1 Enclosure - A garden room defined by borders of various materials.
- Enclosures are vital elements in defining gardens as rooms× Enclosures anchor a garden to its location, giving both the house and the garden a sense of permanence and lasting beauty.
- Enclosures unify house and garden into a cohesive whole, creating a virtually continuous living area.
- Enclosures set the stage for a variety of moods and experiences.
- Enclosures add a sense of security and comfort by providing familiar structures: walls, floors, doorways and ceilings.
- Enclosures establish order by creating manageable sized spaces.
2 Shape and Form - The contour and three-dimensional qualities of individual plants or groups of plants in the garden, as well as the outline of a garden room itself.
- Basic shapes stage the look of garden rooms.
- Shapes have symbolic meanings.
- Shapes convey "personality" that creates certain moods.
- The arrangement of shapes in relation to one another defines certain styles.
3 Framing the View - Directing attention to an object or view by screening out surrounding distractions while creating a visually balanced and organized composition.
- The goal of framing a view is to draw attention to an object or scene.
- Framing the view can achieved by opening a sight line to the desired subject and screening out surrounding distractions.
- Views inside or outside the garden room may be framed.
- Windows and doorways inside the house serve as frames for outside views.
4 Entry - A defined point of entrance into a garden enclosure.
- A garden entrance is the first impression of a garden home.
- Entrances serve as preludes to what lies beyond.
- Entrances are symbolic signs of welcome.
- Garden entrances that reflect a home's architectural style create unity.
- Entrances serve as directional guides and transitional points from one area to the next.
- Certain key elements serve as components of an entrance.
- Entries should be a part of each garden room.
5 Focal Point - Positioning an object to draw the eye and to create a feature of attention.
- Focal points give space a focus and direction.
- Focal points visually organize an area.
- Enhanced perspective adds to the power focal points.
- Punctuation is another form of focal points.
6 Structures - A variety of constructed features within the garden.
- Structures serve both functional and aesthetic purposes.
- Structures add to the sense of enclosure, screen views, and provide a centre of visual interest.
- Structures represent an anchoring element, a firm point from which we can begin to absorb the richness and diversity of the entire space.
- Structures articulate the transition between the house and garden.