Chapter 9Chapter 9

Landscape Design Landscape Design

Three major influences that have Three major influences that have shaped American attitudes toward shaped American attitudes toward landscaping:landscaping:– Formal tradition of 16Formal tradition of 16thth and 17 and 17thth century century

Europe.Europe.– Naturalism of the 18Naturalism of the 18thth century England. century England.– Nature symbolism of the orient.Nature symbolism of the orient.

Naturalism gardens tore out the formal, Naturalism gardens tore out the formal, symmetrical gardens with zeal and replaced symmetrical gardens with zeal and replaced them with lakes and islands, rolling hills, them with lakes and islands, rolling hills, pastoral lawns, grazing animals, and added pastoral lawns, grazing animals, and added such picturesque touches as manufactured such picturesque touches as manufactured “ruins,” dead trees, hermits’ cottages, and “ruins,” dead trees, hermits’ cottages, and vistas toward distant templates.vistas toward distant templates.

Landscape Design is the arrangement of Landscape Design is the arrangement of outdoor space in a way that serves the outdoor space in a way that serves the needs and desires of people without needs and desires of people without damage to natural ecological damage to natural ecological relationships.relationships.

To serve the needs and desires of clients, To serve the needs and desires of clients, the landscape designer must take an the landscape designer must take an inventory of their characteristics and inventory of their characteristics and their attitudes toward the landscape their attitudes toward the landscape sight.sight.

Site Analysis and what it may include:Site Analysis and what it may include:

Dimension of the lot Dimension of the lot Topography Topography GeologyGeology HydrographyHydrography Existing vegetationExisting vegetation Existing buildings Existing buildings Location of utility lines Location of utility lines

and pipes above and and pipes above and below groundbelow ground

Soil analysisSoil analysis

Historic importanceHistoric importance Directional orientationDirectional orientation Established circulation Established circulation

patternspatterns Proximity to roads, Proximity to roads,

public transportation, public transportation, or waterwaysor waterways

Views from siteViews from site Views toward siteViews toward site Problem areasProblem areas Prevailing wind Prevailing wind

direction and velocitydirection and velocity

Topography- the term used to describe the Topography- the term used to describe the elevationelevation variations.variations.

Geology- the term used to describe rock Geology- the term used to describe rock formations, including the bedrock base.formations, including the bedrock base.

Hydrography- the term used to describe Hydrography- the term used to describe the surface and underground water.the surface and underground water.

A complicated terrain to be landscaped may A complicated terrain to be landscaped may require the services of an engineering firm to require the services of an engineering firm to produce a detailed survey.produce a detailed survey.

Many designers use a checklist to summarize the Many designers use a checklist to summarize the characteristics of each site.characteristics of each site.

The average home is divided into four areas, each The average home is divided into four areas, each having a different function.having a different function.

The public area is where guests are received. It The public area is where guests are received. It includes the front door and the entrance hall.includes the front door and the entrance hall.

The general living area is where most of The general living area is where most of the daily family interaction occurs and the daily family interaction occurs and where friends are entertained.where friends are entertained.

The service area is where the utilization The service area is where the utilization functions of the family are carried out. functions of the family are carried out.

The private living area is used for personal The private living area is used for personal aspects of family life.aspects of family life.

As with the home, the residential As with the home, the residential landscape has three or four different landscape has three or four different areas to accommodate different uses. areas to accommodate different uses. They include:They include:– The public area- between the house and The public area- between the house and

street. It is the area everyone crosses to street. It is the area everyone crosses to approach the house. The public area serves approach the house. The public area serves two functions: to direct traffic to the two functions: to direct traffic to the entrance of the home and to place the house entrance of the home and to place the house in an attractive setting when viewed from in an attractive setting when viewed from the street.the street.

– The family living area- usually located at the The family living area- usually located at the rear of the house and often to the sides as rear of the house and often to the sides as well. It is the area where games are played, well. It is the area where games are played, where the patio and pool may be found, where the patio and pool may be found, where friends are entertained and barbecues where friends are entertained and barbecues held, and where the family members relax.held, and where the family members relax.

– The private living area- is not found in all The private living area- is not found in all landscapes. Where it does occur, it is the site landscapes. Where it does occur, it is the site for activities such as a quiet conversation, sun for activities such as a quiet conversation, sun bathing, and hot tubs. It is usually limited to bathing, and hot tubs. It is usually limited to the use of the family members.the use of the family members.

– The service area- contains the trash and The service area- contains the trash and garbage cans, utility sheds for storage of garbage cans, utility sheds for storage of garden tools, compost piles, vegetable garden tools, compost piles, vegetable gardens, clothes lines, and similar items. It is gardens, clothes lines, and similar items. It is always screened from the view.always screened from the view.

Improper design decisions can often be Improper design decisions can often be avoided by application of the outdoor room avoided by application of the outdoor room concept.concept.

Simplicity in the design usually dictates that Simplicity in the design usually dictates that separate elements be given less emphasis separate elements be given less emphasis than massed elements, fussy bedlines be than massed elements, fussy bedlines be replaced with gentle curves or straight lines, replaced with gentle curves or straight lines, and maintenance-free materials be usedand maintenance-free materials be used

By massing plant species into groups, By massing plant species into groups, attention is not derived to each individual attention is not derived to each individual plant.plant.

Rhythm and line bring a feeling of Rhythm and line bring a feeling of continuity to the landscape.continuity to the landscape.

Balance is a visual quality of the Balance is a visual quality of the landscapers design. In theory, it puts the landscapers design. In theory, it puts the landscape on a seesaw and requires that landscape on a seesaw and requires that each side have the same visual weight.each side have the same visual weight.

The three types of balance are: The three types of balance are: symmetrical, asymmetrical, and symmetrical, asymmetrical, and proximal/distal.proximal/distal.

SymmetricalSymmetrical is when one side of the is when one side of the landscape is an exact duplicate of the otherlandscape is an exact duplicate of the other

AsymmetricalAsymmetrical is when one side of the is when one side of the landscape has the same visual mass as the landscape has the same visual mass as the other but doesn’t duplicate it. other but doesn’t duplicate it.

Proximal/distalProximal/distal is when the on-site landscape is when the on-site landscape is developed to counterbalance the off-site is developed to counterbalance the off-site landscape.landscape.

Each major use area of landscape should Each major use area of landscape should have one focal point.have one focal point.

Focalization is the term used to describe Focalization is the term used to describe when plants are arranged in an when plants are arranged in an asymmetrical manner to move the viewers asymmetrical manner to move the viewers eye toward the entrance, the focal point. eye toward the entrance, the focal point.

With proportion each element of the With proportion each element of the landscape must be the proper size landscape must be the proper size relationship with all other elements. relationship with all other elements.

In proportion, the designer must envision a In proportion, the designer must envision a mature landscape with comfortable, non-mature landscape with comfortable, non-threatening size relationships betweenthreatening size relationships between– Plants and buildingsPlants and buildings– Plants and other plantsPlants and other plants– Plants and peoplePlants and people

The master principle that gives The master principle that gives cohesiveness to the landscape design is cohesiveness to the landscape design is unity.unity.

When plants are used to shape the When plants are used to shape the outdoor room, frame a view , shade a outdoor room, frame a view , shade a patio, or soften a brick wall, their function patio, or soften a brick wall, their function is architectural.is architectural.

When plants solve a problem such as When plants solve a problem such as directing traffic, reducing wind velocity, or directing traffic, reducing wind velocity, or absorbing dust and noise, they are absorbing dust and noise, they are engineering elements. engineering elements.

If plants are valued essentially for their appeal to If plants are valued essentially for their appeal to the senses, through fragrance, sound, color, or the senses, through fragrance, sound, color, or other visual attributes, they are aesthetic other visual attributes, they are aesthetic contributors. contributors.

Hardiness is the term used to describe a plants Hardiness is the term used to describe a plants ability to survive in the winter.ability to survive in the winter.

Blossom color and fragrance are terms used to Blossom color and fragrance are terms used to describe flowering qualities.describe flowering qualities.

Color, edibility, or toxicity are terms used to Color, edibility, or toxicity are terms used to describe fruiting qualities. describe fruiting qualities.

Nutrient requirements, soil composition, and pH Nutrient requirements, soil composition, and pH are terms used to describe soil preferences.are terms used to describe soil preferences.

A list of plants which are suggested for the area A list of plants which are suggested for the area in which the landscaper is working can be in which the landscaper is working can be obtained from the local Cooperative Extension obtained from the local Cooperative Extension Services.Services.

Make visual notes of typical tree shrub Make visual notes of typical tree shrub silhouettes. silhouettes.

Defining the corners of the outdoor room are the Defining the corners of the outdoor room are the corner plantings.corner plantings.

The corner planting has two parts:The corner planting has two parts:– Incurve- most desirable location for an Incurve- most desirable location for an

attractive specimen plant because of its attractive specimen plant because of its natural focal point. natural focal point.

– Outcurve- plants are selected and Outcurve- plants are selected and placed to direct attention even more placed to direct attention even more strongly to the incurve.strongly to the incurve.

The incurve plant is usually the tallest plant in the The incurve plant is usually the tallest plant in the bed.bed.

Line planting is the basic method of forming Line planting is the basic method of forming outdoor walls with plants.outdoor walls with plants.

Foundation plantings were used in the last Foundation plantings were used in the last century in an attempt to hide the unsightly base.century in an attempt to hide the unsightly base.

Outdoor enrichment items may be classified as Outdoor enrichment items may be classified as natural or man-made in origin, and as tangible or natural or man-made in origin, and as tangible or intangible in character. They are elements of the intangible in character. They are elements of the landscape that do not function as wall, ceiling, or landscape that do not function as wall, ceiling, or floor. floor.

Hard pavings are either poured or set into place Hard pavings are either poured or set into place as modular units, and become solid when as modular units, and become solid when installation is complete. installation is complete.

Soft pavings are loose aggregate materials, Soft pavings are loose aggregate materials, sometimes finely particulate like sand, sometimes sometimes finely particulate like sand, sometimes coarsely particulate like crushed stone or brick coarsely particulate like crushed stone or brick chips.chips.

Make a visual comparison of enclosure styles and Make a visual comparison of enclosure styles and materials.materials.

Make a visual comparison of surfacing materials.Make a visual comparison of surfacing materials.

The landscape designer communicates in the The landscape designer communicates in the language of graphics.language of graphics.

The landscape designer uses many of the same The landscape designer uses many of the same tools used by a drafter.tools used by a drafter.

The plan view assumes a vantage point directly The plan view assumes a vantage point directly above the proposed landscape looking down above the proposed landscape looking down perpendicular to the ground.perpendicular to the ground.

The plan view is a collection of symbols that The plan view is a collection of symbols that represent the plants and construction materials to represent the plants and construction materials to be used in the landscape. be used in the landscape.

Advantages and disadvantages of Advantages and disadvantages of plan views.plan views.– Adv.- are easily drawn to scale, Adv.- are easily drawn to scale,

efficiently combine the concepts of the efficiently combine the concepts of the design with necessary mechanics such design with necessary mechanics such as plant spacing, mulch depth, and as plant spacing, mulch depth, and concrete thickness.concrete thickness.

– Disadv.- some clients find it difficult to Disadv.- some clients find it difficult to visualize the symbolic, two dimensional visualize the symbolic, two dimensional drawing in three dimensions.drawing in three dimensions.

Fourteen steps in the development of a Fourteen steps in the development of a residential plan:residential plan:

1. Analyze the characteristics of the site1. Analyze the characteristics of the site 2. Determine the needs of the clients2. Determine the needs of the clients 3. Match client needs and site capabilities 3. Match client needs and site capabilities

as closely as possible, allowing new needs as closely as possible, allowing new needs to be suggested by the site’s potential for to be suggested by the site’s potential for development.development.

4. Select a scale that allows the site to be 4. Select a scale that allows the site to be reproduced on paper, including lot, reproduced on paper, including lot, buildings, and existing featuresbuildings, and existing features

5. Assign use areas to appropriate regions 5. Assign use areas to appropriate regions of the property. Lay out the areas with of the property. Lay out the areas with wide angles to avoid the creation of wide angles to avoid the creation of narrow, tight, and impractically shaped narrow, tight, and impractically shaped spaces. spaces.

6. Select focal points and locate them within 6. Select focal points and locate them within the use areas.the use areas.

7. Shape each use area in a way that directs 7. Shape each use area in a way that directs attention to the focal point and relates it to attention to the focal point and relates it to adjoining use areas. You may have to try adjoining use areas. You may have to try numerous possibilities before you are numerous possibilities before you are satisfied.satisfied. Lightweight vellum can be taped Lightweight vellum can be taped over the drawing to eliminate the need to over the drawing to eliminate the need to erase as ideas are tired and rejectederase as ideas are tired and rejected

8. Retaining the shapes from the step above, 8. Retaining the shapes from the step above, convert the lines to planting beds and other convert the lines to planting beds and other outdoor wall elements. It is important to outdoor wall elements. It is important to determine the location of the walls before determine the location of the walls before considering specific plants or other materials.considering specific plants or other materials.

9. Define the function to be served by each 9. Define the function to be served by each plant in the design. The function directs and plant in the design. The function directs and restricts the choice of species.restricts the choice of species.

Cont.’dCont.’d 10. Select plant species that will fill the 10. Select plant species that will fill the

roles defined for them, and symbolize roles defined for them, and symbolize them with their mature size and plant them with their mature size and plant type.type.

11. Select enclosure, surfacing, and 11. Select enclosure, surfacing, and enrichment items that complement the enrichment items that complement the total design. total design.

12. Label all elements of the plan. Keep 12. Label all elements of the plan. Keep the lettering on or near the symbols. the lettering on or near the symbols.

13. Compile a list of all plant species used 13. Compile a list of all plant species used and the total number needed of each.and the total number needed of each.

14. Trace the design, eliminating all 14. Trace the design, eliminating all unnecessary guidelines, on heavy vellum, unnecessary guidelines, on heavy vellum, film, or cloth, using a hard lead pencil or film, or cloth, using a hard lead pencil or technical pen.technical pen.