Rules of Building Private Gardens: Part 1

Flexibility in the Layout

Classic Chinese architecture, if looked at individually, is mostly simple in shape and not large in volume. However they often appear in groups, which is one of the differing features from Western architecture. Judging from documentation from ancient times and the remaining examples, we can conclude that this kind of architectural combination had adopted the courtyard model from very early on, which is to form a courtyard with single buildings on all sides.

The main building sits in the center, flanked by the secondary buildings on either side, forming a layout with a central axis. However, garden construction breaks this rule, and in order to create in a limited space an environment that emulates nature, a flexible and overall layout is creatively adopted.

Like all other kinds of architecture, architecture in gardens has to fulfill its functional demand. In private gardens, the owner has multiple needs for daily living, reading, entertaining and enjoyment, and architecture must fulfill each of these demands-the residence to be secluded, reading area to be quiet, entertaining section to be convenient and the area for enjoyment to embody the mood of nature and the natural landscape-all these elements are concerns when planning the garden.

In addition, the garden must possess beauty, a beautiful environment that can measure up to any found in nature.

The layout of the architecture has to both make scenery and to get scenery , which means that the position and image of the architecture must form and enjoyable view within the garden, and at the same time from within the architecture one must be able to enjoy one scene or multiple scenes in the garden.

In Jichang Garden in Wuxi, the Fish Watching Fence at the eastern bank of the pond s mid section is the main scenic spot of the pond area, and at the same time standing at the fence the entire mountain view on the western side of the garden greets the eye. The Jiashu Hall at the northwestern corner of the garden is the main view at the top of the entire garden, and at the mean time from inside the hall one can overlook the water scene of the entire garden, and also see from a distance the mountains and Buddhist pagoda outside the garden.

Architecture in a garden environment does not exist in isolation, but rather forms a comprehensive scene together with the nearby mountains, waters and vegetation. In the Humble Administrator s Garden, the Fragrant Snow and Clouds Pavilion is not an isolated pavilion-it sits on the islet mountain at the center of the pond, set off by flowers and plants on all sides, supported by rock hills from the bottom and surrounded by a pond full of lotus flowers in summer time.

At the east bank of the pond in the Master-of-Nets Garden, the Duck Shooting Corridor, the rock hills on its south and the year-round colorful vegetation beside the corridor and among the rocks and stones form a colorful painting against the backdrop of white-washed walls. Hills, water and architecture form scenic spots, and multiple scenic spots form scenic areas.

Scenic spots and scenic areas work in synergy to create a garden with more beauty than the eye can take in.

The classic Chinese garden must be at the same time seeable, tour-able and livable, whereby all scenic spots and areas must be connected by paths for convenience of getting aroud. In order to create constantly- changing scenes along the way, twisted paths are suitable while straight roads are forbidden paths in open air coexist with corridor paths that shield from the sun and rain.

Some of the paths are built along the wall, some are twisting and turning, some move up and down over the slope of the hills, while still others hover above water into water corridor or covered bridges. Along these winding paths and corridors, the builder meticulously sets up a variety of scenes, either a hall, a pavilion, or water pavilion, or an ancient tree, banana trees or a cluster of bamboos.

Even a pile of rocks, when placed on hilltops, by the pond, or at the end of the road, can always add to the scene when reasonably and cleverly positioned. Moving along the path, the tourist will be refreshed by the ever-changing scenes, scenes that never tire the eye.

In order to expand the touring area in a not-so-large space, private gardens are often segmented into different scenic areas by corridors and walls. These walls are not high, and in addition to doorways there are often see-through windows on the walls, so that the walls divide but do not separate. These corridors and walls add to the scenes themselves, and they keep the scenic areas both connected and divided.

In a larger garden, the garden builder must design at least on optimum route to tour around. Starting from the entry of the garden, one strolls on this route along stone paths or the bank of the pond, or enters a doorways, or climbs the mountain paths, or enter a hall, or take a short rest in the water pavilion.

Each move from on area to the next brings renewed scenes, extending the time and expanding the space for enjoyment.

The lingering garden of Suzhou is a private garden relatively large in space. Its mian entrance is located in between buildings on both sides and is only 8 meters in width. However the road leading to the garden area is as long as 40 meters. In this narrow area the garden builder arranged three spaces connected by winding corridors.

Upon entry into the garden there is a small sky-light yard, and only by passing through the yard through the winding corridor does one get to see the second space with flowers and plants. Passing through another corridor the third space is reached, where an ancient tree leans against the walls, and only then does the mini hall connected to the corridor, and lined with lattice windows appear.

Through the windows the main body of the garden can be seen. In here, halls, corridors and walls form a variety of spaces, and the alternation in these spaces, and change from light to dark, from large to small, topped with decorations of the ancient tree, and the flowers and plants, bring varied and ever-changing pleasure to the viewer.