Backyard Permaculture - The Seating Area
We took the existing seating area and fire pit and gave it a new location in the garden to create an attractive and comfortable place to relax. The previous seating area was placed partly on the lawn and partly on an old gravel bed, without an obvious boundary. We wanted to give the new design a welcoming shape that invites people to stay for a while. In our design, we applied Christopher Alexander's "Pattern Language". This standard reference book for an environmentally-friendly urban architecture helped us to apply elegant principles to our design.
Our Design
The retaining wall is a crucial design feature, as it gives the seating area n distinct form and creates positive outdoor space (Pattern Language, pattern 106). This feeling is intensified by the wood chips that we used as mulch and ground cover, which contrast with the lawn and garden beds that surround the seating area. Its convex form creates a protected space that traps the warmth of the fire and reflects its heat back into the circle, keeping people's fronts and backs warm on chilly campfire nights. Because heat is reflected, the fire can be kept smaller, saving fuel.
The new retaining wall and seating area redefined the hierarchy of open space (pattern 114) of the whole back yard. The patio is the social and open place, close to the kitchen, side entrance and garage, and with a full view of the backyard. The seating area is more private and protected, but still close to the kitchen for convinience and with a good view towards the side entrance to welcome visitors and family members.
The new seating area also fulfills the role of a garden seat (pattern 176), "in which a person - or two people - can reach into themselves and be in touch with nothing else but nature." The plantings on the retaining wall and in the wild garden in the background provide a protected, natural feeling.
Last but not least, we invited fire (pattern 181) into the garden, in the form of a fire ring and an earthen oven. We chose a central place for these two elements, allowing visitors to be able see the fire from everywhere in the garden.
The new retaining wall and seating area redefined the hierarchy of open space (pattern 114) of the whole back yard. The patio is the social and open place, close to the kitchen, side entrance and garage, and with a full view of the backyard. The seating area is more private and protected, but still close to the kitchen for convinience and with a good view towards the side entrance to welcome visitors and family members.
The new seating area also fulfills the role of a garden seat (pattern 176), "in which a person - or two people - can reach into themselves and be in touch with nothing else but nature." The plantings on the retaining wall and in the wild garden in the background provide a protected, natural feeling.
Last but not least, we invited fire (pattern 181) into the garden, in the form of a fire ring and an earthen oven. We chose a central place for these two elements, allowing visitors to be able see the fire from everywhere in the garden.
Building the Seating Area
The construction of the seating area was probably the most most challenging part of our project. We had to move soil, rocks and paver stones, take out grass and apply mulch. It was also the part of our project that was most invasive to the land and least sustainable. We used concrete paver stones (which we bought new from Home Depot) on a drain bed of crushed rock. Although it can be worthwhile in certain cases, we strive to minimize this work and energy intensive way of landscaping in our projects.
If you are interested in building a retaining wall, this is a helpful video guide from YouTube.
If you are interested in building a retaining wall, this is a helpful video guide from YouTube.