Before talking about plants, we must talk about structure.

Plants evolve, grow, and change with the seasons.

Hardscape structures the garden over time: it organises circulation, creates perspectives, protects privacy, and provides a durable framework for the project.

This stage allows for reflection on the elementsmineral and constructedof the garden — materials, levels, lines, boundaries — in order to establish a solid framework before exploring the plant atmospheres.

1. Read the land and the relief

Every project begins with understanding the soil, slopes, and existing level differences.

#topography · #relief · #land-reading · #natural-constraints.

2. Manage slopes and elevation changes

The slope structures the garden: it influences circulation, views, water, and soil stability.

#slope · #elevation-change · #terraces · #soil-stability · #water-management

3. Organise levels and platforms

Creating levels helps to structure uses and gives a human scale to the garden.

#levels · #platforms · #usage-zones · #comfort

4. Define circulation and pathways

Paths set the rhythm of the garden and organise the way it is traversed on a daily basis.

#circulation · #pathway · #daily-use · #fluidity

5. Structuring narrow and long gardens

A long or narrow garden is composed in sequences to avoid the corridor effect.

#long-garden · #sequencing · #rhythm · #visual-breaks

6. Create perspectives and visual axes

Lines, alignments, and openings guide the eye and provide depth.

#perspectives · #visual-axes · #depth · #staging

7. Install focal points

A landmark element anchors the gaze and structures the space.

#focal-point · #visual-marker · #hierarchy-of-spaces

8. Define limits, thresholds, and transitions

A readable garden is one where the passages between spaces are clear and gradual.

#limits · #thresholds · #transitions · #reading-the-garden

9. Work on intimacy and visual protections

Protéger sans enfermer permet de créer des espaces confortables et apaisants.

#intimité · #brise-vue · #filtrage · #relation-voisinage

10. Choose materials and soils

Mineral elements give character, durability, and coherence to the garden.

#mineral · #soils · #materials · #durability

11. Integrate wood and lightweight structures

Wood brings warmth, usability, and humanity to the garden's structure.

#wood · #pergola · #lightweight-structures · #shade

12. Manage water, runoff, and permeability

Water structures the garden as much as walls or paths.

#water · #drainage · #runoff · #permeability

13. Integrate structures that are beneficial to biodiversity

Some structures become sustainable supports for life.

#structural-biodiversity · #refuges · #ecological-continuities

14. Consider the structure over the long term

A good hardscape is designed to last, evolve, and accommodate plants.

#long-term · #sustainability · #garden-evolution

The structure sets the framework.

Once the lines, materials, and infrastructures are defined, the plants can fully express themselves.

The plant atmospheres then inhabit this structure, bringing it to life and allowing it to evolve over time.

Explore the plant atmospheresto give a sensitive identity to your garden.

Discovering plant atmospheres