Greek garden in Landscape design

a research report about Greek garden and it's application

1. ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΗ ΚΗΠΟΣ Greek gardens by Orbiso, Krisha Marie

2. background

3. LOCATION AND GEOGRAPHICAL CONTEXT Located in southern Europe, Greece forms an irregular-shaped peninsula in the Mediterranean with two additional large peninsulas projecting from it: the Chalcidice and the Peloponnese . The country has the largest coastline in Europe (13,676km ) due to its numerous islands. Greece has a total of 2,000 Greek islands but only 168 are inhabited. The country is washed to the east by the Aegean Sea , to the west by the Ionian and to the south by the Mediterranean Sea.

4. LOCATION AND GEOGRAPHICAL CONTEXT The mountains of Greece divide the agricultural lands into discrete geographical units, limited at all sides by sea and mountains . R ugged rocky terrain, variable rainfall amounts – unpredictable growing conditions. Only 10% of land is arable, and it must be fallowed often. Poor, chalky, acidic soil. Heavy reliance on the “Mediterranean Triad” – grains, olives, wine – specifically, beans, barley, and wheat . Greece has a rich diversity in flora and fauna and many species are original in this country, which means that they are found only there in the world .

5. SOIL NATURE The Greeks' life was closely related to landscape as a large part of the population lived in the urban centre and commuted daily in the outskirts of the city, in order to work in the farmlands . Much of the soils in Greece are made up of silty, sandy soil. Limestone is a characteristic type of soil found in this country. The soil is not very fertile. Only about 30 percent of the total land area in Greece can support crops. Most farms are small because there are no major valleys in Greece. Wheat is Greece’s main crop.

6. CLIMATIC CONDITIONS Weather in Greece is fairly uniform throughout the mainland and the Greek islands. Due to its geographical position, Greece has mild winters and warm summers, cooled by different kind of seasonal winds . The summers are characterized by sunshine and very little rainfall. In the winter, temperatures again were influenced by the surrounding water . Typically temperatures did not go below 4.4° C ( 40° F ) with the exceptions in the high mountains. In the mountains, snow was typical during the wet winter months. Athens, Greece

7. DID YOU KNOW? In Greek Mythology, during the winter and fall Demeter makes the earth cold and infertile to match her sad feelings for her missing daughter, and why, in the summer and spring, the earth is once again fertile because Persephone is back with her mother.

8. CULTURE AND SOCIETY Life of women in ancient Greece were closely tied to domestic work spinning , weaving and other duties . Greece was male dominating society Greek people made their living from farming. Citizen had land outskirts of urban area which provided farmlands. Greek landscape and climate difficult for farms. There were grape gardens, olive trees majorly since it was criminal offense to cut olive trees. Honey was probably was the only sweetening that exited at the time so beehives were kept in terracotta pots. Painting depicting the ancient Greek ladies spending their leisure time in garden.

9. HISTORY Landscape design of  ancient Greece  (VI B.C. - IV A.D.) was in essence  garden design . The presence of a good combination of utilitarian, religious and aesthetical features was typical to the gardens of that time . The aggressive conquests of  Alexander of Macedon  played a basic role in the forming of the landscape design of this state and a substantial part of it underwent strong Asian influence - culture and the traditions of Egypt, India and Persia.

10. HISTORY Greeks learned to harmoniously combine the construction of cities with the  natural landscape , mutually supplementing each other.  Gardens and parks  became similar to living organisms, which have a close connection with the natural environment and man.  Acropolises , theatres, forums, squares , seemingly grow from nature, harmonizing and merging with the surrounding landscape. Built structures like gazebo and fountains in ancient garden

11. HISTORY Ancient Greek gardens were far less ostentatious and more closely bound up with religion . They had their origins in sacred groves, springs and rivers believed to be inhabited by gods and spirits, the haunt of nymphs and satyrs . The trees and plants in them were associated with particular deities. The goddess of love was a special protector of gardens, and her son Eros was sometimes represented as a gardener. The Graces had their gardens on the slopes of Mount Helicon. OAK TREE - ZEUS MYRTLE TREE - APHRODITE LAUREL - APOLLO

12. HISTORY Such groves were also where the celebrated schools of philosophy grew up and flourished, the most famous being Plato's Academy and Aristotle's Lyceum, on the outskirts of Athens. They gradually acquired buildings for teaching and gymnasiums for physical exercise . The gardens of the modest house that Epicurus bought just outside the walls of Athens in 306 B.C., where he taught his followers (including, to the scandal of some, women and slaves), became so closely identified with his teachings that his school of philosophy became known as the Garden. 

13. CHARACTERISTICS

14. PRINCIPLES AND CHARACTERESTICS In the landscaping construction of ancient Greece a strict symmetry predominated . Stepped gardens were also built, on which fountains were arranged and flowers and trees were planted. The Hellenic garden had many components: massive amounts of plants, spiral staircases and many decorations Greek landscape dictated a pre-defined course through the built and unbuilt environment , which was perceived as an inseparable unity . Components like water feature and vases in gardens.

15. PRINCIPLES AND CHARACTERESTICS Hardy plants, protective walls, and shaded patios are ubiquitous In smaller villages, there was no tradition for a home to have a backyard, there was no soil even , The place that people had when they went outside was the street. “They had to put pots with plants in the street. That's a typical garden." A neutral backdrop. If you have hot summers, whitewashed walls and lightcolored stone facades function as effective scrims to reflect the sun's heat and create a serene structure for a garden. An accent of bright color . Neutral background with colorful accents of flowers.

16. COMMON ELEMENTS SOFTSCAPES Mediterranean cypress ( Cupressus sempervirens ) Greek fir ( Abies cephalonica ) Olive tree Olea europaea TREES

17. COMMON ELEMENTS SOFTSCAPES Poppy anemone (Anemone coronaria ) Cyclamen ( Cyclamineae ) Narcissus‎ (Narcissus pseudonarcissus ) FLOWERS

18. COMMON ELEMENTS HARDSCAPES Fountain Gazebo Greek vases

19. Statues

20. SPECIAL FEATURES colorful dashes on white or earthen background, pergolas with vines and other climbing trees creating deep shades. columns and sculptures ,vases ,fountains.

21. Drought-tolerant natives Potted plants Olive trees & Citrus trees

22. EXAMPLES OF GREEK GARDEN

23. SACRED GROVES The religious gardens were of two varieties : CULTIVABLE TYPE which could be rented out while also being a pleasant gathering place RUSTIC SHRINE where statuary and trees coexisted; a subspecies of this latter type consisted of natural grottoes embellished by rock-cut sculpture, votive offerings and at times.

24. Herron the memorial garden - grove, planted on the spot of the burial of a hero. Gardens had a racetrack, a hippodrome, an area for gymnastic games and competition in the memory of heroes. With time Herrons began to be decorated with statues and colonnades which became the accents of parks. Herrons had a memorial nature, they were made with the process of the creation of different architectural structures and forests. Over time these sacred groves ceased to bear a memorial nature and became sports parks. Alexander of Macedonia’s Tomb

25. Philosophical gardens were created specially so that philosophical conversations could be conducted in them. On the terraces were created straight, wide alleys with space for sports, statues, vases and fountains. In such gardens school and gymnasium lessons were conducted by the famous philosophers Plato , Aristotle, etc. Academy Garden on the Ilisos river in the outskirts of Athens (460 B.C .). Philosophical gardens were isolated from the public parks. The largest squares of all of the cities belonging to the state were surrounded with plants which were also placed along the roads.

26. public garden The public garden was located in the main area of the city near temples and fountains. private garden The private gardens of prosperous owners most frequently bore an exceptionally utilitarian nature. SAMPLE OF CLASSICAL GREEK

27. Nymph S acred oak, cedar or olive grove located in center of an artistic water source or grotto with a regular planning style . Over time new decorations such as columns and sculptures appeared and enriched the nymphs . These places were thought to be inhabited by gods, nymphs and muses , because of this people brought sacrifices here. The flow of water, which fell into the pond, was the prototype of the water features in the parks of Western Europe.

28. pleasure gardens The  pleasure gardens  like those of the Persian's - appeared after  Alexander of Macedon  victoriously marched into Persia (336-323 B.C.). Such gardens were created for  the aristocracy - "nobles " .    In Alexandria, for example, they occupied ¼ of the city. Pleasure gardens of ancient Greece

29. APPLICATION

30. Small gazebo Aquarius fountain Bougainvillea in Greek vase Laurel tree This Grecian garden is designed in a utilitarian style like the ancient times, The design is simple and direct, it serves its purpose as somewhere you can relax. Bermuda Buttercups (Oxalis pes- caprae ) 4-20mm Graded Gravel

31. REFERENCES https:// www.slideshare.net/annmagiosi/fauna-and-flora-of-greece-38511492 https:// www.slideshare.net/ShanuMa/landcscape-design-in-greece https:// www.gardenvisit.com/history_theory/library_online_ebooks/ml_gothein_history_garden_art_design/ancient_greek_greece_crete https:// www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/14601170903403264?src=recsys&journalCode=tgah20 http:// www.landscapedesign-online.com/blog/ancient-greece https:// www.nytimes.com/2007/07/12/arts/12iht-conway.1.6629841.html