The Balanced Backyard

Recently, we brought our full team together for an exciting group exercise and brainstorming session to reflect on a holistic view of what makes up the best backyard that we can design and implement. Our insightful team began thinking about each element that makes a truly balanced backyard - a term we are defining as a yard that blends form, function, and purpose. We are excited to share for the first time, 8 distinct elements we identified that comprise a balanced backyard and informs our design process and or we approach every project here at RPK Landscape Architecture - our goal is to assist you with getting the most out of the space you have with these 8 synergistic and complementary elements.

The 8 Elements of a Balanced Backyard

1. Connection to the architecture - this vital connection means that any design or form must reference and complement the existing house. Renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright - who was actually a Landscape Architect before he became further involved in architecture is famous for designing structures that blend into their surroundings in groundbreaking, innovative ways.

FALLINGWATER - PHOTO BY SCOTT ROBINSON

Places like Fallingwater show how he engaged with organic architecture (a phrase he originated from) and strived to, “make the landscape more beautiful than before the building was built.” RPKLA recognizes that not one design style fits all and adapts these principles in aligning the design style to the architecture and homes’ interests.

2. Leaving open space - In previous posts we’ve identified the importance of these types of places. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency notes that open spaces, provide places for recreation, preserving important environmental and ecological functions, and enhance the quality of life. Ensuring that open space is balanced in design consideration and that elements do not fill up the whole property is a key part of our approach.

3. Designing areas for social gathering - RPKLA ensures that your backyard may become a functional part of your daily life by involving design elements that allow for people to gather in your backyard - this means identifying preferred zones for furnishing are considered early on in the schematic process. We have found that traditionally this critical element is usually left as an afterthought. In light of the pandemic, these places (including work-from-home features) have become more important than ever to create safe and engaging outdoor social spaces.

4. Solving problems - We consider this taking on backyard landscape design as an opportunity to overcome historically functional and environmental challenges that come with the home's natural and built environment. These may include underlying issues such as habitat restoration, drainage issues, accessibility, or sun/shade mitigation. We also leverage issues like steep slopes into opportunities through terracing.

5. Creating sensory experiences - Think of this category on how you connect with the nature around you, Biophilic design focuses on building increasing human connectivity to the natural environment through the use of direct nature, indirect nature, and space and place conditions. Beyond identifying a core foundation of native plantings, another key way we leverage this connection is through water & fire elements that may be integrated into your backyard. Hearing the trickle and watching the movement of water may be a form of Green Therapy, feeling the warmth of the fire and maximizing the ability of the yard to serve daylight and evening hours. Aquatic plantings and wildlife may also create an entirely new ecosystem outside your back door.

6. Understanding the client's lifestyle - One of the most exciting opportunities for us is getting to know more about the people we get to design for and their interests and passions in life. When thinking about a balanced backyard we want a place that reflects the desired lifestyle of our clients, this could mean the balanced backyard is focused on relaxation, entertainment, hosting, cooking, or more. Depending on the lifestyle a responsive design can be conceived and implemented. Will your space be a place for play or to host dinner parties? What about a backyard movie theater for evening use and entertainment? Perhaps an opportunity to gather around a fire pit or a working range to show off your cooking skills? The amount of potential applications are endless - we’ve also designed places that can accomplish every single one of these goals too.

7. Framing View Shed - Ironically, this element often gets overlooked in most design applications. Another way to look at this is how are you maximizing the scenic elements of your yard - perhaps you are located on the edge of the water or the woods or want a greater sense of depth in your yard. The design intention behind creating borders and screening will assist in maximizing specific viewsheds on the property, this element also involves how your yard interacts with elements that surround you, including leveraging privacy and seclusion within the space where and when it is needed. One resource we can and have tapped into includes customized accessory structures to add to your backyard to accomplish a range of the goals we’ve described.

8. Incorporating Sustainability - being mindful of our impact as a company, we consider how everything we do impacts our surrounding environment and ultimately, our world as a whole. Through sensitive environmental design, we explore such elements as improving the biodiversity of your backyard with native plantings, water conservation elements (including drought-tolerant plants and lawn reduction), and sourcing locally through our supply chains for our plant and natural (stone) materials we utilize. We also take into consideration how our plantings can assist with carbon offset - an action intended to compensate for the emission of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere as a result of industrial or other human activity.

Through this balanced backyard guide, we hope you have a greater understanding of our mission and design approach to each project we undertake. We aim to maximize the nearest outdoor space to you and one of the critical places that most people experience nature (sometimes their only source of it). Let us and our approach seek how we can serve you.

See how our Landscape Architecture, Master Planning & Sustainable Design can suit your needs and please reach out to us to engage us for conversation on your balanced backyard project ideas. Beginning the plan to create a balanced backyard can never happen too early, let us help you design a place that you and others will fall in love with right out your own backdoor.