Contemporary Backyard Design

Contemporary backyards follow the same mentalist and minimalists design principles as contemporary front yards. There is a de-emphasis on Nature itself, with architecture and human design being emphasized as the preeminent elements of the landscape. Contemporary backyards work to both extend the themes of home architecture into the landscape. They also work to reflect the basic geometric designs latent in the aesthetic of the home itself, shaping structures, minimalist plantings, and hardscapes into patterns congruent to homeowner mindset, values, and lifestyles.

Vegetation is maintained at minimalist proportions in a contemporary backyard. This is not to say that these landscapes are completely barren. Quite the opposite is true. Landscapes tend to feature a significant amount of greenery, but the aesthetic of the greenery itself is markedly different from what we typically see in the average backyard. There is a distinctive emphasis on color and a deliberate shaping of form to match human structures. Plants are trimmed to keep them close to the ground to make them look less organic. In most contemporary backyards, this practice creates the impression that Nature is a frame to human development, design, and construction.

Contemporary backyards are very often linked to art and art collecting. The contemporary design itself is very eclectic and admittedly not for everyone. Aficionados of this aesthetic tend to be people with a personal passion for art. Many are professional artists, art collectors, or art consultants themselves who want a home and a landscape that reflects their personal tastes and values. Most of these people prefer to decorate their backyards with abstract sculptures and three-dimensional forms that work to extend their private collections into public space. Outdoor displays of art are also emblematic of profession and personal mindset, and help to further distinguish a particular property as a direct extension of the consciousness of the individual owner.

Perhaps the most noticeable feature in a contemporary backyard is the emphasis on strong forms. While contemporary design is admittedly abstract in many ways, this is not to say that form is abandoned or that objects themselves are unrecognizable. Instead, the intention behind most contemporary art of any kind is to combine basic geometric patterns and morph the conglomerate image into a new form independent of those that exist in Nature itself. This emphasizes human intention and deliberate action as key contributors to the final outcome, and reinforces the ideal of human supremacy over Nature. Nature has to be shaped in a contemporary backyard, not done away with.

This is often done by contrasting one element against another in order to create a sense of sharp deviation between concepts. Human consciousness is multi-dimensional, so combining contrasting design patterns throughout the landscape works to express the complexities of both conscious and unconscious forces within the mind. Strong angular lines and perfect arcs are often used in patio design, custom hardscape construction, and the building of boundary and decorative walls that reflect the form and aesthetic of the home. Gravel is heavily used both as a substitute for lawn grass as well in contemporary backyards, providing of contrasting shades of light and darkness, or even absolutes of black and white. Trees can measure a variety of heights, but the limbs of most trees are deliberately trimmed in order to give them a clearly sculpted shape that better supports the emphasis on human structure and design.