Republic of the Philippines

CAVITE STATE UNIVERSITY

Don Severino de las Alas Campus
Indang, Cavite

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

ARH 195: PLANNING II

Research Activity No. 1

ELEMENTS OF URBAN DESIGN

Submitted by:

Penales, Chyle John Anthon B.

201813825

Submitted to:

Arch. Anne Lorraine J. Salinas, uap

Instructor

PLANNING 2|ELEMENTS OF URBAN DESIGN

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ELEMENTS OF URBAN DESIGN

 BUILDINGS – are the most noticeable elements of urban design, as they shape our
cities and towns, define streets and corners, and ultimately articulate the space we all
inhabit. Urban design is in charge of helping create a sense of identity and coherence
amongst buildings and the way they interact with and complement each other.
Buildings define our public space, and urban design helps give shape and form to such
identities.

CHARACTERISTICS:

 Variation in building height, volume and the way in which buildings are grouped
together
 Contour
 Façade design-main doors/openings, other fenestration, material, etc.

TYPES

o Residential Buildings
In urban design, residential buildings are buildings made up of one or more
rooms used for housing, with the necessary facilities and utilities that satisfy the living
requirements of a person or family. It includes all buildings intended for private
occupancy whether on a permanent basis or not. Dwellings are divided into the
following types: single-family, mobile, cottage, semi-detached, row house and
apartment building.

EXAMPLES:
8 FORBESTOWN ROAD
Project Type: Condominium
Developer: Megaworld

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 Location: Forbes Town Road, Bonifacio Global Ci
Designed by the Recio+Casas Architectural Firm, the 53-storey 8 Forbestown Road is one
of the many residential projects strategically located in the business and commercial
section of Bonifacio Global City. This property makes it one of the many properties in
BGC that are attractive to both expats and enterprising real estate investors who are
looking to recoup their investment via rental income. The building is ready for
homebuyers who are seeking one-bedroom, two-bedroom, to three-bedroom units. A
huge plus for new homeowners is that it has grand balcony views of the Manila Golf
Course. 8 Forbes Town offers a wonderful range of amenities, which include a
commercial mall, an infinity pool, landscaped gardens, a viewing deck, an outdoor spa, a
kiddie pool, a paved sunbathing deck, a jogging path, children’s playground, a fitness
gym, a tai chi station, changing rooms with showers, and function rooms.

LANCASTER NEW CITY

Project Type: House and lot

Developer: Profriends

Location: Imus City, Cavite

Lancaster New City is one of the largest township developments in Cavite that spans to
more than a thousand hectares of land. The Profriends development covers the towns
of Imus, Kawit, and Gen. Trias. The development’s masterplan will allow residents to live
inside a complete community. Residents can shop at Lancaster Square, and kids can
study at the St. Edward Integrated School, which is only a few blocks away. The Leighton
Hall (clubhouse) has a pool and function rooms for special occasions. The Church of the

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 Holy Family is walking distance from home. Suntech iPark, meanwhile, offers future
residents the opportunity to work closer to home.

o Commercial Buildings
Commercial buildings are buildings where commercial activities take place.
Commercial buildings include office buildings, retail space, warehouses and more. This
differs somewhat from commercial property, which also includes multi-family buildings
like apartment buildings. The reason for this is that commercial buildings are where
commerce happens, while commercial property earns money for its owners but doesn't
have to have commerce happening in it. Multi-use buildings that have a mix of spaces,
such as a retail area and apartments, can still be considered commercial in certain
circumstances.

EXAMPLES:

Okada Manila occupies an area of 42 hectares (100 acres) of the Entertainment City
26,410.77 square meters (284,283.2 sq ft) allotted to gaming. The hotel building of
Okada Manila is composed of the Pearl and Coral Wings with each wing having 15 floors
to be connected by two sky bridges. The glass facade of the building has a gold color
representing the hue of Manila Bay's sunset, and is one of the casino's key themes.The
US$2.4 billion phase one of the casino project includes 993 hotel rooms. More than

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 3,000 electronic gaming machines and 500 table games were planned to be installed in
the casino complex.

Included in Okada Manila's amenities are The Retreat Spa, a full-service wellness center
that offers luxury spa services; and PLAY, an indoor facility for the learning-oriented
entertainment of children and teens. There is also an allotted 8,409 square meters
(90,510 sq ft) shopping area within the casino resort.

Two ECom Center is a 15-storey BPO Tower developed by SM Prime. It is prestigiously

located in Harbor Dr, Pasay, Metro Manila. The building has a total gross leasable area
of 77,000 square meters, and a typical floor plate of 5,700 square meters. It features 20
high-speed elevators, 100% back-up power and 2 major Telecom lines. This office tower
is PEZA certified and specifically designed for business outsourcing companies.

o Institutional Buildings
These types of buildings consist of buildings that are constructed by the
government, semi-government organizations or registered trusts for specific purposes.
Those specific purposes include medical treatment purposes such as treatment of
physical or mental illness, children’s hospitals, old age homes, centers for the care of
orphans or abandoned women, auditoriums or complexes meant to be used for cultural

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or allied activities, religious accommodation facilities such as, jails, correctional facilities,
detention centers, juvenile reformatories, etc.

EXAMPLES:

St. Luke's Medical Center is a private non-profit health care institution based in Quezon
City, Metro Manila, Philippines which operates two hospitals of the same name in
Quezon City and Taguig.

The Philippine General Hospital, simply referred to as UP–PGH or PGH, is a tertiary

state-owned hospital administered and operated by the University of the Philippines
Manila. It is designated as the National University Hospital, and the national government

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 referral center. It stands within a 10-hectare site located at the UP Manila Campus in
Ermita, Manila. PGH has 1,100 beds and 400 private beds, and has an estimated of 4,000
employees to serve more than 600,000 patients every year.

o Educational Buildings
These are buildings housing educational institutions such as schools or colleges
which are affiliated and recognized by an appropriate board, university or any similar
affiliation authority. The building should promote the aggregation of instructional,
educational and recreational activities pertaining to educational purposes. Further, it is
mandatory for the building to have proper residential facilities for essential staff who
need to reside within the campus. Apart from this, the institution should also have a
hostel exclusive to the institute either within its premises or outside.

EXAMPLES:

The University of Santo Tomas is a private, Catholic research university in Manila,

Philippines. Founded on April 28, 1611, by Spanish friar Miguel de Benavides,
Archbishop of Manila, it has the oldest extant university charter in the Philippines and in
Asia, and is one of the world's largest Catholic universities in terms of enrollment found

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on one campus. It is the main campus of the University of Santo Tomas System that is
run by the Order of Preachers

Information and Communications Technology Academy, better known as iAcademy

(stylized as iACADEMY) is a private, non-sectarian educational institution in the
Philippines. The college offers specialized senior high school and undergraduate
programs in fields relating to computer science, game development, multimedia arts,
animation, and business management.
The college has two campuses, with the recent iACADEMY Nexus along Yakal and the
previous Buendia Campus that is currently being renovated, both in the Central Business
District of Makati.

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o Government Buildings
Is a building that houses a branch of government. Government buildings are
constructed in order to conduct the legal and civic affairs of an organized community.
Most cities or municipalities have a city hall, a courthouse and a post office. The size
and architectural form of each type of government building vary, depending on the
size of the community.

EXAMPLE:

The Manila City Hall (Filipino: Bulwagan ng Lungsod ng Maynila) is the official seat of
government of the City of Manila, located in the historic center of Ermita, Manila. It is
where the Mayor of Manila holds office and the chambers of the Manila City Council.
[2] It was originally intended to be a part of a national government center envisioned

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 by Daniel Burnham in the 1930s. Although the dream plan was not fully implemented,
some buildings for the proposed government center were constructed, including the
Old Legislative Building (now the National Museum of Fine Arts), and the Agriculture
and Finance Buildings (presently the National Museum of Anthropology and National
Museum of Natural History)
o Industrial Buildings
Buildings used to manufacture, assemble or process products or materials are
termed as industrial buildings. They include manufacturing units, assembly plants,
factories, mills, power plants, oil refineries, gas plants, dairy plants, laboratories, etc.

EXAMPLE:

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 STMICROELECTRONICS, INC. is located in Calamba, Laguna, Philippines and is part of the
Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing Industry.
STMICROELECTRONICS, INC. has 1,600 total employees across all of its locations.
(Employee’s figure is estimated). There are 162 companies in the
STMICROELECTRONICS, INC. corporate family.

 PUBLIC SPACES – public spaces are another important element of urban design, as
these places are where we get together as a community, where we can interact with
each other, creating meaningful relationships and bonding with those around us.
Urban design plays an important role when it comes to public spaces, as it will have a
great impact on our mood, on our interactions, and on our relationship with our own
cities and towns.

CHARACTERISTICS:

 Promotes human contact and social activities.

 Is safe, welcoming, and accommodating for all users.
 Has design and architectural features that are visually interesting
 Promotes community involvement
 Reflects the local culture or history.
 Relates well to bordering uses
 Is well maintained
 Has a unique or special character

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TYPES

o PLAZA
A plaza is an open urban public space, such as a city square. All through Spanish
America and the Spanish East Indies, the plaza mayor of each center of administration
held three closely related institutions: the cathedral, the cabildo or administrative
center, which might be incorporated in a wing of a governor's palace, and the audiencia
or law court.
The plaza as a public space, indeed, is a very important legacy for us Filipinos. It
is a religious and cultural landmark serving as a silent witness to our eventful history. It
is reflective of our rich culture as a people, influenced by early foreign traders and by
the Spanish and American rulers. It is, therefore, imperative that the plaza be taken
cared of; if needed, rehabilitated, restored, improved, kept clean and preserved. Its use
must be regulated, preferably to religious and cultural activities only. We owe it to
ourselves and to our forefathers to do so.

o TOWN SQUARE

A town square (or square, public square, city square, urban square) is an

open public space commonly found in the heart of a traditional town but not necessarily
a true geometric square, used for community gatherings. Related concepts are the civic
center, the market square and the village green.

Most squares are hardscapes suitable for open markets, concerts, political

rallies, and other events that require firm ground. Being centrally located, town squares
are usually surrounded by small shops such as bakeries, meat markets, cheese stores,
and clothing stores. At their center is often a well, monument, statue or another
feature. Those with fountains are sometimes called fountain squares.

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 EXAMPLES:

 Rizal Park (Filipino: Liwasang Rizal, Spanish: Parque Rizal), also known as Luneta Park or

simply Luneta, is a historic urban park located in Ermita, Manila, Philippines. It is
considered one of the largest
urban parks in Asia, covering an
area of 58 hectares (140 acres).
The site on where the park is
situated was originally known
as Bagumbayan during the
Spanish colonial period. It is
adjacent to the historic Walled City of Intramuros.

 The Plaza Mayor (English: Town square) is a major public space in the heart of Madrid,

the capital of Spain. It was once the center of Old Madrid. It was first built (1580–1619)
during the reign of Philip III. Only a few blocks away is another famous plaza, the Puerta

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 del Sol. The Plaza Mayor is a space for the people of Madrid and tourists to shop, walk
around, eat, and enjoy the outdoors.

 St. Peter's Square is one of the largest and most beautiful squares in the world. It is
located in Vatican City, at the feet of St. Peter's Basilica.
The dimensions of the square are spectacular: 320 meters long and 240 meters wide. In
the liturgies and more noticeable events St. Peter's Square has held more than 300,000
people.
 STREETS – in order to move around the city and get to different places we use streets,
which work as the veins and arteries of the public space. Whether we transit by car,
public transportation, bike, or walking, streets create networks of varying sizes,
shapes, and dimensions. The role of urban design here is to optimize the use of public
space, designing streets that enable us all to reach different parts of the city while
balancing different patterns of order, unity, proportion, symmetry, harmony, beauty,
among many other aspects that will result in unique and efficient spaces.

CHARACTERISTICS:

 They are defined by their physical dimension and character as well as the size,
scale and character of the buildings that line them.
 The pattern of the street network is part of what defines a city and what makes
each city unique.

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TYPES

o MAIN STREET
Main Street is a metonym used to denote a primary retail street of a village,
town or small city in many parts of the world. It is usually a focal point for shops and
retailers in the central business district, and is most often used in reference to retailing
and socializing.

o HIGH STREET
A high street is a road – in many cases a main route or traffic artery – which has
developed as a hub for the local community because of its central position and ability to
capitalize on passing traffic. This in turn has induced shops and other establishments to
locate there as the optimal place to conduct business.

o FORE STREET
Fore Street means 'the street before the main street', and in this case leads to
High Street from the river.
o STREET CANYON
A street canyon is a street that is flanked with tall buildings on either side such
that it resembles a canyon. This creates a microclimate. For example, a street canyon is
typically completely shaded most of the day with little light and may be prone to gusts
of wind. It is common for a street canyon to be perceived as visually appealing much like
a natural canyon.
o AVENUE
An avenue is a main thoroughfare lined with trees. These typically have wide
sidewalks such that they are pedestrian friendly areas that are often commercially
vibrant with shops and cafes.

o BOULEVARD

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 A boulevard is a wide thoroughfare with above average landscaping, scenery and
cultural significance.

o ESPLANADE & PROMENADE

An area of significant length and width that is primarily built for walking. The
term implies proximity to a body of water such as seafront, lake or river. Esplanade was
originally a term for the broad flat areas that were cleared alongside the wall of a
fortress or city as a defensive measure that also provided a large public space.
Promenade is historically a term for a street where people go to be seen such that
people make an effort to dress well to display their social status.

o HIGHWAY
Road designed for high-capacity vehicular travel with features such as multiple
lanes. These are typically unpleasant for pedestrians due to high speeds and the
prioritization of cars. However, it is a global reality that many streets used by
pedestrians resemble highways and primarily designed for high-speed vehicles. A
highway can be distinguished from an avenue or boulevard by its lack of walkability,
pedestrian safety, landscaping, scenery and cultural features.

o TRAFFIC CIRCLE
An efficient alternative to an intersection that involves merging as opposed to
waiting at a traffic light. In theory, this can reduce the severity of accidents because all
cars enter the circle going in the same direction. Traffic circles may include pedestrian
features that completely separate people from vehicles.

o ONE-WAY STREET
A street that is restricted to one-way vehicular traffic. This is often done to
achieve higher traffic flow and may be unpopular with pedestrians and local residents as
they may allow for higher speeds. Alternatively, a street may be designed as one-way in

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 order to allocate more space to pedestrians and cyclists. In this case, the street may
have traffic calming features that prevent it from becoming a high-speed thoroughfare.

o DEAD-END STREET
A street that leads nowhere such that traffic is reduced to neighbors and people
who are lost.

o CUL-DE-SAC
A pleasant term for a dead-end street with a circle at the end for turning around.
A popular feature of suburbia that tends to raise property values due to the lack of
through traffic. As an added benefit, the lost can use the cul-de-sac to leave without
having to use a driveway to turn around.

o DRIVES & CRESCENTS

Circular and crescent-shaped streets that form a small loop such that they are
useless to through traffic but convenient for people living on the street. They go by a
wide variety of names including drive, crescent, court and place.

o LADDER STREET
A street with segments that are stairs. These are inherently pedestrian streets
that may be visually appealing.

o LINEAR PARK
A linear park is a long park that resembles a street such that people often walk
through it to get places.

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o LANE
A narrow street that’s usually short. Often pedestrian only or low traffic.

o ARCADES
A street with a roof. Modern arcades are often commercial areas filled with
shops.

o WAY
An alternative path that departs from a main thoroughfare and links back up
with it later.

o PARKWAY
A throughfare that is considered scenic such as a street that cuts through a park.
Often restricted use. For example, a parkway may exclude trucks.

o PEDESTRIAN STREETS
Streets that are for the exclusive use of pedestrians. Often a commercial district
that offers a pleasant environment for shoppers. In some cases, a street becomes a
pedestrian street out of necessity as it is often filled with pedestrians such that driving a
car in the area becomes unthinkable.

o LIVING STREET
A street where traffic is significantly slowed to allow people to enjoy the street
as a public space. Such streets may include traffic calming features and community
environment with features that make the street feel like a park.

o PLAY STREET

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 A street where children have the right to play. Traffic is calmed in these areas,
often with high fines for reckless driving and community involvement in safety
initiatives. Many cities have a culture and history of children playing sports and games in
the street. A play street enshrines this as a right whereby neighbors are required to
drive slowly and accept some level of play related noise during the day.

o WALKWAY
A pedestrian only thoroughfare that may be elevated or partially indoors.

o ALLEY
A narrow lane, passageway or path. These are often charming historical features
of a city that may be referred to with a local term such as the snickelways of York.

EXAMPLES:

Roxas Boulevard is a popular waterfront promenade

in Metro Manila in the Philippines. The boulevard,
which runs along the shores of Manila Bay, is well
known for its sunsets and stretch of coconut trees.
The divided roadway has become a trademark of
Philippine tourism, famed for its yacht club, hotels,
restaurants, commercial buildings and parks.

The Quezon Memorial Circle is a national park

located in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines.

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The park is located inside a large traffic circle in the shape of an ellipse and bounded by the
Elliptical Road and is the main park of Quezon City

Bonifacio High Street is a mixed-use development in

Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, Metro Manila,
Philippines located just near Serendra, Market!
Market! and SM Aura Premier. It is owned by Ayala
Malls, a real-estate subsidiary of Ayala Land, which is
an affiliate of Ayala Corporation. It opened the main
development in 2007, High Street Central in 2012,
Central Square in 2014 and it is one of Ayala Corporation's flagship projects. The mall offers a
mix of high-end retail shops, restaurants, amenities, leisure and entertainment in the
Philippines.

 TRANSPORT – having an efficient and user-friendly system of transportation is an

essential part of any city or town, and it requires a complex and thorough process of
development and planning to achieve it. Urban design is responsible for creating the
best possible network, as it will have a deep and significant impact on how the users
are able to move through it. Finding the balance of all means of transportation, while
prioritizing the mobility of the most vulnerable is a huge challenge, but one that will
define the quality and character of cities and towns.

CHARACTERISTICS:

 The balance of these various transport systems is what helps define the quality and
character of cities, and makes them either friendly or hostile to pedestrians.

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TYPES

o HUMAN MOVEMENT
Getting around under your own power without the use of vehicle. This may
involve transportation infrastructure such as sidewalk.

Examples:

 Climbing - is the activity of using one's hands, feet, or any other part of the body to
ascend a steep topographical object. It is done for locomotion, recreation and
competition, and within trades that rely on ascension; such as emergency rescue and
military operations. It is done indoors and out, on natural and man-made structures.
 Skating - sport in which bladelike runners or sets of wheels attached to shoes are used
for gliding on ice or other surfaces.
 Walking - sport in which bladelike runners or sets of wheels attached to shoes are used
for gliding on ice or other surfaces.
 Jogging - is a form of trotting or running at a slow or leisurely pace. The main intention is
to increase physical fitness with less stress on the body than from faster running but
more than walking, or to maintain a steady speed for longer periods of time. Performed
over long distances, it is a form of aerobic endurance training.
 Skiing - is the use of skis to glide on snow. Variations of purpose include basic transport,
a recreational activity, or a competitive winter sport
 Swimming - in recreation and sports, the propulsion of the body through water by
combined arm and leg motions and the natural flotation of the body. Swimming as an
exercise is popular as an all-around body developer and is particularly useful in therapy
and as exercise for physically handicapped persons.
 Sidewalks - a paved path for pedestrians at the side of a road.

o HUMAN POWERED LAND VEHICLE

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 Land vehicles that are powered by people. The term vehicle suggests a tool that
makes transport more efficient with mechanical leverage and/ or wheels.

Examples:

 Bicycles - also called a pedal cycle, bike or cycle, is a human-powered or motor-powered

assisted, pedal-driven, single-track vehicle, having two wheels attached to a frame, one
behind the other.
 Roller skates - is traveling on surfaces with roller skates. It is a recreational activity, a
sport, and a form of transportation. Roller rinks and skate parks are built for roller
skating, though it also takes place on streets, sidewalks, and bike paths.
 Skateboards - is an action sport originating in the United States that involves riding and
performing tricks using a skateboard, as well as a recreational activity, an art form, an
entertainment industry job, and a method of transportation.

o SMALL POWERED LAND VEHICLE

Small land vehicles that are powered, usually by electricity

Examples:

 Electric Bicycle - An electric bicycle (e-bike, eBike, etc.) is a motorized bicycle with an
integrated electric motor used to assist propulsion. Many kinds of e-bikes are available
worldwide, but they generally fall into two broad categories: bikes that assist the rider's
pedal-power (i.e., pedelecs) and bikes that add a throttle, integrating moped-style
functionality. Both retain the ability to be pedaled by the rider and are therefore not
electric motorcycles.
 Electric Scooter - The electric scooter is an environmentally friendly means of
transportation that facilitates transportation to short distances and does not emit
carbon emissions thanks to its electrical operation. Electric scooters are comfortable
and simple vehicles that can move on two wheels. The electric scooter, which has a

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 certain load carrying capacity, provides a sportive use based on mobility. Eco-friendly
electric scooters have a rechargeable motor.

o TRAINS
Connected vehicles that run along a track.

Examples:

 High Speed Train - High-speed rail (HSR) is a type of rail transport that runs significantly
faster than traditional rail traffic, using an integrated system of specialized rolling stock
and dedicated tracks. While there is no single standard that applies worldwide, lines
built to handle speeds above 250 km/h (155 mph) and upgraded lines in excess of 200
km/h (124 mph) are widely considered to be high-speed
 Monorail - A monorail is a rail-based transportation system based on a single rail, which
acts as its sole support and its guideway. The term is also used variously to describe the
beam of the system, or the vehicles traveling on such a beam or track. The term
originates from the contraction of the words mono (one) and rail, from as early as 1897
as early systems used metal rails. The transportation system is often referred to as a
railway. Colloquially, the term “monorail” is often used erroneously to describe any
form of elevated rail or people mover. In fact, the term solely refers to the style of track,
not its elevation.
 Train - a railway engine connected to carriages for carrying people or to wheeled
containers for carrying goods
 Train Station - a place on a railroad line where trains regularly stop so that passengers
can get on or off.

o LAND VEHICLE
Large land vehicles for goods or multiple passengers. These may be powered by
electricity o by an internal combustion engine that burns gasoline.

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EXAMPLES:

 Bus - a large motor vehicle carrying passengers by road, typically one serving the public
on a fixed route and for a fare.
 Motorcycle - A motorcycle, often called a motorbike, bike, cycle, or (if three-wheeled)
trike, is a two- or three-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycle design varies greatly to suit
a range of different purposes: long-distance travel, commuting, cruising, sport (including
racing), and off-road riding.
 Jeepney - Jeepneys (Tagalog: dyipni), sometimes called simply jeeps (Tagalog: dyip), are
buses and the most popular means of public transportation ubiquitous in the
Philippines.[1] They are known for their crowded seating and kitsch decorations, which
have become a widespread symbol of Philippine culture and art. A Sarao jeepney was
exhibited at the Philippine pavilion at the 1964 New York World's Fair as a national
image for the Filipinos
 Tricycle - a vehicle with two wheels at the back and one in front, having a seat for a rider
whose feet push pedals around in circles to make the wheels turn
 Car - a four-wheeled road vehicle that is powered by an engine and is able to carry a
small number of people.
 Bus Station - a terminal where buses arrive and depart.

EXAMPLES:

The Parañaque Integrated Terminal

Exchange, formerly called Southwest
Integrated Transport System, is a public
transport terminal in Parañaque, Metro
Manila, Philippines. PITX is built and
operated by Megawide Construction

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Corporation and the Department of Transportation under the Philippine government's Public-
Private Partnership program.

The Manila Metro Rail Transit System

(MRTS or MRT) is one of the two rapid
transit systems serving Metro Manila in the
Philippines along with the Manila Light Rail
Transit System (LRTS). It originally began as
a single line (Line 3) that was first opened in
1999 and became fully operational by the
year 2000. Since then, most of the newly
proposed rapid rail lines within Metro Manila that are not under the jurisdiction of the Light
Rail Transit Authority is associated with the "MRT" brand. This includes the Metro Manila
Subway (Line 9) and the elevated Line 7 which are being built as of February 2022.

 LANDSCAPE – landscaping makes public spaces welcoming and warm, consolidating

communities, and ensuring that public spaces have a positive impact on the well-being
of its users. Urban parks, trees, flowers, and water all come together to create an
inviting space that can be enjoyed by everyone. Through landscaping, urban design
creates harmony and beauty in cities, providing citizens with spaces that evoke peace
and comfort all around.

CHARACTERISTICS:

 Levels

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  Pattern
 Surface texture

TYPES

o Gardening

- Gardening is the most popular and practiced type of landscaping anywhere you go. If
you ask homeowners about their landscapes, you will most likely get an answer
related to gardening.
- This is really not surprising given the fact that gardening is a great way to beautify
the overall look of your property, especially your yard.
- There are so many things and activities that you can do in landscape gardening.
- Having plants strategically placed in your land is the most obvious way. Here, you
can also choose a specific theme or style that should match your needs and the
façade of your house.
- Some of these include English Style Garden, Oriental Garden, and more which you
can also read here.

o Structure Installation

- This type of landscaping involves the installation or building of 3D structures on a

surface. Usually, this is done in tandem with gardening.
- Having structures in your yard improves its total look because it can serve as a
central focus.
- Emphasis is one of the core elements of design. Your whole landscape, a yard or
lawn, needs a main object to stand out. This is to avoid blandness and too much of a
simplistic design.

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 - Common structures that are built in a landscape include water fountains, gazebo,
pergola, table and chairs, and a swing set.
- Having a structure will not only serve as an ornament but also as a great utility.
- You can have your guests chilling in the yard with a gazebo or have dinner with the
family with your table set.

o Pathways and Steps

- Not every homeowner opts to have these in their properties. But this is definitely a
great type of landscaping in your home.
- Unity is an important element of landscaping and having pathways can help achieve
this.
- Pathways can link the elements in your landscape like plant pots and boxes. This is
almost a necessity when you have a wide yard or you live in a place with weather
disturbances.
- Meanwhile, steps or stairs can also help elevate the look of the whole space, literally
and figuratively.
- Steps can be customized according to your taste or to the theme of the landscape.
You can have the usual steps or you can be more playful with the design.

o Informal Landscape

- Informal landscaping or gardening banks on natural and organic aesthetics.

Generally, the materials that are used in this landscape are natural.
- The elements are also characterized by being flexible or less rigid and free flowing.
- An advantage of this landscape is how it is low maintenance.
- Frequent trimming won’t be needed because plants and bushes can be overgrown.
- Some plants you can consider using include shrubs, creeping thyme, and cornflower.

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o Formal Landscape

- In contrast with informal landscape’s natural look, a formal landscape employs

geometric shapes and lines.
- This can either be symmetrical or asymmetrical. The clear structure or layout of the
yard is very visible in this type of landscape.
- Frequent maintenance and trimming are needed in this landscape because
overgrown plants might deviate from its original shapes. Order and transparency are
the main elements that are seen here.
- Usually, formal landscapes make use of topiaries as its main plants.

EXAMPLE:

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The Garden, Okada Manila’s latest attraction, is a lush open space that offers guests a
front-row seat to breathtaking views of the Manila Bay sunset.

Like a slice of paradise nestled within the steel and concrete arms of the resort, The
Garden blooms in the shadow of the massive Cove Manila dome with breathtaking
views of Manila bay's world-famous sunset. Its vibrant greenery occupies more than
30,000 square meters, while its five reflective ponds span more than 3,000 square
meters. Managed every day by a specially trained botanical team, The Garden's leafy
trees and freshly mowed grass add a spot of softness to the glittering structures that
surround it.

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