Landscape Principles

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Landscape Principles

• Concepts
• Applications

By Andy TenHuisen June 2002 Georgia Agricultural
Education Curriculum Office
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Principles of Landscape Design

1. Balance
2. Simplicity
3. Focalization
4. Rhythm Line
5. Scale Proportion

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Which do you like?

• Why do you like that one?
• What makes it different from the other?
• Does this relate anything at all to a haircut?

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Why dont you like this house?

• How do you tell another person why you dislike
  this house?
• Can you put into words what needs to be done to
  improve this houses curb appeal?

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Lets take a look and find out what words you can
use to better describe what you like
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Balance

• Means equilibrium
• Visual weight of the landscape is equal
• Unbalanced objects cause the viewer to be uneasy
  and confused
• Two types of balance can be used in the landscape

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Symmetrical Balance

• Mirror image
• Used more for formal architecture
• Visual weight is balanced

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Which house has symmetrical balance?
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Asymmetrical Balance

• Visual weight is balanced but not mirror images
• Used more in informal architecture

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Home landscapes lacking balance are unappealing
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Simplicity

• Should be soothing to the eye not busy
• No competing objects
• Minimal plant variety
• No scalloped bed lines gentle curves
• Repetition
• Mass Plantings

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Repetition

• Repeating shapes helps maintain simplicity

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Mass Plantings

• Large beds of one plant variety achieve simplicity

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Simple Design

• Using minimal plant variety
• Gentle curving bed lines
• Repetition

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What characteristics of simplicity are achieved
here?

• Curved bed lines
• Minimal plant variety
• No competing objects
• Not busy

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Focalization

• Visual importance
• One item appears to dominate
• Dont have competing focal points
• Draws attention

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Front Door

• The front door should be the focal point of the
  landscape

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Accenting the Front Door

• Using brass kick plate
• Use lights and lighting fixtures
• Sidewalks lead eye to door

• Using porticos
• Stained glass
• Vertical elements
• Small flower beds

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Front Doors
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Wheres the front door?
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Rhythm Line

• What is rhythm?
• How to achieve rhythm?
• What lines are we concerned with?
• Sequencing?

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Rhythm

• Landscapes have rhythm just as music has rhythm
• Music has a beat (count)
• Music has repetition of notes in the same scale
• Landscapes have rhythm by a repetitious count of
  textures/form/color

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Rhythm

• Repeating plant form/color/texture throughout the
  entire landscape

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Rhythm

• Tying areas together
• Continuity
• Gradual changes

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Line

• What the eye follows
• Everything has a line
• Tree outlines
• Bed lines
• Patios Decks
• Buildings
• Gradual changes of line are most appealing

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Lines
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Bed lines
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Vertical Lines

• Vertical lines draw attention
• Create a sense of tension and nervousness
• Tend to exaggerate

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Horizontal Lines

• Horizontal lines create a sense of warmth and
  tranquility
• Do not draw attention

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Sequencing

• Positioning objects according to size
• Small medium large
• Provide a smoother line for the eye to follow
• Provide views of all plants
• Help create horizontal lines

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Sequencing
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Lacking Rhythm Line
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Scale Proportion

• Large objects dwarf other objects
• Large objects tend to be overpowering and cause
  uneasiness
• Large objects used with large structures create
  proportion

• Small objects create a feeling of warmth and
  serenity
• Small objects enhance or exaggerate other objects
• Dwarfed plants should be used with smaller
  landscapes

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Proportionately Correct
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Incorrect Scale
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Large plants in front of house help dwarf the
house
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Review of Principles

1. Balance
2. Simplicity
3. Focalization
4. Rhythm Line
5. Scale Proportion

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Symmetrical Balance
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Asymmetrical Balance
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Unbalanced
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Simplicity

• Gentle curves and lines
• Repetition of plants
• Mass plantings

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Simplicity

• One focal point
• Same texture
• Horizontal lines

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No Simplicity
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Focalization

• One focal point
• No competing elements
• Vertical lines help draw attention
• Changes in form

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Rhythm Line

• Bed lines tie areas together
• Horizontal lines create a feeling of warmth
• Repetition provides continuity
• Simplistic designs create rhythm

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Scale Proportion

• Using plants in size relationship to complement
  rather than offend
• Larger plants are overpowering and create
  uneasiness
• Smaller plants generate warmth

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Lets take a look at some more desirable
landscapes
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Lets take a look at some designs lacking good
landscaping principles
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Conclusion

• Remember landscaping is an art
• Principles should be followed to create a sense a
  beauty
• The most exquisite landscapes generally are the
  most simplistic in design
• The brain imports information from senses. Dont
  overwhelm the brain with excessive visual inputs!

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The End!