IN THE DESIGN STUDIO WITH JEFF ALLEN
Jeff Allen is President of Allen Land Design. He is also one of the founding partners of Community Fuels, which is dedicated to producing biodiesel, an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional fuel sources.
How do you approach garden design?
I'm good at seeing the big picture. I look at the lines of sight, the different exposures and direction of the light. I also take into account the view and the flow of the property. After I get a sense of what a property needs by observing the land and talking to the owners, I take it back to the design studio and get the other designers involved, then they use their knowledge and skills to make the whole thing even better.
What are some of the trademarks of your designs?
I like to use the 3 in 1 principle, which means that I often group three of the same thing together, such as boulders or trees, and then I'll have another one off to the side. This gives the overall composition a good sense of balance. I tend to keep my retaining walls low so that they can double as a seating area, and I try to avoid railings on garden steps by making sure the stairs aren't too steep and that they have a good tread. Both of these things make the garden more inviting, which is one of the main things we're trying to do. I also like to create a feeling of privacy, either by putting up a natural privacy screen made out of plant material or by using the sound of running water to drown out unwanted noise. I want my gardens to be inviting and have a feeling of peace and serenity, but at the same time I want them to be fun so that people will use the garden and enjoy it.
You've gotten involved with several projects where you've been on the cutting edge of trends. Do you think of yourself as a visionary?
I like to think that I am good at spotting trends and getting in there at an early stage. I really enjoy that process, but if all of those things suddenly disappeared, I'd still be doing what I love and that's working with gardens.
What are some of the projects that you'd like to try your hand at next?
I'm very interested in urban development and planning, using resources wisely and incorporating concepts such as useful, edible landscapes and gray water recycling into urban planning. I would also like to tackle the challenge of creating a large rooftop garden and a green living wall in the near future.