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Tuesday, September 6, 2016

Backyard Project: The Meadow Design Strengthens the Green Shed Design

It was a big planting day when Sammy and Mat arrived with the plants for the meadow areas.
Sammy picked all plants native to the Pacific Northwest coast. Once they are established they will tolerate being walked on. I will keep the plants irregularly clipped to make the area look highly textured.

The flat meadow area is between the Studio beds and the Hugelkultur beds.

The south Meadow bed has the path to the studio running along its north side.

The north Meadow bed mirrors the triangular shape of the south one on the other side of the path but not exactly. They are offset a bit to emphasise the beginning of the pathway to the Green Shed.

The garden beds reflect the symmetry of the Green Shed and reinforce the visual location of the front door. 
Pattern Langauge #110 Main Entrance is described as 'a deep and inescapable property of a well-formed environment,' p. xiv which is why I have paid a lot of attention to the design of garden beds and paths near the front door of my studio. 
Christopher Alexander says 'Placing the main entrance... is perhaps the single most important step you take during the evolution of a building plan.' p. 541.
The Problem. 'The entrance must be placed in such a way that people who approach the building see the entrance or some hint of where the entrance is, as soon as they see the building.' p.541.
The Solution. 'Place the main entrance of the building at a point where it can be seen immediately from the main avenues of approach and give it a bold, visible shape which stands out in front of the building.' p. 544.
The approach to the Green Shed will be even more obvious after the gravel paths have been put in.






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