THESE GARDENS INSPIRED BY THE ITALIAN RENAISSANCE, WERE CONSTRUCTED 1550 - 2013.  

The garden design aesthetic remains constant, from designing a villa to a petite landscape. 

Italian renaissance gardens with architectural layouts were inspired by the humanist renaissance ideals of symmetry and proportion.  Many of these academic concepts are timeless.  Prior to the Italian Renaissance, Italian Medieval gardens were enclosed by walls and were devoted to growing vegetables, fruits and medicinal herbs, or, in the case of monastery gardens, for silent meditation and prayer. The Italian Renaissance garden broke down the wall between the garden, the house, and the landscape outside. The design aesthetics, which include the golden section, golden mean and the golden ratio were borrowed from the ancient Greeks.   

CLASSICISM REBORN IN ITALIAN GARDENS

Italian garden design embraces geometric divisions linked by a common axis, linear perspective, double lines of trees, hedging, pergolas, fanciful water features, vases, statues.  It is critical to note that plants are less important for their color value than as design elements such as clipped hedges and topiary. An axial alignment linked and framed the residence (a villa) with the surrounding landscape.  Many Italian villas were built on steep sites, with a view and distant landscape beyond the garden perimeter.  From the loggias and porticos of a building the landscape could be seen, surveyed and enjoyed.  

FOUR INSPIRED GARDENS TO ENJOY!

THE EXUBERANT WATER GARDEN OF THE VILLA D'ESTE AT TIVOLI  

Designed by the architect Pirro Ligoro it was begun in 1550 and finished thirty years later. Water, the life of the garden is linked to idea of fertility in the Villa d’Este.  While Villa d’Este is a programmatic garden (one in which the separate parts or “rooms” are meant to be experienced sequentially) it’s essential ideas were the influence of Leon Battista Alberti who also impacted Bramante with axial planning.  Alberti is known for creating the term “concinnitas”, latin for neat, elegant, or skillful joining of several things, the harmony of all parts in relation to one another, a beauty of style.

THE ITALIAN GARDEN IN NYC CONSERVATORY GARDEN AT CENTRAL PARK

I am fortunate as a New York City landscape designer to have resources such as the Conservatory gardens of Central Park within minutes to admire, learn from and enjoy!  It is the only formal garden in Central Park, N.Y.C.  This classic garden design was created in 1937 by Gilmore Clarke (husband) with planting plans by Betty Sprout (wife) during the Robert Moses reign of urban planning in New York City. 

The Italianate garden is composed of a large lawn surrounded by yew hedges and is bordered by two exquisite allées of spring-blooming pink and white crabapple trees. A 12-foot high jet fountain plays on the western end of the lawn, backed by tiered hedges and stairs that lead up to a wisteria pergola. On the walkway under the pergola are medallions inscribed with the names of the original 13 states.

HEALING GARDEN DESIGN ELEMENTS

This Chelsea Flower Show garden is inspired by the great formal renaissance gardens of Italy, namely the historic gardens at Villa Lante and Villa d’Este. Control over nature, divine proportions, perfect symmetry, use of water as a central theme, majestic fastigiate trees are all incorporated into this design by Thomas Hoblyn.

SMALL GARDEN DESIGN IDEAS

Could you incorporate these designs into your small backyard garden, urban roof garden design or outdoor patio landscape?  Of course you could!

Take a look below at how the elements of fastigiate trees, evergreen hedging, a sense of seclusion, water as a central part of the design , beautiful hardscape are used in a very, very small garden design.  

I hope this collection of garden designs provide suggestions for landscaping, some garden landscape design help for suburban gardens or city townhouse gardens.