Urban Rooftop gardening is is quite vogue but while the reality of actually creating such a garden can be daunting (think hauling all that dirt to the roof) – this garden is quite inspiring because it literally looks like someone went through the apartment building and picked up all the stuff that would have gone down to the curb and instead took it up to the roof to create this quirky but appealing mix.
Found over at urban garden casual.
So I have this idea for a new regular feature here. My husband insists that is shoudl be called “WTF is that?” While I agree, that does seem the perfect name, I am struggling to commit to the ‘F’. I am an avid ‘F’ user but to have it as the title of a regular post seems a little unprofessional and pushing decorum slightly too far. But then I think, WTF? What do you think? Anyway, here is the new feature — maybe you can help me decide what the name should be.
Crinkle Crankle Wall. What is that? I love the names for things in gardening and garden design. My husband is forever accusing me of making things up — the latest Latin…kirenshoma palmata (he thinks I made that name up), now this morning…crinkle crankle walls….No, I am not making this up.
image by the vintage cottage
Other names for it are ’serpentine walls’ or ‘ribbon walls’ which are perhaps somewhat more descriptive. But in many places (particularly in England) they are Crinkle Crankle Walls. They are also found in the Netherlands (having thought to originate there in the 16th century) where they are called slange muur—snaking wall.
image by *Notes
Crinkle Crankle walls have curving lines following a serpentine path rather than a straight line. This layout gives the construction added strength and does away with the need for buttressing.
image by bluesoccerelephant
It has been used in conjunction with growing fruit as it is thought that the curve of the wall traps and radiate the rays of the sun, which assist the fruit in growing.
This type of wall is more resistant to toppling than a straight wall; so much so that it can be made of a single thickness of un-reinforced brick and so, despite its longer length, can be more economical than a straight wall.
The fearless use of color in this artistic pool garden in Arizona is really appealing to me. It plays well to the environment, surrounding architecture and climate as well as being a fun and inviting space.
It feels to me like the home of an artist. Artists seem to crave color and incorporate it into their spaces in an interesting and unexpected way. I personally find the fake blue of some chlorinated pools highly unappealing and the antithesis of refreshing, but here it is part of the color scheme and I can look at the pool as a design element in a colorful environment rather than an unnatural chemical bath.
The fence treatment with the corten steel panels are also really drawing me in….only seeing the space from these pictures, I still have the desire to walk over to them, touch them and follow them around the corner to see where the fence leads and what it feels like to be surrounded by these interesting pieces.
This seems like a deeply personal space that can only be created by a designer who is partnered with a homeowner who really got involved in the design and had a wonderful vision to add to the process.
Design by Sundrea Design Studio in Tuscon Arizona.
Do you remember a post here I that make a couple months ago about using stacked cinder blocks to make a vertical planter?….you can re-visit it here.
I remember thinking as I wrote, how easy it would be to make a more refined version (in fact I think I said that in the post) — well someone else had the same idea…and made this ultra sleek (but super cheap) garden….
found at apartment therapy
I am so impressed with the bevy of pretty projects for the garden that blogger Benita over at Chez Larsson created in a challenge set forth by a concrete crafting company.
Here are her beautiful and inspiring results….
She has a full set of instructions for each on her website. Here, here, here, and here are the links to all the projects you see above and below.
While I was in Canada we explored the beautiful Ile D’Orleans which is the idyllic island in the St Lawrence where over 30% of the produce that is consumed in the province is grown. As we wandered the pretty green roads, one thing jumped out at me that unfortunately still sticks with me. One of the homes (only one — and I know this because we literally drove every road on the island) had a chain link fence separating the front garden from the neighbors. It was utterly jarring and it underlines my opinion that Chain-link fence — unless dramatically and artfully altered – has no place in residential design. A better use perhaps — this interesting project — perhaps slightly uncomfortable — but probably remedied with cushions, I kinda like this re-use project for ugly old chainlink. What do you think?
found at designsquish.
