Terrace as linking house and garden

Press, 1 April 1980, Page 13

Terrace as linking house and garden

A well planned terrace can form a strong link between the house and the ; outdoor living spaces, bringing a pleasant transition between the interior house space ’ and the exterior space. Often the terrace can be at a similar ’ level to that of the house ! floor, thus making. it easy | to move from one to the j other. I Although we. .may at first associate the terrace : with the house, it can, in ; fact, be a separate area not directly attached to the house. The greatest utility for terracing can be found on hill sites or in any situation where there are changing ground levels. On a hillside, the terrace can be used to provide : visual stability to the house, preventing any feeling that the house may be about to slip down the slope. The terrace itself may be, as in the case of hillside developments, the earth itself, carved out to form level platforms upon which grass can be sown or planting undertaken. The perimeter of the terraces can be contained where necessary by various types of retaining walls or it can be simply battered to a slope which can be mown or, if more

LANDSCAPING * AT HOME

Gilbert Brakey

L; By

appropriate, planted with low, ground-cover plants. Grass terraces are useful where large level areas are required oh hillsites. Where’ the ground is relatively flat a terrace can be constructed alongside the house. The terrace itself may have a concrete base and be paved with an appropriate material or it could in fact even take the form of a large and spacious timber deck system. The paving used needs to be durable and such materials as quarry tile, brick, stamped, concrete, exposed aggregate concrete, or flagstone make ideal surfaces.

Before any . decisionis : made on the type of ter- . race, thought needs to be . given to the shape and size, for which there is no general rule which can be applied. The terrace-' should, however, be adequate. in area for the way ' in which it will be used.

If you intend to use the terrace for relaxing and entertaining a half a dozen people an area 10 metres

square would be quite inadequate. Ensure that the area will be any amount large enough for those times when you have visitors. Your site may, however, restrict the area and the eventual shape of your terrace. The use of outdoor furniture for the terrace should not be oVerr looked: and here again, this will help to determine the total area of terrace required. Another aspect of design to consider is. that of proportion.

The terrace should be directly proportional to the adjoining house and also to the mass or bulk

of the house. The character and style of your house will determine the design of the terrace, particularly as to choice of paving materials, which should relate to the house. A terrace will appear clumsy if restless and elaborate shapes are used, dr inappropriate parapets, vases, urns or other pretentious bits and pieces. Whatever is done it should be in harmony with the house. This is - not to say features such as water, sculpture, plant

containers or seating can not be used; it means that they all need to be designed and selected on the

basis of their appropriatness to the over-all area. Any steps or ramps used should be correctly designed to provide easy access from one area to the next. ’ Where a terrace incorporates a low surrounding wall make use of the: wall by providing a suitable capping which can be used as a seat. A terrace need not be merely rectangular. With certain modern houses of a symmetrical design-free curves, terraces which flow with an ever-chang-ing centre of curvature and radius can be used. If curves are drawn

free-hand it is possible to produce a graceful shape which belongs to the building and, at the same time, has soft lines. The most striking, effects can be obtained from the juxtaposition of curved and straight lines. The terrace is an ideal way of providing a - level area for use as an outdoor living space whether it be for. entertaining, dining or just relaxing. The larger grass terraces provide room for ball games and other activities which perhaps may not otherwise be possible where the site is on a hillside.