Since the earliest days of civilization when land cultivation overtook hunting and gathering, the desire to shape nature to the needs of human beings has influenced every aspect of life. Whether living in the heart of an urban jungle or nestled into our own corner of the great outdoors, our current era is colored by a strong desire to authentically reconnect with nature on her own terms.

However, along with that desire comes the temptation to bring our indoor conveniences along and to design outdoor spaces which bring the indoors outside. Advancements in materials and weatherproofing have only added to the enticement, so how do designers and landscape architects navigate the ever-blurring lines between indoors and outdoors while honoring client’s dreams and their own aesthetic values? 

To further explore the challenges and opportunities of thinking ‘inside out’ we sat down with Salt Spring Island, B.C. based landscape designer Alexander Suvajac, whose award-winning, broad ranging and multidisciplinary practice encompasses everything from rural estates and wellness spaces to contemporary urban gardens, artist retreats, restorative gardens, and beyond. 

Regardless of setting or scale, the essential first step in designing an indoor/outdoor space is to create the sense of a room within the larger environment. Alex explains “There’s a risk in approaching the outdoor space as simply a wide, expansive space without walls. In my practice I often say to clients ‘you won’t feel truly comfortable in an outdoor room if everything’s just falling away from you.’ I use terms like a space ‘bleeding out’ to illustrate the need to bring the architecture in one direction and the landscape in another so that the subtle tension between them creates a boundary.”

The simple pleasure of gathering around a crackling fire and the sensory delights of hearing, smelling, and tasting freshly grilled meals remain the strongest motivators for taking the indoors out. Echoing the dynamic of indoors, the outdoor kitchen is often the heart of the space. Beyond the kitchen, however, there are spaces which are needed to sit, to dine, to stargaze, to watch the game, to play a game, and more. Beyond choosing climate appropriate surfaces and cabinetry, many clients might ask for:

Integrated Audio Systems

High-fidelity speakers discreetly embedded into landscaping or architectural features, creating immersive soundscapes for entertainment and relaxation.

Dynamic Lighting

Layered lighting schemes that transition from ambient mood lighting to task-oriented illumination, enhancing both functionality and ambiance.

Outdoor Entertainment Centers

Weatherproof televisions, projectors, and screens, transforming patios and decks into outdoor cinemas or sports viewing areas.

Curated Outdoor Artwork

Sculptures, murals, and weatherproof art installations.

As the intermingling between indoors and out becomes more and more a part of the language of modern design, intermediary rooms have also emerged as the functional and aesthetic bridges for the space between. An evolution of the mudrooms and enclosed patios of yesteryear, intermediary rooms are cozy distillations of both interior and exterior moods and materials.  Alex describes the process through which these intermediary rooms are conceived: “There's a language to the flow of architecture and we translate that outdoors.” He continues, “We don’t literally cut and paste the indoors to the outdoors, with nature being the furthest zone. It's almost as though we're dissolving whatever is happening inside at some point outside.” In that gradual dissolution, the intermediary room often appears.

Entertainment

When the joys of savoring freshly grilled meals, screening favorite movies, and  enjoying live performances are experienced outdoors, a larger sensorial palette opens up for both guests and hosts.

Lifestyle Extension

Simple pleasures like reclining with a favorite book are elevated by the whisper of leaves blowing in a gentle breeze and the sounds of birdsong.

Luxury and Sophistication

A cohesive aesthetic that extends seamlessly from interior to exterior establishes an alignment and affinity with timeless design principles ranging from Italian ‘loggia’ to Japanese ‘engawa.’

Wellness and Relaxation

Simply put, nature nurtures. A personal sanctuary can be all the more revitalizing when modern comforts like heated stone floors are sensitively incorporated.

With so many choices, options, and trades all working together on a project, consistency isn’t just a visual experience, but a tactile and emotive one, too. Alex explains “I'll often say to the owners and the clients: you want to get a sense of your home and to feel the level of quality the moment you enter your property. So whether that's the fob on the gate or your handle when you're walking in, the material and the finish is consistent.”

“A big part of landscape is engaging the senses and you do that through various means. For example, I often lean on texture. Texture for me often encourages awareness. When you're outside, nature is kind of calling us to engage where life can manifest in another way. One method is to introduce materials into the landscape which serve as intermediaries between wild nature. This could be by using stone which is cut but fractured in a way that it's still an organic expression”

The beauty of nature is a strong influence in outdoor design, but so is freedom.  Alex observes that some clients are starting to realize that what they might not be able to do in an indoor kitchen they can in an outdoor one. He explains “For example you can't sunbathe in your living room or use a smoker on your indoor kitchen island (not that I know of).  One of the main focuses in our work is just drawing people outside more and sometimes the best method is simply through a beautiful natural view, but often it's those creature comforts that we like and that become that much better outside.”

While open to embracing modern conveniences, his focus remains on integrating indoor elements with a naturalistic quality, fostering relaxed and immersive experiences for his clients in North America, Asia, and beyond. Ultimately, designers like Alexander Suvajac create outdoor spaces that not only extend living areas but also foster deeper connections with nature, prioritizing sensory engagement and a consistent experience that reinforces and elevates the unique emotional and perceptual feeling called home.