The foyer, to which contemporary architecture usually attributes little value, nevertheless had a purpose. As well as promoting natural temperature control, ventilation, lighting and shading, and the enhancement of interior spaces, it has now allowed for the construction of a multi-purpose terrace with a wonderful garden at the back of this flat in the centre of Lisbon.
“Saguão” (foyer)
A narrow, uncovered courtyard inside a building or separating two rear parts of a building.
in The Priberam Dictionary of the Portuguese Language
“Valuing this generous 300sqm space was the starting point for this project. We wanted it to be multifunctional and sheltered,” says Vera Clara, the landscape architect responsible for the project. A green space organised in such a way as to include different areas of use: a dining area, close to the kitchen, and the area where the barbecue was placed, which would allow easy usage for meals with family or friends; a living area, for sharing good times outdoors; as well as an area where children could play without worry. It was also requested that, without clashing with the leisure areas, less exposed areas be created for a small vegetable garden with aromatic herbs and other crops, and a backstage area for clotheslines and storage. Finally, it was also possible to create a more private area, a more intimate terrace supporting the master suite.
The delimitation and division of the terrace was achieved, in part, by the use of customised Horto Collection flower boxes of different sizes and shapes, which made it possible to house plants of different sizes and create more dynamic and reserved spaces. The composite deck was another element that helped achieve this result. Strategically placed at different levels, it helped to delineate the different areas of use. A premium quality artificial lawn was also designed to accommodate children’s games and play. The choice of artificial turf had two fundamental aims for the owners: not to require special maintenance and not to need watering, making it more sustainable and avoiding possible seepage.
The choice of using Horto Collection planters to delimit the terrace and the different areas of use, rather than the traditional masonry beds, was also aimed at safeguarding the waterproofing of the slab.
The Horto Collection planters, developed and perfected over the years by Horto do Campo Grande, are waterproofed on the inside with fibreglass and subjected to an anti-corrosion treatment that helps to increase their resistance and durability. The inner bottom of the Horto Collection planters contains a system for collecting excess irrigation water, which is deposited there, preventing the roots from rotting, maintaining humidity levels and serving as a water reserve for the plants.
Creating a space, in accordance with the budget set by the client, that would fulfil all their goals, required an effort in the planning of the entire project, including the selection of the species to be planted. All the plants that already existed in the space (Chamaerops humilis) were taken advantage of, after being properly treated and transplanted, and used in larger cubic planters, designed to mark out the space and create the more tropical atmosphere desired by the client. A mixed hedge with Eugenia myrtifolia, Viburnum lucidum and Metrosideros excelsos was proposed at the edges of the space, in order to provide some privacy and hide some less pleasant views. In the flower beds that border the living area, a more tropical environment was created with tall to medium-sized plants to separate and introduce greater comfort to the living area, namely Strelitzias augusta, Asparagus densiflorus myersii, Phormium tenax and Agave attenuata.
Smaller species with more diverse flowers, texture and foliage colour were placed between the dining area and the sofas, so as not to cut off the space, maintain visibility between the two areas and enrich the botanical and landscape diversity, including Pittosporum tobira nana, Hebe andersonii, Wrestringia fruticosa and Thymus vulgaris.
The client also wanted a more secluded area near the kitchen access door for aromatic herbs, so existing cubic planters were put to good use to build a small vegetable garden with parsley, coriander, mint, chives and thyme.
After assembling the deck, laying the artificial grass, installing the planters and filling them with mulch for a drainage layer and plant substrate, as well as planting all the species, the 3-sector automatic irrigation system was set up using self-compensating drip tubing, which reduces water consumption and, at the same time, allows frequent and adequate watering for the quality development of the vegetation planted in planters, which do not have to collect water from the ground and subsoil as they would on natural terrain.
In this environment, the diversity of plants, of different sizes and shades of green, plays a very important role: they help to define areas, create a sense of delimitation of spaces without compromising the vision and fluidity of the overall layout, and they themselves become an element of decoration, contributing to the enhancement of the whole. The introduction of “nature” has made it possible to build a multifunctional leisure environment for relaxation that will certainly contribute to the well-being of those who have the privilege of enjoying it.
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE PLANTS IN THIS PROJECT
Asparagus densiflorus myersii
© Companhia das Cores for Horto do Campo Grande
