Urban Green Areas – their functions under a changing lifestyle of ...

earthen wall”. The gardens of ancient Egypt were designed for decoration around the
mansions of the emperor or of the temple area in the 18 th Dynasty (1552-1296 BC). Those
gardens became “a common feature of luxury residences” (THUY 1985:13). The layout of
the gardens was self-contained, with the central construction (temple or palace) located on
the main axis which was constructed as a promenade. These symmetric gardens often had a
large rectangular pool in the center.
2.1.1.2 Ancient Mesopotamian Park
The typical garden of Mesopotamia had several floors. The famous Hanging Gardens of
Babylon (FINKEL 1988), built around 600 BC, modeled a mountain areas with many
shady trees. Mesopotamian gardens are noted for itheir creation of spatial layout and the
incorporation water as a stream or waterfall.
2.1.1.3 Persian gardens
“The oldest representational descriptions and illustrations of Persian gardens come from
travelers who reached Iran from the west” (MIRRAZAVI 2011). Those gardens (in 500
BC) have “an enclosing wall, rectangular pools, and an internal network of canals, garden
pavilions, and lush planting” (FERESHTEH 2008:104). The mixture of public and private
levels andclassical, formal, or casual forms resulted in the gardens integrating styles
appropriate to the several different functional areas. This was the first evidence that these
gardens were open to public.
2.1.1.4 Classical Chinese gardens
China is home of a trend to making garden mimic nature. The Chinese garden reflects the
natural diversity of the nation’s countryside. The ever-changing landscape of the garden is
stimulating for visitors and classical Chinese gardens were used by kings and scholars to
relax.(THUY 1985). Classical Chinese gardens were used for scholars and royals to relax
and to make poetry.
2.1.1.5 The Japanese gardens
Japanese gardens were influenced by Chinese landscape art, but matched nature with its
own style. An ancient Japanese Garden is not a place for taking a walk, but rather for sitting
and reflecting. Garden space is in harmony with the space in the house, though, it still
reflects nature (THUY 1985).
2.1.1.6 Ancient Greek gardens
Greek gardens were built for religious purposes and were developed for the purposes of
education. Their main components were lakes, caves and hills with winding paths. Some of
those features were taken over and adapted by those building Roman gardens later on.
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