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Structured Front Yard Landscaping for 2025
Welcome to Concept with Justin. [Music] [Music] Welcome back to Concept with Justin. Today we’re stepping into a realm of refined elegance, structured beauty, and timeless sophistication. The world of formal modern landscaping. It’s a marriage of classic order and modern simplicity. The appeal lies in its ability to create a profound sense of calm, stability, and grandeur. A cornerstone of formal modern design is the strong emphasis on axial lines and symmetry. Often a dominant central axis, like the striking linear pathway in our example image, organizes the entire space. This pathway acts as a spine, drawing the eye towards a focal point at its terminus. perhaps a water feature, a sculpture, an architectural element like the covered portico in the example, or simply a compelling view. Elements are then often arranged symmetrically on either side of this axis. [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] This could mean identical planting beds, matching rows of trees or topiaries, or balanced hardscape features. This symmetry creates a sense of balance, harmony, and intentional order. The pathway itself is a critical design element. In the example, we see large rectangular light gray pavers set with precise spacing with strips of vibrant green, likely artificial turf filling the gaps. This creates a strong linear rhythm and a graphic pattern that is both modern and reminiscent of classic garden paths. The choice of material, highquality stone or concrete pavers, contributes to the luxurious feel. The precision in laying these pavers, ensuring perfect alignment and consistent spacing is paramount to achieving the desired formal effect. The use of meticulously clipped hedges in topiary is another hallmark of this style, providing essential structure and sculptural interest. Low formal hedges often created from boxwood, bxus or similar fine led evergreens are used to define the edges of pathways, lawns or planting beds as seen flanking the turf panels in the example. These hedges are sheared into perfect geometric shapes, typically crisp rectangles or squares, creating living walls that reinforce the garden’s geometry and provide a strong green framework. Topiary. The art of shaping plants into ornamental forms adds another layer of sculptural elegance. In our example, we see large spherical topiaries and minimalist dark planters acting as punctuation marks at key points such as flanking an entrance or accenting a change in level. [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] Hey. [Music] [Music] [Music] Further along the stone wall, taller tapered columnar topiaries repeat this theme of controlled geometric green forms. These shaped plants require consistent, skilled pruning to maintain their crisp silhouettes, underscoring the commitment to precision and care inherent in formal design. They are living sculptures that contribute significantly to the garden’s stately character and provide year-round structural interest. The choice of materials for hardscaping and formal modern landscapes leans towards quality, durability, and a refined aesthetic. Natural stone such as limestone, blue stone, slate as seen in the darker wall cladding on the house or granite is often favored for its timeless beauty and texture. Large format pavers as mentioned for the pathway and patio areas create a sense of spaciousness and modernity. Concrete can also be used effectively perhaps in smooth cast forms or as large architectural slabs. Color pallets for hardscaping are typically restrained grays, whites, buffs or charcoals providing a sophisticated neutral backdrop for the greenery and any architectural features. The example showcases this beautifully with the light gray pathway pavers and steps contrasting with the darker stone wall and house cladding. The emphasis is on clean lines, precise installation and materials that convey a sense of permanence and quality. Even details like the coping on walls, the capstone as seen on the stone boundary wall in the example are carefully considered to provide a finished refined edge. The lawn in a formal modern garden is rarely an afterthought. It’s a crucial design element, often treated as a perfect green carpet or a series of precisely defined geometric panels. [Music] [Music] [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] [Music] [Music] Whether using highquality artificial turf as appears likely in the example, given its flawless uniformity and vibrant color, or meticulously maintained natural grass, the effect is one of absolute perfection. If natural grass is used, it requires intensive care, regular mowing, often with a real mower to achieve a very short, dense cut, precise edging, consistent fertilization, irerration, and irrigation to maintain its pristine condition. Artificial turf, on the other hand, offers this perfect look with significantly reduced maintenance, making it an increasingly popular choice for achieving the flawless green expanses desired in this style. The vibrant green of the lawn provides a strong contrast with the lighter pavers and darker hedges or planters, emphasizing the geometric layout. The lawn isn’t just a void. It’s an integral part of the pattern ground plane, contributing to the overall sense of order and expansive calm. [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] [Music] Planting beds within the formal modern framework beyond the hedges and topiaries are often handled with a degree of restraint, though they can provide opportunities for softer textures or controlled bursts of color. In the example, we see a raised linear planter bed with a dark modern retaining edge filled with vibrant pink and purple flowering plants. This provides a welcome splash of color and a softer texture contrasting with the dominant greens and grays of the surrounding landscape. However, even here, the planting is likely to be somewhat controlled. perhaps featuring massings of a limited number of species rather than a riotus cottage garden mix. Other planting might include rows of specimen trees like the slender trees planted at regular intervals along the stone wall in the example, adding vertical rhythm and a softer canopy. [Music] [Music] [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] If climbing plants are used, for instance, on the house walls, as hinted at in the example, they are typically trained neatly to respect ect the architectural lines. The overall planting philosophy is one of where plants serve the overall geometric structure and formal intent of the garden rather than dictating its form. The architecture of the house itself or associated structures like the portico/pavilion seen in the distance in our example plays a vital role in a formal modern landscape. The landscape design should be in dialogue with the architectural style. The example shows a sophisticated blend. The main house structure has strong modern lines with dark stone cladding and black framed windows. While the distant pavilion features classical columns and a hipped roof hinting at a neocclassical or transitional architectural influence. The formal landscape with its axial path and symmetrical leanings bridges these elements. The materials and colors of the landscape, light gray pavers, dark stone walls, echo or complement the materials of the house, creating a cohesive visual experience. The wide steps leading up to the house in the example are also a strong formal element, grand and inviting, reinforcing the sense of arrival created by the long pathway. Color pallets and formal modern landscapes are typically sophisticated and controlled. Green and all its variations from the deep green of boxwood to the vibrant green of the lawn forms the dominant color providing a sense of calm and unity. Neutrals, whites, grays, blacks, and sometimes beiges are used for hardscaping and architectural elements, creating a refined and often high contrast backdrop. Accent colors when introduced to flowering plants like the pinks and purples in the raised bed in the example. [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] are often used strategically and in a somewhat monochromatic or analogous scheme rather than a riot of competing hues. This controlled use of color maintains the overall sense of order and sophistication. Texture becomes increasingly important within this limited color palette with contrasts between smooth pavers, rough stone, fine leved hedges, feathery grasses, and glossy topiary foliage adding subtle depth and interest. Maintenance is a significant consideration for this style. Achieving and preserving the level of precision and perfection inherent in formal modern design requires consistent effort. Hedges and topiaries need regular skilled pruning to maintain their sharp forms. Lawns, if natural, demand intensive care. Even artificial turf requires cleaning. Hardscape surfaces need to be kept pristine. While the plant pallet might be more limited than in other styles, the emphasis on perfect form means that what is there must be impeccably maintained. This is not a plant it and forget it style. It’s a commitment to ongoing care to uphold its sophisticated aesthetic. Looking towards 2025, there may be increasing interest in selecting more drought tolerant or lower input plants for hedges and topiaries and exploring sustainable options for hardscaping materials to reduce the environmental footprint while still achieving the desired formal look. [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] We hope this deep dive has provided you with a richer understanding of this sophisticated style and perhaps sparked some grand ideas for your own landscape projects, whether for the coming seasons or as you plan for 2025. Does the order and symmetry of formal design appeal to you, or do you prefer a more naturalistic approach? We’d love to hear your thoughts and any questions this discussion has raised. Please share them in the comments below. And most importantly, if you haven’t already, please subscribe to Concept with Justin and click that notification bell so you can continue to join us as we explore the many facets of landscape architecture and design. Thank you so much for your time and attention today. We look forward to seeing you in the next concept. [Music] [Music] [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] [Music]
1 Comment
Blend of the nature with modern architecture and design ❤ lovable sanctuary 💞