Basic Principles of Landscape Design

1
Basic Principles of Landscape Design
2

• Landscaping combines elements of art and science
  to create a functional, aesthetically pleasing
  extension of indoor living to the outdoors. One
  initial purpose of landscape design is to blend
  man's technology (house or building) into the
  natural surroundings.

3
ART

• A. COLOR
• --colors are combined into color schemes for
  practical applications
• monochromatic
• different tints and shades of one color
• analogous
• combine colors which are adjacent or
  side-by-side on the color wheel
• complementary
• combine colors directly across the color wheel

4

5
ART

• B. LINE
• line is inferred by bed arrangement and the way
  these beds fit or flow together
• also created vertically by changes in plant
  height and the height of tree and shrub canopies
• straight lines tend to be forceful, structural
  and stable and direct the observer's eye to a
  point faster than curved lines
• curved or free-flowing lines are sometimes
  described as smooth, graceful or gentle and
  create a relaxing, progressive, moving and
  natural feeling

6

7
1. Rectilinear Line Form

• Form
• No arching or curved lines
• All lines are straight
• All lines are either parallel or perpendicular to
  one another.
• Style
• The intersections of this grid pattern dictate
  gathering spaces
• Rigid style may create the feeling of cold and
  unwelcoming
• Very formal style typically symmetrical.

8
(No Transcript)
9
(No Transcript)
10
2. Arc and Tangent Line Form

• Form
• A series of arcs connected by straight-line
  tangents
• Only two types of line segments straight
  tangents and arcs
• Arcs may be either circular or elliptical.
• Style
• Less formal may be symmetrical
• Straight-line tangents promote movement
• Curves increase the overall flow within the
  design arc areas promote pause and gathering.

11
(No Transcript)
12
3. Arc and Radii Line Form

• Form
• Two major line segments, straight lines and arcs
  which are a portion of circles and ellipses
• All radii must intersect at right angles, or run
  parallel or perpendicular to each other
• Arcs can be of any length and size.
• Style
• Formal style due to the grid pattern that
  develops
• Arcs tend to promote gathering spaces
• Straight-line segments connecting arcs will often
  promote movement between spaces.

13
(No Transcript)
14
4. Arc and Arc Line Form

• Form
• Utilizes only one type of line segment
• Line segments are always portions of arcs, either
  circles or ellipses
• Circular arcs will have consistent radii.
• Style
• Informal overall design concept
• Configuration of overlapping circles and ellipses
  promotes sharing of space
• Greater space within an arc promotes its use as a
  gathering space.

15
(No Transcript)
16
5. Curvilinear / Bio-morphic / Organic Line Form

• Form
• Line segments consist of only one type of spatial
  edge
• All spatial lines are curving
• All arcs have consistently changing radii.
• Style
• Very informal natural, flowing lines
• Reflects forms found in nature
• Movement of free-form lines in the landscape
  offers more possibility for exploration.

17
(No Transcript)
18
ART

• C. FORM
• form is basically the shape and structure of a
  plant or mass of plants
• structures also have form and should be
  considered as such when designing the area around
  them.

19
(No Transcript)
20
ART

• D. TEXTURE
• describes the surface quality of an object than
  can be seen or felt structures also have form and
  should be considered as such when designing the
  area around them
• surfaces in the landscape includes buildings,
  walks, patios, groundcovers and plants

21
ART

• E. SCALE
• refers to the size of an object or objects in
  relation to the surroundings surfaces in the
  landscape includes buildings, walks, patios,
  groundcovers and plants
• size refers to definite measurements while scale
  describes the size relationship between adjacent
  objects
• the size of plantings and buildings compared on
  the human scale must be considered

22
(No Transcript)
23
PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN

• A. UNITY
• means that all parts of the composition or
  landscape go together they fit
• can be achieved by using mass planting and
  repetition

24
PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN

• B. BALANCE
• symmetrical balance is achieved when one side of
  the design is a mirror image of the other side
• asymmetrical balance uses different forms, colors
  and textures to obtain balance of visual
  attraction

25
(No Transcript)
26
PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN

• C. TRANSITION
• gradual change
• transition can be obtained by the arrangement of
  objects with varying textures, forms, or sizes in
  a logical sequential order

27
PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN

• D. PROPORTION
• refers to the size of parts of the design in
  relation to each other and to the design as a
  whole
• relates to people and their activities

28
(No Transcript)
29
STEPS IN DESIGN

• 1. Develop a site plan
• --it is difficult to visualize certain aspects
  of design without putting it to scale on paper

30
STEPS IN DESIGN

• 2. Conduct a site analysis
• --it is difficult to visualize certain aspects
  of design without putting it to scale on paper
• existing plants
• natural factors and features
• --examples include building orientation, soil
  conditions, rainfall distribution, seasonal wind
  pattern and micro-climatic conditions
• land form

31
(No Transcript)
32
STEPS IN DESIGN

• 3. Assess needs
• a landscape should be an outdoor extension of
  indoor living areas
• should be functional and provide space for
  activities

33
STEPS IN DESIGN

• 4. Locate and design activity areas
• (1) place outdoor areas in relation to indoor
  activity areas the outdoor living or
  entertaining area should be an extension what
  goes on indoors
• (2) arrange areas relative to the activities in
  each and activities on adjoining property

34
STEPS IN DESIGN

• 4. Locate and design activity areas
• bubble diagrams are used to define spaces within
  the landscape
• each space will receive specific attention during
  the landscape design process
• spaces are frequently defined by the function
  that will take place in them

35
(No Transcript)
36
(No Transcript)
37
STEPS IN DESIGN

• 5. Plant selection and placement
• plants are selected on the basis of climatic
  adaptability to the microclimate of the location,
  plant architecture and availability
• desirable plants are those resistant to or
  tolerant of pests like mites, scale, nematodes,
  borers, root rots, etc.
• plants in some locations must be tolerant of
  human abuse, air pollution and animals.

38

• Dewayne L. Ingram, former professor and extension
  horticulturalist, Environmental Horticulture
  Department, Cooperative Extension Service,
  Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences,
  University of Florida, Gainesville FL 32611.

39
A more sustainable order of considerations would
be

• Functional
• Maintainable
• Environmentally Sound
• Cost Effective
• Visually Pleasing

40
1. FUNCTIONAL

• A functional landscape allows for the easy
  accomplishment of movement, work, recreation and
  leisure that occurs in and around the landscape.

41
(No Transcript)
42
2. MAINTAINABLE

• The functional and maintainable considerations
  are closely related. A functional design has more
  to do with the users of the landscape while a
  landscape that is maintainable is easier for
  landscape managers to take care of
• A maintainable landscape also reduces the need
  for inputs such as fertilizers, pesticides,
  equipment, water and other things.

43
(No Transcript)
44
3. ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND

• A philosophy of "right plant right place" as well
  as "right plant right purpose" can dictate the
  amount of environmental, disease, and insect
  stress that a plant can tolerate.