The term "square gardens" can refer to a few distinct concepts depending on context:
- Square gardens as a garden design concept are outdoor spaces with a square layout. Such gardens offer symmetry and can be creatively designed with zoning areas, pathways, plants, and features such as water fountains to maximize beauty and functionality. Square gardens can be small urban backyards or larger plots, with design elements that play with shapes, scale, and plant selection to make the space appealing and relaxing.
- A garden square is historically a communal garden space in an urban setting, often surrounded by buildings. These garden squares serve residents primarily and include dedicated footpaths and plants rather than hard surfaces. They originated as private communal spaces and evolved to some being publicly accessible while retaining greenery and a quiet atmosphere, differing from a town square meant for public gatherings.
- Square Gardens is also a modern co-living residential development in Manchester, England, featuring multiple residential towers with amenities, retail, and landscaped areas with trees as part of the project. It is one of the notable tall building projects in Greater Manchester in recent years.
- Madison Square Garden, while containing "square" and "garden" in its name, is actually a famous indoor multipurpose stadium in New York City, known for sports and concert events, distinct from the garden or gardening context.
In summary, "square gardens" most often relate to square-shaped garden layouts or urban garden squares, while proper nouns like "Square Gardens" in Manchester can refer to specific residential developments. Depending on your focus—gardening design, urban communal spaces, or property developments—each meaning has detailed applications and examples.
