The Added Benefit of a Low Wall

Defining Outdoor Space with a Partial Enclosure

Outdoor design is first and foremost spatial design. If you want to create an outdoor living area that feels like an inviting green haven, think about defining the space. One way to do this is by the addition of a low wall.

A stone wall be an elegant addition to a landscape. Here a beautiful stone cap adds to the stately feeling.

Why is this so effective? Because we like to be in an outdoor living area that is partially enclosed with a distinct shape. It is a relaxing and secure place to enjoy ourselves. (Note that I said ‘partially’ enclosed. We always need to see there is a way out otherwise we feel trapped.) This design tip is true for city parks and plazas as well - Camillo Sitte, the great 19th century Austrian urban planner who wrote ‘City Planning According to Artistic Principles’ in 1889 (republished by Random House in 1965), analyzed many European city squares, and found that the ones which were used and enjoyed the most were partly enclosed.