Yet to be titled
Wenjun Wang (George)
University of New South Wales, Sydney
I have just finished my second year landscape architecture at UNSW. After overcoming some obstacles and with the help from my mentors, I started to love design - drawing, thinking, digital graphics, modelling. Everything is so interesting to do. I like design as much as I like to play. I also like many kinds of sports - basketball, soccer, tennis, snooker, bowling and checker and card games including chess, game of go, etc.
During design process, my logical thinking skill helped me a lot, I am good at choosing and spatially arranging various design elements. I always want to improve my design although I am not a perfectionist.
I am a fast learner, I taught my self sketchUP during the semester and made some big, complex model with it.
Both Chinese landscaping philosophy and Australia's natural beauty have influenced my mind significantly. I believe design philosophy does not have nationality and I want to express the spirit of Chinese design in the Australian way. Imagine both cultures blend into one landscape!
My dream is to create great landscape and to become a famous designer. It's a long way to go.
Design Explanation
I have a special interest in garden designs that involve using qualities of water, transparency, movement, modifies microclimate etc. This special interest came from my passion for the beauty and proclivity of Mountain and Water. However, Australia is a dry country, dry creeks or creek beds are often seen in the wild, as proof of existence of water flow. In my idea, the dry creek almost becomes and essential part of Australia’s natural beauty. In my design, a cobble path twists and disappears behind dense planting. This is a very naturalistic setting with a vivid spring flower show and rich autumn colour.
Plants are set higher at the back and lower in the front so that plants at the back can be seen easily. The taller plants at the back completely cover the background, giving suspense to what’s behind the trees. One important aspect of modern design is to create movement, which can be physical, visual and mental. My design can bring people to a mental journey although it’s a horticultural garden which people can’t access.
My design looks like a welcoming entrance to a nice little house or cabin. It tells people how these plants can be applied to their gardens.
The garden is designed especially for spring and autumn interest. In spring, when you approach the garden, you can see the tall Ginkgo stand out of the other plants, and them you see the pendulous foliage and bright red flowers of Callistemon ‘Dawson River’, under it’s shade is the flourish of blue-flowered Hydrangea contrasted by soft and bright Lomandra ‘Lime Wave’. When you are in front of the garden, you can see the heavy-flowered Nectraine tree surrounded by the Lomandra ‘Lime Wave’. At it’s back is the combination of Betula pendula ‘Youngii’ and Westringia ‘Wynyabbie Gem’. The Betula Royal Frost is a very good background. In autumn, the background is filled with vivid colours such as orange-red, of the Betula Royal Frost, purple-red of the Viburnum plicatum f. tomentosum ‘Shasta’ and the purple-red to dark purple Acer palmatum ‘Dissectum Inaba Shidare’.
