LANDSCAPE

DESIGN Lecture # 7

Ar. Samrana Qureshi

FEATURES OF

LANDSCAPE Softscapes

LANDSCAPE FEATURES Soft Landscaping Elements

Comprise elements of ecological sequence or all living things in gardens/parks

Includes: Earth moving and soil enhancement, planting, shrubs, semi mature trees, seeding and turfing, mulching and use of aquatic animals etc

Hard Landscaping Elements Comprise features created through construction

materials

Includes: Patios, paths/ pavings, driveways, retaining walls, fences, gazebos, pots/planters, water features, garden/street furniture, lighting, and sculptures etc

Soft Landscaping Elements

Greenery: Most Integral feature of Landscape

Design

Green spaces: Lungs for Urban Areas

Have been used in ancient times for

decorative/ornamental purposes

Have been used by horticulturist and botanist for

various purposes

Basis of Plants Classification

Ecology

Botany

Horticulture

Aesthetics Value

Growth & Survival

Use of Plants in Design

Ecology

Considered as ecological

community

Corresponds to a range of

environmental conditions required

for growth and reproduction of

species

Greatest variety of plants exists in

tropics and least in the arctics

Botany

Botanical nomenclature classifies

plants into families

Plants named in Latin for universal

specification

Latin names useful as common

names vary with location

Horticulture

Useful breakdown for landscape

architecture & design

Uses botanical nomenclature

Classifies as trees, shrubs & Hedges,

climbers & creepers, and ground

cover etc

Aesthetics Value

Color

Form

Size

Texture

Seasonal variation

Growth & Survival

Depends on

Climate

Soil

Watering

Use of Fertilizer

Availability of Light etc

Use of Plants in Design

Selection for

Function

Aesthetics

Environment

Trees Forms

Weeping

Conical/

Columnar

Pyramidal

Rounded/

Oval

Vase

Spreading

Trees - Functional and Visual

Role

Trees for shade

Reduce outdoor temperature

through natural air conditioning effect due to transpiration

Trees with broad canopy cast

large shade patterns, effective for

summers

Trees filter light for comfort of people as well as for flowers and

shrubs that cannot grow in direct

sunlight

Trees for privacy

Hide a view of a bare wall, fence, parking lot or utility/services fixtures and poles, pools, patios etc

Hide a unsightly area such as dumping site or vacant lots

Visually separate various areas of a building complex and closely constructed buildings

Obstructing view of passing vehicles & pedestrians

Trees to be used for screening have to be

considered for their size at maturity, pace of growth, foliage density and persistence of

leaves

Privacy can be achieved through mass tree

plantings with different heights and forms

Shrubs and climbers, mixed with trees can be used for achieving privacy

Temporary & movable screens can be created

by planting small trees and shrubs in containers

Trees for bounding space

An important function of trees is to create outdoor rooms through creating walls & ceilings with tree canopies

Overhead canopies (ceilings) greater than 12 creates open feeling & less than 12 creates intimate spaces

Walls can be created using small trees having dense foliage

Trees while bounding space also provides privacy in addition to allowing outward views

Trees to look upon

Trees for Obstruction, Deflection &

Air Flow Guidance

Trees are used to buffer or direct winds

Trees when planted in long, narrow corridors between the buildings reduce wind tunneling

Trees when used in multiple layers with small

sized trees and shrubs can slow and divert

winds for a greater distance

Important windbreak consideration requires

diverse tree species selection and proper

placement. (Avoiding use of several trees from

one species is recommended)

Trees for filtration

Natural Air Filtration

Absorption of Green house

gases

Carbon Sequestration

Aquifer Recharge

Run off Reduction

Trees as a focal point

Trees to frame a building

Trees can be used to frame

buildings

Trees used for framing should be

avoided in the middle of buildings

and should be used to frame front

or entrances

Trees to focus on a specific

feature

Trees for Cooling Load Reduction

Shade trees can dramatically reduce cooling loads

Planting deciduous trees on South & South-West facing openings blocks summer sun yet allows winter sun to make buildings comfortable (bare-branch shade percentage varies for various species)

Using trellises, arbors and screens on west facing openings can help reducing cooling load during summer

Deciduous Trees with wide upright or vase shaped growth are recommended

Trees for enhancement of view

Softens architecture especially corners of

buildings

Breaking monotony of facades

Improving view between buildings and parking

lots

Enhance visual quality of landscape their size,

color, texture and form

Climbers & Creepers

Climbers are plants with soft stems that grow and

climb up with some support (other plant, trellis or wall) to reach sunlight

Creepers creep along soil or wall surface and

spread to longer distances becoming a cover,

screen and shade

Many climbers and creepers are flowering and thus soften and hide ugly materials and outlines

Climbers & creepers are commonly used for

pergolas, arches, porches and pillars

Annual climbers/creepers usually grow flowers and

complete cycle in 1 year

Perennial climbers/creepers grow and flower for

several years

Foliage climbers/creepers grow where flowering

climbers/creepers fail to grow due to lack of

sunlight

Shrubs & Hedges

o Shrubs are low height plants or bushes differentiated

from trees through multiple stems and low height

o Shrubs are available in various colors and forms

o Flowering shrubs are quite common

o Dwarf trees: Shrubs of low height and compact foliage

o Small trees: Taller shrubs that can be classified as a small

tree

o Hedges: Shrubs with thick foliage are used as formal or

privacy hedge

o Topiary: Shrubs are often carved in different forms and

used for ornamentation & to create interest

Hedge Gateway

on a side street near Hammersmith Cat-shaped hedge topiary

Impressive topiary at Yew Tree Cottage near to East Harting,

West Sussex, Great Britain

Meikleour beech

hedge World's

tallest hedge.

Planted around

1745; tallest at 120

feet high at

northern end and

80 feet high at

southern end;

average height 100

feet. Now

maintained by the

Meikleour Trust and

trimmed and re-

measured every ten

years. The Beech

Hedge in Spring

The Beech Hedge in Fall

Fedges Living Hedges

Fences are usually made out of non-living

materials including cane, wood, metal, plastic etc.

Hedges are created out of shrubs and small plants

and hence with living material

When a Hedge is not exactly a Hedge and cross

between a hedge and a fence its a Fedge

Fedges: Living fences

Ground Cover

o Making landscape beautiful and bright

o Preventing germination of weed seeds

o Protecting the soil from erosion

o Conserving water

o Insulating the soil from high and low

temperatures

o Providing habitat for beneficial insects

o Building up humus in the soil

Flowers