The evolution of the modern concept of landscape in Marbella and the Costa del Sol

These days, it’s difficult to imagine an architectural project without some eye-catching natural feature, and there are an increasing number of buildings and developments that grab our attention with the way they’re integrated into the landscape.

This isn’t just happening by chance. Certain practices are on the rise; such as the use of natural materials or colour schemes that stand out from the rest, and which change and develop the shape of the surrounding landscape.

The truth is that the concepts of ‘landscape’ and ‘natural’ have evolved to the point that they mean something quite different today than they did in the past.

What do we mean when we talk about landscape design?

The ‘landscape’ is the view we have from a specific point, and if part of this landscape is considered a resource or has value, it’s because there is someone who appreciates it – in other words, a viewer.

But the landscape hasn’t just evolved in terms of its definition. It has also evolved in appearance, as local architecture has redrawn features across the region, moving from mostly natural-looking models to more artificial ones, forcing us to understand landscape and nature in a different way.

Many professionals have given labels to these evolutions. For example, in the 1960s, Walter María referred to peculiarities in the region as “Land Art” – an American term coined to describe landscape interventions during this period.

Others, like Richard Serra, would go on to be recognised as important figures in the architecture schools of the time for linking picturesqueness, art and architecture at the beginning of the 1980s.

“We create new environments for a new form of nature” – Manuela Gausa

How has landscape design evolved over time?

Architecture has been gaining ground on greenfield sites in order to model cities and towns that aim to redesign the perfect landscape over the years.

Features that were once considered artificial are no longer seen as such. Instead, what is currently seen as a modern landscape is a fusion of nature and culture with a clear removal of the physical boundaries between landscape and architecture.

See how we include city views in our day-to-day life as an example of a landscape perspective that has now become a “natural” everyday feature.

The landscape that we enjoy today is nothing more than an evolution from a pristine state to something more complex as the result of man-made changes and the enhancement of functional landscapes.

However, we live in a time of change, and it seems that the enhancement of these natural resources is giving rise to architectural trends that promote values like sustainability or the need to reincorporate nature.

It is becoming increasingly popular for construction projects to demonstrate sustainable models based on low waste generation and the perfect integration of the landscape as a defence against visual pollution. In fact, the incorporation of natural resources in architectural design has now become a fundamental element.

Similarly, local plant life is being increasingly used in property developments in the design of gardens and open spaces. On the Costa del Sol and in towns like Marbella, local aromatic plant varieties such as olives, rosemary, lavender or thyme have gradually been combined with other medicinal varieties, like stevia or calendula, to create a sense of well-being in these spaces.

The rise of landscape design in new-build developments in Marbella and the Costa del Sol

Property developments have a direct relationship with landscape design, and both housing complexes and luxury villas are increasingly recognising the importance ofdesign in their gardens and shared areas as part of their sales strategy. So much so, that professionals are often hired to design these spaces in order to achieve perfect harmony between architecture and nature, and to create a truly attractive end result.

Starting with the enhancement of aspects like colour and smell to enhance airy, continuous spaces inside the properties, property developments have acquired great success, setting the trend for the sector.

At FM Consulting Realty Group, we recognise the importance of landscape design as a fundamental part of property development in Marbella and the Costa del Sol.

The SYZYGY HOMES and TAKARA VILLAS developments consist of apartments and villas that have aimed to create much more than just a typical building from the outset. They’ve included a landscaper right from the beginning in order to bring nature and architecture together in the design of open spaces. At our company, we rely on the very best landscape design professionals and put our full faith in experts like Mathieu Lebre from Lema Paisajes; an internationally recognised landscape designer who has worked on iconic monuments like the Alhambra.

Who knows, perhaps our role as property development promoters in Marbella and the Costa del Sol is also to collaborate as much as possible in order to continue this evolving concept of ‘landscape’. If you would like to know more about our property developments in Marbella, you can follow the numerous links on our website.