1

A hub exclusively created by, for and to the architectural students!

THEORY REFERENCE NOTES

COURSE: B.Arch
SEMESTER: SEMESTER – 4
AUTHOR NAME: Ibrahim sir

LANDSCAPE DESIGN
& SITE PLANNING
CONTENT

S.No CHAPTERS PAGE#

1. ELEMENTS IN LANDSCAPE DESIGN 01 – 07

CREDITS

Source:Internet,
Internet, Civil Content writer:
engineering textbooks,
diploma materials.
Editor:Ibrahim sir
 1

4. ELEMENTS IN LANDSCAPE DESIGN

USES OF VEGETATION IN LANDSCAPE DESIGN
Considering the functional use of plants is a new approach to
solving landscape problems. Traditionally, plants have been used
for beautification due to their aesthetic qualities. The expression
"functional use of plants" helps to explain that plants can perform
other functions in the landscape and still beautify.
Plants have horticultural characteristics such as height and
spread, branching habit, flowers, fruit, and foliage; they have
design qualities such as form, color, texture, and mass; and they
have cultural requirements for growth in the landscape
Plants can be used functionally to solve some of the
environmental problems the homeowner may have on the
property. This may include the need for privacy, protection from
glare or direct sunlight into windows, or shade on a patio. A thick
row of high shrubs bordering a road can reduce noise and prevent
litter from spreading.
It must be realized that not all landscape problems can be solved
with plant materials alone; pavements and structures are equally
important. Fences and walls are as functional and provide as
much privacy as woody plants--and they may require less
maintenance
Architectural Uses of Plants
Plants can be used to form walls, canopies, or floors by taking
advantage of their different growth habits and foliage
characteristics. A stand of trees or shrubs can create walls to filter
or block views, or a canopy of tree branches can provide a sense
of shelter. Ground cover planting with uniform foliage and
textural characteristics can present the feeling of an architectural
floor. Plants can also define a boundary
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
IBRAHIM SIBGATULLAH’S ARCHITECTURAL ACADEMY
FOR ADMISSIONS, ENQUIRIES AND COLLABORATIONS CONTACT
79 9393 7711 | www.ibrahimsacademy.com | sibgatullahibrahim@gmail.com
 2

Engineering Uses of Plants

Trees can stop or diffuse light before it reaches the ground.
Engineering functions of plants include using them to screen or
soften the sun's glare on the water or smooth shiny surfaces or to
block car lights or street lights.
An edging of ground cover plants along an entranceway or at
corners of a walk helps direct attention and movement of people.
Traffic movement along walks and drives can be controlled with
shrubs or trees
USE OF WATER IN LANDSCAPE DESIGN
In addition to dividing the landscape into use areas, a periscope
plan further divides the landscape into three water-use zones:
1. High (regular watering),
2. Moderate (occasional watering),
3. Low (natural rainfall).
High-water-use zones: Theyare small, highly visible and highly
maintained areas of the landscape, such as the public area and the
area around the patio where plants are watered regularly in the
absence of rainfall.
Moderate-water-use zones: The established plants are watered
only when they show symptoms of moisture stress, such as
wilting or changing color. Possible plants for this zone include
azalea, dogwood, redbud, Japanese maple, and many herbaceous
perennials.
Low-water-use zones: The plants receive no water except
natural rainfall.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
IBRAHIM SIBGATULLAH’S ARCHITECTURAL ACADEMY
FOR ADMISSIONS, ENQUIRIES AND COLLABORATIONS CONTACT
79 9393 7711 | www.ibrahimsacademy.com | sibgatullahibrahim@gmail.com
 3

HARD LANDSCAPE
Introduction: Elements that are designed and built to fulfill the
functions of landscape as well as enhancing it.The effect is
spontaneous and quick. Hard landscape consists of:
a. The floor and walls of an outdoor space
b. Pavements and walls, comprised of concrete, masonry
materials, and raw materials like stone and gravel.
c. Everything but plant material is considered as hardscape.
Functions:
a. To cater the needs which could not be accommodated by
soft landscape elements
b. To provide complimentary effect and to enhance the
aesthetic of soft landscape
Categories of hard landscape:
1. Separating and enclosing elements: Physical and visual barrier
affects physically&psychologically in controlling the movement
of men, vehicles and animals. Indirectly, physical barrier
functions as climate, sound and pollution control.
2. Specialsurfaces:Special surfaces are added features that
functions to indicate activities, event, safety, maintenance
capabilities etc.
3. Linkages:Linkages or circulation systems are a combination of
linearconnectors/circulation paths, traffic generators and
events along the connectors.
4. Furnishes: Structures that are added to spaces, to enhance and
make complete the spaces
PATHWAYS
Pathways can add charm to any yard or garden. Unlike walkways,
which are often somewhat formal, and are designed more with

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
IBRAHIM SIBGATULLAH’S ARCHITECTURAL ACADEMY
FOR ADMISSIONS, ENQUIRIES AND COLLABORATIONS CONTACT
79 9393 7711 | www.ibrahimsacademy.com | sibgatullahibrahim@gmail.com
 4

function in mind than form, pathways all but invite people to take
a leisurely stroll down them. Pathways are often found in garden
areas but they can be placed just about anywhere your heart
desires. Curves add character to a pathway, and they also help to
make the pathway seem longer than what it really is.
When it comes to options for pathways, there are three very
common types of pathways.
Stone Pathways:A stone pathway can be a beautiful additionto
any yard or garden. The variety of flatstone that you can use
include flagstone, limestone, even bits and pieces of
variousstones, fitted together into a mosaic.
Rock Pathways:Rock pathways are not as refined as most stone
pathways but they do have their place in many landscaping
designs. A pathway that has been formed from river rock is a
beautiful, low maintenance path.
Mulch Pathways:This is an easy project too and it feels
wonderful underfoot. You can use varioustypes of mulch to act as
your pathway surface.
TERRACE GARDEN:
In gardening, a terrace is an element where a raised flat paved or
graveled section overlooks a prospect A raised terrace keeps a
house dry and provides a transition between the hard materials
of the architecture and softer ones of the grade
A green roof or living roof is a roof of a building that is partially or
completely covered with vegetation and a growing medium,
planted over a waterproofing membrane

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
IBRAHIM SIBGATULLAH’S ARCHITECTURAL ACADEMY
FOR ADMISSIONS, ENQUIRIES AND COLLABORATIONS CONTACT
79 9393 7711 | www.ibrahimsacademy.com | sibgatullahibrahim@gmail.com
 5

SOFT LANDSCAPE
The elements of a landscape that do not involve construction is
called soft landscaping. They include trees, shrubs, lawns, hedges
and flowering plants.
It involves the careful selection of annual and perinealflowers for
the beds and garden. It’s a long-term process.
Soft landscape includesTree planting, Shrub planting, Turfing
Lawns: An area of land planted with grass or (rarely) other
durable plants, which are maintained at a short height and used
for aesthetic and recreational purposes
Shrubs:A woody plant of relatively low height, having several
stems arising from the base and lacking a single trunk;a bush,
usually under 6 m (20 ft) tall
Hedges:A hedge is a line of closely spaced shrubs and tree
species, planted and trained to form a barrier or to mark the
boundary of an area. Hedges used to separate a road from
adjoining fields or one field from another, and of sufficient age to
incorporate larger trees.
USE OF “SCULPTURES” IN THE LANDSCAPE DESIGN:
a. Sculptures sometimes act as focal points in courtyards or
plaza areas. They may be created from natural or artificial
materials at a great variety of forms, colors and textures are
possible.
b. Stone and wood are some natural elements which may be
employed to make sculptures.
c. Placement of a sculpture within aspace depends upon
sunlight and shadow patterns, which project the object in
various ways during different times of the day.
d. Night lights can also be adjusted to highlight the interesting
aspects of the sculptures from various angles.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
IBRAHIM SIBGATULLAH’S ARCHITECTURAL ACADEMY
FOR ADMISSIONS, ENQUIRIES AND COLLABORATIONS CONTACT
79 9393 7711 | www.ibrahimsacademy.com | sibgatullahibrahim@gmail.com
 6

e. The sculpture should be so located to take advantage of

varying sight lines.
OUTDOOR LIGHTING
Objectives of outdoor lighting:
The purposes of outdoor lighting include:
a. Improving the legibility of critical nodes, landmarks, and
circulation and activity zones in the landscape.
b. Facilitating the safe movement of pedestrians and vehicles,
promoting a more secure environment, and minimizing the
potential for personal harm and damage to property
c. Helping to reveal the salient features of a site at a desired
intensity of light in order to encourage night time use.
STREET FURNITURES
a. Street Furniture provides for social and recreational
gathering of people in outdoor spaces.
b. Any mode of seating provided in the external design space
(landscape space) is known as street furniture. These could
be seats with backs or without backs. They are usually made
of wood, concrete, stone or metal casting.
c. Concrete or stone seats may act as sculpture elements.
These are easy to maintain and less prone to vandalism.
d. Wooden benches with backrests are most comfortable.
Concrete and metal cast seats can also have backs. Seating
could also be combined with tree-planters.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
IBRAHIM SIBGATULLAH’S ARCHITECTURAL ACADEMY
FOR ADMISSIONS, ENQUIRIES AND COLLABORATIONS CONTACT
79 9393 7711 | www.ibrahimsacademy.com | sibgatullahibrahim@gmail.com