Design for Disguise: Hide, minimize and soften landscape eyesores

摘要

In any given landscape, there are those functional, yet visually distracting (ugly) items. You know what I'm talking about: water hydrants, irrigation heads, landscape lights, outdoor speakers, electrical outlets, cable boxes and electrical transformers. From a landscaping perspective, these items can be a nuisance, a headache and a real distraction. In many situations, the passerby observes the items and has his/her attention drawn away from the aesthetic appeal that's been designed and implementedtoward the item itself. Instead of a pleasing grouping of color, texture and created space, the visitor focuses in on an item, perhaps wondering what it is, why it's there and why they have to look at it. If this happens, nobody is happy—the designer, the owner or the visitor.