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adam s bailey garden design

 

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Member of The Guild of Landscape Designers

Member of

The Guild of Landscape Designers

THE CHILDREN'S PARK

 

Location: San Diego, USA

Landscape Architect: Martha Schwartz

View along the south side

A long paved walkway crosses the water from one side to the other, providing access parallel to the tramway, for the pedestrians. The view line is emphasised by the avenues of palms to each end.

The tall fountains

The tall fountains stand like an orchard, their forms lined up perfectly on a grid system.  Water splashes from the top of each fountain, echoing the sprayed heads of the nearby palm trees.

The grass mounds

Due to the perceived scale of the site, everything has been developed to be almost childlike in its form. The grass mounds are over accentuated to emphasise their circular structure.  

Stone grid

The open water is cut by another grid in the form of stonework which ties the land to the water by dissecting both. The temptation is to jump onto the walkway and leap the individual gaps to make one's way around the park.

Harmony with the city

The tall fountains also echo a third quality in the surrounding buildings which reflect the vertical structures.  For a children's park, this is like making small sky scrapers in the middle of the water.

Shrub mounds

The grass mounds are once again echoed by mounds of Mediterranean shrubs, clipped to mirror the grass mounds. These are aromatic, inviting children to explore senses of smell and touch. 

Through out the 'land' of the park are bushy-headed pine trees. These help to mute the sounds of the city, giving a sense of tranquility and also acting as a 'roof' to the park.

Along the east side

Tall, clipped cypresses echo the neighbourhood tower blocks, creating formal avenues in keeping with the formal aspect of the park's layout.

The trees aim to 'hedge' the boundary of the park without obscuring the view through the park.

View from the south side

Stone work, fountains and palm trees with the tower blocks of apartments beyond.

Emphasising the grid

View across the lake from the edge of the pine trees. Notice the office complex opposite, whose architecture plays well with the grid form of the park.

         

More details of the park, including  the various styles of seating, pine trees and surfacing.  The whole park is layered with grids over other grids, materials colliding into other materials, whilst keeping a simple form of land architecture. Colours have been carefully thought out and the park has an air of peace and playfulness, an oasis in the midst of the busy city. 

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