Cutting Edge Gardens

 

Cutting edge garden design in Irvine. Photo by Myriam Mahiques. Personal archives.

Cutting Edge gardens are those influenced by art and horticulture, designed to break the conventions. Designers establish their own rules, sometimes based on the owners' personality. Conceptual gardens which are based on an idea, also fit in this category. 

Many cutting edge gardens utilize new technologies and materials, often man-made materials, such as concrete, steel, rubber, fabric, glass and acrylic to create visual interest. Walls are used as a frame for sculptures.

Though the landscape is wild, the scale of the rabbit sculpture creates a big surprise for the path. Newport Beach Civic Center Park, photo by Myriam Mahiques, personal archives.

A contemporary playground for kids surrounded by planters. It has the sea concept in the blue rubber, as it is inside a mall across the beach. Huntington Beach, photo by Myriam Mahiques, personal archives. 

A contemporary metal abstract sculpture with a very bright red color. It is open and a tree can be seen through it, like an informal window. The landscape is wild and very contrasting with the sculpture. Newport Beach Civic Center Park. Photo by Myriam Mahiques, personal archives.

A row of contemporary fountains with hard dramatic shadows. See the combination of gravel and ceramics behind. The wall is the edge of the Bowers Museum in Santa Ana, CA. There is a green garden across the path. Bowers Museum, photo by Myriam Mahiques, personal archives.

Planting is used mostly for its sculptural qualities, but some plants may represent a specific habitat or region. Colorful and textural planting is a common feature, with containers used to reinforce stylistic concepts. Lighting is important to add drama.

This style of gardens is a mix, often deliberate, experimental. Man made materials are combined with natural surfaces. Outdoor furniture is used to express particular architectural styles and to introduce color. 

NOTE: The text is modified from pages 247/248 of the Encyclopedia of Landscape Design. Editor Chris Young. 

This is a photo from the book "Encyclopedia of Landscape Design" edited by Chris Young. I truly like the unexpected combination of cactus with aquatic plants. The cactus look like floating in the water, which is unconventional. See the combination of hard square patterns with the organic shape of the aquatic plants. 

This is a photo from the book "Encyclopedia of Landscape Design" edited by Chris Young. See the deep blue color combined with metal panels. An unconventional fountain for sure.

This is a photo from the book "Encyclopedia of Landscape Design" edited by Chris Young. Concrete blocks are combined with two color grasses.

This is a photo from the book "Encyclopedia of Landscape Design" edited by Chris Young. Claude Cormier's blue stick garden along the path. See the shadows across, adding texture and interest.

This is a photo from the book "Encyclopedia of Landscape Design" edited by Chris Young. Red sandstone rising up the pond in layers .