Forms of Landscape

Forms

Designer is attempting to bring meaning to the design environment.

Designed landscape tell a story or have a deeper meaning.
Clients expectations were focused on spaces that were practiced
and expressed in inherent beauty in some FORMS.

“Form include the three dimensional mass which is

determined by line, direction and arrangement of
these masses.”
Forms

Some common 3-D forms of landscape which can be arranged in

some patterns to create a landscape design.
3-D geometrical forms
Patterns

90 degree rectangular octagonal

Patterns

120 degree hexagonal

Spaces and Forms

Landscape architecture essentially involves organizing and dividing

land.
Spaces are the result of this division and primary medium of design.
Spaces are provided for different human uses and enjoyment of
landscapes.
Space is the opposite of form of mass.
For design purposes a space can be thought of as an area
defined in three dimensions by:
• the ground plane,
• ‘wall’ or vertical planes,
• the ‘sky’ plane.
GROUND, WALL AND SKY PLANES
GROUND, WALL AND SKY PLANES
Creation of Forms

There are some common method by which designers create

and articulate forms

• interpretation of existing site forms

• geometry
• metaphor
• symbolism
• abstraction and use of natural forms
• archetypes
• vernacular
• historic paradigms
Interpretation on existing site forms

• Designing of spaces
involves modification and
recycling of existing site
forms rather than
developing completely new
ones.

Existing site characteristics

are often a source of
design inspiration.
Geometry

It includes both simple

geometries (circular /
rectangular) and complex
geometries (such as
fractional geometries)
Geometry and science of
mathematics have exerted
and continue to exert a
powerful influence on the
forms created by landscape
architects.
Geometry

EUCLIDEAN GEOMETRY
By Alexandrian Greek mathematician EUCLID.
Gave profound method to understand Pythagoras theorem.
Geometry

Fibonacci series developed by Lionardo Pisano Bogollo

In this series next no. is formed by adding up the two nos. before it.
.eg.- 0,1,1,2,3,5,8,13,21,34…………….
Golden rectangle has the ratio of 1.618 in its sides which is the
outcome of ratio of consecutive
Fibonacci nos. (after 2)
This ratio is termed as
“Golden Ratio’.
Metaphor

It is used to generate form

involves describing the
landscape as another
unrelated thing or action in a
non literal way.
Designers create metaphors
as well as exploit existing
ones.

The benefit of using a new

metaphor is that it can enable
fresh ways of thinking about
landscape, thereby allowing
original forms and meanings to
emerge.
Symbolism

Symbolism possesses
similarities to the use of
metaphor for generating form
but with a fundamental
difference.
Unlike metaphor symbolism
involves the conscious and
careful abstraction of form
which is directly or literally
relevant to a place & its
function or history.
Symbolism
Abstraction and use of natural forms

Related to geometry, metaphor &

Symbolism the abstraction & use of
Natural forms is rich source for gene-
rating design.
Space can be given form through
the abstraction of naturally occurring
forms and pattern of vegetation,
water bodies and landscape proce-
sses at both macro and micro scales.
Archetypes

Forms or physical arrangements of

human environments which have
been repeated or copied over long
period of time & continue to perform
the same type of functions.
They are considered to be
universal.
The amphitheatre may be described
as an archetype form because it
has been consistently used for
similar purposes over time in
different contexts.
Vernacular

Refers to regionally distinct landscapes &

landscape forms created by people who
were not usually professional designers,
Understanding and using vernacular can
help landscape architects to interpret
existing landscapes and relate new spa-
ces to site history for continuity and unity
in regional landscape.
Historic Paradigms

Precedent and paradigms from historic landscapes can

also be a source of or influence on generation of form in
design. Studying past landscapes is a primary way to learn
about the discipline of landscape architecture and the
context of contemporary concepts and approaches to
design.
THANK YOU