The landscape, development block, and movement framework are the three main design elements of an

urban project. Landscape includes open spaces, water, movement corridors, parks, squares, and streets.
Design tasks include intrinsic landscape characteristics, open space planning, typology hierarchy,
function, and frequency of existing facilities, creating a landscape structure for the site, and detailed
treatment of individual schemes and elements. Landscape analysis and design skills are crucial from the
beginning of any project, and it is essential to treat everything as landscape, avoiding SLOAP (Space Left
Over After Planning). Opportunities arise to use intrinsic landscape positively in the design of new
places, such as trees, gardens, and lane lines. Urban design challenges involve creating a cohesive
landscape structure that meets planning standards while making a positive contribution to the sense of
place. A landscape strategy is required as one of the main organizing elements of the
development.Assess existing open space quality in a large area and determine the elements of a
proposed open space hierarchy. Quality is more important than quantity, as urban parks and gardens
are intimate and well-cared for. A variety of parkland ensures recreational needs near homes and
workplaces, and surrounding parks with different land uses helps spread activity and maintain civic
pride.Parks should be placed within walking distance of most homes, ideally within 3-5 minutes.
Assessing walking distances and play facilities within parks is crucial, as well as considering entrances,
lines of severance, and steep gradients that may inhibit the elderly and disabled. Open-space networks
can connect spaces and create linkages to urban areas and the wider landscape. These networks can join
linear parks, road reserves, playing fields, parks, allotments, private gardens, buffer planting, and surface
drainage corridors. Greenways can connect with parks and footpaths in nearby neighborhoods, creating
a network of 'Green Ways - Public Ways.' The 400m walkable catchment radii should be used for
network design, aiming for major open spaces to adjoin at least one quadrant of the circle. Balancing
human access and wildlife shelter is essential in creating open spaces.All sites are habitats, linked to
other ecosystems beyond the site. Remnants of ancient landscapes, such as woods, river valleys, heaths,
pastures, hedgerows, ponds, and ditches, are important relics that give meaning to a place. However,
cemeteries, vacant sites, industrial areas, and private gardens can also provide man-made habitats of
great ecological importance. Identify areas of highest ecological importance to be preserved and use
them as the basis for creating a landscape structure. Trade-off block size and biodiversity can affect
biodiversity, with smaller blocks limiting green space and limiting wildlife. Designing for biodiversity can
cut maintenance costs and provide a more varied and interesting place. Aligning building footprints,
streets, sewers, and watercourses to follow slope contours can have economic benefits and reinforce
the sense of place.Landscape design can significantly improve comfort and passive solar design of
buildings by considering local microclimate. Careful landscape design should include deciduous trees for
shade and sunlight, avoid excessive overshadowing of buildings by placing trees away from southerly
elevations, and provide shelter from cold draughts. Plant trees with mature height and ensure they
don't block sunlight or overshadow solar panels.The text emphasizes the importance of establishing a
future management regime for public realm landscaping, considering the impact of time and weather
patterns. landscapes should be designed to grow old gracefully, making them more attractive and
comfortable as plants mature.