For a long time, the concept of garden and park sculpture has been closely associated with luxurious mansions, country residences or even palaces. Gravel paths winding between neatly trimmed trees and bushes, elegantly decorated fountains, picturesque ponds, elegant marble sculptures in the antique style created by eminent masters - all this is the ambience of a rich and noble life.
Garden sculptures can decorate and complement the overall design style of the area, give it harmony and charm, emphasize the individuality and uniqueness of the garden landscapes, as well as attract attention and lift the spirits of vacationers.
But times are changing, and today a garden with a carefully thought-out design, appropriately complemented by sculptural elements, is not only the lot of titled aristocrats. Anyone who has their own house or cottage can landscape the surrounding area to their liking.
How to choose a garden sculpture
Decorative products for the garden are presented in the modern market with an abundance of options. Among this variety, there is sure to be something that suits the style, size, shape and price.
But when choosing sculptures to decorate a site and their locations, it is not enough to focus only on your own taste and desires. Here, like nowhere else, there are many style criteria and parameters, and therefore the help of a professional landscape designer is needed.
Creating a harmonious landscape design requires an impeccable sense of proportion and style. Even the most ideally beautiful and expensive sculpture by a famous master will not always uniquely decorate absolutely any interior.
It is difficult to identify common parameters that guide an experienced specialist when selecting a particular decorative element; here we can only formulate general theses. Following these rules will allow you to gracefully and tastefully decorate your garden and avoid common mistakes.
Modern garden sculpture should:
reflect the taste preferences of the garden owners;
fit organically into the design of the surrounding landscape;
draw attention to yourself, but not be too provocative;
maintain proportions relative to other elements;
be durable.
When choosing a garden sculpture for your site, first of all you need to start from the general style of the site.
But sculptural compositions must be proportional to the surrounding environment. For example, a massive statue will not look good in a small flowerbed, and a tiny figure will be lost among large trees.
Large garden figures in a classic style will look advantageous in a spacious area. And small ones can become the spectacular center of a small landscape composition.
It is not recommended to use many decorative elements. Clear and clear accents can be placed with just a few sculptural objects or even one.
Dividing the garden into different style zones opens up space for experimentation. Using this design technique, it is not difficult to combine classic and modern, a humorous and philosophical attitude to life in one space.
When designing landscapes, designers advise placing garden figures so that they look as natural as possible in their surroundings. Some architects believe that it is better not to draw too much attention to the sculpture. It is much more interesting when the visitor discovers the delights of the design gradually, as he goes deeper into the garden. Sculptures appearing here and there among the plants help create an unobtrusive but intriguing atmosphere.
Just as an appropriate frame gives a painting a special appeal, a well-chosen frame for garden sculptures can highlight their advantages. Wooden or stone structures, a hedge of boxwood or yew, and supports entwined with flowers are most often used as a successful background.
When choosing garden decorations, you also need to decide which type of sculpture will be most suitable for a particular occasion.
Among the existing options, the following are often used:
statues; obelisks; steles; monuments.
On a private plot, it is best to place sculptures that are suitable specifically for the garden. The remaining sculptural forms are more suitable for landscape design of areas of public importance, for example, city parks and squares.