In celebration of Pi Day, it's worth exploring the fascinating relationship between math and landscape design. While it may seem surprising at first, the truth is that many of the world's most beautiful gardens rely heavily on mathematical principles to create their stunning designs. In this blog post, we'll delve into some of the key mathematical concepts that underpin landscape design, as well as explore some of the most famous gardens that showcase these principles.
The majesty of Versailles. Photo:ToddHaimanLandscapeDesign
Classic garden, London Photo: ToddHaimanLandscapeDesign
Geometry: The Foundation of Classical Gardens
One of the most fundamental mathematical concepts in landscape design is geometry. Classical gardens, which were popular in Europe in the 17th and 18th centuries, are known for their use of intricate geometric patterns. One of the most famous examples of a classical garden is the Gardens of Versailles, which was designed by André Le Nôtre. The garden features a series of parterres, fountains, and canals, all arranged in symmetrical patterns that create a sense of harmony and balance. What you see at Versailles is a perfect geometrical garden, perfectly structured, perfectly hierarchical, with the palace at the top of the hill. All straight lines lead to this magnificent palace: the king’s seat. So the king is the culmination of the order of the universe.
But classical gardens aren't the only type of garden that relies on geometry. The Garden of Cosmic Speculation, located in Scotland, features a series of geometric patterns inspired by scientific principles such as fractals and chaos theory. The garden's creator, Charles Jencks, used these principles to create a landscape that's both beautiful and intellectually stimulating.
Garden of Cosmic Speculation. Photo: Wikipedia
Garden of Cosmic Speculation. Photo: Wikipedia
The Fibonacci Sequence: Perfect Garden Proportions
Another mathematical concept that's often used in landscape design is the Fibonacci sequence. This sequence is a series of numbers in which each number is the sum of the two preceding numbers (1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, etc.). These numbers appear in nature in a variety of forms, including the spirals of seashells, the branching of trees, and the patterns of leaves on a stem.
Many designers use the Fibonacci sequence to create garden layouts and plant arrangements that have a natural, organic feel. For example, the Boughton House in England features a garden that's arranged in a series of concentric circles, with each circle containing a different type of plant. This creates a pleasing sense of order and balance, while also allowing for natural variation and asymmetry.
The Beauty of Mathematics Garden by Nick Bailey at the 2016 Chelsea Flower Show was inspired by financial mathematics and empirical scientific research. The garden celebrates the beauty found in the mathematics and algorithms which underpin all plants, growth and life. The garden’s layout is based on the mathematical symbol for infinity, with further well-known mathematical expressions and concepts evident in the central area of the garden‘s path and planting layout. The proportions of the garden and the structure of the belvedere are based on “the golden ratio” and the closely related Fibonacci sequence. The etched glass panels on the belvedere’s upper and lower decks show the radial spirals created by asteraceae plants.
The Beauty of Mathematics Garden by Nick Bailey ay the 2016 Chelsea Flower Show. Photo: ToddHaimanLandscapeDesign
Tomb of Jahangir gardens. Photo:Wikipaedia
“And so God made a garden, dividing it into four quarters by running water through it (the classic quadrilinear style that is still a standard in garden design) and placing borders, the borders being the eternal good and evil: the Tree of Life and the Tree of Knowledge. One tree was to be partaken of, the other forbidden. I have since come to see that in the garden itself, throughout human association with it, the Edenic plan works in the same way: the Tree of Life is agriculture and the Tree of Knowledge is horticulture. “
-Jamaica Kincaid, “The Disturbances of the Garden”
Aesthetic Qualities of Numbers: The Art of Proportion
Finally, it's worth considering the aesthetic qualities of numbers themselves. Some numbers, such as the number 3, are considered aesthetically pleasing because they create a sense of balance and harmony. Other numbers, such as the number 7, are considered more dynamic and asymmetrical.
Designers often use these aesthetic qualities to create garden layouts and plant arrangements that feel visually pleasing and harmonious. The Taj Mahal in India, for example, features a garden that's divided into four parts by water channels, with each part containing a symmetrical planting of trees and flowers. The Persian chahar-bagh gardens reflected the unity and harmony of the cosmos. This creates a sense of order and balance that's in keeping with the overall design of the building itself.
In conclusion, math is an essential tool for landscape designers looking to create beautiful, harmonious gardens. By incorporating principles of geometry, the Fibonacci sequence, and aesthetic qualities of numbers, designers can create landscapes that are both intellectually stimulating and visually stunning. From the Gardens of Versailles to the Garden of Cosmic Speculation, these gardens are a testament to the power of math in landscape design.
Herbert Bayer, “Grass Mound” 1955
