Landscaping and gardening go hand in hand. The arabic lessons It is something that mixes these two disciplines very well. They are places of great beauty that mix the culture of human art and nature to create great tourist value.
In this article, we will tell you what are the main characteristics of Arab parties, their history and their importance.
Arabic patios
Moorish patios are the perfect blend of shade and water themes. Its most famous and recognizable architectural design is embodied in Charbagh’s grid layout, with four small gardens separated by walkways or streams. A particular accent of this garden is that allows us to live a sensory experience thanks to the association of water and aromatic plants.
In the Islamic world, the Arab courtyard is one of the most important areas, reflecting the so-called Yanna or Islamic paradise. In this way, the Arabs endowed their gardens with what they considered to be the best features, resulting in a space of great beauty designed to bring the senses to life.
A perfect example of an Islamic or Arabic garden in Spain is the Alhambra in Granada. Vegetation around the aquatic center should be lush. Fruit trees and fragrant flowers feature prominently in these courtyards as they represent an oasis amidst the arid lands of the Orient. Typical plants in these gardens include jasmine, roses, honeysuckle and fruit trees such as lemon or orange trees. Although they can also be seen in typical Andalusian gardens.
It is common for them to have large shaded areas due to the abundance of plants, which is valuable in countries where sunlight affects them and there is no rain for most of the year. The galleries of pointed arches that usually surround the ends of these patios also create shadows.
Geometry and mathematics govern the division of these dense and beautiful courses. This makes sense, since both sciences were cultivated by Muslim philosophers and scholars. This is why many patios are rectangular or square in shape and have a fountain with water in the center. They are in turn divided into four distinct sections and cut by tiles or tile paths that connect to the water source.
Characteristics of Arab patios
Middle Eastern gardens are based on spirituality, allowing the symbiosis of natural resources, landscape and people. The principle of this type of garden is to provide the user with a meditative space where he can connect with the environment and with himself.
Arab patios are designed to take advantage of three resources: water, aromatic plants and a corridor or path to a large terrace. The scarcity of water in the region takes this resource very seriously, so each garden represents an opportunity to adequately treat rainwater and wastewater.
Ponds, ramps, ditches and fountains are not just an aesthetic resource. In exchange, These reservoirs and irrigation systems in public and private gardens are directly connected to the plumbing system. Thus, the Arab patios act as a system for capturing, treating and distributing water as an alternative to drought and extreme heat.
Likewise, the paths of each patio help with the distribution of water and plants, bringing balance to each garden. Long corridors and passageways provide users with multiple places to find space for total relaxation. In addition, the shade provided by the trees and the geometric distribution of the corridors and galleries are specially designed for the maximum comfort of visitors and resident plants.
In this direction, aquatic plants play a fundamental role. Its aroma helps “purify” fountains and ponds while attracting hundreds of butterflies and birds. This completes a unique space imbued with the mystical and religious character of Arab culture.
How to design it at home
When designing an Arabic patio, the first thing to consider is the character of the space in which you wish to intervene. The possibility of creating areas with aquatic species as protagonists, with enough space to plant trees of considerable height, is essential.
Lighting is very important in any Moorish garden. During the day, the shade and coolness provided by the trees varies. At night, the fountains and ponds act as moonlight refractors, while cooling the nocturnal climate.
Gardens of this type are usually spread over three levels as a representation of an oasis in the Middle East. On the first level, the shade layer, large trees and bushes are planted to refresh the environment. The second layer is the flowering plant layer, which is filled with pretty flowering bushes. The last is the body of water, occupied by fountains, basins and aquatic plants.
For the design of an Arabic patio, you must consider several aspects. In the following list, we give you some tips to help you design your own Islamic garden at home:
- You must have a large terrace.
- The weather in this region should not be too cold. On the contrary, the hotter it is, the better.
- The entrance and exit to the garden are walled with raised gates and arches.
- Rely on basic geometric shapes (circles, squares, triangles and rectangles) to allocate garden areas.
- Circles, triangles and ovals are ideal for planning fountains and pondswhile the intersecting lines allow you to dissect your irrigation system.
- All corridors and corridors should have benches and flower beds to improve the distribution of plants and recreational areas.
- Stone cement is often used for these areas. Suitable for fountains, bricks, glazed ceramics and marble.
- Place trees around paths and ponds to optimize shade.
- At the same time, each walking and resting area should have flowering bushes.
- Use aromatic and ever-blooming plants, as well as perennial trees.
- Try connecting water spaces with fountains and gutters
the best plants
As we mentioned earlier, flowering shrubs and aquatic species cannot be missing in an Arabic patio. It is however necessary to choose species well adapted to heat and humidity. Here we bring you a list of the best plants for an Arabian patio:
- Trees: Palm trees, lemon trees, orange trees, Scots pines, olive trees, carob trees.
- Flowering shrubs: roses, hydrangeas, camellias, jasmine, bird of paradise, oleanders, rhododendrons.
- aquatic plants : water lilies, lilies, bay leaves, oxygenators, water lettuce.
I hope with this information you can learn more about the characteristics of Arabic patios.