LANDSCAPE

(PERSIAN & MUGHAL GARDENS IN INDIA)

AR SANDEEP K MISHRA
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, IATP
 UNIT II

History, nature and scope Purpose of designed

open space. Exposure to historical landscape
(English, French, Italian, Chinese, Japanese,
Mughal, Ancient( India) and their relevance in
their time, context and social needs. Introduction
to ecology and its importance to Landscape
designers.
 PURPOSE OF DESIGNED OPEN SPACE
Community
Open spaces are places where people can gather, meet, play, and talk. They can be
used for social events, cultural purposes, or recreational activities. Open spaces can help
people get to know others in their neighborhood and create a sense of community.
 PURPOSE OF DESIGNED OPEN SPACE
Environment
Open spaces can help mitigate climate change, reduce flooding, and improve air quality.
They can also serve as natural air purifiers, heat reducers, and biodiversity hubs. During
natural disasters, open spaces can provide refuge areas for people.
 PURPOSE OF DESIGNED OPEN SPACE
Health
Open spaces can help improve mental health and facilitate physical exercise.
 PURPOSE OF DESIGNED OPEN SPACE
Natural light
Open spaces in homes can allow natural light to flow throughout the space, which can
create a bright and airy atmosphere. Natural light can also boost mood, increase
productivity, and reduce energy use.
Thus Space design in art and graphic design is used to focus the viewer's
attention and to create perspective within a composition. For example, the placement of
objects within a composition and the use of space around these objects can purposely
draw the viewer's attention to a specific design element.

Natural light in Interiors

 HISTORY OF GARDENS
3,000 B.C. to 1,000 B.C. -
Mesopotamian gardens:
I. 3,000 B.C.- Gardens of Eden &
Hanging gardens of Babylon in
Mesopotamia. Hanging gardens
of Babylon is known as to be
the seven wonders of the
ancient world.
II. 1,800 B.C.- The concept of
“courtyard garden” began which
is said to be enclosed by the
walls of a palace.
III. Around 1,000 B.C. – The
Assyrian kings developed a style
of city garden incorporating
naturalistic layout, water supply
& exotic plants
IV. High classical garden with
proper geometrical layout.
 HISTORY
I. Babur –the first Mughal emperor introduced ideas of
Persia, art & way of life into India.

II. Babur, described his favored type of garden as a

Charbagh.

III. This word developed a new meaning in India because,

as Babur explains, India lacked the fast-flowing
streams required for the Central Asian charbagh.

IV. The Agra garden, now known as the Ram Bagh, is

thought to have been the first charbagh.

V. India and Pakistan have a number of Mughal gardens

which differ from their Central Asian predecessors in
their highly disciplined geometry
 TYPES OF MUGHAL GARDEN
The three types of Mughal garden based on context are as follows:
1. Tomb Gardens (e.g. Humayun's Tomb and the TajMahal)
 TYPES OF MUGHAL GARDEN
The three types of Mughal garden based on context are as follows:-
2. Palace Gardens Courtyard gardens within Forts and Palaces (e.g. at Delhi and Agra)
 TYPES OF MUGHAL GARDEN
The three types of Mughal garden based on context are as follows:-
3. Encampment Gardens / Pleasure Gardens (e.g. the Shalimar Bagh gardens at Srinagar)
 TYPES OF MUGHAL GARDEN
The three types of Mughal garden based on location are as follows:
1. River Side
a) On the banks of river
b) Commanding view of the river
c) E.g. Humayun’sTomb,Tajmahal, Agra fort, Delhi fort)
 TYPES OF MUGHAL GARDEN
2. Foot Hills
Sited on the shallow slopes of the foot hill
Distant view became a visual component of the designed landscape
E.g. Gardens of dal lake- nishatbagh, shalimarbagh
 TYPES OF MUGHAL GARDEN
3. Plains
Landmass that generally does not change much in elevation • E.g. Palace garden,
Delhi
 CONCEPT AND INFLUENCE
Persian Concept of Garden
I. For the Mughals, gardens were like a
glimpse of heaven and they drew
inspiration from the Quran,
modifying and adapting established
designs to shape their paradise on
earth.
II. A Mughal garden or Charbagh was a
perfectly balanced formal
composition of space, vegetation
and architecture, texture and color,
light and shade, designed to address
and delight all the senses.
III. Paradise garden - 4 water channels
divides the garden into 4 quarters
IV. Water channels-symbolize four
rivers of life - Intersection of
channels-symbolize meeting of god
& human.
 CONCEPT AND INFLUENCE
Paradise Garden
1. Consists of a cross, symbolizing the
division of the world into 4 sections
2. With the pool of life at its center.
3. Four elements - fire, air, water, and
earth.
4. Four rivers in paradise
CHARACTERISTICS AND ELEMENTS OF A MUGHAL GARDEN
(1)Concept of ChaharBagh

The ‘ChaharBagh’ Garden Plan and Its Symbolism

I. The four water channels are often associated with the four rivers of Paradise,
described in the Quran, which flow to the four quarters of Heaven or from them
towards the center.
II. ChaharBagh is a square or rectangular enclosure, quartered by water channels that
are said to represent the four rivers flowing out of Eden (as described in Genesis).
III. Examples of these include the principal Mughal tombs - Sikandar, TajMahal, and
Humayun's tomb.

(2) Concept of Walled Enclosure

• The common square pattern of the garden or the compound of a tomb probably
developed from a fusion of the walled garden, thought to have originated in the Persian
paradiaza, with the concept of the Garden of Eden.
• The paradiaza is a walled enclosure that shuts out the outside world and encloses a
garden.
• The fusion of these developed into the 'Chaharbagh', the quartered garden
Nishat Bagh, Mughal
Gardens
 GARDEN MUGHAL GARDEN LAYOUT AND ELEMENTS
WATER FEATURES
I. The use of water as both an ornamental and as an essential ablutionary feature.
II. Water channels are always straight and quite shallow and often tiled in turquoise or
jade colors.
III. There may be little bridges across water channels. Or sometimes square stone
blocks are used as stepping stones.
IV. In large gardens, each of the ‘four gardens’ in a ‘chaharbagh’ may itself be divided
into four by more ‘chaharbagh’ water channels.
 WATER FEATURES - POOLS
WATER FEATURES
1. These are always a regular geometric shape – never like a natural pool. Most common are
octagons, rectangles and eight-pointed star shapes. But ten and twelve sided polygons and six,
ten and twelve pointed stars are also used.
2. Sometimes pools include curved shapes but these are regular and symmetrical. There is one style
of pool which has distinctive lotus leaf shapes along its edges. Four very small eight-sided pools
are placed around a larger pool in a symmetrical arrangement.
3. There are some pools where the water’s surface is always rippled by fountains. There are others
which are very still and mirror-like. Some pools are slowly fed by an underground water source so
that they are permanently overflowing into channels which lead away from their base. This gives
the pool’s surface a beautiful, smooth, glassy appearance.

WATER FEATURES - FOUNTAINS

1. An important thing about Islamic gardens is that they use many small fountains rather than a
few big ones.
2. The most common type of fountain in India, Pakistan and Iran is shaped like a short pillar and
sometimes carved into a stylized lotus flower shape.
3. Another common image is the rows of fountains in Mughal lakes or water channels, like this
Mughal garden in Kashmir.
4. The play of water fountains caused the light to sparkle and covered the surface with ripples.
WATER FEATURES - FOUNTAINS
 WATER FEATURES - POOLS
Water Features – Chadar’ waterfalls
a. These are sheets of stone or white marble, set at angles between 30 and 70
degrees, whose surfaces are carved to produce ripples in water flowing over
them. One common pattern is the ‘pigeon-breast’, where a pattern of little
scallops is carved all over the marble. Another is a herringbone pattern of V
shapes.
b. Many chadars are quite small. But there are some large ones in Kashmiri
gardens where the hilly landscape made this possible. Sometimes chadars
were placed facing sunlight so that reflection would make the water bright.

Water Features – Chadar’ waterfalls

Water Features – Cascades – Chini-Khanas’
At night times the enjoyment: has brought down into tiny oil lamps set in marble
niches sparkled from behind cascades while flickering lights were reflected from tiny
boats floating across the dark water.
Water Features – Cascades – Chini-Khanas’
Water Features – Chabutras
They are the sitting platforms placed in pools or at the junctions of water channels in
India and Pakistan to provide a feeling of being surrounded by water.

Water Features – Chabutras

 PATHS AND AVENUES

Paths run on both sides of water channels. Often they are slightly raised. There may be
an avenue of tall trees along the outside of each path, shading strollers from the sun.

a. Often conifers are used for tall avenues in Islamic gardens – especially the Italian
Cypress tree. This is specially important tree for Islamic gardens. Plane trees are also
common.

b. Sometimes, in these avenues, dark cypress trees are planted alternately with fruit
trees, like cherries and plum trees. The latter were sometimes seen as symbolizing
life which is born and dies each year.

c. Whereas the cypress, which never loses its leaves, represented eternity.

d. Paths are paved in some form of attractive geometric pattern. Materials – tile, brick,
cobbles or pebbles.
PATHS AND AVENUES
Pavilions and ‘Iwans’
To help people to enjoy the garden at all times – summer and winter, day and night –
Islamic gardens often include buildings, like pavilions, or shelters called ‘iwans’.
I. ‘Iwans’ are deep arched recesses in a courtyard’s walls where there is a raised,
sheltered platform for people to sit and be comfortable.
II. Very grand iwans include little pools with fountains too.
III. Some gardens have large pavilions at their center, which contain fountains and
pools for coolness and are sometimes decorated with patterns in mirror work,
colorful tiles and stained-glass windows

Pavilions and ‘Iwans’

Flower-Beds and Flowerpots
I. Flower-beds are always a regular geometric shape – rectangles, star shapes (usually
eight-pointed), diamond shapes and octagons. They are placed as part of a
symmetrical pattern within the garden as a whole. Sometimes flowerbeds are the
same shapes as the pools in the garden.
II. Star-shaped flower beds are common. Sometimes they are very large. Sometimes
there is inner star and an outer star in different colors. Sometimes there are low box
bushes shaped into eight-pointed stars.
III. Flowerpots are very widely used in Islamic gardens. They are sometimes massed
together in large numbers. Sometimes they are lined against the side of pools.

Flower-Beds and Flowerpots

Eight’ Is A Special Number

‘Eight’ is a number associated with Paradise in Islam and it is often used in the design of gardens.
For instance, in the Jahan Nama Garden, there is an eight-sided pavilion at the center. There are
eight cypresses on each side of the paths leading to it. There is a long water channel which is
divided into eight sections, each containing eight fountains. Eight-sided or eight-pointed shapes
are often used for pools and flower beds.

EIGHT SHAPED DESIGN

Night Time Garden Features
I. Scented flowers were planted for night time – and white flowers which would look lovely on
moonlit nights.
II. Special night time garden feature, the ‘chini-khana’. These are rows and rows of little stone
niches, each holding a candle, built behind waterfalls so that the candles shine through the
sheet of falling water.
III. Small chini-khanas have three rows of five candle-niches each. There are some very large
chini-khanas at Shalamar Gardens, Lahore, Pakistan with hundreds of niches.

IMPORTANCE OF ECOLOGY TO LANDSCAPE DESIGNERS

Landscape designers are important because they create sustainable, functional, and
enjoyable outdoor spaces that can improve the environment and people's lives:

SUSTAINABLE DESIGN
Landscape designers can consider the environmental impact of their designs by
analyzing water usage, waste generation, and energy consumption.

IMPROVE SUSTAINABILITY
Landscape designers can use landscaping principles to improve the sustainability of
outdoor spaces and nearby indoor areas. For example, they can arrange plants and
trees to reduce the need for heating and cooling in buildings.
Offers outdoor recreation
Landscape designers create comfortable and enjoyable outdoor spaces for people to spend
time in.

Stormwater management
Landscape designers can use strategies like permeable pavements, retention basins, and
water-retaining soil to slow down storm water drainage and filter out pollutants.

Preservation of nature
Landscape designers can help restore habitats and create value through economic, social,
and environmental benefits.

Reduces pollution
Plants absorb harmful pollutants and chemicals, purifying the air without the use of
electricity or machinery.

Designing your ideal outdoor space

Landscape designers can help you create your ideal outdoor space, including designing
structural elements like retaining walls, patios, and water features.
 THANK YOU
DISCLAIMER : The images and notes are referred from google.com