, achieved by either linking everything together bringing structure, balance and unity to the whole composition or in contrast creating lines of division by separating or sub-dividing spaces. Nevertheless both ways will exert influence and control.

In this case study we look at a garden in Belfast which was divided into a back and side garden due to a large modern extension. In all gardens before work has even started there will be evidence of imaginary lines running throughout the site - you just have to look for them. They may come from the house such as edges of buildings, windows, roofs or doors that form invisible lines that extend out into the garden; or appear in dominant features within the garden such as a prominent tree or a group of trees.

The challenge in this garden was to find a way of bringing two areas together that were heavily influenced by their surrounding environment and architecture. Pictured below, a side garden leading out to the front was overlooked by the high wall of the original building and upstaged by the new modern extension faced in engineering brick. An old wooden garage situated at the back hid behind a solitary large twisted holly tree sitting out in the open of a rather unorthodox courtyard.

The back garden was enclosed by a boundary wall built in original Belfast brick which made up the background along with a few large trees including one mature red ornamental Acer tree. The wide bi-folding doors of the extension opened the house right onto the garden but was overshadowed by the worn appearance of the old wooden garage distinctly visible next to the house.

The key to good design is firstly being able to identify such lines, then manipulate and utilise by reinforcing them to your advantage. So for this project the initial question I must ask myself is where are they?

I discovered two clear, strong lines running from the beginning of the side garden right through to the back forming an imaginary avenue - each end leading out to a focal point - a main window of the house situated next to a side entrance and the Acer tree located at the opposite end. One line ran along the side of the garage extending in alignment with the old holly tree, while the other originated on the side of the house stretching out from the back of the extension towards the original building.

Once the regulating lines have been identified - the next question is how to utilise them? Are they lines that I want to reinforce, maybe break up into a series of smaller lines or even eradicate? Considering they formed a vital direct link between two spaces that I was looking to unite - I decided to strengthen them. This was achieved by extending the line of the extension out parallel to the side of the garage in the form of a custom made steel pergola which was shaped to reflect the roof line of the garage. This along with a beech hedge would help integrate it into the garden. Between the pergola and the garage a path was formed which opened out at the foot of the Acer tree.

This continuous line from the garage into the side garden was offset by a new line making up a low plant bed reinforced with solid cubes of concrete and box hedging which anchored the old holly tree into the courtyard. These cubes were repeated across the back in the form of beech and box hedging creating a sense of rhythm throughout the garden. A subtle change of material from compacted gravel to loose uncomfortable cobbles shortens the pathway, maintaining the line and redirecting the path into the courtyard - thus improving circulation between the two spaces.

Both lines manage to create a direct link between the two gardens guiding you from the house to the Acer tree at the very back. Not only does it sub-divide each space bringing a sense of order and balance but also opens up new areas connected through good circulation.

A famous modern French-Swiss architect ‘Le Corbusier’ once said that regulating lines are subjective as it is the designer who identifies and manipulates them to create an underlying order founded on strong principles or ‘good bones’, despite the naturalness of the landscape. For this garden in particular this is true in practice as the strong lines cut through the space creating a visible backbone - exerting influence and control throughout the whole design.