We are very fortunate to have some of the best landscaping professionals to call upon for property transformations and maintenance here in Australia. This much is obvious when you see the many wonderful spaces they have created at homes and businesses throughout the country.
However, many of the landscapers today have been able to benefit from some of the greatest landscapers in history – those that have developed techniques and features that remain popular even today.
Below, you can gain insight into some of the most well-known landscaping legends and what they have done for the industry.
Corajoud Michel
Corajoud Michel was a French landscape architect who was born in 1937 and died in 2014. Corajoud was known for being able to integrate architecture with landscaping for a seamless design. He also emphasised the importance of people’s connection with the space, how they enjoyed it and utilised it.
For his efforts and many years of service, Corajoud earned many awards. Today, you can see some of his handiwork, such as the famous Water Mirror along Bordeaux’s Garonne river bank.
Pechère René
Throughout Pechère René’s long and fruitful career in landscape architecture, until he died in 2002, he was involved in nearly 900 different private and public garden spaces. And he didn’t just stay in one country, either. Pechère made his mark in many different countries, such as Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, and France.
He was well known for his participation in the outdoor area of the 1958 Universal Exhibition and Botany Park in Brussels. Pechère had an incredible talent for being able to incorporate colour, sunshine, and shadows into his designs.
André Le Nôtre
André Le Nôtre, son and grandson of French court gardeners, was born in 1613 and died in 1700. Throughout his lifetime, he was famed for his unique perspective on landscape architecture. He gardened for French lords and was even hired to restore the gardens of Versailles and tend to King Louis XIV gardens after catching his eye.
Today, he is remembered for a long list of garden creations, including the gardens of Versaille and the Garden of Caux-le-Vicomte.
Gertrude Jekyll
Using her passion for arts and crafts, Gertrude Jekyll became one of the first famous women in landscaping. She knew how to balance colours, use proportions, and make certain fragrances and textures work in harmony.
For this unique skillset, Gertrude was called upon to create over 400 gardens throughout England, Europe, and America. Many have been lovingly restored to keep the memory of Gertrude alive, who died in 1932.
Roberto Burle Marx
Even though Brazil-born Roberto Burle Marx, born in 1909, was known for his contribution to art, painting, and music, he was also highly regarded for his incredible gardening and landscaping abilities.
Roberto studied fine arts, but he was also passionate about botany and enjoyed studying tropical plants. He even had an extensive plant collection of over 3,500 plants. These are now state-owned and are considered a national monument.
Even today, landscaping experts know the name Roberto Burle Marx, and plants are named after him, such as the Burle Marx Calathea.
Even though we have many talented landscapers among us today, we can’t forget who laid the groundwork for the techniques, styles, and processes we use today. It’s incredible to think just how much our public gardens today have been influenced by talented landscapers from the past.