Article by Elisa A.M.Varetti Mediterranean Park Countryside, by Atelier Nelumbo Paysage, in the French Riviera. Working in landscape architecture doesn’t mean realizing only public spaces. On the contrary; landscape architects are often called to design private gardens, terraces, and parks, as you can read in Win Phyo’s article Mediterranean Terrace Provides Inspired Living in Italy and in The Best Way to Live in Sunny Spain from our writer, Yang Su. Beware – dealing with this side of the profession can be very tough sometimes and not every professional manages to do it in the right way. Some of them simply choose not to deal with it at all. Luckily that’s not the case with Atelier Nelumbo Paysage, who provides modern landscape solutions with a Mediterranean inspiration. One of his latest projects, the Mediterranean Park Countryside, can be considered a sort of guide for those willing to learn how to design a real Mediterranean garden on a large scale.
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Masterplan of the Mediterranean Park Countryside, by Atelier Nelumbo Paysage
Mediterranean Park Countryside
Connecting With the Surrounding Environment The context of the site and the site itself are the main and most important elements to consider while dealing with a new landscape project. Creating a deep bond between the project and its site is one of the main aims of Landscape Architects, which allows them to insert the project in perfect harmony with the surrounding environment. Here, Atelier Nelumbo Paysage followed the shape of the site and took advantage of its slope to create different rooms in the open air. “We added a special touch to imagine an enchanted space where beauty and sensuality were enhanced while respecting the environment” say the designers.
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Mediterranean Park Countryside, by Atelier Nelumbo Paysage
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Mediterranean Park Countryside, by Atelier Nelumbo Paysage
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Mediterranean Park Countryside, by Atelier Nelumbo Paysage
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Mediterranean Park Countryside, by Atelier Nelumbo Paysage
Using Traditional Materials
Concerning the physical elements to be used in a contemporary Mediterranean garden, the designers referred to the traditional types of objects used in the Italian garden style. In fact, they used natural materials such as yellow stone for the stairs and some paved areas, porphyry to pave the courtyard, a variety of vegetative materials (trees, bushes and grass), and gravel in different part of the garden.
Choosing the Correct Plant List
Visiting a garden should be a supreme joy, so choosing a palette of plants that will exhibit its beauty through every season is very important. Apart from the lawn areas, which can be considered as the floors of the garden, a Mediterranean garden requires some plants belonging to that geographical area.
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Mediterranean Park Countryside, by Atelier Nelumbo Paysage
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Mediterranean Park Countryside, by Atelier Nelumbo Paysage
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Mediterranean Park Countryside, by Atelier Nelumbo Paysage

READ: Contemporary Italian Garden Offers Renewed Inspiration. Photo credit: Andrea Simonetti and Giuseppe Lunardini
Full Project Credits For Caulfield Campus Green:
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Recommended Reading: Sustainable Urbanism: Urban Design With Nature. Click Here!
- Becoming an Urban Planner: A Guide to Careers in Planning and Urban Design by Michael Bayer
- Sustainable Urbanism: Urban Design With Nature by Douglas Farrs
Article by Elisa A.M.Varetti
Published in Blog