Lecture 7/ 8 DESIGN RESOURCES: Plants, Surface Materials, Lighting, Signage

L E C T U R E 7/ 8 DESIGN RESOURCES: PLANTS, SURFACE MATERIALS,

LIGHTING, SIGNAGE

PLANTS IN LANDSCAPE DESIGN

The rapid urbanization has resulted in diminishing of the landscape features.

The increase in population and large scale Urban Development has taken a heavy toll on the green
areas and has isolated the people from nature.

Role of Plants (Vegetation) in Landscape Design

1. Environmental Value

Air Quality

• Trees are an efficient and

cost-effective way for a
community to improve its air
quality and reduce pollution.

• A mature tree absorbs upto

109 kgs per year of small
particles and gases, like
carbon dioxide.

• A canopy of trees in an urban environment can reduce smog levels up to 6%

Water/ Soil Quality

• Trees help anchor soil and reduce storm water runoff.
• Reducing runoff also decreases topsoil erosion and the amount of silt and other pollutants washed
into water bodies.

Lower heating and cooling costs

• Plants have demonstrated the ability to reduce heating and cooling costs and counteract the “heat
island” effect in urban environments.
• Properly planted trees can cut heating and cooling costs by as much as 12 % and reduce overall
power demand.

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Reduce Noise Pollution

• Plants can play an important role in deadening unwanted noise.

• Sound waves are absorbed by a plant’s leaves, branches, and twigs.

• Studies suggest that belts of trees 100’ wide and 45’ long can cut highway noise to half.

2. Ecological Value

Provides Litter to soil and Habitat for fauna and fowl

Improves urban soil conditions, help retain ground water table.

3. Health Value

Trees and vegetation can affect our mood and help relieve stress.

4. Economic/ Real-estate Value

Builds a positive community image which is a key factor in attracting residents, businesses, and
visitors.

5. Aesthetic Value

Plants provide a variety of aesthetic values and accentuate the master plan and design of
buildings.

6. Functional and space defining characteristics

Plants define spaces within a landscape structure, serving the required functions.
Plants in combination and individually, create space beneath, between & sometimes within their
canopies.
7. Visual and other sensory roles
Appearance and aroma of foliage etc.
Sound of leaves when stirred by the wind or struck by the rain.
Offers many opportunities for enjoyment of aesthetic delights.

Choice of Plants
• Basic planting

Contemporary requirement in landscape design for mass planting of large groups, woodlands, which
with topography or land form, produce the large scale spatial arrangement of the landscape.

• Special effects

Trees and plants which are appropriately individualistic, spectacular or strong in character to
occupy the isolated positions

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• Barriers

Screening the unpleasant views, for dividing up the landscape into spaces, for providing shelter from
wind, for protection against pollution.

Plants in Indoor Landscaping

• Improves indoor air quality,

• Temperature regulation,

• Optimal inhabitant comfort,

• Reduces burden on infrastructure

• Work efficiency of inhabitants

• A higher overall quality of life.

Eg. NEW YORK TIMES BUILDING MOSS AND BIRCH GARDEN by Renzo Piano creates an oasis of calm.

OFFICE OF ALRMAS ASRI ARCHITECTS JAKARTA: Micro climate created by 1300sq.m of vertical and
horizontal greenery for serene work environment within the noisy city.

Planning was based on the needs of the office expansion so did not follow a rigid master plan.

Additions to the building over the years resulted in creating of in-between spaces where users have a
place to gather and socialize.

The work spaces are like an oasis in the middle of Jakarta’s crowded urban environment.

Plantations on the façade of HOTEL GOLDEN HOLIDAY IN NHA TRANG, Vietnam located in the
middle of the most crowded tourist centre: provides screening, improves indoor air quality and
visual aesthetics of façade.

CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES by Renzo Piano

• 160,000 square feet Living Roof with sloped domed landforms replicating the surrounding
undulating hills.

• Planted with about 50 species of plants native to San Francisco.

• Achievements in soil retention and drainage.

VANCOUVER CONVENTION CENTRE

 217,800 square foot living roof planted with indigenous grasses, herbs, and bulbs, which
attract fauna such as hummingbirds, butterflies, migratory songbirds, and insects.

• Provides a continual visual link to the park.

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• Other varied roles:

-Select species filter and purify rainwater for storage and reuse

-Tempers sound, provides thermal insulation

-Absorbs solar radiation and negates urban heat island effect.

URBAN TREEHOUSE, TURIN, ITALY

• Architect Luciano Pia’s vision for how people and nature can live together in an urban
landscape.

• 5-story mix of trees and steel girders that let residents feel like they live in a giant urban tree-
house.

• The organic and asymmetric shape of its terraces allow potted trees to “sprout” out from
the building at random intervals.

• 150 deciduous trees lose their leaves in the winter allowing light to filter in to the building.

• The trees isolates the residents from the urban sounds and smells surrounding them.

• The building helps keep the city’s air cleaner.

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PAVEMENT MATERIALS
Different types of pavement materials serve various Purposes:

• Spatial definition

• Sense of Direction

• Warning
By using an abrupt variation of pavement color, texture, to signal level changes, roadway
intersections, or other hazardous conditions.

Choice of Pavement Surfaces

• Selection of materials is based on purpose and durability.

• Pavement material selection should be harmonious with the site’s architecture, amenities, and
character.
• Pavement surfaces can be classified as HARD, VARIABLE, and SOFT.
Hard surfaces
• Consist of asphalt, concrete, mortared brick, and tile.
• Hard surface materials are firm, regular, durable and are best for wheelchair access.
• Cleaning is easiest on these surfaces and can be accomplished without damaging the pavement.

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Variable surfaces

• Include cobblestone, flagstones, mortar less brick

pavers, exposed aggregate concrete, and wood decking.

Permeable Pavements

Permeable interlock, grid, concrete, Porous Asphalt.

Soft surfaces
• Consists of sand, marble chips, decomposed granite etc.
• These are typically less expensive to install but often
require additional maintenance.

LANDSCAPE LIGHTING
• Landscape lighting has excessive potential to enhance the landscape and provides many benefits
for both residential and other applications.

• Through a variety of applications, lighting serves the major PURPOSES: Safety, Security and
Aesthetics (Ambience/ Drama).

• Landscape lighting can be CATEGORIZED as: STREET, WALKWAY, PARKING LOT and
ARCHITECTURAL.

Purpose of Landscape Lighting

SECURITY

• Low levels of light evenly spread around the perimeter of buildings can act as a preventive to
intruders.

• Provide greater security than floods which create pools of light along with dark shadows where
someone can hide.

• Light sources that emit low level light from the knee down help to figure intruders and make
them visible from every angle.

AMBIANCE AND DRAMA

• Beauty, hospitality and drama are enhanced by the proper selection and placement of landscape
lights.

• Choosing focal points of architecture, art, unique features and landscape plant material can add
night time drama to the landscape.

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STREET LIGHTING

• Reinforces street hierarchy by visually differentiating major and minor roads through varied light
intensities, fixture types, pole spacing, and height.

• Provides safety and security, eases navigation and distincts intersections.

ARCHITECTURAL LIGHTING

• Architectural lighting are used to emphasize the variation in texture as well as architectural
features in brick and stone cladding, soffit details, façade etc.

• Draws attention to a desired point: the entrance, special features, facility.

• Enhances visual interest of prominent buildings or displays.

• Architectural Lighting can be in the form of:

- Spotlighting or Highlighting - Grazing Light - Washing - Silhouetting - Shadowing

- Cross Lighting
SIGNAGE
Communicating information without compromising the appearance of the installation.

Installation signs are governed by sign standards.

Coordinate signs as a unifying landscape element of the installation’s overall appearance.

Vegetation should always complement and be in harmony with the sign — not overwhelm it.

Signs are categorized as follows:

Identification

Identifies entrance gates and military, community, recreational, and other facilities.

Destination

Directs visitors to major activities.

Regulating

Controls traffic, parking, maintains security, and identifies hazards.

Motivational

Boosts morale.

Informational

Provides educational information and guidance for visitors.

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