ELEMENTS OF LANDSCAPE

ELEMENTS OF LANDSCAPE

1. Natural elements & MAN MADE

• Flora, fauna, • Terraces, artificial
streams/pond ponds/ cascades,
plants, etc. lighting, pathways,
pavilions/buildings,
retaining walls etc.

2. TANGIBLE & INTANGIBLE ELEMENTS

• Can be touched, • unable to be touched; not having physical
has physical presence.
presence
• meanings, memories, cultural traditions and
social practices.

3. VISUAL & NON-VISUAL ELEMENTS

• colour • Smell –flowers, earth/soil, herbs, trees- eucalytpus
• Form • Touch –texture of bark, turf/lawn, rocks, water (playfulness), bushes, porous pavers
• texture • Sound – birds, water cascades, wind chimes,
• Events, traditions, practices
Color

Color brings a garden to life by adding dimension and interest. It can

be added with plant material or hard capes, such as paving, walls or
fences. Similar colors can be used to create harmony, while different
colors can be used to create contrast. Additionally, warm colors will
have a different effect than cool colors

Made possible through- paints, seasonal trees,/plants, flowering

plants, materials of different colors & textures, etc.

Ways color can be used in a landscape:

• Draw attention to an important feature (fountain, tree, sculpture,
etc.)
• Blend the outdoors with the colors of the home
• Attract wildlife
• Provide seasonal variety
• Create a mood
Lines

• line refers to the structures within a

landscape—think of the edges of a
walkway or flower bed, or the perimeter
of a patio or deck.

• Straight lines and hard angles will create

a formal look,

• curved lines will create an informal look.

• Vertical lines can be used to pull the eye

up and make a space feel larger. Tall
trees can be used to add vertical lines to
a yard.

• Horizontal lines an make a space feel

bigger by pulling the eye along the
ground. Garden walls, walkways, or small
hedges can be used to add horizontal
lines to a yard.
Texture

texture is added to a garden with plants,

hardscape materials.

Plant texture refers to the fineness or

coarseness, roughness or smoothness,
heaviness or lightness of a particular plant.

A plant's flowers, leaves, bark, and branches

all have texture.

Using plants with different textures is a great

way to create variety in a garden
Form

• The shape or structure of a

plant or object is its form.

• What forms are used is

dependent on the landscape
design theme. For example, a
formal garden should have
tailored forms - clipped hedges
and topiaries,

• an informal garden will have

more natural, flowing forms.
Trees have distinct forms, so this
is a good place to start
PRINCIPLES OF LANDSCAPE DESIGN
Scale & Proportion

In outdoor design,

• scale refers to the size relationship

between elements within the garden
and the surrounding spaces.

• As long as the size choices (of

landscape elements) are suitable for
the setting, the scale of your design will
be appropriate.

• When deciding on the right scale for

plants and landscape structures This moon gate is in perfect proportion to
its setting
consider the size of the building as well
as the available yard space.

• Proportion is the relationship of the width

to the length of an area or the
relationship to parts of an organization.
Focal Point or Emphasis Balance
• Through the use of emphasis, eye • Balance is either formal
movement is directed towards a (symmetrical) or informal
center of interest that takes a position (asymmetrical) in nature.
of prominence in the landscape.
• In formal balance, the mass or
• This could be a single tree, a weight or numbers of objects on
beautifully designed water feature, a either side of a central axis should
piece of sculpture, or a collection of be exactly the same.
plants that automatically draw the
eye to this point of interest. • Plants are frequently clipped, lines
tend to be straight, and edges are
• Open lawn areas, paths and clearly defined. For asymmetrical
strategically placed plants can lead balance, plants should be irregularly
the eye to the principal feature placed on either side of an
without distraction. imaginary axis so that the mass or
weight on either side of the axis
• Plantings should be placed to easily appears to be balanced.
lead the eye to this center of
heightened interest • Curved lines, obscure and merging
edges and natural contours identify
• Secondary features of landscape asymmetry in the garden.
interest can also be created.
Rhythm Repetition

• Rhythm is expressed through the • By repetitiously using identical

placement of plants, park furniture, etc., or similar components
either individually or as group. elsewhere in the landscape, the
designer is able to achieve a
• For example, several benches could be unified planting scheme.
placed at regular indentations along a
shrub border. • However, it is important not to
excessively use any materials
• If every other bench was replaced with too frequently as this could
an attractive piece of sculpture, rhythm lead to monotony.
would be created that would relieve
any monotony from the overuse of one • A delicate balance is necessary
landscape component. to achieve a design that is
visually, functionally and
aesthetically attractive.
 Grouping
Variety
• Much greater appeal is achieved when
odd numbers of plants are used in the
• In terms of landscape, it is landscape.
often important to
remember that a variety of • Groupings of three, five, seven, nine
lines, forms, textures and plants etc., will create a strong feeling of
colours is required in order mass and a bold landscape statement.
to achieve an interesting
landscape. • Plants should be irregularly spaced and
every effort should be made to avoid
placement of plants in an equilateral
• Without variety in both the triangle.
use of ‘hard’ and ‘soft’
landscape materials, this • When grouping, a designer usually starts
can lead to unfavourable with a specimen that establishes the
results. scale of the landscape.

• Around it are grouped slightly less

important plants which complement the
specimen in colour, texture and habit of
growth.
• Planting one of this and one of that will
create a spotty disjointed feeling.
Sequence

• The effective use of sequence is

oftentimes employed to create visual
movement in the landscape.
• It is an important consideration to take
into account in the development of the
overall planting pattern.

• For example, sequence could be an

orderly natural combination of plant
material.

• In this case, low objects would appear in

the foreground, intermediate objects in
the middle ground, and tall objects in the
background.
There are many varieties of
plant materials such as:

•Trees
•Shrubs
•Creepers and climbers
Land covers .etc.

USES

Environmental Architectural
1. Microclimate modifiers 1. Enframement
2. Conservation belt 2. Scale induction
3. Erosion control 3. Creation of plaza
4. Retains ground water 4. Defines pathway
5. Welcoming look and aesthetic appeal to
5. Retains soil fertility
the building
6. Prevents siltation
 Creating outdoor rooms

the elements of outdoor rooms are

composed of plant materials that have a
changing and dynamic, living quality

A small side yard developed into an

intimate strolling garden.
 Water
Water bodies improve the quality and the Uses:
worth of the site.it makes the site attractive.
There are many types of water bodies : 1. Excellent land water interface gives
an ecological home for the animals and
1. Fountains plants.
2. Pools 2. Water runoff reduced.
3. Ponds 3. Microclimate created.
4. Spouts 4. Moisture level maintained.
5. Artificial waterfalls. etc. 5. Wetland, marshes, swampy areas
are conserved.
water features add sound, movement, and 6. Maintaining vegetation into
enjoyment into the landscape. wetlands.
7. Hydrological cycle maintained.
hey also provide opportunities for incorporating 8. Site aesthetics are enhanced
pond and wetland plants into the landscape
design.

The choice and placement of boulders,

stonework, and plantings can link the water
feature with the building and property,
creating a unified landscape composition
 Stones
• Stones are hard,
impermeable,
inorganic elements
used extensively in
landscape
architecture.
• Stones are basically
used for the following

1. Paving
2. Retaining wall
3. Stacked stone wall
4. Sitting
5. Shelters
6. Parapets
7. Bridges
8. Sculptures
9. Planters
10. Bollards
• Stone, offers good, durable, wearing surface with minimum maintenance
required.
• Rubble and ashlars masonry are the two forms of stone used for paving.
• Rubble masonry is rough stone, as it comes from the quarry, but may be
trimmed somewhat where necessary.
• Ashlars masonry is hewed or cut stone from the quarry and is used much more
often than Rubble for the surfacing of the walls

Types of Landscape Stones and their uses

• Retaining Walls--There are many different types of stones that can be used when it
comes to creating retaining walls in the lawn. One may elect to assemble a
retaining wall around a small pond, or even a garden.

• Flagstone-- Flagstone is a very popular choice when it comes to stones that are
used for steps, or simple ornamental design.

• Boulders --Homeowners elect to implement the use of boulders in the decorative

design of their landscaping.
• Marble--Many individuals elect to use marble when decorating their
landscape. Marble can be used to create signs, around or in garden ponds,
and even marble fountains can be purchased in order to bring out the
natural appeal of a pond or garden area. They are also used in sculptures.

• Natural Stone--Natural stone is often a choice

• for small landscaping structures.
• Decorative Stones--Decorative stones are used in pathways or trails to
beautify the garden. Some of them are Royal George, Walnut nuggets,
Beachwood pebbles and many more.

• pebbles
• used for sidewalks, stepping stones used in gardens and stone is also used as
stone lantern in Chinese gardens.