DK Eyewitness - Gardens of the World

Ambling through Jewel Changi Airports unexpected paradise

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W hen asked to think of the worlds greatest gardens, its the manicured landscapes that sit alongside baroque palaces, classical temples or ancient villas that spring to mind for most. These are the pristine gardens of elaborate parterres, ornate fountains and tree-lined avenues. Often involving decades worth of planning, these gardens are an emphatic attempt to curate nature and create something splendid.

A PENCHANT FOR FASHION

Where once gardens served a highly practical purpose (think of medieval domestic gardens, for example), by the 13th century the focus shifted to aesthetics. European gardens became symbolic of power, wealth and position in society, with designs influenced by the fashion of the day. Versailles popularized the formal French style, drawing admirers from the world over who would return home hoping to mirror such intricacies on their own estates. Islamic gardens, meanwhile, were typically private places, not built to show off to outsiders. But they were no less opulent: centuries of gardens dictated that plantings were carefully arranged around water, and signified spiritual and sensual nourishment.

Most formal gardens were certainly created to impress. Grand alleys led to royal mansions to evoke awe, and plants were grown in rows to impose order. Notable garden designers became known for their styles Andr Le Ntres French formal, for one and were desired commissions.

Yet being on trend has never been enough. Around the world, those with the means out-granded one another and the centuries that came before them. Gardens became more elaborate: the topiary extra sculpted, the trees taller, the statues rarer. Outrageous, palatial gardens were declarations of love, of power and status.

REDEFINING FORMALITY

Pushing the boundaries of formal design neednt mean increasing extravagance. There are always designers who blend and bend the rules: Capability Brown moved away from formality in favour of a naturalistic approach, while Vita Sackville-West crammed every inch of her English landscape with unfussy plantings.

What does precision planning mean, anyway? It may be less about symmetry and more about decades spent deciding where a bench should be placed, or putting in a years worth of work to ensure tulips bloom for just a few weeks. Of course, precise planning goes into nearly every garden, but when it comes to meticulous curation, the gardens here are some of the best.

Carefully Curated | Contents

FRANCE

CHINA

USA

INDIA

UK

USA

IRELAND

CHINA

NETHERLANDS

GERMANY

ITALY

UK

FRANCE

SPAIN

ITALY

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FRANCE EUROPE

WHERE Place dArmes, Versailles WHEN Between late May and late October, when the fountains are played on certain days SIZE 800 hectares (1,976 acres)

A symbol of regal power, Versailles is the ultimate expression of nature dominated by man. Combining sweeping terraces and immaculate parterres, vast pools and grandiose fountains, razor-sharp hedges and topiary, this spectacular landscape exudes precision and panache.

A t first encounter, Versailles is all about the palace. Yet beyond its golden gates and broad architectural sweep is an even more impressive creation: dazzling formal gardens that seem to go on forever. Everything feels oversized: statues tower over the landscape, avenues are disconcertingly wide, vistas extend without limit. Versailles was designed to intimidate, and not just because of its scale.