Application of Traditional Chinese Gardening Elements in Modern Garden Design

Abstract

With the deepening of China urbanization, continuing expansion of the urban area and increase of population density, people cling more to the natural environment and landscape, pursue harmony with nature and hope to beautify and improve their living environment by landscape planning and design. Culture and leisure needs and individual pursuit of gardens have become an important part of urban life. Traditional Chinese garden is the epitome and precipitation of traditional culture, and its functions and beauty are implemented and demonstrated through the flexible use of various elements of gardening. In modern garden design, how to use high-tech tools and new artistic handling of these elements of the traditional Chinese garden to achieve the harmony of the natural landscape and cultural landscape has become the focus of the Chinese government at all levels and the public’s concern. This paper outlines the gardening features of traditional Chinese garden and analyses the characteristics of four basic gardening elements of traditional Chinese garden: architecture, waterscape, plants and rocks. Based on the analysis, it discusses how to use the traditional elements in modern garden design to design modern garden scenery which conforms to city culture and scenery characteristics, which not only embody the cultural heritage but also interpret the modern scenery garden design concept that gets rids of the stale and brings forth the fresh.