A REPORT ON

LANDSCAPE
ARCHITECTURE
IMPORTANCE AND ELEMENTS

SUBMITTED TO
DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE
HIMALAYA COLLEGE OF
ENGINEERING

SUBMITTED BY
Ashish Parajuli |
069/B.ARCH/05
 069/B.ARCH/05 | Aashish Parajuli

Contents
Importance of Landscape Design........................................................................................................... 2
Landscape Elements................................................................................................................................ 3
Vegetation........................................................................................................................................... 3
Landforms ........................................................................................................................................... 4
Sculptures and Water Bodies.............................................................................................................. 5
Use of “Sculptures” in the Landscape Design ................................................................................. 5
Use of “Water Bodies” in Landscape Design .................................................................................. 5
Pavement Materials............................................................................................................................ 5
Use of Stone as a Paving material................................................................................................... 6
Use of Bricks as a Paving material................................................................................................... 6
Use of concrete as a Paving material.............................................................................................. 7
Use of Asphalt as a Paving material................................................................................................ 7
Site Amenities and street furnitures...................................................................................................
7
The significance of street furniture................................................................................................. 8
Lighting................................................................................................................................................ 8

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Landscape
Architecture
Landscape architecture is the design of
outdoor public areas, landmarks, and
structures to achieve environmental,
social-behavioral, or aesthetic outcomes
.Landscape is not just about rearranging
new Stuff in our yard, it is all about
beautifying our Surroundings’ and giving
an amazing look of the nature.
Involves systematic investigation
of existing social, ecological, and
geological
conditions and processes in the landscape, and the design of interventions that will produce
the desired outcome.
• The activities of a landscape architect can range from

– the creation of public parks and parkways to site planning for

campuses and corporate office parks,
– from the design of residential estates to the design of civil infrastructure and
– the management of large wilderness areas or reclamation of degraded
landscapes such as mines or landfills.
• Landscape architects work on all types of structures and external space - large or
small, urban, suburban and rural, and with "hard" (built) and "soft" (planted)
materials, while integrating ecological sustainability.

Importance of Landscape Design

• Landscape architecture is the art and science of designing exterior areas to improve
visual appeal and functionality.
• One of the most effective means of improving the appearance and unity of a base.
• Quality landscape architectural design and implementation also improve the quality
of life for our people and visitors.

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Landscape Elements
• The coordination and effective use of landscape elements contribute to the overall
success of the design.
• Landscape elements consist of the following:
 Vegetation
 Land Forms
 Sculptures and Water Bodies
 Pavement Materials
 Site Amenities and street furnitures
 Lighting
 Signs

Vegetation

Vegetation consists of trees, shrubs, ground covers, annuals, perennials, vines, and turf. They
serve many of the following functions:
◆Visual Enhancement - Vegetation strengthens
the appearance of the installation and improves
the users’ quality of life.
◆Wind Control - Strategic placement of trees
and shrubs helps to break, guide, and deflect
wind currents.
◆Erosion Control - Ground cover and turf
reduce the amount of soil surface exposed to
natural forces.
The root structure binds the soil, thereby
reducing erosion potential.
◆Noise Reduction - Dense foliage and earth berms effectively reduce noise levels by
absorbing sound waves.
◆Climate Modifications - Vegetation helps
reduce temperatures by shading the ground and
by the cooling effect of water emitted from its
foliage.
◆Energy Conservation - Deciduous trees (trees
which loose their foliage) shade building surfaces
in the summer and, as a result, reduce the
demand on air conditioning systems. During
winter months, sunlight passes through the trees
to

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provide natural solar heat for the building’s interior.

◆Glare and Reflection Reduction - Plants can effectively soften glare and reflection from
man-made materials.
◆Air Purification - Vegetation is a natural filter that removes dust and pollutants from the
air.
◆Wildlife Conservation - Diverse vegetation types provide wildlife habitat for nesting,
shelter, and food.

Landforms

Study of the landform helps

facilitates site planning and
landscape design. Topography
and slopes determine framing,
screening of views, plant growth
with which the former is
achieved; siting of built surfaces
and artifacts in landscape. However, the topography and the associated slopes when based
on geology and soil characteristics assist in economic and sustainable landscape design.
All of landscape design ultimately depends on soil and water retention. At large or small
scale, the shape of the earth indicates geological forces at work or of modern landuse, hints
at the work of our ancestors or of ancient people.
Three important factors to consider in landscape design:
1. Shape of the ground
2. Provision of Circulation
3. Vertical elements of Planting and Enclosure
The shape of the earth has primary consideration since reshaping has to consider existing
levels within and adjacent to the site. This avoids flooding and accommodates surface
drainage enabling quick reuse of the site after rain. In small sites ground modeling can give
depth and mystery to the site in directing the view and the focus of the user. At its most
elemental earth shaping is a sculptural concept, a rearrangement of mass and void, a
subdivision of space. Technical conditions for stable earth shaping are contouring and slope
stability.
Existing drainage systems, swales, streams, gullies seasonal floods need to be recorded
through survey. Settlement and consolidation of new slopes has to consider existing trees
that may become unstable or die due to absence of water retention in new slopes.

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Sculptures and Water Bodies

The combination of Sculptures and Water Bodies has always been considered unique since
the Roman Times.
Use of “Sculptures” in the Landscape Design
 Sculptures sometimes act as focal points
in courtyards or plaza areas. They maybe
created from natural or artificial
materials at a great variety of forms,
colours and textures are possible.
 Stone and wood are some natural
elements which may be employed to
make sculptures.
 Placement of a sculpture within a space depends upon sunlight and shadow
patterns, which project the object in various ways during different times of the day.
 Night lights can also be adjusted to highlight the interesting aspects of the sculptures
from various angles.
 The sculpture should be so located to take advantage of varying sight lines.

Use of “Water Bodies” in Landscape Design

 This is the most interesting object in

landscape design.
 Water, which is a natural element, can
be a prominent feature in the
landscape.
 It may be used in the form of fountains
or pools for its reflective qualities,
differences in sound or cooling effect.
 Programming the flow of water in fountains is done by an electronic timing system
which may also control the night light sequence.
 The water flow and lighting must be coordinated to achieve maximum effect.
 Sculptural elements of granite or concrete can be integrated in a water cascade or
fountain effect.

Pavement Materials

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The Path defines the passage in the landscape created. It could be paved or unpaved. Paving
materials are used to eliminate hazards from mud and dust and to form a smooth surface for
ease of circulation. Various design patterns in the pathways help beautify the surroundings
and look pleasing to the eye. The paving material could be natural or man-made. Man-made
paving materials are available in a wide variety of textures and colours. Some of the
materials used are explained in the following.

Use of Stone as a Paving material

 Stone, one of the oldest paving materials, offers

good, durable, wearing surface with a minimum
maintenance required. Rubble and ashlar masonry
are the two forms of stone used for paving. Rubble
masonry is rough stone, as it comes from the
quarry, but may be trimmed somewhat where
necessary.

 Ashlar masonry is hewed or cut stone from the quarry and is used much more often
than rubble for the surfacing of the walls.

Use of Bricks as a Paving material

 Bricks are the oldest artificial building material

in use today. They offer a great variety of
textures and colours as well as flexibility in
use.
 Composed of hard, burnt clay and shale, brick
is available in many colours due to the
variation in the chemical content of clay. Bricks
can be used to make tiles with varied shapes.
Because of the hard surface and resistance to wear and cracking, these tiles are best suited
for outdoor paving.
 These could be laid on stone bases or on concrete slabs. The most common patterns are
running bond, herringbone and basket weave.

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Use of concrete as a Paving material

 Concrete maybe poured in situ, offers a variety

in texture and colour and forms a durable
walking surface. It is extensively used as a
paving material.
 Concrete lends itself to variations in finish, and
maybe smooth or rough, with aggregates
exposed when desired

Use of Asphalt as a Paving material

 Asphalt does not offer the variety of textures

that concrete does, although it provides a
softer walking surface.

 Asphalt is not as durable as concrete; it is

less expensive and is used extensively for
walkways on college campuses, in large
parks and recreational areas, and in the
construction of roads.

Site Amenities and street furnitures

It is often difficult to understand fully how

site design integrates the elements of
furniture that are used for various
designated purposes and create a sense of
place. Such an understanding can open up
creative possibilities for designers of
outdoor areas and enable them to shape
spaces that can succeed in achieving their
aims over the long term.
Generally speaking, there are five basic criteria involved in selecting and placing items
of street furniture: function (i.e. seeing how necessary an item is and how it can serve
its purpose), siting and layout (i.e. deciding where each item should be places), form
and appearance (i.e. making sure there a continuity or at least a linkage between the
designs of different items), durability (given expected usage), and cost

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The significance of street furniture

Street furnishings create the settings for

resting, sitting and eating, and social
encounters with others. Such settings may be
of great importance to the elderly, those with
limited mobility, and adults who have small
children; but in addition to their functional
aspect, items of urban furniture such as
benches and tables in parks and squares can
also be socially significant, as they give these sites a comforting and appealing air and
draw people in together.

Appropriately selected and placed furniture can draw people to outdoor spaces and
add to the pleasure of using these spaces; the main challenge is getting them
outdoors, with the aim of making them feel welcome, relaxed, and involved. The
quality of urban spaces is indicated by their character and how well they create a
sense of identity, as well as by the quality and placement of their street furniture, as
can be seen in various cities: London’s red telephone booths and Paris’ metro
entrances, for example, have become iconic and essential to these cities’ identities.
In addition to their functional and symbolic roles, items of street furniture may also
set standards and expectations of quality for the development of the areas where
they are found and can serve as talking points for planning.

Lighting

 Outdoor Lighting is used to illuminate pedestrian

walkways, roads and entry areas. It may also
provide a dramatic effect when it lights up benches
and fountains.
 The level of illumination varies with the extent of
usage of the various external spaces.
 High intensity light is required for highways and
other heavily used areas.
 Warm and coloured illumination is best suited
for
quiet areas along minor residential streets and
parking areas.

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