DOI Heft:
Nr. 194 (May 1909)
DOI Artikel:Architectural gardening, [5]: With illustrations after designs by C. E. Mallows, F. R. I. B. A., and F. L. Griggs
DOI Seite / Zitierlink:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.20966#0294
A rchitectural Gardening.—V.
where, in the misuse of material, in the entire want
of a definite plan, both in house and garden, in
the unintelligent application of so-called “ orna-
ment,” and clearest of all—it is the sure mark of the
speculating builder—in the cheerful indifference to
the surroundings of his work and their connection
with the building. If he could only be persuaded
to save his money by leaving the natural boundaries
alone, something would be gained, and a vast
amount of unnecessary ugliness avoided. He has
indeed been known to see dimly the point as
it concerns his own pocket; but he is always
obsessed with the idea that such a treatment lacks
“finish,” and is not suitable for a “gentleman’s
house.”
It is curious how often such a natural advantage
to a site as that afforded by a brook or almost any
form of running water is regarded as a blemish ;
whereas the owner of such a site should deem
himself a happy man in the possession of it.
There are so many and varied ways in which it
can be turned to good account. It is not often,
perhaps, that it will so happily dispose itself as to
form one of the boundaries of the site; it has
been known to run directly across the middle of
it, perhaps not only of the site, but of the house
itself. In the latter case a skilful architect once
turned such a “ blemish ” into the most attractive
part of the design of the house interior. In any
case a very little common-sense and ingenuity are
required to overcome such difficulties as these, and
convert them into valuable and permanent artistic
assets.
Questions of this kind often occur in flat
countries, where small streams and brooks are
often found and where any additional variation on
a site is especially welcome. In such cases the water
can be so brought into the design of the garden
and led about in small streams and still smaller
channels as to form at once a useful and decora-
tive feature. For example, a small lily pond can
be contrived as the central point of the flower
garden, and the overflow from that carried to serve
a practical purpose in the kitchen garden, and
from thence taken back again into the stream;
but on its way it can be made to afford a continual
pleasure, not only to small children enthusiastic
on things piscatorial and aquatic, but also to older
A RIVERSIDE HOUSE
268
DESIGNED AND DRAWN BY C. E. MALLOWS, F.R.I.B.A.
where, in the misuse of material, in the entire want
of a definite plan, both in house and garden, in
the unintelligent application of so-called “ orna-
ment,” and clearest of all—it is the sure mark of the
speculating builder—in the cheerful indifference to
the surroundings of his work and their connection
with the building. If he could only be persuaded
to save his money by leaving the natural boundaries
alone, something would be gained, and a vast
amount of unnecessary ugliness avoided. He has
indeed been known to see dimly the point as
it concerns his own pocket; but he is always
obsessed with the idea that such a treatment lacks
“finish,” and is not suitable for a “gentleman’s
house.”
It is curious how often such a natural advantage
to a site as that afforded by a brook or almost any
form of running water is regarded as a blemish ;
whereas the owner of such a site should deem
himself a happy man in the possession of it.
There are so many and varied ways in which it
can be turned to good account. It is not often,
perhaps, that it will so happily dispose itself as to
form one of the boundaries of the site; it has
been known to run directly across the middle of
it, perhaps not only of the site, but of the house
itself. In the latter case a skilful architect once
turned such a “ blemish ” into the most attractive
part of the design of the house interior. In any
case a very little common-sense and ingenuity are
required to overcome such difficulties as these, and
convert them into valuable and permanent artistic
assets.
Questions of this kind often occur in flat
countries, where small streams and brooks are
often found and where any additional variation on
a site is especially welcome. In such cases the water
can be so brought into the design of the garden
and led about in small streams and still smaller
channels as to form at once a useful and decora-
tive feature. For example, a small lily pond can
be contrived as the central point of the flower
garden, and the overflow from that carried to serve
a practical purpose in the kitchen garden, and
from thence taken back again into the stream;
but on its way it can be made to afford a continual
pleasure, not only to small children enthusiastic
on things piscatorial and aquatic, but also to older
A RIVERSIDE HOUSE
268
DESIGNED AND DRAWN BY C. E. MALLOWS, F.R.I.B.A.