LANDSCAPE

UNIT 2 – ELEMENTS IN LANDSCAPE DESIGN
ELEMENTS OF LANDSCAPE DESIGN:

• Hard & Soft Landscape Elements
• Plant Materials
•Classification
•Characterization
•Use & Application in Landscape
• Water
• Landform
ELEMENTS OF LANDSCAPE DESIGN
The basic elements can help us do the following:
• the process of landscaping

• create the desired visual look for the landscape.
The basic elements are:
• Hardscape Elements
• Softscape Elements Hardscape Elements
• Plant materials
• Water
• Landform
Softscape Elements
A thorough knowledge of the basic components

Understanding of the design elements and the principles
Careful attention to details, Helps the designers to come Landform and Water
up with a scheme for the landscape.
HARDSCAPE ELEMENTS
Hardscape is the term used for the landscape-elements that are the hard or non- living
features in the landscape. Following is a list of common Hardscape elements:
• Pathways
• Patio
• Edging
• Boulder
• Decks
• Gazebo & Pergola
• Outdoor entertainment areas
• Retaining Walls
• Lighting
Pathways as the name suggests, helps
Pavements may be comprised of: in movement through the outdoor
space.
• Brick masonry paving
• Tile paver pattern The pathway can be paved with::
•Textured concrete pattern
• stone sett pattern
• stone pavers
Brick Masonary Tile Paver
• concrete paver patterns
Stone Stone Sett Textured Concrete Concrete Pavers

Patios:
A very common element today is the patio. A patio is an area
made of hard surface materials that provide the floor for an
outdoor living area.
Common materials are

• Pavers, Paver
• Poured concrete,
• Crushed rock and
• Natural stone
• Wood
Wooden Floor Poured Concrete
Natural Stone Natural Stone Crushed Stone

Retaining Wall:
Retaining walls are used to change the grade or
level of an area. Where there are
slopes, retaining walls are used to restrain the
grade and level sloping areas.
They help level areas for patios and

other outdoor living and recreational areas.
Common materials are modular

blocks, boulders and natural stone. Concrete Modular Block
Natural Stone Natural Stone - Random Boulders

Edging:
Edging is used to form edges or barriers around

landscaping elements. Edging is common around
landscape beds, especially foundation bed.
Brick
Edging can be
•Plastic,
•Steel,
•Brick,
•Concrete
• Natural Stone
• Plant Material.
Natural Stone Concrete Block
Plant Material Steel Plastic

Boulder-scaping :
This includes use of boulders or other large

natural stone outcroppings this adds texture and
shape to a landscape.
Deck:
A Deck is an above ground platform usually

made of wood or composite materials to
provide an outdoor living area above
ground level.
Deck:
Gazebos and pergolas
Gazebos and pergolas are the ground structures

used to provide shelter.
A Pergola is an overhead structure used to
provide sun screening.
A Gazebo is usually a structure with a roof and

a sense of wall providing a sense of enclosed
area.
Outdoor Entertainment areas:
Outdoor entertainment area are usually formed around patios and other structures.
The can include outdoor media areas, outdoor fireplaces and other comforts that
were previously only found inside the house.
Other special Features:
A mixture of Hardscape and Softscape elements may be used as special features in

the garden. These may be:
• green houses
• Special Gardens
• Meditation areas, etc.
They may be a part of the total landscape scheme.

SOFTSCAPE ELEMENTS
Soft capes are the living elements of the landscape.
Typically, the soft-scape are :
• Trees,
• Shrubs,
• Perennial and
• Annual flowering plants
• Ground covers
• Creepers
• Narrations
PLANT MATERIALS
PLANTS MATERIAL AS PROCESS
Plant materials are the products of biological processes operating in a specific place and
time. They depend on their context, and over time the community of plants co-evolve
with the specifics of this context.
•Sunlight
•Water
•Nutrients
•Appropriate Temperatures
These are some of the necessary factors for the plants to survive & thrive. Any change in
the amount or character of any of these factors, it becomes a factor that limits the growth
of the plant community.
Sunlight, Water, Nutrient, Environment and other variables together holistically define
Habitat of the plant community.
Change in the environment changes the plant community, Plant community can
also change the environment.

Succession:
Conceptually succession refers to the natural tendency of biological systems to change
over time in response to available energy and resource.
•Successional Pioneers – Colonize Harsh Environments

•Early Successional Community – These have low diversity and are relatively randomly
distributed plants.
•Late Successional Community – these plants depend on the efficiency as an ecological
strata.
UNIT 2 – ELEMENTS IN LANDSCAPE
EL
DESIGN
Early Successional Plant Distribution
Late Successional Community

PLANTS MATERIAL AS RESOURCES:
Planning Resource:
• Visual Component
• Managing Regional Character
• Planning Sense of Place
• Vegetative Corridors.
Design Resource:
• Enclosure
• Screen
• Framing element Reduce Temperatures
• Backdrop
• Reduce temperature
• Induce air flow, etc.
Land Value Screens

Plant size , species, condition and the environmental condition it is available in are
considered and then applied to the weighing factors of the region.
UNIT 2 – PLANTING MATERIALS
Evapotranspiration and
Evaporative Cooling•
Evaporatlve'y
lnduced Airflow
Diverted
Air1tow
Leaf Utter
and Roots Hold
Soli Moisture
PLANTS AND THEIR USES:
Purposes for which plants are used in designing landscape are as follows:
• Basic planting
• Special effects
• Barriers
• Edging
These planting purposes can be achieved with:

• Tree
• Shrubs
• Ground Covers
• Climber
• Aquatic Plants
PLANTS AND THEIR USES
Trees – Basic Planting

Basic planting includes mass planting of
large groups, plantations and woodlands,
which with the topography produce the large
scale spatial arrangement of landscape.
Species selected for this are of the hardy

category.
Hardy plants are species which are

•Plants able to hold their among other
species.
•Grow vigorously
•Post no problems regarding visual
relationships
with other plants.
Indigenous species, established in the local

scenarios are given preferences with respect
to the ecological principles.
Shrub & Ground Cover – Basic Planting:
While considering basic planting for the shrubs & ground cover the following conditions
are to be ascertained:
• Basic planting under full or partial sun
• Basic planting in open
As shrubs used in mass are sometimes used as the under-storey of the plantation of
trees.
And sometimes to perform the same task of the basic tree planting at a smaller scale.
Trees – Special Effects
•Individualistic trees
•Spectacular trees
•Strong in character
•Occupy isolated position
Trees in this category either do not mix in a

visual sense with the other trees or
because of the above mentioned
categories, they are mixed with the basic
planting to accentuate the planting Accentuate planting adds a special effect to the
scheme. planting scheme.
Shrub – Special Effect:
Similar to the choice of trees, but in case of shrubs many in number need to be
planted to attain the desired effect. The effect of sun is to be considered here also.
Trees – Barriers
The first question to be answered while
designing would be barrier for whom?
•Screening unpleasant views
•Dividing landscape to spaces
•Shelter from wind
•Protection against smoke and dust
•Defining plot boundaries
•Noise
For all the above mentioned objectives the

character of the planting needs to be
impenetrability through the medium of :
•Dense foliage
•Tangled twig growth
•Strong to withstand the forces ranged
against the barrier.
http://www.picturethisland.com
Shrub – Barrier:
Shrub planting require much less depth as compared to the tree depth. Pruning in some
case can be considered to either control the growth and increase density
Ground Flora – Woodland Groundcover

Woodland ground cover should be able to take up the shade and drip from shrubs
and trees above. Competition in the soil for nutrient and moisture is also high.
Ground Flora – Open-land Groundcover:

•Vigour in growth to cover the ground quickly.
•Dense Foliage and Twig
•Spreading Habit
•Ability to increase by suckering
Are the few important characters of the Open-land Groundcover.
Colour and texture created by the leaves are desirable.
Ground Flora – Perennials and Annuals

Perennials can be used to naturalize the rough grass area. Colour and height are
the qualities to be considered while designing.
Use of Annuals have diminished due to the high cost of labour. For exhibitions or
temporary plantings annuals are effective and economical also.
Climber
Used primarily for covering walls or pergolas. These are used mainly for decorative
purposes, but can bring down the room temperature effectively if used intelligently.
Aquatic Plants:
For design purposes species can be divided into
•Fully submerged species
•Floating leaves and flowers
The latter can include the sub-aquatic plants growing in the wet conditions also.
PLANTS MATERIAL as a DESIGN ELEMENT:
In designing the plant material can be very a visual element :
• Plant material establishes the visual character of the space

• Plant materials also lend a temporal and sensual character to any space.
• Plant material can also be a environmental indicator.
Visual Aspects Plant Strata & Size

• Line • Large & intermediate trees
• Form • Small and Flowering trees
• Colour • Tall Shrub
• Texture • Intermediate and Low Shrub
• Ground Cover
Temporal Aspects Spatial Issues

• Seasonal Character • Spatial Enclosure
• Growth and Succession • Spatial Type
• Sequential Space • Spatial Depth
• Enframement
• Plant Material & Landform
Visual Aspects
Line
Line character that plant materials introduce can range fom sinuous evolving lines of
nature to the regularly spaced straight and geometric lines of architecture.
Plant material in a straight line can introduce linearity and indicates work of
man.
Line character whether naturalistic or architectonic

Planting to link visually the adjacent structure contribute to the feeling of the space.
Visual Aspects
Form
Fastigiate Plants accentute
the vertical dimension. They
often serve as focal points
in design composition.
Columnar Form are same as

the Fastigiate but are rounder on
the top.
Round Plants, the most

common plants form the bulk
planting in a design
composition. Since they are
non-directional, they provide a
context for the directional forms.
Visual Aspects
Form
Spreading Forms,
accentuate the horizontal.
They can be used to extend
architecture to the site.
Pyramidal Forms, have a formal

architetonic character. They lend
rigidity and permanence to
composition.
Weeping plants generally occur

in wet areas. Their form can be
effective if they are silhouetted
against or allowed to cascade
over architectural forms, or
near water bodies.
Visual Aspects
Form Picturesque Forms are irregular or contorted. They

grow in a context of dynamic natural forces, through
their form, they express forces.
Picturesque forms often serve as an evocative

specimens in the planted landscape.
Form of Individual plants Plant groupings

Plant communities & changes with Succession
Visual Aspects
Form
Naturalistic plant masses are

planted as loosely organized
responses to environmental
criteria.
Bosque is organized on a grid pattern.

It reads as a rectilinear mass from
a distance.
And at close-up, it creates a

formal space articulated by a column
grid of tree trunks. It feels
somewhat architectonic.
Visual Aspects
Colour
Light Green Foliage: Lively, Cheerful, Airy
Dark Green Foliage: Sober, sturdy, grounded.
Flowers – Provides with colour that is varied, dynamic and short lived
Fruits – can contrast or compliment the colour of the foliage Bark, Twig &
Branches – contribute to subtle colour of the plant.

Visual Aspects
Colour
Colours contribute to the

visual interest along with other
factors, so a landscape architect
should realise that the colour is kind
of regional and site specific,
Maple Forest Flame of the Forest

Visual Aspects
Texture
Texture refers to the visual grain or coarseness of a perceived surface
•Leaf size and edge character,
•Twig and branch size,
•Bark articulation,
•Growth habit, and
•Viewing distance
these all influence on visual grain of the perceived surface
Coarse Textured Plants:

•Large Leaves
•Massive Branching
•Loose growth habit
•Stands as focal point when displayed in a background of fine textured
plants.
•Coarse textured plant tend to move towards the viewer making a large
space seem small.
•Should be avoided using in a small space.
Visual Aspects
Visual Aspects
Fine Textured Plants:

Fine Textured Plants:
•Small leaves
•Dense and full growth
•Can be viewed from a small range and never overpower the space.
•Can make the space look larger.
•Can make the space look soft and delicate.
Plant Strata & Size
Strata refers to the horizontal layer constituting a plant community:
• Canopy
• Under-storey
• Shrub and
• Ground Cover
Size refers to the top of the plant canopy.
Large & intermediate trees

Small and Flowering trees
Tall Shrub Intermediate

and Low Shrub
Ground Cover
Plant Strata & Size
Large & intermediate trees - ENCLOSURE
•Large Trees: trees taller than 40 feet

•Intermediate trees : trees taller than 30 feet
These trees form the vegetated mass from outside they create a mass and from within
they form a canopied space though the trunks do not enclose the space.
In architectural sense they

form a space with ceilings
supported on columns but
no walls, i.e. a fairly open
space at eye level.
Large trees enclosing a

space
Plant Strata & Size
Large & intermediate trees – OUTDOOR ROOM
Canopy changes in character with the When the canopy is fairly continuous and
sunlight. Break in the canopy letting in the there is a break in the canopy takes on the
sun light can be a dynamic trait playing character of an outdoor room, open to the
light and shade. This dappled quality of the sky
light is an important feel of being in the
The hard and the direct sun penetrating
wood.
inside creates dynamism
Plant Strata & Size
Large & intermediate trees – MICRO-CLIMATE MODIFIER

As an effective modifier of the micro-climate, large and intermediate trees provide
shade from the high and mid angle sun.
If the edge is not planted and the plant mass relatively shallow then the wind flow is
accelerated and is forced to flow below their canopy
Plant Strata & Size
Large & intermediate trees – ARCHITECTURE
Large and intermediate plants can provide

mass and contribute to large scale
To extend the lines or rhythm of

architecture into the exterior space, tree
trunks can give an architectural character
to the site.
Tree trunks as landscape columns

Plant Strata & Size
Small and Flowering trees – Under-storey trees Trees growing upto 15 - 20 feet
The form and the intensity of flowering of these trees depends on how much sun it
receives.
In open sun the growth is rounder and thicker. And the flowering is more intense.
When canopies are over head the

small tree implies an intimate
space.
When the canopy occurs at eye
level, they provide enclosure to
the space.
Plant Strata & Size
Small and Flowering trees – Under-storey trees
In small or intimate courtyard these trees are

effective as they provide shade and colour
without overpowering the space.
Often can be used as a accent plants
Small trees to lead the eye
They are excellent to provide shade

against the mid and low angel sun. they
are used often on the south-west sides of
the buildings or on the west of the building.
Plant Strata & Size
Tall Shrub
Tall Shrubs grow upto 15 feet in height.

• Provide a strong sense of enclosure and a high degree of privacy.
• Tall shrubs serve as Sculptural elements in a large space.
• Excellent backdrop for display of smaller plants.
• Perform as Excellent screens.
Plant Strata & Size
Intermediate Shrub
Shrubs growing to a height of 3 to 6 feet – Intermediate Shrub
• Low shrubs define and physically separate spaces without blocking vision.
Low Shrub are an weak enclosure element Intermediate Shrub causes strong
enclosure and visual tension
• Intermediate shrubs define and physically separate spaces by blocking

vision.
Plant Strata & Size
Low Shrub
Shrubs growing to a height of 1 to 3 feet – Low Shrub
The shrubs can act as a great

unifying element, linking large
plants, allowing vision to penetrate
through.
Low Shrubs effectively linking odd plant mass

Plant Strata & Size
Ground Cover
•Ground covers are excellent for stabilizing slopes. Slope greater than 25% are
prone to erosion and can be stabilized with ground covers.
•Ground covers can act like low shrub in unifying composition.
•They create a line of visual character and hence provide detail as they overlap
paving or fine turf.
Ground cover as a line

Plant Strata & Size
Where a simple palette of

canopy trees and ground cover
can be effective in unifying the
composition.
A multi storey planting can bring

in interest to an otherwise
boring composition.
Spatial Issues
Spatial issues concerning an architect would be of :
• Enclosure,
• Type of Space,
• Enframement,
• Spatial Depth &
• Relationship Between Plant Material And Landform

Spatial Issues
Spatial Enclosure:
Foliage at eye level blocking the vision - enclose the space.

The trunk of the tree do not imply enclosure but the canopy does.
Partial enclosure create a sense of dynamism.
Overall definition of the space and enclosure are the net visual effect of the various
strata working together.
Space Enclosed by
Ground Plane
Foliage Mass
Articulated by
of Shrubs and Low G.C ., Turf and
Branching Trees Paving
Ceiling Defined by
Overhead Canopy - -
Spatial Issues
Type of Space:
Spatial type can vary in terms of:
Scale (from Intimate to Public) Direction
from Horizontal to Vertical
Enclosure from Fully Enclosed to Open

and Articulated
Plant Material along with the Landform

can form an important design tools.
Spatial Issues
Enframement :
Plant materials because of their form and
shape can be used to enframe a view or
direct the viewers eye line towards the
focal point of the composition.
Plant with their form can enhance the form

Spatial Depth : of the Focal Point
Interest in the Composition is generated
when considered with the
•Foreground
•Middle Ground
•Background
Depth can be Accentuated or Mitigated

Visually space can be foreshortened or
extended, with colour, texture, creating
contrast etc. A multi storey planting can bring in interest
to an otherwise boring composition.
Spatial Issues
Relationshipbetween Plant Material & Landform :
Planting to Obscure Landform Planting to accentuate landform
Sensual Effect :
In Addition to the Visual effect, plant material can be planned for:
• Smell,
• Sound And
• Tactile Characteristics
of the plant material.

Temporal Aspects
Seasonal Character
Based on form and seasonal character plants are grouped into 3 types:
•Deciduous
•Broad leaf evergreen
•Coniferous evergreen
Deciduous usually display 4 different seasonal character:
•Dark and fuller foliage
•Colour change before falling off to ground
•Bare branches and trunks
•New leaves and flower colours.
Evergreen Coniferous are characterized with:

Mixed Planting can be used to
• Needle like leaves throughout the year maintain a balanced look throughout
• Usually dark coloured leaves the year
• Appear massive and solemn
Broad leaf Evergreens are characterized with:
• Foliage tend to be dark, opaque, and somewhat glossy looking.
• They also do not show any much variation in the colour.
• And do not tolerate wide range of temperatures.
Temporal Aspects
Growth & Succession:

Growth and succession pattern become important when considering the final output and
the time-span of the mature landscape.
Early successional materials mature quickly but are short lived. Late successional
materials are slower growing but longer lived.
So while planning a landscape it is desirable to plant a mix of late and early successional
plants. Early successional plants dominate over the first few years and over the time the
late successional materials mature and dominate the landscape.
Sequential Space:
Spaces formed by the vegetated materials must not be considered as stationary. But
spatial sequences while moving through – masses frame view, new spaces opening and
the new masses that changes their roles etc as one moves must also be considered.

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UNIT 2 – ELEMENTS IN LANDSCAPE DESIGN

ELEMENTS OF LANDSCAPE DESIGN:

The basic elements can help us do the following:

• the process of landscaping

The basic elements are:

A thorough knowledge of the basic components

Stone Stone Sett Textured Concrete Concrete Pavers

Common materials are

Wooden Floor Poured Concrete

Natural Stone Natural Stone Crushed Stone

They help level areas for patios and

Common materials are modular

Natural Stone Natural Stone - Random Boulders

Edging is used to form edges or barriers around

Plant Material Steel Plastic

This includes use of boulders or other large

A Deck is an above ground platform usually

Gazebos and pergolas

Gazebos and pergolas are the ground structures

A Gazebo is usually a structure with a roof and

A mixture of Hardscape and Softscape elements may be used as special features in

They may be a part of the total landscape scheme.

Typically, the soft-scape are :

also change the environment.

•Successional Pioneers – Colonize Harsh Environments

Early Successional Plant Distribution

Late Successional Community

Land Value Screens

These planting purposes can be achieved with:

Trees – Basic Planting

Species selected for this are of the hardy

Hardy plants are species which are

Indigenous species, established in the local

Trees – Special Effects

Trees in this category either do not mix in a

Shrub – Special Effect:

For all the above mentioned objectives the

Ground Flora – Woodland Groundcover

Ground Flora – Open-land Groundcover:

Colour and texture created by the leaves are desirable.

Ground Flora – Perennials and Annuals

• Plant material establishes the visual character of the space

Visual Aspects Plant Strata & Size

Temporal Aspects Spatial Issues

Line character whether naturalistic or architectonic

Columnar Form are same as

Round Plants, the most

Pyramidal Forms, have a formal

Weeping plants generally occur

Form Picturesque Forms are irregular or contorted. They

Picturesque forms often serve as an evocative

Form of Individual plants Plant groupings

Naturalistic plant masses are

Bosque is organized on a grid pattern.

And at close-up, it creates a

Dark Green Foliage: Sober, sturdy, grounded.

Branches – contribute to subtle colour of the plant.

Colours contribute to the

Maple Forest Flame of the Forest

Coarse Textured Plants:

Fine Textured Plants:

Size refers to the top of the plant canopy.

Large & intermediate trees

Tall Shrub Intermediate