Product Description

Minimalist gardens, with their emphasis on clean lines, pure form, and a strong sense of space, are closely related to contemporary architecture and lifestyles. This book draws together a wide variety of minimalist gardens from around the world - large and small, urban and rural. The projects are grouped into thematic chapters, and the designers represented include Vladimir Sitta, John Pawson, Luis Barragan, Seth Stein, Jacques Wirtz, Tadao Ando, Martha Schwartz, Shodo Suzuki, and Isamu Noguchi; the book looks at the inspiration behind each garden and the frequent use of unusual materials and imaginative planning. The author also explains the philosophy of minimalism in gardens and related arts, as well as parallel trends in relaxed and ecologically aware planting. Also included are directories of materials and suitable plants for the minimalist garden.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #626571 in Books
• Published on: 2005-02-17
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 208 pages

Amazon.co.uk Review
A minimalist garden is, for many, the perfect embodiment of how to express the creative mood of our time. Others may be rubbing their hands together with glee at the prospect of unearthing a breed of gardening that does not require them to get their hands dirty. Whichever way you look at it, the impact of this stylish, restful and thought-provoking type of "horticultural architecture" is being felt throughout the gardening world. The Minimalist Garden is a beautifully photographed documentation of how, and from where, this distinctive style hailed, as well as providing ideas as to how some of the features can be incorporated into your own precious plot of land.

For many, the idea of a "minimalist" garden is a contradiction in terms; as we scurry about our gardens trying to ensure an abundant growth of bushy, bright plants and shrubs. The book's argument is that in using the simple stand fewest elements to maximum effect you draw more attention to the plants and garden space than would ever be possible in a the haphazard, traditional English garden. The phrase "less is more" was coined in the 50s but this type of garden derives some of its major influences from much earlier than that. It charts the progress of the "modern" look from the 15th-century gardens of Japanese monasteries through to some of today's most technologically advanced water gardens.

The Minimalist Garden is simply divided allowing you to browse courtyards, roof Gardens, pools, country and landscapes touched by minimalism. It also covers how, in more favourable climes, the distinction between inside and outside space can be completely blurred, leading to some stunning and innovative living spaces. Here it succeeds in subtly redefining how we view our outside space. Inadvertently, you may question if a bare concrete space without a single leaf or blade of grass can really be called a garden?

Intended for thoughtful contemplation rather than practical information, The Minimalist Garden is an absolute delight to browse. Not too many clues are given away as how to achieve the look and the overall feel is "if you want it to look like this, get someone in", rather than DIY. Nevertheless, it can provide some inspiring ideas of the extents to which the minimalist style can affect garden planning and design and it will definitely help you keep your hands clean. --Tony Martin