SoundPlace&Time

I've been giving some thought lately about aesthetics and key design principles within the realm of Japanese gardens and was asking myself the question, "What makes Japanese gardens look so Japanese?  Recently I was looking at some photos I took during the Easter holiday break. During that long weekend the weather was particularly amazing and, as we British do, made the most of the opportunity and left the house. A friend of mine visited a Japanese garden here in London a few weeks prior to the Easter weekend and took some rather nice photos. It took me by surprise so I asked her where this place was: Kyoto Garden, Holland Park, London. Considering I've been living in London since the beginning of 2012 I did feel kind of silly for not actually knowing about this beautiful place and the fact that I have wondered through Holland Park without actually crossing Kyoto Garden's path. Strange, I know. Although London doesn't really boast that many examples of Japanes...

One thing I've noticed with time and memory is that over time my mind tends to become increasingly nostalgic when recalling an actual place I once visited. I think part of the nostalgia is a certain wistfulness I sometimes feel and a longing while thinking that I may not ever get back there again.    These photos were actually taken just over a year ago in April last year. On this particular day the weather was mild and nice enough to venture outdoors and to leave behind London if just for the day, which is what I did. During that weekend Broughton Grange were having an 'Open Days' through the National Garden Scheme, and given that it was early Spring their collection of Tulips were in full bloom.   For those who haven't yet visited Broughton Grange it is situated in Banbury, north Oxfordshire - about 70 minutes by train from Marylebone station. The gardens are set on 350 acres of parkland, farmland and open meadow. Its original planting definitely owes its origins...

The process ​behind landscape design can be​ lengthy ​and at times arduous. All your creative energy funnels into one design project and then you may be ​asked to be involved in another. You then ​have to summon the same creative energy to produce ​a​nother ​design that looks ​just as ​inspired ​as your previous projects​. It is a very daunting task. Even the most experienced creative designers face this challenge and ​uncertainty​ that may arise. Stress, fatigue, creative block etc it is all part of the design process.   One method that I have been taught recently while studying garden design is the  Concept Board  or  Mood Board.  They essentially mean the same thing but for the purpose of this blog I shall refer to them as the 'concept board'. So what are they exactly? It is a method used whereby you collate images onto a large piece of hard board to convey a 'feeling' or 'mood' that your proposed design will create for the client. Sometimes wor...