Analyzing the Landscape Site

Chapter 3

Preparation for the Design Process The one key to successful landscaping is to

consider the features of the site and the surrounding area. Designers will note site characteristics such as: drainage of water Slope of the land Soil conditions Existing vegetation Existing structures Climate

Preparation for the Design Process What is the base plan?

It is the first drawing in the landscape design process involves a bas plan. It is the drawing of the hour on the lot.

Preparation for the Design Process What is a plan view?

It is a view from above looking down as opposed to a drawing of the front of the house known as a elevation view

Preparation for the Design Process Features included on a base plan are:

driveways patios walks Fences

Preparation for the Design Process What is a plat of survey/

it is a legal document indicating the exact locations of physical structures on a piece of property and the exact dimensions of the property

The Design Process Design may be produce with the simplest

equipment or top of the line computer technology.

Computer Technology is the fastest growing segments of the information age

The Design Process What does Computer assisted design

(CAD) mean?

refers to the use of computer hardware and software to produce drawings

The Design Process What is Software?

is the programs which make the equipment function

The Design Process What is Hardware?

Describes the computer equipment. This includes input devices which allow the designer to enter information into the computer Example of this device are: keyboard, mouse, pen plotter, and more!!

The Design Process What is Video imaging?

is a technique that uses computer technology to superimpose a landscape design over a photo of the customers undeveloped landscape

Video software may include a scanner, a special camera, input device, or a video input device

The Design Process Drawing the Plan:

Drafting equipment should be inexpensive. Many designers prefer to draw plans by hand.

The Design Process When Drawing a plan you must have the

following: Drawing board T- Square Drawing paper Drafting Tape Drawing pencils Triangles Eraser and erasure shield Scale

The Design Process Continue of drawing materials used:

Circle template Compass French Curves Ames Lettering instrument

The Design Process What is a drawing board?

The surface of the drawing board must be smooth and the minimum

size is 20’’ X 24’’

The Design Process What is a T- Square?

This is a working edge the must be straight and 90 degrees to the edge of the drawing board

The Design Process What is a drawing paper?

White vellum or tracing paper is commonly used. Drawing paper is translucent as the lines can bee seen through the paper. You will then tape the paper to the drawing board by the corners.

The Design Process What is Drafting Tape?

Is used to secure the drawing paper because it is less sticky than masking tape

The Design Process What are Drawing pencils?

Must select a medium grade pencil . Like 3H, 2H, H, F, HB and B. 3H grade pencils have a harder lead than a B pencil and thus provides a lighter line When using the pencil you must roll the pencil between your thumb and forefingers for a more uniform line

The Design Process What about Triangles?

Two triangles commonly used are the 45 degree and the 30 degree

The Design Process What is the Eraser and Erasure shield?

Use these to remove unwanted lines. The erasure shield is a thin metal plate used to protect lines while erasing.

The Design Process What is a scale?

The architect’s scale can easily be used for scale measurement of 1/16 or 1/8 and ¼

The engineer’s scale is divided by tenths and is used to produce 1/10, 1/20, 1/50, 1/100 scale drawings

The Design Process What is a circle template?

It is used as a guide to draw circles and curves on the landscape plan.

The Design Process What is a compass?

it is used to make large circles and curves not possible using a circle template

The Design Process What are French Curves?

Irregular curves can be drawn.

The Design Process What is Ames Lettering instrument?

instrument used to draw light parallel guidelines for lettering

Site Analysis The site analysis plan is a piece of paper

with an accurate sketch of the house and lot on which observations are recorded.

Some of the features to be notes on a site analysis plan follow are: Orientation of the House The lay of the land

Site Analysis Cont..

Soil Existing Vegetation Natural Features Climate Views

Site Analysis Orientation of the House

Need to know your directions N,S, E, W Locating the activity areas of the land. Need to know how much shade an area gets Need to know how much wind exposure the

area gets.

Site Analysis The lay of the land:

Need to know about hills, valleys, and flat areas

Need to know the slope or grade of the land Need to know about the drainage of the land

Site Analysis Soil:

Need to know the soil texture which is the proportion of different sized particles in the soil like sand, silt, and clay.

Need to know the soil structure is the arrangement of the soil aggregates in the soil

Topsoil is the soil found near the surface and is the most valuable for healthy plant growth

Site Analysis Soil Cont… Need to know about the subsoil which is a lighter

colored soil below the topsoil Soil is classified into horizons

A horizon is the topsoil that has humus, roots, organisms in it

B horizon is the subsoil that has fine particles, leached materials , and some roots

C horizon is the Parent Material where there is weathered bedrock and some leached materials

R horizon is the Bedrock underlying solid rock

Site AnalysisExisting Vegetation:

This include the existing vegetation in the site.

What is a Native plant?

are those naturally and not introduce by people

Site AnalysisExisting Vegetation:

What is ornamental plants?

are those planted by people for the attractive characteristics they possess.

Site Analysis Natural Features What are considered natural features

Rocks Earth Water

These are all that are found on the site .

Site AnalysisClimate

Climate is broken down into two categories:

Macroclimate

Microclimate

Site Analysis Climate Cont.. Macroclimate concerns the temperature ,

precipitation, humidity and wind over the large areas or region

Microclimate is the temperature, precipitation humidity and wind on the landscape site.

Site Analysis Views

Study and make note on the site analysis plan views to and form the landscape site. Those living in a house will frequently look away from their property to the surrounding areas

In Review Design Steps Step 1 Meet the Customer Step 2 Base Plan Step 3 Family Inventory Survey Step 4 Site Analysis Plan

The End

Any Questions!!!!