Contem'porary, belonging to the same time; equal in age; (newspaper) published during the same period.
The Concise Oxford Dictionary
So a contemporary garden is one created in our time, now. That's a pretty broad definition but I think we can narrow it further:
A contemporary garden is one that is created in our time, for our time. It uses the materials of the day and reflects the needs and aspirations of the now.
So why do I feel a great sense of dis-ease when I look at many takes on a contemporary garden? Perhaps it's because so many designers seem to think that being contemporary means ignoring all that went before - you know, pushing boundaries, exploring new frontiers, etc. It won't be long before someone introduces us to the zero - gravity garden!
Unfortunately, there are no new frontiers.
There are new materials and there are new ways of interpreting ideas. But a garden space remains a garden space, plants are still plants, materials are still materials and human needs are much the same as ever. We don't really live in a brave new world but we do have a broader range of influences within which we can explore. Only technology is new and while this can bring new dimensions into a garden, it doesn't fundamentally change it.
Don't get me wrong: I'm a contemporary designer myself and I'm not advocating some kind of humble, back to the allotment attitude! Not at all. But I think that somewhere, some designers think that because they are using new materials, bold colours and mood lighting, that that in itself is design. Well it's not.
Such gardens become exercises in style over substance. In getting carried away with the minimalist expression, or the juxtaposition of stainless steel and render, it seems to be forgotten that hey, there's a garden to design here. I've said it before, that design and style are not the same thing, that true style emerges as a consequence of design, environment, need and desire. So often the last of these overrides or ignores the other three.
The good from the bad
There will always be the good and the bad in design. This won't always be the same as the successful and the unsuccessful. Some will succeed in a big way, some in a small way and others will fail. At least they tried, and that is always to be admired. I wouldn't like to pin down any individual's efforts and say “that's no good”. I wouldn't like it done to me! Unless they said, "that's great", of course.
For me, there is one simple test by which I judge things. Would it stand the test of time? Could I live in that garden space and be mesmerised, enchanted and relaxed by it, not just for an hour, or a week but for my lifetime? Would a future generation come along and rip it out, or would they be enchanted and delighted by that space, all over again?
Such gardens abide by timeless principles, which brings us to a paradox: can a contemporary garden, one that is born of the here and now, also be timeless? Only if it follows all the fundamental principles of good design. If I ever create just one such space in my lifetime, then I will be satisfied that I have made a difference, somewhere.