New Nordic Gardens by Annika Zetterman

New Nordic Gardens by Annika Zetterman

This book came out in February 2023, and the subtitle is Scandinavian Landscape Design.

In this captivating exploration of Scandinavian garden design, Zetterman takes us on a journey through the distinctive landscapes of the Nordic countries, from Denmark's serene flatlands to Norway's dramatic fjords.

What makes this book particularly fascinating is how it reveals the way these majestic environments - shaped by long summer days, light-poor winters, and dense birch forests - have influenced modern garden design.

Let me share this evocative passage about the unique quality of Nordic light:

Scandinavians live with natural light that changes dramatically with the seasons. It enchants, casting a spell on people and their gardens alike.

The light is so distinctly different throughout the year that it defines us and our lifestyle. Natural light in Scandinavia seems quite different from the light quality further south on the continent.

The angle of the sun is much lower, approaching the poles, which results in low-intensity light that is perceived as cool and weak.

Just as Scandinavians often talk about the lack of light in the winter months, so we also discuss the weather frequently.

Further back in our history, when we lived off the land, the weather was of major importance in ensuring growth and good harvests. Weather and temperature variations, of which we experience many, play a part in how natural light works in a garden and give us spectacular moments, the most amazing of which comes when the Northern Lights (the Aurora Borealis) dance in the night sky.

Here's another compelling excerpt about the Scandinavian design heritage:

Scandinavia is a region that is geographically isolated in many respects and is often sparsely populated, and quiet, silent gardens have, in recent years, undergone a major transformation and are now viewed as a great asset. Scandinavians themselves tend to be modest souls with sometimes rustic backgrounds, living in countries that have undergone rapid development in modern times, swiftly becoming advanced and worldly societies. With shared values, democracies, and idiosyncrasies, we cultivate our heritage as design nations and are proud of our progress. We love to use raw and bare materials.

We marry functionality and sustainability with grace. We embrace all things natural and simple. Scandinavian design is renowned worldwide, comprising work carried out with a high level of attention to functionality and quality and based on philosophies of modesty and equality.y The term encompasses an entire movement in creative production that emerged from the five Nordic countries (Denmark. Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden) in the mid-twentieth century, a period sometimes referred to as the Golden Age, the legacy of which endures in Scandinavia.

Today's generation of skilled designers in Scandinavia looks at our design heritage as a strength. The book shows examples of how we are influenced by our past and how gardens are now being created that push boundaries and innovate. In recent years, garden design has gone beyond the typical perception of pale, tame, and neutral, with garden designers sometimes adopting a more daring and resolute - yet still elegant - approach. Each chapter of this book explains one distinct characteristic of Scandinavian design. Showing how this characteristic is applied to contemporary garden designs and outdoor compositions.

The book showcases a wide range of images of outdoor spaces created by skilled garden designers. landscape architects, and architects across Scandinavia. A description accompanies each image. Explain its significance in the context of the chapter. Furthermore, The book describes fundamental notions of how to make a composition really interesting, illustrated with examples. In any garden, it is vital to get a sense of the space. In order to achieve a pleasing and genuine end result, the space within a garden should be organized in a logical and practical way, enabling it to be useful and readily enjoyed. Gardens that connect with their surroundings and with art and architecture can be very successful, but ultimately, design principles are applied to prompt emotion and stir our feelings.

This book is 288 pages of masterfully curated Nordic garden design, organized around themes that capture the essence of Scandinavian landscape architecture: Simple, Silent, Fragile, Pale, Naked, Attuned, Bold, Open, and Caring.

You can get a copy of New Nordic Gardens by Annika Zetterman and support the show using the Amazon link in today's show notes for around $20.