Water-conscious Landscaping

By Savitha Hira Photography: Courtesy Ar. Kakoli Sikder

The Water Habitat Retreat at Jodhpur is a laudable exercise in traditional rainwater harvesting, and landscaping this heritage property has effectively brought it into the limelight-

Socially responsible architecture is quietly being practiced by many an architect in various pockets of the globe. Thanks to socially responsive patrons, who make an unwavering commitment in tandem with the architects. Ar. Kakoli Sikder is a landscape architect from Delhi, who has creditably been a significant team member of the Bijolai Palace conservation at Jodhpur.

Water Habitat Retreat was once the famous Bijolai Palace at Jodhpur. It was conserved and restored to house a boutique hospitality venture under the aegis of the Jal Bhagirathi Foundation. It is said that the scenic, sprawling summer palace built in the early 19th century is nestled between the Aravalli Hills surrounded by lakes as an oasis in the desert. With the civil work being completed as far back as 2008, Ar. Kakoli Sikder stepped in to make her valuable contribution to the expansive landscape.

Beginning from the entrance paths – there were two distinct ones – both over a culvert; one towards private quarters and the other towards the admin and hospitality facilities; Kakoli worked on a well-manicured garden, arched jharokhas to frame panoramic views, square paved plazas, lush green palms, circular planters with shade-giving trees and diligently selected native species of -Jaal Peelu’ , -Rohina’ and -Babool’ as the focal planting among other things. Largely, there are three courtyards within the living quarters, which have been designed tastefully as trellised spaces for outdoor seating and occasional dining. As in any landscaping project, the material palette and the selection of flora and fauna have been methodically determined. With the project tabling water as an exemplary rainwater oasis, where it is not only supposed to be entirely self-sufficient of its water needs, but is also said to use 100% recycled rainwater and provide water for the drinking-water needs of severely water-distressed local communities, care has been taken to use plants that require less water, absorbent soil, and loosely laid Jodhpur stone pavers that together aid in recharging the natural water table. The walls, toe walls, retaining walls, etc. are all made of locally available Jodhpur dark stone in random masonry. The paths are made of loose stone chips. The planter coping, plazas, steps, amphitheatre seats and stage are made of polished Jodhpur stone. And as far as the lighting is concerned – wall lights, tree up-lighters and bollards have been strategically used to enhance the mood of this place.

As Kakoli sums up, -The challenge lay in accomplishing heightened aesthetics within a contextual vocabulary, staying grounded in terms of giving back to the project and doing all of this within the limitations of cost-effectiveness.-

to view images click on inditerrain.indiaartndesign.com

Landscape Lighting Ideas – Bring Out The Best In Your Landscaping

Many Design Options To Consider

When it comes to illuminating your landscape at night, there are so many different options available that it can be difficult to focus on just the most basic landscape lighting ideas. Indeed, with so many different things that can be lit in the landscape, you may not want to stop with only a few. Here are some landscape lighting ideas that will help you get started on your way towards a beautifully lit landscape.

Don’t Think Two Dimensionally

Most people that are looking to illuminate their landscape are really only thinking in two dimensional directions. You can throw light in any direction in order to enhance the landscaping and to really bring out a lot of dramatic effects in the outdoor environment.

Downlighting

Throwing the light onto the ground from low-voltage landscape lighting is an excellent way to dress up an area, but it is not the only thing that you should really be considering.

Up Lighting

Shining light up onto feature objects in the landscape is an excellent way to really make an impression. For example, arbors, trees or anything else that stands above the general landscaping can usually benefit from a little bit of lighting.

Wall Lighting

Along with that, you might try throwing a splash of light against any architectural features that are in the garden area, including the side of the house. Keep in mind, it is not always necessary for you to stick with white lighting although this is preferred by many people. Various colored light filters can bring out hidden characteristics of lighted object that may not be seen with white light.

Submersible Lighting

Do you have a pool or pond in your landscape area? You should try using some submersible lighting in order to add an interesting feature to this area as well. This is a good place for you to try out different colors and lights, and you can even get rotating lights that will continuously change the look of the underwater environment. It is important for you to make sure that these are installed by a qualified electrician however, and that you have everything hooked up properly to avoid shock hazard.

Focus Your Light

Finally, keep in mind that whenever you are looking for landscape lighting ideas that you do not focus on the source of the light but rather, on what it is illuminating. It is far better if you hide the source of the lighting and do not make it a feature in itself. Simply use it to make the outdoor environment more inviting and to create some dramatic effects by spreading the light around and illuminating feature points within the landscape area. Keep light focused on the areas you want to highlight and you will be pleasantly surprised at the result, and at how many other landscape lighting ideas will come to mind.

Green Lily Landscaping and Garden Design


If you are a gardener, the Garden Design style Guide can get you
started. If landscaping and garden design or horticulture within the
massive extent is your interest, the Landscape style Guide is that the
place to appear for advanced tips, tricks and sensible follow
techniques.


The word “Garden design” is usually employed in 2 other ways. we tend
to might say “design and construction” once we mean to differentiate the
choice on what’s to be done, and also the record of this call, from the
particular doing of the work. we are saying “good much however
unhealthy in design” once we mean, for example, that a building serves
its purpose as a shelter, however doesn’t serve its purpose of giving
visual pleasure. On our web site, we’ll use the word “design” as which
means the art or act of determinative the character of associate object
in order that it shall serve any planned purpose or functions. for
instance, the term “landscape style” are used merely as which means
design in landscape materials.

Landscape architecture and garden
style area unit similar arts with a shared and ancient background.
Indeed, the name “landscape architecture” was made-up by the Scotchman
Gilbert Laing Meason in 1828. Although, architecture tends to agonize
with areas of the massive extent, usually with public product and public
area, it uses the inventive talent of garden designers.

Since
gardens and landscape area unit connected disciplines, you’ll realize
that links on the web site take you back and forth between landscape
style and garden style. Landscape architects share with garden designers
associate interest within the designing and style of outside area.


Gardening ideas Guide – Harmonious colors and sound style differentiate
triple-crown gardens from standard ones. Here we tend to discuss the
assorted issues of color, succession of bloom, and garden style.


Landscape style Guide – it’s formed that unity, variety, character,
properness and end area unit the basic characteristics of any landscape,
– that these qualities area unit final and coordinate, tho’ by no
suggests that equally necessary. every work of landscape and garden
design is to be tested on an individual basis for every of those
qualities.


Most suburbs look an equivalent, right? Right! It’s no mistake. It
happened designedly, or a minimum of by benign intention. The scene
appearance one thing like this: emerald turf from heap line to heap
line, an outsized tree off the corner of the house and a set of carven
or, worse, scalped shrubs lined up against the muse.

The origins
of this tradition may be derived partially to the first writings of
authoritative architect full general Andrew Jackson Downing, United
Nations agency in 1865 was one in every of the primary writers to push a
national landscape aesthetic to a good audience. He set the stage for
what has evolved into a standard yank yard aesthetic.

Despite
the influence of skilled designers and style advocates, the prevailing
commonplace has remained consistent. love it or not, we have a standard
yard. solely by understanding and acknowledging this tradition will we
start to pioneer in our front yards.

Green Lily is one of the
best landscaping and garden design company in USA.There are lots of
other garden design company,provide different landscaping and gardening
ideas.

Swimming Pool Landscaping

You are going to install a swimming pool in your backyard. Have you thought how it will really look, is it just a hole in the ground filled with water, or have you thought about swimming pool landscaping?
A swimming pool only looks good if it has the right setting. A swimming pool is part of your home and without the correct pool landscaping can get tiring to look at after a while.

There are many ways to make your swimming pool look attractive. A wooden deck although these are better used for above ground pools. I have an affinity for swimming pool landscaping to use natural stone tiles as they are close to nature. After all your pool is in your backyard in which I assume you have a garden, so stone goes naturally there.

For swimming pool landscaping, stone tiles used in a formal way or as crazy paving is a natural choice as there are so many varieties to choose from. Sandstone tiles, bluestone tiles, granite tiles or even travertine or marble tiles (if you can afford the expense) look so well as a pool surround.

Some people prefer concrete (Ugh!) others prefer pebblecrete (Ugh! again) or even just grass. If grass is used you would still need to have some sort of pool edging (normally called coping tiles) These can either be square edged or bullnose. Bullnose coping tiles are preferable because they give a soft edge to your swimming pool.

Your swimming pool landscaping should compliment your house, leading from your patio or outdoor room and then surrounding your swimming pool.

Your pool uses a pump to pump water from your pool through a filter and then back into your pool. Why waste this, as pool landscaping feature why not build a wall at one end of the pool and use the water to create a waterfall or similar effect. Falling water can have such a relaxing effect as you lay by the side of your pool.

In all treat your swimming pool landscaping as if you were setting the dcor on the inside of your house after all the house and the outside of your house all comprise your home.

Landscaping Supplies For Your Garden This Spring

Railwaysleeper.co.uk provide the landscaping trade with various mulches, wood chips and bark products along with landscaping oak, fencing materials, landscaping screws and more to make their creations just as they imagine. New railway sleepers, used or reclaimed railway sleepers can all work wonderfully to provide great bases for growing plant life.

Railways sleepers can be used in multiple ways for the garden, such as for raised borders, vegetable and flower beds, driveway and path edgings and soil retention.

Get Landscaping Supplies For Your Garden This Spring

We aim at offering you quality materials and guide you with timely delivery for all of your landscaping project needs. If you are looking to make a lovely garden for this spring, then why not buy from us? We specialise in landscaping supplies to enhance the design of your lawn and private grounds. By creating the perfect outdoor landscape not only will you give yourself a wonderful location to enjoy the weather in, but it can also enhance the overall appeal of your home which could consequently improve property value. So waste no more time in investing in landscaping supplies.

This spring brings plenty of new landscaping products here at Railway Sleepers UK. A wide and full range of timber fencing and landscaping supplies, structural green oak beams, air dried oak beams and almost everything that is required to finish your garden building or decking project. We produce in bulk to source new landscaping sleepers in almost every size and type including oak sleepers, larch sleepers, treated softwood sleepers and rustic round edged softwood sleepers.

Contemporary Landscaping Supplies And Railway Sleepers

You will have to adapt modern solutions for modern design gardens. Railway Sleepers UK hold a range of special railway sleepers to fit your entire garden requirement.

On the website you can view our Contemporary Landscaping and Garden Railway Sleepers collection that lists all the products available which are best suited to these kinds of projects. They include mini sleepers for raised beds, machined and moulded sleepers, complete kits to create your bespoke raised bed or herb boxes and more.

UK mainland delivery is available with for any order size. Alongside sleepers and general landscaping supplies, you can also order decking kits, oak beams and timber fencing.

Contact Railway Sleepers

Visit the website today and place your order for all the landscaping supplies you need. We are eager to give customers the best service and price match guarantees on a range of products.

For more information call +44 (0)1536 267107 or email: Website: www.railwaysleeper.co.uk