French gardens are considered some of the most beautiful styles in the field of landscape design. The defining features are order and symmetry. French gardens strictly respect these two aesthetic principles, and plants, paths, and other decorative elements complete this style to achieve the most spectacular result.
A garden designed in the French style is a true work of art.
Since summer has arrived and we will be spending a lot of time strolling through parks, we thought it would be good to address the topic of designing gardens in the French style. It is possible that you may find some influences of this style in the parks in our country, so this information will be useful for your general knowledge.
Landscape architect Alexandru Pripis from the architecture firm Gedeus will tell us more about French gardens, what period this style comes from, how difficult it is to design, and whether it is applicable in local private gardens.
What are the origins of this style? Give us a brief description.
The formal French garden belongs to the Baroque style specific to the 17th century. It was strongly influenced by the Renaissance period, which in turn borrowed elements from the ancient classicism of Roman and Greek architecture.
When you think of the French style, you automatically think of the gardens of Versailles, Chantilly, or Tuileries, as well as the prominent figure among landscape architects of the time, André Le Notre (1613 – 1700).
It is a style characterized by monumentality in which space is dominated by the presence of the palace, which also represents the end of the composition along the central axis on which everything is structured. The spaces created are geometric and present strong symmetry with respect to the central axis. They unfold over a long distance, and the terrain is relatively flat, presenting wide terraces.
What type of space is it suitable for?
The original destination of French gardens was around large palaces and villas, where the generous space (of the order of tens or hundreds of hectares) allowed for the creation of strong compositional axes and decorations specific to the style. However, in the contemporary period, the French garden has been adapted for smaller private gardens.
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How difficult is it to design such a garden? What would be the general steps involved?
In designing a French garden, typical design and execution directions are followed. These begin with a careful study of the terrain and existing situation, continue with the design according to the defining characteristics of the style, and move on to execution.
