Jun 7, 2011
Gardens for small spaces
Have you ever been to a friend’s house and admired their lush gardens, and wish your home had the space for it? In Malaysia, it’s not uncommon to hear people go, “But my house so small, where got place for garden?”
The good news is, everyone has room for a garden. When there’s a will, and a little creativity, there’s a way.
With population in our cities booming like there’s no tomorrow, life can get pretty cramped in small apartments, link-houses, or condominiums, but you’d be surprised how many people can create stunning little gardens in the most unlikely spaces.
And with the blossoming of interest in small gardens, comes a new industry of products to make it instantly viable. There are containers to fit in corners, on walls, in suspension, endless varieties of soil mixes in convenient bags, easy fertilisers, watering devices, artificial lighting, pesticides - you name it, they’re making it, if not already.
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Before and after: Balconies have the distinction of being part outdoors and part indoors. Unfortunately, not many people have a clue what to do with such a ubiquitous space. Well, why not capture the best of both worlds? Create an outdoor living room that harnesses the pleasures of nature while providing indoor comforts. The use of timber decking imparts a rustic natural feel yet is easy enough to keep clean and even lie on to gaze at the night sky. Adding a water feature adds to the charming ambience
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Stealing spaces
I have spent the last ten years designing a garden that not only reflects Malaysian culture, but also a garden for Malaysians.
This is because, invariably, when it comes to Malaysian homes, space, or the lack of, is an important element to consider. Sure, if you have a sprawling bungalow land, then you can go for whatever you fancy – Japanese zen garden or perhaps a mini-park with meandering paths.
But really, what about the rest of us with that small patch of lawn? Or even when there’s no garden as such, but just one big car porch. Where can we possibly fit in a garden, Malaysian or not?
Well, if you look around your home, you’ll probably find little nooks and niches of underutilised space, like, say, the area under the stairs where you throw your shoes, bicycle, broom, umbrella, and what-not.
Fortunately, size doesn’t matter. We’ll explore various ways you can enhance your house by stealing back spaces and transforming them into Malaysian- themed gardens.
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Most condominium balconies have barely enough space to put a table and two chairs, and placing a few potted plants against the railing seems uninspired and, well, depressing. The solution? Create your dream garden on your balcony, a stunning sight that naturally complements your living room design. What’s good is you can customise the seating area and water feature for a perfect fit. What’s even better is because of the small space, the cost will be relatively inexpensive.
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For starters, if you live in a typical link-house, you’d probably have your shoe rack placed just outside your front door.
It’s a quaint Malaysian habit of removing one’s shoes before entering the house, but it also tends to create an unsightly porch or patio. So why not make the best of it? With a talented carpenter, you can build a shoe-rack-garden that is not only functional but makes your front entrance look pretty
With a few well-sited potted plants, and a garden lamp, you’ll have created a mini slice of wonder virtually out of nothing. That’s the whole idea behind stealing spaces.
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Small spaces are no match against a little creativity and good craftsmanship. Starting from the insight that most Malaysians leave their shoes in a shoe cabinet at their front door, why not combine the shoe cabinet and bench with a planter box to save space? As you can see in the picture, the all-in-one furniture beautifies the front entrance and fulfills the functional needs of the homeowner, too.
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Another common Malaysian home is the apartment or condominium unit. By its definition, there isn’t even space allocated for a garden.
But imagine if all apartment dwellers have access to their own private little garden, where they can sit among fragrant plants with the therapeutic sound of rustling water in the background - wouldn’t it be paradise?
Not just fairy-tale wishing, but such a scenario can be realised in that oft- underused space in any apartment - the balcony. Even small balconies that can barely fit a deck chair can instead become an actual extension of your living room.
A concept garden can be designed for spaces no bigger than 1.5m x 1.5m. No kidding! The seating area and water feature are strategically placed amongst potted plants, in such a way, that, with the sliding doors open, it seems as if your living room naturally extends all the way outside.
Of course, if you have a bigger balcony, it will mean a bigger canvas, so more can be done to create that little haven from stress.
These are but two examples of how you can beautify your sweet little home and have the garden you’ve always wanted without the need for expensive renovations or artificial plants.
Neo Nusantara creates beautiful landscapes for Malaysian homes. To learn more, visit their website at www.neonusantara.com or terragarden.com.my or call: 03-7880 8018.
If you have a question for Desmond Ho, send an email to contents@starproperty.my
More articles on landscaping by Desmond Ho:
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