Our Relationship With Lawns
Our complicated relationship with lawns goes a long way back. Here is its brief history, and why it matters today.
THE HONEYMOON
In medieval Europe, open expanses of low grasses became valued among the aristocracy because they allowed those inside an enclosed fence or castle to view those approaching. In 17th & 18th century, lawns were created as social places for gatherings and recreational activity. By the end of this period, the English lawn was a symbol of status of the aristocracy. It showed that the owner could afford to keep land that was not being used for a building, or for food production.
THE FAREWELL?
Since they first became popular, lawns filled many roles in our lives. Picnics are held on lawns, sports are played on them, and an influential architectural textbook crowned them as the cure for all society's problems. The place of lawns in human history is indisputable, but it's not all roses. As known today, lawns require many resources, provide limited functionality, and don't support biodiversity. In the age of soaring land value and global warming, one might think that private lawns would become obsolete by now. Yet somehow, they keep finding their way into our backyards.
NOT SO FAST
A common use for lawns these days is as placeholders. Bylaws often require new residential projects to be landscaped, but don't specify how. So, lawns have become a go-to cheap and effortless solution for most newbuilds. It often starts as an interim solution, just to weather the permitting storm, with the intention of eventually replacing the lawn. But intentions aside, lawns typically prevail as homeowners yield to more pressing matters.
THE FAREWELL
Many of my design clients have an itch for parting with their lawn, saying it doesn't support their lifestyle. However, homeowners are often cautious about replacing their lawn since it's hard to imagine any alternatives. Lawns are so culturally and socially ingrained in our perception of private outdoor spaces, that imagining a backyard without it is challenging.
EPILOGUE
To clarify, I don't declare a general war on lawns. Open lawns are highly practical for social gatherings and various activities in public spaces, where more resources for irrigation and maintenance are available. However, in the context of typical single-family spaces I usually ask my clients 3 questions before proposing a lawn:
* Do you have an specific use in mind for the lawn?
* Are you prepared for the irrigation & maintenance costs?
* Have you considered alternative solutions for that space?
