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Charles H. Gamarekian is the Chairman/CEO of Cambridge Pavers, Inc. He is recognized worldwide as an expert in his field and is a frequent speaker on the proper installation of paving stones, wall stones and many outdoor living products. Email him at cgamarekian@cambridgepavers.com.
Outdoor Living - Charles H. Gamarekian
Hardscaping Design Trends
Hardscaping, in the practice of landscaping, refers to the paved areas like streets & sidewalks, large business complexes & housing developments. Typical small-scale, residential hardscaping examples include patios, pool decks, walkways and driveways. Retaining walls are often used to create boundaries between hardscapes and earth landscaping features, or softscapes. Currently, hardscaping trends in America are seeing a revival of classic Mediterranean design from Spanish to Italian styles, driven by renowned European landscape architects, designers and specifiers.
This inspired style shift includes pavements consisting of larger scale pavers and shapes having more delineated surface textures. Perhaps, this Mediterranean movement in landscape architecture is influenced by the sprawling, centuries-old piazzas found in European landscapes. However, larger scale pavers can also be found as elements in classic English gardens, on verandas, streetscapes and walkways. As the fashion statement implies: “What goes around, comes around.”
Manufacturers are introducing extra large, interlocking concrete pavers and mega-size slab pavers as an alternative to natural bluestone, granite and poured concrete with stamped patterns that simulate large shapes. Some of these products make use of cast stone manufacturing methods, but all are considered to be far less expensive than natural stone and offer durability and color options that rival and exceed their natural stone counterparts.
For even more creative possibilities, designers are also bordering their larger scale paver patterns with contrasting shapes, textures and colors.
From a design perspective, larger shapes in a running bond or randomly-placed pattern can often make an outdoor space look and feel larger much like what larger tiles will achieve in an indoor flooring application. Also consider a straight or diagonal pattern for varying effects. Shapes can be arranged collectively or individually in various patterns to achieve an overall impression of natural stone but with a new sense of geometric scale and newfound versatility. Incorporating a manufactured wall system, decorative or functional columns and outdoor living products with similar attributes regarding color and rock textures can further enhance the final effect.
In addition to a natural stone appearance, a more pronounced surface texture can also contribute to this expansive, visual effect. For optimum results, textures should always be placed in a different direction than on the paver shape it follows. A professional contractor or landscape designer can assist you in choosing the best pattern, color texture and border for your project.
In closing, it should come as no surprise that European landscape designers are dictating what’s in vogue. After all, interlocking concrete pavers originated in Europe decades ago while interlocking pavers of natural stone date back to Roman times. An example of this is the renowned Appian Way (Via Appia) one of the earliest and most strategic Roman roads. Many parts of the original road, which date back to 312 BC have been preserved and are now used by cars. To this day the Via Appia contains the longest stretch of straight road in Europe, totaling 62 km (39.67776 miles).Hardscaping, in the practice of landscaping, refers to the paved areas like streets & sidewalks, large business complexes & housing developments. Typical small-scale, residential hardscaping examples include patios, pool decks, walkways and driveways. Retaining walls are often used to create boundaries between hardscapes and earth landscaping features, or softscapes. Currently, hardscaping trends in America are seeing a revival of classic Mediterranean design from Spanish to Italian styles, driven by renowned European landscape architects, designers and specifiers.
This inspired style shift includes pavements consisting of larger scale pavers and shapes having more delineated surface textures. Perhaps, this Mediterranean movement in landscape architecture is influenced by the sprawling, centuries-old piazzas found in European landscapes. However, larger scale pavers can also be found as elements in classic English gardens, on verandas, streetscapes and walkways. As the fashion statement implies: “What goes around, comes around.”
Manufacturers are introducing extra large, interlocking concrete pavers and mega-size slab pavers as an alternative to natural bluestone, granite and poured concrete with stamped patterns that simulate large shapes. Some of these products make use of cast stone manufacturing methods, but all are considered to be far less expensive than natural stone and offer durability and color options that rival and exceed their natural stone counterparts.
For even more creative possibilities, designers are also bordering their larger scale paver patterns with contrasting shapes, textures and colors.
From a design perspective, larger shapes in a running bond or randomly-placed pattern can often make an outdoor space look and feel larger much like what larger tiles will achieve in an indoor flooring application. Also consider a straight or diagonal pattern for varying effects. Shapes can be arranged collectively or individually in various patterns to achieve an overall impression of natural stone but with a new sense of geometric scale and newfound versatility. Incorporating a manufactured wall system, decorative or functional columns and outdoor living products with similar attributes regarding color and rock textures can further enhance the final effect.
In addition to a natural stone appearance, a more pronounced surface texture can also contribute to this expansive, visual effect. For optimum results, textures should always be placed in a different direction than on the paver shape it follows. A professional contractor or landscape designer can assist you in choosing the best pattern, color texture and border for your project.
In closing, it should come as no surprise that European landscape designers are dictating what’s in vogue. After all, interlocking concrete pavers originated in Europe decades ago while interlocking pavers of natural stone date back to Roman times. An example of this is the renowned Appian Way (Via Appia) one of the earliest and most strategic Roman roads. Many parts of the original road, which date back to 312 BC have been preserved and are now used by cars. To this day the Via Appia contains the longest stretch of straight road in Europe, totaling 62 km (39.67776 miles).Hardscaping, in the practice of landscaping, refers to the paved areas like streets & sidewalks, large business complexes & housing developments. Typical small-scale, residential hardscaping examples include patios, pool decks, walkways and driveways. Retaining walls are often used to create boundaries between hardscapes and earth landscaping features, or softscapes. Currently, hardscaping trends in America are seeing a revival of classic Mediterranean design from Spanish to Italian styles, driven by renowned European landscape architects, designers and specifiers.
This inspired style shift includes pavements consisting of larger scale pavers and shapes having more delineated surface textures. Perhaps, this Mediterranean movement in landscape architecture is influenced by the sprawling, centuries-old piazzas found in European landscapes. However, larger scale pavers can also be found as elements in classic English gardens, on verandas, streetscapes and walkways. As the fashion statement implies: “What goes around, comes around.”
Manufacturers are introducing extra large, interlocking concrete pavers and mega-size slab pavers as an alternative to natural bluestone, granite and poured concrete with stamped patterns that simulate large shapes. Some of these products make use of cast stone manufacturing methods, but all are considered to be far less expensive than natural stone and offer durability and color options that rival and exceed their natural stone counterparts.
For even more creative possibilities, designers are also bordering their larger scale paver patterns with contrasting shapes, textures and colors.
From a design perspective, larger shapes in a running bond or randomly-placed pattern can often make an outdoor space look and feel larger much like what larger tiles will achieve in an indoor flooring application. Also consider a straight or diagonal pattern for varying effects. Shapes can be arranged collectively or individually in various patterns to achieve an overall impression of natural stone but with a new sense of geometric scale and newfound versatility. Incorporating a manufactured wall system, decorative or functional columns and outdoor living products with similar attributes regarding color and rock textures can further enhance the final effect.
In addition to a natural stone appearance, a more pronounced surface texture can also contribute to this expansive, visual effect. For optimum results, textures should always be placed in a different direction than on the paver shape it follows. A professional contractor or landscape designer can assist you in choosing the best pattern, color texture and border for your project.
In closing, it should come as no surprise that European landscape designers are dictating what’s in vogue. After all, interlocking concrete pavers originated in Europe decades ago while interlocking pavers of natural stone date back to Roman times. An example of this is the renowned Appian Way (Via Appia) one of the earliest and most strategic Roman roads. Many parts of the original road, which date back to 312 BC have been preserved and are now used by cars. To this day the Via Appia contains the longest stretch of straight road in Europe, totaling 62 km (39.67776 miles).
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