France has diverse landscapes ranging from snowy mountains to sunny coasts. The document discusses France's geography, climate, culture, and history. It then provides details on French gardens, which were inspired by Italian Renaissance styles. Key aspects of French gardens include symmetry, parterres, allees, topiary, and the use of the residence as the focal point. The Gardens of Versailles are given as an example, with their elaborate fountains, allees, and 200,000 trees that were carefully designed and planted.
2. GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION AND
CONDITIONS:
● France , is the largest country in Western Europe ,and the 3rd largest
in whole europe.
● France is bordered to the northwest by the english channel (la
manche) , to the northeast by belgium and luxembourg , to the east
by germany, switzerland , and italy , to the south by the
mediterranean , to the southwest by spain and andorra , and to the
west by the atlantic ocean.
● The geography of France consists of a terrain that is mostly flat
plains or gently rolling hills in the north and west and mountainous
in the south (including the Pyrenees) and the east (the highest
points being in the Alps).
● The country has 2900 km wide coastline .
Terrain map of France
3. CLIMATE:
● France enjoys four distinct seasons and an incredible variety of landscapes .
● From snow capped mountains to sunny coasts , and from shady forests t mineral rich flatlands.
● France’s climate is temperate, but divided into four distinct climatic
climatic areas. The oceanic climate of western france brings
average rainfall spread over many days and modest annual
temperature variations.
● Central and eastern france’s continental climate harbours cold
winters and hot summers .
● The mediterranean climate of south-eastern france is responsible
for hot , dry , summers , with rainfall from october to april . and
ample sunshine all year round .
● Above 600-800 m altitudes, france’s mountain climate brings heavy
rainfall , and snow three to six months per year.
4. SOCIO - CULTURE :
French culture was influenced by Celtic and Gallo-Roman cultures as well as the
Franks, a Germanic tribe.
France was initially defined as the western area of Germany known as Rhineland but
it later came to refer to a territory that was known as Gaul during the Iron Age and
Roman era.
Since the 17th century, France has been regarded as a “center of high culture.” As
such, French culture has played a vital role in shaping world arts, cultures, and
sciences. In particular, France is internationally recognized for its fashion, cuisine,
art, and cinema.
5. WOMEN’S ATTIRE:
-LOW CUT NECKLINE
-TIGHT SLEEVES ENDING
WITH RUFFLES CALLED
ENGAGEANTES
-DECORATED WITH
RIBBONS AND RUFFLES
MEN’S ATTIRE:
CLOTHING CONSISTED
OF 5 SEPARATE PIECES : -
BREECHES
-A WAIST COAT
-A LINEN SHIRT
-LINEN UNDERDRAWERS
-A COAT
MAIN ELEMENTS OF
NOBLE WOMEN’S
ATTIRE:
PANNIERS
POUF
CORSET
ELEMENTS OF NOBLE
MEN’S ATTIRE:
TRICORNE HAT
LOUIS HEELS
POWDERED WIGS
CLOTHING:
NOBLE MEN’S ATTIRE
NOBLE WOMEN’S ATTIRE:
PEASANT WOMEN’S ATTIRE:
PEASANT MEN’S ATTIRE:
6. ● Religion in France is diverse under secular principles.
● Catholic Christianity, the religion of a plurality of the French
people, is no longer the state religion that it was before the
French Revolution
● Major religions practised in France include Christianity , Islam,
Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Sikhism amongst others,
making it a multiconfessional country.
RELIGIOUS PHILOSOPHY:
CATHOLICISM IN ARCHITECTURE
Norte dame cathedral is a catholic church that still stands and
survived the french revolution , and both the world wars.
THE NORTE DAME
Building function: Cathedral
Named after: Archangel Gabriel
7. FRENCH GARDENS:
● THE FRENCH GARDENS WERE INSPIRED FROM ITALIAN RENAISSANCE GARDEN
● SYMMETRY AND GEOMETRY ARE THE KEY WHEN DESIGNING FRENCH GARDENS
● THE GARDEN AS A WHOLE ARE COMPOSED LIKE A PAINTING REACHING FOR PURE AESTHETICAL QUALITIES
● LIKE A PAINTING , THE FRENCH GARDENS ARE CREATED/DESIGNED TO BE SEEN AS A WHOLE
● MOST FRENCH GARDENS ARE DESIGNED TO BE LOOKED AT FROM A SPECIFIC VANTAGE POINTS SUCH AS FROM
TERRACES OR A BALCONIES
● THE IMPRESSION OF THE FRENCH LANDSCAPING IS ONE OF HARMONY , ONE OF MAN OVER NATURE , WHERE EVERY
TREE IS GIVEN A CHOSEN LOCATION AND SHAPE
Château de Pouy-sur-
VanneS Vaux-le-Vicomte
Château de Saint-Cloud
Palace of Versailles
8. PRINCIPLES OF FRENCH GARDEN:
A GEOMETRIC PLAN USING THE MOST RECENT DISCOVERIES OF PERSPECTIVE AND
OPTICS
A TERRACE OVERLOOKING THE GARDEN, ALLOWING THE VISITOR TO SEE ALL AT ONCE ,
THE ENTIRE GARDEN.
TREES ARE PLANTED IN STRAIGHT LINES AND CAREFULLY TRIMMED AT A SET HEIGHT
THE HOUSE/ PALACE/CHATEAUX SERVES AS THE CENTRAL POINT OF THE GARDEN AND
ITIS CENTRAL ORNAMENT. NO TREES ARE PLANTED CLOSE TO THE HOUSE ; RATHER THE
HOUSE IS SET APART BY LOWE PARTERRES AND TRIMMED BUSHES
THE PRINCIPLE AXIS IS CROSSED BY ONE OR MORE PERPENDICULAR PERSPECTIVES
AND ALLEYS
THE MOST ELABORATE PARTERRES, OR PLANTING BEDS, IN THE SHAPE OF SQUARES
OVALS OR CIRCLES ARE PLACED IN A REGULAR AND GEOMETRIC ORDER CLOSE TO THE
HOUSE, TO COMPLEMENT THE ARCHITECTURE
THE PARTERRES NEAR THE RESIDENCE ARE FILLED WITH BRODERIES, DESIGNS
CREATED WITH LOW BOXWOOD TO RESEMBLE THE PATTERNS OF A CARPET, AND GIVEN
A POLYCHROME EFFECT BY PLANTING OF FLOWERS OR BY COLORED BRICK GRAVEL OR
SAND.
BODIES OF W WATER (CANALS. HASINSI SERVE AS MIRRORS, DOUBLING THE SIZE OF
THE HOUSE
SYMMETRICAL
PLAN
OVERVIEW FROM
TERRACE
FOCAL POINT
WATER BODY AS MIRROR
TREES AT SAME HEIGHT PLANTING BEDS
9. COMPONENTS OF THE FRENCH GARDEN:
A PLANTING BED, USUALLY SQUARE OR RECTANGULAR , CONTAINING AN
ORNAMENTAL DESIGN MADE WITH LOW CLOSELY CLIPPED HEDGES ,
COLOURED GRAVEL, AND SOMETIMES FLOWERS. PARTERRES ARE USUALLY
OUT IN GEOMETRIC PATTERNS , DIVIDED BY GRAVEL PATHS . THEY WERE
INTENDED TO BE SEEN FROM TERRACE.
A VERY CURLING DECORATIVE PATTERN WITHIN A PARTERRE , CREATED WITH
TRIMMED YEW OR BOX OR BY CUTTING THE PATTERN OUT OF A LAWN AND
FILLING IT WITH COLOURED GRAVEL.
A SMALL GROUP OF TREES , USUALLY SOME DISTANCE AWAY FROM THE
HOUSE, DESIGNED AS AN ORNAMENTAL BACKDROP.
PARTERRE :
EMBROIDERY :
BOSQUET:
PARTERRE
BOSQUET
EMBROIDERY
10. COMMON CHARACTERISTICS OF A FRENCH GARDEN:
SHOULD BE THE FOCAL POINT IN THE FRENCH STYLE LANDSCAPE. THE HOME
IS OFTEN THE CENTRE POINT OF THE DESIGN WITH LARGE PATHS THAT
PROVIDE AXIAL VIEWS.
VIRTUALLY EVERYTHING IN THE DESIGN IS GEOMETRIC AND PLANNED WITH
SYMMETRY.
IS INCORPORATED AS A NUMBER ONE ELEMENT WITHIN THE LANDSCAPE.
REFERRED TO AS ‘ REFLECTING POOLS’ IN CIRCULAR , OVAL AND
RECTANGULAR SHAPES.
ARE LOCATED AT A POINT WHERE THE ENTIRE GARDEN AND ALL OF ITS
DETAIL CAN BE VIEWED.
ARE THE INTRICATE PATTERNS CREATED FROM HEDGED SHRUBS OR
PLANTING BEDS . USUALLY DESIGNED IN NEAR PROXIMITY TO THE RESIDENCE
. THE DESIGNS ARE LESS DETAILED THE FURTHER AWAY THEY ARE FROM THE
HOUSE.
FOLLIES ARE A KEY FEATURE INTRODUCED AS STATUARY IN THE GARDENS. A
FOLLY IS AN ORNAMENTAL BUILDING WITH NO PRACTICAL PURPOSE ,
ESPECIALLY A TOWER OR A MOCK-GOTHIC RUIN BUILT IN A LARGE GARDEN OR
A PARK. THE IDEA WAS TO CREATE THESE GARDEN ORNAMENTS THAT WERE
BEYOND THE TYPICAL GARDEN SCULPTURE.
THE RESIDENCE :
GEOMETRIC PLAN:
WATER:
TERRACES:
PARTERRES:
STATUARY:
11. A STRAIGHT PATH OFTEN LINED WITH TREES
TREES OR BUSHES TRIMMED INTO ORNAMENTAL SHAPES. IN FRENCH
GARDENS THEY ARE USUALLY SHAPED INTO GEOMETRIC SHAPES
THREE OR FIVE PATHS WHICH SPREAD OUTWARD FROM A SINGLE POINT.
ALL`EE :
TOPIARY :
GOOSE FOOT :
COMMON CHARACTERISTICS OF A FRENCH GARDEN:
GOOSE FOOT
TOPIARY
ALLEE
12. ELEMENTS WITHIN
FRENCH GARDEN:
CONCRETE BALUSTRADE
CAST IRON SEATING
BIRDBATHS
FOUNTAINS
PEA GRAVELS
WOOD PLANTERS
SIMPLE ELEGANT FURNITURE
NATURAL STONE
TRELLISES
GLAZED POTS
ANTIQUES
COLUMNS
13. VEGETATION:
PLANTS AND TREES TO USE IN FRENCH
FORMAL LANDSCAPING DESIGN:
● HEDGES: THE CLIPPED HEDGES ARE
USUALLY BOX(BUXUS), LAVENDER,
ROSEMARY, AND SANTOLINE.
● VEGETABLES: MANY FRENCH
CHATEAX(COUNTRY HOUSE) HAVE
WONDERFUL VEGETABLES GARDENS WITH
THE VEGETABLES LAID OUT IN PATTERN
AND PARTERRES IN THE STYLE OF THE
ORNAMENTAL FORMAL GARDENS.
● PLANTS: BEDDING PLANTS AND BULBS
ARE POPULAR CHOICES FOR PARTERRES.
PLANTS THAT ARE OFTEN USED IN FRENCH
STYLE GARDEN INCLUDE:
● MEYER LEMON
● WASHINGTON NAVEL ORANGE
● FEDERATION DAISY
● LAVENDER
● PEPPERMINT
● LOUIS DE FUNE ROSES
● TUBEROSES
● IRISES
● HORNBEAM HEDGES
● CORSICAN PINE
● PRAIRIE GRASSES
14. GARDEN OF VERSAILLES
● LOCATION : VERSAILLES , FRANCE
● AREA : 800 HECTARES
● TIME PERIOD: 1661-1700
● DESIGNERS:
-ANDRE LE NOTRE
-CHARLES LE BRUN
-LOUIS LE VAU
-JULES HARDOUIN-MANSART
THE PALACE OF VERSAILLES WAS THE
PRINCIPAL ROYAL RESIDENCE OF FRANCE
FROM 1682, UNDER LOUIS XIV UNTIL THE
START OF FRENCH REVOLUTION IN 1789
UNDER LOUIS XVI
THE PALACE IS NOW A HISTORICAL
MONUMENT AND UNESCO WORLD
HERITAGE SITE
THE GARDENS OF VERSAILLES:
● PLANTS : 200,000 TREES
210,000 FLOWERS PLANTED ANNUALLY
● FEATURES: 50 FOUNTAINS
620 WATER JETS
5.5 KM GRAND CANAL
15. GRAND CANAL
SWISS LAKE
ORANGERY
GROVES AND GARDENS
THE PALACE
SOUTH
PARTERRE
WATER PARTERRE
NORTH PARTERRE
WATER AVENUE
NEPTUNE FOUNTAIN LATONA FOUNTAIN
DRAGON FOUNTAIN
APOLLO FOUNTAIN
ROYAL AVENUE
MASTER
PLAN
N
16. GARDEN OF VERSAILLES:
● THE GARDENS OF VERSAILLES, CREATED BY ANDRE LE NOTRE BETWEEN 1661-1700 WERE THE
GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT OF THE GARDEN LA FRANCAISE
● THEY WERE THE LARGEST GARDENS IN EUROPE-WITH AN AREA OF I5,OOO HECTARES, AND WERE LAID
OUT ON AN EAST-WEST AXIS FOLLOWED THE COURSE OF THE SUN.
● THE SUN ROSE OVER THE COURT OF HONOR, LIT THE MARBLE COURT, CROSSED THE CHATEAU AND LIT
THE BEDROOM OF THE KING, AND SET AT THE END OF THE GRAND CANAL, REFLECTED IN THE MIRROR
OF THE HALL OF MIRRORS
● IN CONTRAST WITH THE GRAND PERSPECTIVES REACHING TO THE HORIZON THE GARDEN WAS FULL OF
SURPRISES - FOUNTAINS, SMALL GARDENS FILL WITH STATUARY, WHICH PROVIDED A MORE HUMAN
SCALE AND INTIMATE SPACES
● THE CENTRAL SYMBOL OF THE GANDEN WAS THE SUN, THE EMBLEM OF LOUIS XIV, ILLUSTRATED BY
THE STATUE OF APOLLO IN THE CENTRAL FOUNTAIN OF THE GARDEN
● THE VIEWS AND PERSPECTIVES, TO AND FROM THE PALACE, CONTINUE TO INFINITY
● THE KING RULED OVER NATURE, RECREATING IN THE GARDEN NOT ONLY HIS DOMINATION OF HIS
TERRITORIES, BUT OVER THE COURT AND HIS SUBJECTS
17. PLANTS AND TREES USED:
● TREES ARE PLANTED IN STRAIGHT LINES AND CLIPPED TO KEEP A PERFECT SHAPE AND SIZE. THEY MAY
BE FORMED INTO SHAPES TO FORM TOPIARY.
● TREES USED IN THE "GARDENS OF VERSAILLE" WERE : HORNBEAM,BEECH,CHESTNUT ELM AND LINDEN
FOR THE MOST PART.
● HORNBEAM AND BEECH ARE EASY TO PRUNE AND SHAPE OF MAKING THEM PARTICULARLY GOOD
TREES FOR FORMAL GARDENS.
● THE CHESTNUT GROUP IS A GENUS (CASTANEA) OF EIGHT OR NINE SPECIES OF DECIDUOUS TREES AND
SHRUBS IN THE BEECH FAMILY FAGACEAE NATIVE TO TEMPERATE REGIONS OF THE NORTHERN
HEMISPHERE.
● ELM TREE IS THE GENUS A TREE OF THE GENUS ULMUS OF THE FAMILY ULMACEAE, LARGE DECIDUOUS
TREES WITH ALTERNATE STIPULATE LEAVES AND SMALL APETALOUS FLOWERS.
● LINDEN TREE IS MADE UP OF LIME-WOOD.
18. LANDSCAPE DESIGN:
THE PLANTING PROPOSED FOR THE SITE DESIGN IS OF A THE FORMAL GARDEN WHILE CHARACTER OF THE
INCORPORATING PLANT ARRANGEMENTS OF A MORE CONTEMPORARY NATURE. THERE WILL BE A TRANSITION FROM
FORMAL PARTERRE IN GEOMETRY TO MORE NATURALISTIC SCENERY.
WATER AS AN ELEMENT :
WATER PLAYS A CENTRAL ROLE IN FORMAL GARDENS AS IT REPRESENTS THE SOURCE OF LIFE. WATER IS USED IN
THE SCHEME TO PRODUCE DIFFERENT EXPERIENCES OF SPACE, AS REFLECTING PONDS, NATURAL LAKES,
FOUNTAINS AND CHANNELS.
THE TWO SCHEMATICS PRESENTED MANIFEST THE FORMAL GARDEN THROUGH:
AXES & SYMMETRY : THE SITE IS ORGANIZED THROUGH THE DIVISION OF SPACES USING PRIMARY AND SECONDARY
CHANNELS OF MOVEMENTS. THESE AXES SERVE AS THE MIRROR LINE FOR THE SYMMETRICAL FORM
HIERARCHY & DRAMA : EXPERIENCING AND MOVING THROUGH THE SITE IS MANIPULATED BY SIZE, AND COMPLEXITY
OF THE SURROUNDING AREA OFFER A GUIDED TOUR
19. ELEMENTS IN THE GARDENS:
MANICURED LAWNS
PARTERRES OF FLOWERS
SCULPTURES AS FOUNTAINS
ORNAMENTAL LANDSCAPING
VARIOUS PLAY OF PROPORTIONS
