Review author: Terra Design School
A plot of 20 acres is quite a large area, which means there are great opportunities for landscape design. To prevent the site from looking like a jumble of buildings, you need to adhere to certain rules and recommendations during the design process.
Site design begins with planning on paper. This photo shows a properly planned plot of 20 acres.
House
The first thing you need to pay attention to when planning buildings is a residential building. This is the most important building on the territory, so you need to first decide what kind of house you need. For this purpose, you need to find out how many people will live in the house, what rooms, in addition to the main ones, will be needed.
Based on this information, it will be possible to determine the size of the future home. It is best to place it opposite the intended entrance.
Many are located almost side by side, and all other buildings are located behind the house. This is not the most optimal option, because according to safety rules it is necessary that there is a free passage to any building from the entrance to the site.
Two-story houses with a basement are very popular. This is the most effective option; in fact, the house will have 3 large functional floors, and at the same time it will not stand out much from other areas. It is also possible to have 3 main floors + basement.
conclusions
The process of planning a site of this area is of great importance. All necessary extensions and design ideas should be included in the project.
With the help of a competent approach to site planning, you can create all the conditions for living and quality recreation.
You can choose a certain style and bring its features into reality. Thus, your site will look quite stylish, unique and original, emphasizing the character of the owner.
Garage
When dealing with the question of how to plan a plot of 20 acres, first of all you need to pay attention to the most important buildings. The garage is in second place after the residential building.
Very often a garage is built into a residential building, this allows you to save a significant amount of free space. The garage itself is located on the ground floor of the house.
However, such a technique can take up a considerable amount of free space on the 1st floor. The way out of this situation would be to make an extension to the house on the 1st floor so that you can get into the garage from the house.
The dimensions of the garage are determined individually, but it is advisable to carry out calculations with a small margin in case of purchasing a larger, larger car. This will avoid rebuilding the garage.
Paths
When thinking about how to lay paths, focus on what exactly you need access to. The route can be an “excursion” - in this case it passes by the most beautiful places. The main path should be characterized by the absence of sharp turns and smoothness. Among flowers and trees, the path may be more winding, because it is mainly intended for leisurely walks.
There should be enough space for two people to fit on the road. The best option is a width of one to one and a half meters. Make slight slopes on both sides, in this case there will be no puddles on the path. Materials must be aesthetically pleasing, durable, and resistant to high and low temperatures.
Bath
The layout of a plot of 20 acres with a house and a bathhouse and outbuildings should be such that the bathhouse is located at a safe distance from other buildings. This is required by safety rules, because the bathhouse uses an open fire, and the building itself is usually made of wood.
In the event of a fire, a sufficient distance will protect nearby buildings from damage and will also provide the fire brigade with unhindered access to the source of the fire.
At the same time, it is also necessary to plan in such a way that the buildings are located at a sufficient distance from the fence, especially if communications are laid nearby. This is necessary for quick access to pipes in case of need for their repair or complete replacement.
Cardinal directions
It is important to understand the location of the cardinal points. This will allow you to assess the level of illumination at different times of the day. Also, based on this information, you can understand what and how strong winds will prevail here.
The site plan must necessarily include these nuances. In particular, it is necessary to focus on the cardinal directions when placing buildings, zoning, and arranging a garden.
Outbuildings
The term outbuildings can be understood as a wide range of buildings necessary for housing livestock. These could be chicken coops, pigsties and other buildings.
It is advisable to place them in such a way that they are located at a sufficient distance from the residential building and bathhouse. In the first case, it will be possible to protect buildings from a large amount of heat, and in the second case, muffle the sounds that animals make, which will have a positive effect on the comfort of living.
In some cases, it is permissible to erect two-story outbuildings, provided that light animals such as birds will be located on the second floor.
At the same time, they need to arrange an appropriate descent to the walking platform, this is especially true for chickens, because they will not be able to climb to the second floor on their own.
Advice from professionals
To plan competently the landscape design of your summer cottage, you will need the help of specialists. After studying the recommendations of professionals, you will find answers to existing questions.
Creating a design for a future suburban area is an interesting and creative idea. If you have a large area, there are practically no restrictions. On such an area you can place not only the most necessary objects, but also make your dreams come true in the form of an artificial waterfall, a large garage and entertainment areas.
To turn all your plans into reality, start by carefully considering the location of key objects. Put your thoughts on paper with an accurate plan of your site.
As an example, you can use the following guidelines:
the house should be located on the north side of the site. With its northern façade it can look at a garage or other buildings. It is not advisable to plant flower beds or other plantings near such a wall, since this wall is deprived of sunlight. This solution will help you save square meters and functionally use the sunny area;
- the illuminated side should be used for a garden, vegetable garden or recreation area;
- Windows should face both sides of the building. Give preference to the east and west sides. This will allow you to view the entire area from the house and ensure full flow of light into the room. If possible, you can make window openings on each wall;
- the gate should be located a short distance from the entrance. The garage needs to be built near the gate.
- on the opposite side of the plot you can plant a vegetable garden and plant flowering plants. Don't forget to fence off the area with decorative fences. Choose the location wisely so that the sun’s rays fully nourish the vegetation, and you can get a healthy harvest from the beds every year;
- You can plant trees around the entire perimeter of the garden. They will protect the seedlings from the wind and hide the area from the prying eyes of neighbors;
- outbuildings will be located near the garden so that all equipment is always at hand;
- a recreation area is set up next to the country house. There can be a gazebo, barbecue, or storage space for firewood;
- A children's playground can be installed next to the recreation area. In the play area for children, trampolines, a sandbox and a small house will be appropriate;
- the pool should be installed next to the recreation area, but away from the children's area;
- next to the gazebo you can build a bathhouse, which will contribute to the good rest and health of your family and guests;
- all objects must be connected by paths. Choose their arrangement using brickwork, sawn wood and other materials. Some owners of suburban areas use concrete and expanded clay for a similar purpose. Plant flowers along the edges of the paths, install lanterns;
- you can decorate the area with the help of decorative figures, which are popular today;
- to plan a site on a slope, use terraces or an alpine slide. You can plant a lawn in flat areas, and organize ponds in the recesses.
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If you decide to create a landscape style at your dacha, you must understand that the garden should look attractive at any time of the year. For this reason, most designers recommend planting coniferous trees on your site.
In order not to waste time searching for the necessary material in the markets, check out the assortment of nurseries and gardening stores. Consider the characteristics of the chosen variety, as not every plant will do well in your region.
If your dacha is located in a temperate continental climate zone, an English furnishing design will be optimal for it. As the basis of such a garden, you can use miniature varieties of weeping willow, mountain pine, ivy, petunia, crocus and roses.
The success of a small-area project lies in its simplicity. You can visually change a small space with climbing plants on the fence. If you want to hide your dacha from strangers using vines with decorative shoots, consider your climate. Southern varieties are not suitable for northern regions, since they cannot please their owners with luxurious flowering. For the northern regions, virgin grapes, actinidia, are suitable. They are able to survive the winter without shelter.
Storage (shed)
As a rule, at present they refuse to build a full-fledged shed in which all the necessary garden utensils will be stored. This task is partially accomplished by the garage and outbuildings, where all the necessary supplies for caring for livestock are stored.
Having a small shed will be useful if you have large household and garden equipment that cannot be stored in the garage. In addition, in the shed you can conveniently store dry firewood in the winter, which is very important.
Soil features
One thing the site definitely cannot do without is plants. The trouble is that each representative of the flora is demanding of the soil in its own way, and the latter sometimes has far from the best quality.
Therefore, designers always welcome:
- Organization of a residential building, parking lot and sports ground on infertile soil;
- Adding high-quality humus to form separate beds, even decorative ones;
- Installation of large containers with shrubs to distribute green spaces over the entire area of the site;
- Laying out artificial turf.
It is rare that heavy soil covers the entire territory. At least 5-10% of the land is suitable for planting trees, which will partly determine the location of the remaining objects.
And if the site is completely blessed with fertile soil, it definitely makes sense to arrange an orchard on it.
General recommendations
There are a large number of options for planning a plot of 20 acres. However, it is necessary to start from the specific conditions that are determined by a certain area.
Before you begin planning and constructing buildings, you must first find out in which places the communications lie, based on this you will be able to choose the most optimal place for the construction of a residential building, since it requires water, sewerage, electricity and gas (optional).
The remaining buildings that do not require communications can be placed in virtually any order, the main thing is that they do not block pipes and sewers in the event of repairs.
General design
The landscape design of a plot of 20 acres also plays a big role. It is necessary not only to arrange everything functionally and conveniently, but also to design it beautifully. In landscape design, virtually any materials can be used, including mixborders and beautiful flower beds.
It is also necessary to separately provide a summer recreation area with a gazebo and chairs (benches) for spending time outdoors.
Safety requirements
Before construction, it is necessary to clarify with the administration the safety requirements that buildings and fences erected on the site must comply with.
For example, you cannot erect a fence in places where communications and buildings lie.
There must also be sufficient distance between the buildings and the fence for the fire brigade.
Choosing a landscape design style
Style is not only the color unity of the elements, but also the general shapes and options for the location of paths, green spaces, and small architectural forms. A plot of 20 acres is suitable for planning ponds and gardens of irregular shape, winding paths, alpine slides and rock gardens.
The territory allows the use of decorative objects of different sizes, installation of statues, lanterns, internal fences, and fountains. The main thing is that all elements match the chosen style. For a large area, any of the existing ones will be suitable, but the following types look best:
- classic - strict geometric shapes, orderly layout of zones, clear boundaries of paths, restrained decorative forms and soft, natural shades;
- landscape - free forms and lack of strict boundaries, natural decor, lots of greenery, lawns, alleys, pond;
- French - cozy, discreet and harmonious design, natural materials, lots of greenery and trees, wrought-iron gazebos and benches;
- high-tech - bright details, chaotic shapes, unusual ideas, metal in decoration, silver, white, black and gray shades;
- alpine - decorated slopes and natural terrain of the site (alpine hill, stone garden, retaining walls, multi-tiered flower beds and other elements), lawns, flower beds, artificial lakes and natural materials;
- ecological - maximum preservation of the natural nature of the site, using only natural materials in design.
On 20 acres you can combine several types. This is especially convenient when the site already has buildings, but you want to update the area and decorate it in a different style. But in this case, it is important to use a single element in the design, for example, colors in the same range, the same materials or shapes of objects.
