Minimalism and clean lines form the basis for the design of modern urban spaces. The surroundings must harmonise with the dominant feature of a modern building, which typically has a geometric form with large glazed sections on the façade, designed to open up the interiors to natural light. The space around the building should be equally clean in its expression.
– When designing the surroundings of a modern building, architectural practices usually opt for a surface made of large-format concrete slabs with a geometric form, complemented by simple edging or flowerbeds created from precast concrete elements. The whole is complemented by street furniture – benches, litter bins, bicycle racks, often made of stainless steel combined with other materials – says Wojciech Średniawa, Chief Designer at Polbruk S.A. Outdoor lighting is also a very important element of the overall design, mounted on lighting columns or embedded in the ground as recessed fixtures, but also – increasingly popular – in the edging or low walls delineating green spaces. All this means that the elements marking the boundaries of green spaces are a key feature of the layout of the areas surrounding modern office buildings or shopping centres.
Greenery ‘encased’ in concrete
Companies producing concrete pavers and slabs, as well as decorative elements such as edging, low walls and concrete planters, are meeting architects’ expectations regarding the design of spaces around modern buildings. – We are constantly expanding our range to meet the expectations of the market and architects. Last year, we introduced new products: the L-shaped ‘Tigela’ and the edging ‘Flesz’. These are decorative elements that organise green spaces in modern designs,” explains the architect. ‘Polbruk’ and ‘Tigela’ are L-shaped prefabricated elements from which we can build planters for our designed greenery. They are ideal for areas where the surface is “as flat as a table”, and we want it to stand out as an accent, rising above the surface. It fits perfectly into modern designs, as it comes in two shades of grey – graphite or grey. Thanks to its dimensions, Tigela offers great design possibilities. If we wish to highlight a particular plant as the focal point, we position the Tigela vertically. In this case, the height of the planter will be 80 cm (when the shorter side forms the base) or 42 cm (when the longer side forms the base). In both cases, the flowerbed becomes an interesting decorative feature, thanks to its height or the contrasting colour against the ground. We can also use Tigela to create a classic border by laying it on its side (horizontally). Whichever option we choose, thanks to Tigela’s L-shaped design and the flexibility of its arrangement, we can build larger or smaller layouts, creating geometric frames for greenery.
Magical concrete arrangements
Polbruk Flesz also offers interesting possibilities for landscaping around modern buildings, allowing us to define the boundaries of green spaces. It features a timeless colour scheme in shades of grey. Another advantage is its ‘concrete’ appearance and the fact that this edging is shaped like an inverted letter ‘L’. It has been designed so that LED strip lighting can be fitted under the overhang. Installing lighting in this spot adds a magical yet stylish touch to the design.
The above solutions for organising greenery around modern buildings will also work well in other spaces. They can be successfully used in the design of prestigious avenues and pedestrianised areas, as well as around historic buildings. Naturally, this excludes cases where the garden layout is under the strict supervision of a conservation officer.
