3 Exterior Landscaping Ideas For Commercial Spaces

A building on a barren plot can look out of place and out of touch. However, add shrubs, trees, flowering plants, and grass all around, and it will appear vastly different. A touch of nature is all it takes for a building to look like it belongs in its environment.

Of course, having trees and plants is not enough. This is why property managers need commercial landscape maintenance services. You need healthy and thriving greenery. You also want your landscape to look fresh but, at the same time, consistent with the original landscape design.

Landscape designs get approved only after endless hours of consultations and brainstorming. They’re meant to accomplish a particular look, represent a definite aesthetic and fulfil a specific purpose. It’s only fitting to maintain exterior landscapes so they retain the spirit of their original design.

Speaking of landscape conceptualisation and design, do you need some inspiration for your commercial landscaping project? Here are a few ideas you can consider, throw away or tweak according to your requirements.

1.    The Focal Point

A focal point is the centre of attention or activity in a space. It attracts attention, anchors the gaze, provides a sense of order and enhances the overall aesthetic or functional experience.

In art, the artist uses colour, contrast and composition to direct the viewer’s attention to the most important part of the piece. In interior design, the focal point can be a distinctive piece of furniture, a painting, a sculpture, a fireplace, or even a boldly coloured wall. Regardless of the field,

In commercial landscape design, the focal point enhances the appearance and architectural features of the building. You can’t really use the building itself as a focal point unless the entirety of it (the building plus the landscaping) can be seen from one perspective – say, viewed aerially or from the end of a considerably long and straight drive.

Give the exterior of your commercial space a focal point to draw everyone’s attention and, ideally, make the viewer gasp in awe and admiration. A classic example is a solitary, majestic tree with a distinct shape and size. You can place it near the entrance, where people will automatically see it upon their approach to the building entryway. That can also be a great focal point on a lawn, providing a startling contrast to all that green flatness.

Sculptural elements, from abstract forms to lifelike statues, are forms of artistic expression and make excellent landscape centrepieces. Water features, including fountains, pools and ponds, create a serene atmosphere and attract attention with their movement and sound.

Architectural structures such as gazebos and archways serve multiple functions. They can beautify the landscape, offer shelter and serve as a frame for climbing vines and plants.

Even well-arranged plant boxes and flower beds can be a vibrant focal point. Topiaries or ornamental trees and shrubs clipped into shapes (e.g., the company logo) can make excellent centrepieces.

Note that landscape elements, to become focal points, must be strategically placed. They make great sense where the paths converge or end. Another good location is near or in front of the entryway.

2.    The Living Green Wall Wrap

Think about the most iconic water feature at the Dubai Expo 2020. It was Surreal, a roofless coliseum-like structure, but divided into three discrete wall sections by three openings or pathways set at equidistant points throughout.

At its core, Surreal was a dancing water fountain accompanied by a light, music and fire show. However, Unlike other dancing fountains, the water did not surge from a pool or the ground. Instead, it fell in turbulent sheets and waves from the top but faithfully followed the curvature of the concave sides as it went down before vanishing completely near the bottom edge.

A sculpture stood at the centre of the plaza formed by the three concave walls. It shot up fiery flames in tune with the music to which the waves danced.

Surreal was a wonderful piece of architecture and an incredible show, to be sure. However, it also had an outer wall wrapped wholly in a multi-tiered arrangement of abundant greenery. This living green wall wrap provided a lush, vertical garden effect that made the installation even more visually impactful.

You, too, can install a living green wall wrap on your building. Of course, execution is complex. You’ll need to consider ventilation and drainage, among other things. You should also consider maintenance and plant selection.

The living green wall wrap can be challenging to pull off, and it will not always work. However, when it does, it’s sure to be fabulous.

3.    The Gardens

Do you have a large outdoor space? Divide it into individual sections, and turn each one into a mini-park or garden.

The area immediately in front of the building, where people drive through or walk on to approach the entryway, you can leave as a mostly flat but green park. Dot it with trees and topiaries and install a focal point that draws the eyes forward and toward the entrance.

The spaces out on the sides, you can transform into differently sized sitting gardens. Each garden can have its own theme, selection of plants and ambience. Sculptural elements can add a focal point and a touch of sophistication.

Focus on intimacy and tranquillity for each garden. Incorporate elements like a small koi pond or a gurgling brook to provide soothing sounds. Create a calm space by choosing flowers and plants from a monochromatic colour palette.

Furnish each section with comfortable, weather-resistant seating, ensuring the furniture complements the garden’s theme. Whether it’s a bench nestled among flowers or a swing under a canopy of vines, the seating must fit the garden’s aesthetic, theme and function.

In the design process, consider the sensory experiences — fragrances, textures, colours, and the interplay of light and shadow. They combine to create an engaging and rejuvenating environment.

Even as you ensure that each sitting garden has a distinct character, you should maintain overall harmony. Use pathways to connect individual gardens. The transition from one garden to the next should be seamless, inviting exploration and discovery.

Landscaping to Create Beautiful Spaces and Experiences

Exterior landscaping is a critical part of creating beautiful and liveable spaces. Even a presidential palace like Qasr Al Watan, as majestic as its architecture and ivory façade are, would look unfinished without the landscaped gardens that surround it.