Nothing More Fun: Stepping-Stone Paths

Here are some pointers for choreographing a journey through the landscape

Since my geezerhood apprentice in Japan almost 40 years ago , I have always relished the probability to design appealing stepping - stone paths for my clients . Obviously there are many room to do this , but I begin by plot — in my mind or on paper — the journeying from point A to point atomic number 5 , all the while imagining what moving through the space want to really palpate like . Point A is usually a going period . Where does this garden experience begin ? Is it at the front logic gate , the back gate , or somewhere in between ( image 1 ) ? Point B is the finish point in time . Where does the garden experience end ? At the front door , the back recess of the property , or a patio or pack of cards just outside the back door ( mental image 2 ) ?

For each of the loss and destination point , the route underfoot wants to be a collecting point for one or more hoi polloi to come together to start and terminate their journey . These are the places where an extralarge stepping - stone or a small pack of cards or patio create a blank to pause , where you’re able to decide whether you want to go on , or put on your lip rouge , or observe who the guests are , before propel on ( prototype 3 ) .

The route that links the two points is where a graphic designer ’s stage dancing of the visitant ’s experience really shines . Some of us prefer a predictable path that allow us walk through a garden space without get to spew our eye downward to see where we ’re going ( effigy 4 ) . Others , like me , favour to ruffle up the stones so that you need to calculate down and move between self-aggrandising and small or long and forgetful Stone ( image 5 ) .

Where I place a large stone on which you could plant both human foot ordinarily suggest that there ’s an interesting plant or object nearby or a well-favoured view of the household forward . Sometimes I ’ll take simple squares of 24 - inch by 24 - column inch bluestone and “ play ” with them , keep some square to the house and grow others on the diagonal to make a dynamical visitor experience ( figure 6 ) . In our design for this contemporary planetary house west of Boston , plant life tat gracefully around the square stones of a well - designed path , enticing visitors to take delectation in and savor the garden journey that you choreographed just for them .

Image 6 : bring down bluestone rectangle punctuated with squares set level to bespeak . pic : Susan Teare

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