| In university design studies, whether landscape, | | | | Unity is the connection among pieces in a design. |
| interior or architecture; students all learn the basic | | | | It is the seamless flow from your back door to |
| components of design. Professors often assign | | | | your patio and the smooth transition into your |
| projects or charrettes to help their students | | | | garden. Unity brings together the lines, colors, |
| hone-in their design skills. Depending on the course, | | | | forms and textures that make up the outdoor |
| these assignments could range from Master | | | | living space. When these objects are successfully |
| Planning to Urban Revitalization to the Planting | | | | blended together, the space feels right and Chi is |
| Design of a Small Courtyard. As students ideas | | | | positively flowing. According to feng shui, chi |
| veer off course, professors would steer them | | | | should always be able to flow freely through any |
| back in the right direction. Teachers allow them to | | | | space in order to help us be in balance with the |
| come up with fresh, innovative ideas, but also | | | | elements surrounding us. |
| would want students to keep a design simple and | | | | In music, rhythm refers to any flow or |
| useable for the client. The term "K.I.S.S." is often | | | | movement. In the landscape, this movement is |
| heard during critiques. | | | | repetition of plants or materials to create a |
| KISS stands for "Keep it Simple, Stupid." The | | | | pleasing result. Using a selected plant throughout |
| KISS mantra could be used across all aspects of | | | | the landscape helps carry a theme and pattern in |
| life, but I'll focus on how this quote applies to | | | | the garden. Another example is utilizing patterns |
| landscaping in the home garden. | | | | or materials in the patio. |
| A few basic design principles to KISS are Order, | | | | Remember, these standards are not written in |
| Unity and Rhythm. | | | | stone, but serve as a foundational base for |
| Order simply refers to the framework of the | | | | landscape design. The next time you're out for a |
| yard and how it is laid out. Are beds symmetrical | | | | walk or in a space that is pleasing to you, ask |
| or asymmetrical? Or maybe a massing of the | | | | yourself, "What makes this space/ garden/ patio |
| same plants in a bed really makes a statement | | | | comfortable?" "Why is this place so special?" See |
| when in bloom. Without order, the flower beds | | | | if the KISS principle applies and try to use it in |
| look uncontrolled and one's eye cannot easily | | | | your own garden. |
| follow through the landscape. | | | | |