Construction Notebook: A New Angle on Pavers

Construction Notebook:
A New Angle on Pavers

Use borders, patterns and contrasts for inspiring and practical landscape design solutions.

We search for patterns because they inspire us to try something different in our designs. Research tells us that babies might see patterns better than adults (we see them subconsciously), but we all are affected by pattern. Interesting patterns capture our attention and lead our eyes where the designer wants them to go. Uninteresting patterns don’t hold us; we look elsewhere.

In your designs, which would you rather have?

Bring on the Border
One strong pattern element we use often is a border around the main areas. Typically, we use a contrasting color or two. It’s the same pattern you see time and again, around rugs, in paneling, in flooring, from ancient times to today. It’s popular because it’s interesting and it works, as you can see in the images below.

A simple example is this square of bricks, surrounded by rectangular sections.	Another approach to borders and patterns is from Sissinghurst in England.
A more advanced used of this idea is how you see a border used for contrast in this walkway. Here, we’ve used a more complex pattern for the main section, and also given the border a pattern of its own for more interest and contrast.

Too Much Trouble?
People tell us all the time they’re afraid to do anything too daring with pavers and hardscape because they think it will be:

• Too expensive to buy
• Too difficult to calculate quantities
• Too time consuming to cut
• Too hard to install

Wrong! Think about a series of pavers laid parallel, which we see often. With just a simple change — rotating the angle of the pavers — we can create an entirely new look that is Italianate (diamonds on their sides). It does take some careful calculation (but it isn’t that hard). You don’t want to over-order but you do want better designs. How to do this? Read on.

Consider that many paver suppliers sell bricks by the pallet, so you want to be careful not to order too many for your intricate designs. Nor do you want to have extra work on site cleaning up your excess bricks, or storing them in your own yard. You don’t want to have your own brick ‘graveyard’ to maintain for years. So how do you avoid this?

Work with your supplier. His sales people are not designers but are motivated to sell more product. But many supplier catalogs include formulas to figure out material quantities. And over the years, we have developed our own ways of designing patterns based on simple geometry. We use short cuts based on calculating linear footage for edgers, pattern changes using the same materials, and minor changes with contrasting colors or textures. These give a whole new fresh look from the ordinary. They’re not complicated but are visually interesting.

By rotating the angle of your pavers, you’re not using extra materials at all. In fact, you’ll be cutting the same amount of pavers, but at a different angle. Instead of measuring and cutting rectangles exactly halfway across, you’re cutting through them vertically, from tip to tip. Your crew just lays them at a different angle. The material amounts are the same, the time cutting and installing are the same, and the costs are the same. The result: a better-looking project. Your client has a much more refined, interesting design, like the example to the right.

“Brand” Your Hardscapes
Of course, highly complicated designs will take a bit more time to calculate and install, but the benefit is that you will develop a “signature” style that will become your brand.

Many of the patterns we saw in Turkey were in fact the local villages’ unique “calling card.” Those patterns were recognized, much like designs of American Indian tribes and Scottish clans. Your designs, too, can take on an element of flair that clients will recognize for their value and uniqueness.

Our Own Hardscape Project
This past year, we finally transformed our rural driveway into something more suited to us:

You can see how we’ve used some patterns and contrasting colors in construction.

Gary found it easy to oversee this installation!

Would you be interested in attending a Kinman Institute class focused exclusively on design and construction ideas, calculations and techniques? If so, please contact us — we are planning our winter schedule now.

For more information about Kinman Institute classes in landscape design and construction, visit www.kinmaninstitute.com, email cynthia@kinmaninstitute.com or call 614-764-8733(TREE).