Friday, April 17, 2015

Garden Themes 6 of 6...The Eastern (Islamic) Garden



The four basic essentials in a traditional Islamic garden are shade, water, flowers and music. 

  • The shade is provided most often from trees, but structural walls can help regulate temperatures.
  • Water was the source of life; and was used for irrigation, sound, ritual and reflection. In courtyards, a water feature is a central focal point in a design with clean, straight, symmetrical lines. A pond lined with blue tiles (to add depth) is divided into four quadrants. The corners represent the four corners of the world –soul, mind, heart, and essence; with the dividing ‘rivers’ representing rivers of honey, milk wine and water.
  • (The pond requires a water jet to keep the water moving, thus preventing algae build up).
  • The colors most often used in Islamic gardens are whites, rich blues, golds, dusky pinks or terracotta, and rich reds. Hardy flowers of geraniums, roses, lavender and rosemary; and shrubs such as lilacs, roses and hawthorns, add the sense of fragrance, along with beauty and color.
  • The music can be the sound of the water, or musical instruments, or birds that are attracted to the many flowers, trees and shrubs.
  • There are no human sculptures but intricate mosaic tiles are occasionally used
          Photo of The Albright Institute Kershaw Courtyard Garden, by: pinterest.com

No comments:

Post a Comment