Stone Gabion-Basket Walls: The Ideal Sustainable-Fence Solution?
Often the best ideas are the simplest – and what could be simpler than putting rocks in a metal basket?
Gabion baskets – where stones are contained within metal mesh-like netting and used as walls or stabilisers – have existed for aeons. There is evidence of stone-filled woven-reed baskets constructed along Egypt’s Nile River to stabilise its banks 7,000 years ago. Leonardo da Vinci designed similar structures, called corbeilles Leonard, to fortify the foundations of Milan’s Castello Sforzesco in the 15th century. Gabions have been used for military and civil engineering applications ever since, and are making a bold and creative appearance in modern architecture and design.
How can gabions be used?
Walls are probably the most familiar gabion application. Heights vary from high privacy and windbreak walls to low single layers visually marking boundaries. Other uses are cladding on existing walls, benches, steps, feature walls, erosion control, garden sculpture and furniture, outdoor ovens and fire pits, vegetation edging, retaining and support structures, and pool and water-feature surrounds.
Don’t miss this idea-packed story on how to use rocks in your garden
Walls are probably the most familiar gabion application. Heights vary from high privacy and windbreak walls to low single layers visually marking boundaries. Other uses are cladding on existing walls, benches, steps, feature walls, erosion control, garden sculpture and furniture, outdoor ovens and fire pits, vegetation edging, retaining and support structures, and pool and water-feature surrounds.
Don’t miss this idea-packed story on how to use rocks in your garden
What’s driving the gabion trend?
Mr Mysiszczew has seen gabions evolve from a largely civil engineering infrastructure solution to an up-and-coming residential design element. A major driver is the interest in architecture based on biophilic design and principles of neuroarchitecture, and growing scientific proof that we live better when connected with organic elements.
Mr Mysiszczew has seen gabions evolve from a largely civil engineering infrastructure solution to an up-and-coming residential design element. A major driver is the interest in architecture based on biophilic design and principles of neuroarchitecture, and growing scientific proof that we live better when connected with organic elements.
Gabions form a visual and textural link between natural and built environments. Natural daylight, night lighting and firelight enhance their essential, organic beauty. They absorb energy from the sun, create habitats for insect and small mammal life and change in response to natural forces.
This striking gabion wall links a semi-open, light-filled bathroom to an outdoor deck and shower – a tactile, beautiful and practical design feature.
Picture Perfect: 33 Homes with Eye-Catching External Features
This striking gabion wall links a semi-open, light-filled bathroom to an outdoor deck and shower – a tactile, beautiful and practical design feature.
Picture Perfect: 33 Homes with Eye-Catching External Features
Why go gabion?
Apart from the pleasing aesthetics of gabions, Mysiszczew lists these main advantages:
Apart from the pleasing aesthetics of gabions, Mysiszczew lists these main advantages:
- Less environmental impact than other construction materials: Use of locally-sourced quarried rocks reduces environmental impact and high-freight carbon footprints. They are suitable for sensitive locations, including marine environments.
- Durability: Traditional gabions with double-twisted, low-corrosion wire mesh that don’t unravel if a wire breaks reduces repair and maintenance. These ‘Maccaferri’ baskets can last over a century, says Mysiszczew. His Rockweld gabions with rigid, lightweight galvanised-steel mesh sheets have a 20-year-plus lifespan.
- Low maintenance: These very strong monolithic structures are hard to damage and don’t need ongoing maintenance. Damaged sections are easily replaced.
- Cost effectiveness: Low-labour requirements, easy installation and no need (in many cases) for footings or support make them highly competitive cost-wise. Mysiszczew advises that Rockweld gabion fences require support posts.
- Superior sound-dampening qualities: This is especially true if sandbags are installed in the centre. As well as their good exterior acoustics, gabions also have excellent insulation and fire-resistant properties.
- Flexibility: The ability to conform to settling and movement and the option, in many cases, to be moved to other locations.
Do they suit a modern home?
Mysiszczew believes gabions are well-suited to a range of architectural styles. Natural stone provides an effective contrast and softening element in sleek, cubic and contemporary architecture with clean angular forms and hard manufactured surfaces such as glass.
Landscapers have always recognised the symbiotic alliance between rocks and water. The dynamic nature of water, the reflectivity of metal partnered with the solidity of a gabion backdrop bring balance and tranquility to this stunning modern home.
Mysiszczew believes gabions are well-suited to a range of architectural styles. Natural stone provides an effective contrast and softening element in sleek, cubic and contemporary architecture with clean angular forms and hard manufactured surfaces such as glass.
Landscapers have always recognised the symbiotic alliance between rocks and water. The dynamic nature of water, the reflectivity of metal partnered with the solidity of a gabion backdrop bring balance and tranquility to this stunning modern home.
Gabions also complement weathered timber, oxidised metals and native plantings in modest rural dwellings, as seen in this barn-style home in country Victoria. Letterboxes can be built in, house numbers attached, and wiring for entrance lights and plumbing for water features inserted.
Do gabions have to be square, straight and chunky?
Modern processes mean gabions can be configured to different shapes and sizes, including curves, and finishes from smooth and uniform to chunky and rustic. Hand-facing (placing flat rock faces against the sides of the baskets) or ‘tipping-in’ by hand or excavator offer variety. Mysiszczew’s Rockweld product has a slimmer, more refined profile than traditional gabions. This versatility enables architects and landscapers to be creative in residential projects.
Other ways to personalise gabions include using a variety of different-coloured stones in layers or patterns, breaking up the surface with coloured panels, or leaving empty sections for decorative features such as pots or plants, or to open a view past the wall.
Modern processes mean gabions can be configured to different shapes and sizes, including curves, and finishes from smooth and uniform to chunky and rustic. Hand-facing (placing flat rock faces against the sides of the baskets) or ‘tipping-in’ by hand or excavator offer variety. Mysiszczew’s Rockweld product has a slimmer, more refined profile than traditional gabions. This versatility enables architects and landscapers to be creative in residential projects.
Other ways to personalise gabions include using a variety of different-coloured stones in layers or patterns, breaking up the surface with coloured panels, or leaving empty sections for decorative features such as pots or plants, or to open a view past the wall.
Here, a curved stacked-gabion wall protects a mature tree and adds rustic contrast to smooth light walls, with grey-toned bluestone reflecting the silvery grey of the tree bark.
Be inspired by these stunning garden images
Be inspired by these stunning garden images
Are they plant-friendly?
Planted ‘green’ walls have never been more popular as landscapers and homeowners strive for maximum impact in small outdoor spaces. Gabions are an ideal canvas for vertical gardens. They can be constructed to enable plant colonisation of the spaces between rock fill, while providing drainage, ventilation, protection and a perfect matrix for climbing plants.
Planted ‘green’ walls have never been more popular as landscapers and homeowners strive for maximum impact in small outdoor spaces. Gabions are an ideal canvas for vertical gardens. They can be constructed to enable plant colonisation of the spaces between rock fill, while providing drainage, ventilation, protection and a perfect matrix for climbing plants.
What are some smaller feature ideas?
The gabion concept is infinitely scaleable. Apart from major walls, there are many ways to use gabion features in small creative projects. These stone-filled wire columns supporting rusted steel-box planters are a scaled-down version of the gabion concept, mixing rustic natural materials and earthy tones with a nicely weathered patina.
The gabion concept is infinitely scaleable. Apart from major walls, there are many ways to use gabion features in small creative projects. These stone-filled wire columns supporting rusted steel-box planters are a scaled-down version of the gabion concept, mixing rustic natural materials and earthy tones with a nicely weathered patina.
These table supports do away with awkward leg placements and are literally rock-solid. Check out the neat timber-and-gabion benches at the edge of this outdoor area. Gabions are also a suitable option for indoor features such as cladding, benches and short dividing walls.
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Looking to get creative with your own garden? Chat to a local landscape architect or designer with experience in hard landscaping and building gabions
Tell us
Did you find this story useful? Tell us in the Comments section below. And don’t forget to like and share the story, save the pictures and join the conversation.
More
Looking to get creative with your own garden? Chat to a local landscape architect or designer with experience in hard landscaping and building gabions
The word comes from the Italian gabbione, meaning ‘big cage’. It is basically a dry-stone wall encased in mesh-like material. Wicker was originally woven to hold earth or stones to strengthen unstable structures. Modern gabion cages are made of metal mesh with stone, rubble or pebble fill, sometimes with an interior ballast such as concrete or sand for stability.
Paul Mysiszczew, CEO of Adelaide-based firm Prospect Contractors, shared his experience on the applications and advantages of gabions today.