Hortus Botanicus Amsterdam

 

Hortus Botanicus Amsterdam

This is one of the oldest botanical gardens, which in 1638 it served as an herb garden for doctors and apothecaries. 

This was one of the many geometric beds that split up the spaces with different categories of plants like herbs.

This was a gorgeous feature to the garden, a semi-circle pond which you were able to walk fully round, through different routes and levels. The background changed as you made your way around aswell, so created a more formal feel when the building was in the background compared to the large pine trees bordering the site, creating a relaxed feel. 

These were from the hot house which is a tropical climate. You were able to walk above all of the trees and planting, creating a whole overview of the garden. This completely change the scale of the place and made for an interesting viewpoint. You were above to see how the plants interacted and grew over one another. I really enjoyed this part of the garden. 

This was the desert biome, which was towards the edge of the site. Here I was stood in a wildflower patch that full submerged me, I had a little path to follow where you could hear the water running and was very peaceful. 

There was stopping points, benches and cut out viewpoints which controlled how you moved about in the site which I enjoyed.

Here the raised beds creating a pathway, drawing you through the route. It makes it feel more personal and secure the way that’s it’s more closed in. I like this idea as it’s allowing people to see the plants easier. You can't see that much further past these beds, I like the way it restricted your view as it created more of a focus for where you are and the plants that were close to you. 

There was a beautiful Manor House backing this site. The other boundaries weren’t as strong, some were backed onto roads and footpaths where you could see through, just making the place “fall out” of the boundaries. This distracted you from the site as you were able to see and hear cars quite loudly when stood near the edge.