The latest edition of Art & Home is here! From thoughtfully landscaped grounds to immaculately manicured gardens, what lies just outside the front door is what makes a house a home, finds Lyna Bort Caruso.
Frederick Law Olmsted, the founder of American landscape architecture, sought to channel the “genius of a place” in his projects. He believed every habitat had a spirit of its own and accessing that quality was the most meaningful way to connect with one’s surroundings.
At their best, designed landscapes appear spontaneous – an extension of nature’s best expression. On private estates, these elegant statements go beyond initial visual impressions or curb appeal. Gardens are a full sensory experience of colors, scents and textures. They lure you inside and guide you through multiple spaces that, by turns, can be meditative, enchanting and surprising. “Gardens are very experiential and very ethereal,” says Miami-based landscape architect Raymond Jungles, who has worked throughout the Caribbean and Latin America.
In reinterpreting the environment, designers consider the site, orientation of the sun, climate and architectural style of the residence. Landscapes can also be used to camouflage flaws. For homes that lack strong aesthetic merit, “landscaping can become the dominant design element that allows residences to recede and fade into the environment,” says Jungles.
Gardens are points of personal pride and neighborhood identity. In cities like Charleston, South Carolina, where estates are known for their flourishing azaleas, oleanders, camellias, crepe myrtles and magnolias, “people spend a good deal of time outside on their porches and in their gardens,” says Daniel Ravenel of Sotheby’s International Realty in Charleston. “It’s part of our way of life.”
Even in dense urban settings, rooftop gardens, courtyards and balconies enable residents to feel connected to nature. They soften the city’s hard edges while providing an oasis of calm.
Olmsted well recognized the effect. “Gradually and silently the charm comes over us,” he said on a trip to England in 1850. “We know not exactly where or how.”
$5,900,000 USD | Charleston, South Carolina |Daniel Ravenel Sotheby’s International
This grand lakefront estate exudes the elegance and grace of an historic English manor. Charming gothic features throughout the home are tastefully and thoughtfully combined with the highest modern technologies to create the ultimate retreat. The expansive grounds are comprised of a unique synergy of lakeside views with sophisticated gardens.
Price Upon Request | Côte D’Azur, France | Côte D’Azur Sotheby’s International Realty
On the Golf de Biot, discover this sublime and rare residence designed by architect André Svetchine. This beautiful domain is entirely enclosed, offering exceptional living amidst French gardens, ponds and olive trees. The main property provides spacious living opening onto two terraces; one is covered and overlooks the French gardens while the other overlooks the park.
New York-based writer Iyna Bort Caruso has contributed to The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and Newsday, among others.
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