Ha-ha

A ha-ha is a recessed landscape design element that creates a vertical barrier while preserving an uninterrupted view of the landscape beyond.

The design includes a turfed incline which slopes downward to a sharply vertical face, typically a masonry retaining wall. Ha-has are used in landscape design to prevent access to a garden, for example by grazing livestock, without obstructing views. In security design, the element is used to deter vehicular access to a site while minimizing visual obstruction.

The name "ha-ha" derives from the unexpected (i.e., amusing) moment of discovery when, on approach, the vertical drop suddenly becomes visible.

Origins

Before mechanical lawn mowers, a common way to keep large areas of grassland trimmed was to allow livestock, usually sheep, to graze the grass. A ha-ha prevented grazing animals on large estates from gaining access to the lawn and gardens adjoining the house, giving a continuous vista to create the illusion that the garden and landscape were one and undivided. The ha-ha fit well with Chinese gardening ideas of concealing barriers with nature, but its European origins predate the European discovery of Chinese gardening.

Haha

Haha or ha ha is the sound of laughter.

Haha, ha ha , Ha Ha or Ha! Ha! may also refer to:

Places

People

Arts and entertainment

Other uses

Ha Ha (album)

Ha Ha is the 9th studio album by Charged GBH released in 2002 on Go-Kart.

Track listing

Ha! Ha! River

Ha! Ha! is a river in Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean, Quebec, Canada.

References