Many ways of breaking the line of masonry walls

Press, 15 April 1980, Page 16

Many ways of breaking the line of masonry walls

LANDSCAPING

BY

Gilbert Brakey

A solid masonry wall can sometimes look too solid and heavy, particularly Avhere a wall surrounds a small courtyard space. When this situation is likely to occur a more open design should be contemplated. Such a wall may not only surround a garden, but it may, in fact, be used as an internal divider much in the same way that a house is divided up into various rooms or compartments.

These screen walls provide a partial division between the. different “outside rooms" without forming a solid barrier. The ground pattern ...of the garden can flow' on around them; and to a visitor there is an air of mystery and wonder as to what lies behind. In thisway the gatden becomes an exciting series of spaces as you move from one into another. A screen wall can often • be a useful means of hid-

ing service and storage areas. To most people a screen wall probably would be of concrete block, of which there are now almost countrless possibilities for design. However, bricks and other similar units can be ; used to build attractive screen walls simply by spacing the bricks in the wall to form openings. . This type of wall —• and all screen walls —

needs adequarte support by columns or piers. ■ Heavy timber such as railway sleepers can be used to produce unusual scfeen walling. Another unusual screen wall can be created by’ using clay pipes — for example, short lengths of the field tile pipes are ideal for this type of ingWhatever type of screen wall you decide upon it .should be of a material which will combine harmoniously with adjacent materials. Not only will a screen wall provide some degree of visual interruption but it can also be used most effectively to control sunlight and .wind without being a complete barrier.

For wind control choose a small, cellular pattern which allows the stronger airflow to be dissipated as it filters through the wall, thus reducing air turbulence on the leeward side.

A screen wall can be more than just a flat surface relying only on its two-dimensional block pattern. Particuarly when using concrete block a .very' striking and sculptural wall face can be pro-; duced by allowing Certain blocks to project further than others.

Obviously this type of wall should be carefully planned, and all details worked out on paper, before any construction actually takes place. These sculptured walls’ need to be carefully and sensitively ' designed as they have a very strong and powerful form; it is

best used as simply as possible. They provide a form of screen wall.in special situations which so far has been rarely used in Christchurch. With the concrete block units there are special blocks produced known as screen blocks; a number of patterns are available. Alternatively standard concrete-block units can be used; they can be laid on end on their side, thus exposing the central cell or core. A block wall can be left either in its natural state or painted — whatever is appropriate to the particular garden design.