LANDSCAPE DESIGN Lecture-2

B Y: G IFT Y M AT H E W O S
The Practice of Landscape Architecture
Since World War II, the landscape architecture has diversified
and there appears to be four clearly definable and related
types of practice.
1. Landscape Evaluation and Planning
2. Site Planning
3. Detailed landscape design
4. Urban design
Landscape evaluation and planning
 It is concerned with the systematic study of large areas of land
and has a strong ecological and natural science base in addition
to a concern for visual quality.

Site planning
 is the process in which the characteristics of the site and the
requirements of the program for its use are brought together in
creative synthesis.
Detailed landscape design
 the process through which specific quality is given to the spaces
and area of the site plan. It involves the selection of the
components, materials and plants & their combination in three
dimensions as solutions to limited and well defined problems
such as entrance, terrace, amphitheater, parking area and so on.
Urban Design
 It is the setting of the city where government agencies are
involved, the organization of the space between buildings (for
circulation or for public use).
Theory of landscape architecture
There are 5 components of theory in landscape architecture.
1. Natural process
2. Human factors
3. Methodology
4. Technology
5. Values
6. Aesthetics and Visual quality
Recap
 HISTORY AND THEORY OF LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE
 Western civilization
 Greece
 Rome
 Medieval Europe
 Japanese Garden
 Chinese Garden
 Landscape Garden in England
 French Baroque
ELEMENTS AND PRINCIPLES OF LANDSCAPE Lecture-2

B Y: G IFT Y M AT H E W O S
Session Objective

I. Identify and describe the four steps in the design

process.
II. Recognize and explain the key elements and
principles of design in the context of landscaping.
III. Demonstrate the ability to apply the elements and
principles of design in a scaled landscape area.
IV. Create a cohesive and visually appealing landscape
design using the principles discussed.
The Design Process

I. Site Analysis
• Site analysis (Step 1) begins with a base plan or base map and an
inventory of what already exists on the property

II. General Use of Space

• Second Step in landscape design is to organize the outdoor living area
to meet needs and desires
• There are three major areas in the landscape: the public area, the
private area, and the service area.

III. Principles of Design

IV. Putting Ideas on Paper
Elements of Landscape Design

The five elements of landscape design include:

I. Color - It is important to use a complementing

color scheme throughout the yard.
II. Line - Linear patterns are used to direct
physical movement and to draw attention to
areas in your garden.
 Elements of landscape design continued…

Line

 Continuity of a landscape
 Flow of the landscape
• Straight lines = direction change
• Curved lines= relaxed movement
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I. K

II. L

III. Form

Form can be expressed through trees and shrubs of various shapes and
sizes which create natural patterns.
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Form

 Geometric shape or
combination of shapes
 Elements of landscape design continued…

I. K

II. L

III. v

IV. Texture

Plants with varying textures can add to the atmosphere of your

outdoor area.
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Texture

• Coarse or fine materials used.

• Examples size differences of:
Leaves

Stones

Brick

Bark
 Elements of landscape design continued…

I. K

II. L

III. L

IV. I

V. Scale - Your outdoor design should balance the size of the

buildings it surrounds, while maintaining a comfortable
environment for the individuals who will use the area.
The following three elements relate to the non visual senses.

 Sound-Auditory Perception Having a profound effect on the way we experience

space, sounds can be loud or soft, natural or artificial, pleasant or noisy, and
soon.
 Fragrance-Olfactory Perception In landscape design the scent of flowers, leaves,
or needles most often stimulates our sense of smell, but a wide range of
pleasant and unpleasant olfactory perceptions exist.
 Touch-Tactile and Kinesthetic Perception Through skin contact we receive a
variety of sensations-hot and cold, smooth and rough, sharp and blunt, soft and
hard, wet and dry, sticky, malleable, and so on. Kinesthetic feelings relate to
movement and are sensed through pressure on our body and also through the
balance mechanisms in our ears.
Principles of Design

• Principles of design- Standards by which designs can be created, measured,

discussed and evaluated.
Principles of Landscape Design
 Artistic (Design) principles guide our artistic expression.
 Some are abstract – they can guide your thinking.
 THEY ARE:
1. Balance
2. Proportion
3. Simplicity
4. Variety
5. Unity
6. Sequence
Principles of Landscape Design

Balance:
 A state of equilibrium, equality in weight, value or importance.
Principles of Landscape Design

Balance: Even distribution of materials on opposite sides of

a central axis.
• Symmetric – both sides are identical (mirror image).

• Asymmetric – visual weight on opposite sides is the same, but materials used and
their placement may vary.
• Proximal/Distal – Same as asymmetric with depth in the field of vision added.
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Balance:
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Balance:
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Symmetric: Formal Balance

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Asymmetric: Informal Balance

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Proximal / Distal:
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Balance:
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Balance:

 Within the framework of either symmetry or asymmetry,

Mass Collection is one other method for establishing
order in a design composition
 Principles of Landscape Design continued

Balance:

 Mass Collection – Creates Order

Plants are separated and scattered Plants are grouped together in masses
 Principles of Landscape Design continued

Balance:
 Mass Collection – Creates Order

Similar plants are separated with in the masses

Similar plants are grouped together

within the masses
 Principles of Landscape Design continued

Proportion[Scale]
 is the way things relate to each other with respect to size (big-
medium-little).
 When it is obvious it's clear when something is
disproportionate.
 In residential design we want elements that are in proportion
to each other.
 Much difference in size creates dissonance; unable to reconcile
one element with another.
 Principles of Landscape Design continued

Proportion[Scale]

 If you have huge elements and small elements you will need something in
the intermediate range to bring them together.
 Very large is intimidating. We generally don't want that in residential
design. You want to make people feel welcome. Bring things down to
human scale.
 Principles of Landscape Design continued

Proportion
 Concerned with size relationship between all the features of the
landscape.
 Principles of Landscape Design continued

Proportion

Disproportionate Proportionate
 Principles of Landscape Design continued

Proportion

Is it Proportionate or Disproportionate?
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Proportion

Is it Proportionate or Disproportionate?
 Principles of Landscape Design continued

 Simplicity
• Seeks to make the viewer feel comfortable within the landscape.
 Principles of Landscape Design continued

 Simplicity

• Limiting change or variation.

• Achieved by repetition of ideas.

• If we start saying yes to too many things in the landscape we will have
problems.

• One of the most common errors in landscapes is that we try to do too

much. Too many different kinds of plants.
 Principles of Landscape Design continued

 Simplicity

• Best to reduce the number of themes. The viewer needs to experience

the landscape as one thing at a time.

• However too much simplicity = Monotony

Monotype planting
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 Simplicity

Simple but monotonous

Simple but not monotonous

 Principles of Landscape Design continued

Variety

 VARIETY is more like one thing that stands out

among other things. It engages the viewer with
what's going on.
 You can group things together to make a unit.
Important to have something unexpected -
something that adds a focal point, interest.
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Variety

Too much variety causes visual confusion

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Variety

Too little variety causes monotony

 Principles of Landscape Design continued

Variety

Careful use of variety allows emphasis to be placed where desired

 Principles of Landscape Design continued

Variety

Absence of monotony
Variety adds spice, adds interest
Too much variety = confusion

Simple Varied
Monotony Confusion
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 Unity

 The master principle combining all other principles.

 Total design
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 Unity

 Tying the landscape together.

 Unity can be established by the following:

Dominance
Repetition
Interconnection
Unity of three
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 Unity

Dominance: An accent or focal point

 Principles of Landscape Design continued

 Focalization
• Selects and positions visually strong items into landscape.

• Catches and draws viewer to key feature in landscape.

• Hardscapes
• Color movement
• Unique plant
• or Specimen plant
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 Unity

Repetition: Selected plant material should be

repeated throughout the landscape.
 Principles of Landscape Design continued

 Unity

Repetition: Selected plant material should be

repeated throughout the landscape.
 Principles of Landscape Design continued

 Unity

Interconnection: When interconnection is utilized

the eye can move smoothly from one element to
another.
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 SEQUENCE (Rhythm):

 An orderly progression.
 From horizontal to rounded to vertical
- from low spreading plants to vertical
plants.
 Here to there. Near to far. Turf-
shrubs-trees.
 Sequence can help the eye move
from one area to another.
 Principles of Landscape Design continued

 SEQUENCE (Rhythm):
can be achieved through repetition and alternation
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SEQUENCE (Rhythm):

• Rhythm and Line: When something repeats itself enough times with a
standard distance between repetitions, rhythm is established.
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SEQUENCE (Rhythm):

• can be achieved through the graduation in size and type of plants used.
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Harmony in the landscape is a situation that

exists when all the 6 design principles work together.
Thank you