The creation of modern gardens requires first of all an adequate planning, careful and accurate planning that takes into consideration all the variables involved in the creation of a green space. Having an excellently designed environment means, regardless of size, having the opportunity to enjoy the scent of the plants, the beauty of the colorful flowers, the coolness of the trees, the shadows of the shrubs, with each side skilfully juxtaposed to the other second a modern style. The particular suggestions conveyed by an environment of this type, within a Zen garden, offer the opportunity to combine art and nature, meditation and relaxation, since all the components are aimed at promoting a feeling of tranquility and spiritual peace.
Which stones to choose according to the Japanese tradition
Modern gardens, also known as karesansui, are made indifferently on small surfaces or in large spaces, and are based on a fundamental element, namely emptiness. In fact, in proportion to the amount of space available, there are few elements that characterize the modern garden. Among these can not miss the stone, in the form of stones carefully selected and placed specifically in the center of bare areas. Usually, there is an area of ??sand or white gravel (marble or granite crushed and reduced to powder are also fine, as long as they have a homogeneous color) characterized by a flat surface, above which it is necessary to place the stones according to a asymmetric order and strictly in odd number, isolated or in groups.
After that, it is necessary to rake the sand (or gravel) making parallel grooves between them, without interruptions: symbolically, they represent longevity and good health. There are five types of stones that can be distinguished: the kikyaku serve mainly to make the environment more harmonious, and are reclined; the reisho, instead, refer to firmness and solidity, and not by chance they are low and vertical; the shintai are placed next to the water, and are horizontal and flat; the shigyo are branched and arched; and finally the tatidos, which symbolize fertility, and are vertical and tall.
Very significant, as well as aesthetically interesting, are the miniature bridges that can be aggregated to the composition according to a double meaning: the passage through the sea and above all the acquisition of a different point of view on the various aspects of life. Modern gardens are recognized for their essential and sober character that dominates them. As for the arrangement of the grooves on the gravel and stones, it can be changed over time, depending on personal needs and tastes.
The importance of adapting to the surrounding context
The construction of a modern garden is based, however, on complete respect for the natural element, and cannot be separated from the need to conform and fit harmoniously into the surrounding environment. It is clear that the design must be accurate and aimed at arranging each element on the basis of a natural order, just as each component must have adequate space for its size and position. Although it may appear to be a contradiction in terms, for a garden to look natural it requires a very thorough prior study.
Modern gardens, in particular, must be thought of as an extension of the home, a continuation of the home: space, that is, where life passes from the closed to the open. An expression of the fusion of botany, architecture, gardening and engineering, modern gardens can also require masonry, flooring, fencing and excavation. These are jobs, not always necessary, but they must be planned in time, especially in relation to the expenses that will have to be faced. Precisely in this regard, it is advisable to combine planning with a considered evaluation of the economic budget, to verify that the interventions that you intend to make are in line with the possibilities of spending.
Other examples of modern gardens: green roofs and vertical gardens
On the other hand, it is good to point out that when we talk about modern gardens we do not only refer to Zen gardens, but also to innovative designed green spaces: this is the case of green roofs, hanging gardens and above all gardens. verticals, an increasingly widespread reality in Northern Europe and which is progressively taking hold even in large Italian cities. In essence, these are gardens built on the walls of a building, internal or external, but also on the balcony or terrace of the house, based on the principle - too often overlooked - that plants do not need soil to grow but water and air.
The vertical gardens, duNo, they are an example of a modern garden that combines aesthetics and practicality: in fact, they are fundamental as an air filter, limiting the harmful action of polluting atmospheric agents, and at the same time they constitute a sound-absorbing barrier compared to noise and noise pollution. We must not forget the action of thermal insulation guaranteed against the house or building on which they are made, which is indispensable both in winter and in summer. Furthermore, nothing prevents us from transmuting the vertical garden into an advertising message, using flowers of different colors or cutting the grass to different heights.