 ROLE AND SCOPE OF LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE:-

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE ENCOMPASSES THE ANALYSIS, PLANNING , DESIGN, MANAGEMENT, AND

STEWARDSHIP OF THE NATURAL AND BUILT ENVIRONMENT THROUGH SCIENCE AND DESIGN.

Landscape architects also play a

role in preserving and restoring
historic landscapes. Landscape
architects who work for
government agencies design sites
and landscapes for government
buildings, parks, and other public
lands, as well as plan for
landscapes and recreation areas in
national parks and forests.

‘The scope of landscape architecture’ considers the range of

activities that come under the general umbrella of landscape
architecture and the various attempts to define the discipline’s
essence. Four projects are described to convey the diversity of
contemporary practice. They exemplify: high-profile master-
planning, visual impact assessment, art-inflected urban design,
and community engagement. One of the manifestations of
professionalization is the urge to define a core curriculum, but
this is an impossible demand. Landscape architecture may have
a fluid core, but it does not have a fixed essence. It has borders
with other disciplines, including engineering, art, architecture,
urban planning, and urban design, but these are not fixed
boundaries and they are permeable.
 Factors affecting Landscape:

9 Factors To Consider When Creating Landscape Design Plans

mployees, you’ve got to consider the purpose of the area. You’ll need a ver

ce will be used for. Here are some questions to ask yourself:

ou intend to do with the space, so make sure you get that defined.
pets need something different than adults who just plan to meander and talk.

d you’ll want to stay away from any decorations that could be dangerous to young children.

cape. Otherwise, you may end up wasting a lot of money.

mistake of choosing plants that are just going to die or look sick because they shouldn’t have been added in the

g, choose plants that take care of themselves.

Mother Nature. Others need much more attention.

ose something else.

mmodate them. If workers or family members utilize wheelchairs or have other walking needs, use smooth paths

rk. What areas are in the shade a lot? Which ones get a lot of shade?
Soil Composition
The soil you have at home may not be the same as what you’ve had
elsewhere. Make sure you know its makeup before choosing plants.

Your soil may be rocky, sandy, or full of clay. Whichever it is, let that
guide your choice in plants.

You’ll also need the right balance of nutrients for your plants to do well.
If you suspect anything may be off, get your soil tested.

Potential Themes
While you don’t have to have a theme, choosing one can make your
landscape look even better. For example, choosing all Japanese plants
will help the overall area look better since those plants naturally grow in
the same area.

Consider any themes you may want to apply to your landscape. If you
don’t have any, at least choose plants that complement each other.

Transitions
Whether they’re coming from your living room or the cafeteria at your
local office, people will come from somewhere when they enter your
landscaped area. Do the two areas flow well together?

These transitions are important for the overall flow of your landscaping.
It doesn’t make sense to have a landscaped area that completely
contrasts with your indoor space.

Keep colors, styles, composition, and the overall feel of each area in
mind, then make sure they all work together.

Doing It Right The First Time

When you take the time to create new landscape design plans, you
want it to work out. So don’t waste your time doing it wrong the first
time. All it takes is a little know-how and some good decision making.
Climatic / Natural conditions- (soil, water, landforms, vegetation,
temperature, humidity, rainfall), Scale, Material, Cost, Time.
Elements of Landscape Design:
Design elements: (man-made water bodies, landscape furniture,
lighting, hardscape and softscape)
 To better understand how to design for a landscape , the two main
elements-
that make up outdoor living spaces are known as hardscape and softscape.

The easiest ways to remember the differences: Hardscape and softscape are the
complete opposites of each other, yet both are necessary to make a landscape
fully functional. Both terms are often used to emphasize the distinction between
the two.
Hardscape is the hard stuff in your yard: concrete, bricks, and stone. Softscape is
the soft, growing stuff, like perennial flowers, shrubs, succulents, and trees.
Softscape is living; hardscape is not.

 Hardscape Elements:-

Once you know the distinction, the characteristics of hardscape make sense.
Among them:

 Hardscape can be thought of as "hard," yet movable, parts of the landscape,

like gravel, paving, and stones.
 They are inanimate objects.
 Hardscape is solid and unchanging.
 Other examples of hardscape include retaining walls, pavers for paths or
patios, outdoor kitchens, water features, gazebos, decks, and driveways.
 It can be natural, like stone, or manmade, like an outdoor structure or a
planter.
 Hardscape materials have different effects on the environment. Pavement,
which is hardscape, prevents water from soaking into the soil, thus increasing
runoff, which can carry contaminants into streams. Porous materials allow
water to soak into the soil.
 A shrub is not hardscape.
 Softscape:-
Plants are available in a variety of colors, shapes, textures, and sizes. When
selecting softscape:

Plants are available in a variety of colors, shapes, textures, and sizes. When
selecting softscape:
Change and evolve constantly, as they grow and adapt to climate and other
conditions.
Are softer to the touch, quite literally. Think about touching the leaves of a tree
or perennial, or blades of grass. They are soft, not hard.

A brick wall is not softscape.

  Principles of Landscape Design:-

 BALANCE

 Everything that is placed in a design

will carry a certain visual weight
with it. Balance is the concept of
ensuring the weight feels even
throughout the plan.
 A plan with formal balance will have
both sides mirroring each other,
while informal balance refers to
equal but not matching. Both can
work well.

 SEQUENCE
 Sequence refers to how transitions in
the elements of plant size, shape and
texture are used. Gradual changes of
one element at a time offer a smooth,
appealing sequence.
 Abrupt changes from a tall plant to a
short one or a fine-textured plant to a
rough one do not work well.

 UNITY
 Unity is the concept that everything works together. Interconnection is
gaining unity by using connections such as paths, walkways, stairs and fences
to physically link areas.

 Repetition is when an aspect of design is

unifying because it occurs in several areas.
Repetition can be helpful but take care not to
overuse it. Dominance is when other areas
appear to unify in support a single focal point,
perhaps a large tree.
Elements of Landscape Design: Natural elements (Landform,
water, plantscape, microclimate)