Life & Style | Home & Interiors
A dynamic garden project in the desert
Adding personality and texture to your garden is all in the details; Misbah Siddiqui, architect with Green Desert Landscaping, unveils a recent Balinese-themed project in Dubai
- By Helga Jensen-Forde for InsideOut magazine
- Published: 00:00 October 15, 2011
- Image Credit: Stefan Lindeque/ANM
- "It is extremely important to evolve the design with the client as they have to experience and live in it every day," says Misbah Siddiqui.
Misbah Siddiqui, architect and associate partner with Green Desert Landscaping, is just as comfortable designing a large commercial project as he is an individual's dream garden. His list of commercial landscaping projects includes the Islamic Museum in Sharjah and The City Hospital in Dubai Healthcare City, while his residential portfolio bulges with gardens across Dubai garnered during his eight years in the region.
When it comes to designing gardens in this part of the world, the harsh climate offers a unique set of challenges. Yet wherever possible, Misbah tries to create alternatives to the ubiquitous desert garden, which is popular across the city. "There are different styles that can be adapted to design a garden," he explains. "In this region, what is commonly used is more of a dry setting, or one can say desert style, with planting that requires less maintenance but still provides great outdoor living."
Misbah prefers to approach each project as a separate entity, being inspired by the clients and their unique style preferences. Here, he talks us through gardens that have embraced exoticism and individuality. "We have recently designed a garden with Moroccan-style architectural elements with Moorish arches, wood carved details in the woodwork of the gazebo and Islamic pattern fountains," he explains. "Another favourite of mine is a Balinese-style garden with Buddha fountains and sculptures, a large gebyok (Balinese ornamental wooden carved door) at the entrance and a Balinese gazebo imported from Indonesia in parts and re-assembled here."
"It is extremely important to evolve the design with the client as they have to experience and live in it every day," remarks Misbah. And when it comes down to the designs, Misbah is adamant that the key to adding texture and character to your garden lies in the plant choice. "The idea in designing a healthy garden is to think what the trees and foliage can do for you instead of the concrete walls. A tree can give you thick shade for your cars while keeping it comparatively cooler than a concrete or aluminium shed garage. A line of trees can be a more pleasant way of creating privacy from your neighbours than increasing the height of the concrete boundary walls etc."
For anyone wanting to plant trees and flowers in the garden, knowing which ones can survive the hot summer months, year after year, can be difficult if you are a novice or new to the region. So what does Misbah recommend? "It is indeed a limited palette of plants and shrubs that you can successfully grow in the region but still it is a good range that can produce a full garden. Mostly the plants that require less water and a lot of sun are good survivors and if they give shade and flower as well, they become the first choice to use. Due to the climate here, mostly thick shading trees are preferred, such as delonix regia, conocarpus, ficus nitida and cassia. Some widely used shrubs with flowers are thevetia, tacoma, cesalpenia, jetropha, taebubia and oleander."
Misbah also has a few planting choices for those seeking good climbing plants that also boast attractive flowers. "Bougainvillea, jasmine, morning glory and almanda are firm favourites in many villas in the Emirates," he says. Before any landscaping takes place, considering the maintenance that is involved is pivotal, whether that is how much the water bills will cost or how you are going to keep the garden flourishing all year round. "The key to maintaining any garden lies within an individual's love for plants," says Misbah. "We have had examples of clients who love to do gardening themselves and be involved. These people don't need us at all to maintain their gardens for them as they enjoy the time spent outdoors, which in turn, gives them a more serene lifestyle." As the weather starts to cool down, perhaps this is good advice; your new hobby could be just outside your back door...
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