Module 9: Engineering and Design in ASEAN
Table of Contents
Reading Text & Presentation
9.2 Design ideas and features
9.2.3 Design ideas and features in landscape architecture
This is an area of design that has grown significantly over the last few decades. More and more people are concerned about the environment; not only how modern lifestyles are tending to harm it, but also how people are being affected psychologically by all the stresses and strains and the growth of the concrete jungles.
In larger towns and cities, outdoor public areas, landmarks, and structures are being designed and built to achieve not just aesthetic outcomes but environmental and social-behavioral, too. Central Park in New York is a good example of this. The planning and design involves investigating of existing conditions (social, ecological, geological, etc.), and then processing changes in the landscape that will produce the desired outcome. These processes often include storm water management; urban design; site, town or urban planning; environmental restoration; recreation and park planning; green infrastructure planning and provision; visual resource management; and the master planning of private estate and residence landscape and design; all of these will vary according to the existing and proposed conditions and management. This is the work of the landscape architect.
Some well-known early examples of landscape architecture are the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew in London, and the Orangery at the Palace of Versailles, outside Paris
< Orangery at Versailles
< Kew Gardens (Source: See References)
Here can be seen the combination of structures, paths and roads with areas of greenery, shrubs, flowers and trees. They give both a pleasant place to stroll and study and an area that is environmentally sound.
Water is often a key element for the urban designer.
< Water feature in London (Source: See References)
Sustainable development should be a vital part of the design, particularly with storm water management, which might include rain gardens, green roofs, groundwater recharge, and treatment wetlands. In recent years, subsistence gardens have become very popular as growing your own vegetables, fruit, cereals and herbs can help feed the family.
Areas often requesting the services of a landscape architect might be campus design, site design (public institutions and government facilities), parks, arboretums, greenways, nature preserves, recreation facilities, housing areas, industrial parks, commercial developments, residential estate landscape master planning and design, highways, bridges, city squares, waterfronts, pedestrian schemes, reservoirs, dams, and power stations. Landscape scientists should thus have specialist skills in such areas as soil science, hydrology, geomorphology or botany that they use to solve the practical problems of landscape work.
In some countries there are professional institutes of landscape architects to protect the standing of the profession and promote its interests. In Europe, North America, Australia and New Zealand it is a regulated profession. Italy, UK and the Republic of Ireland have their own professional organizations.
Here are more completed landscape architecture images:
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(Source: See References) |
How it is done
The basic steps to putting your landscape architecture design together would be
- Thoroughly assess the existing site: state of any structures, soil, vegetation, water features, etc.
- Find out what ideas the site owner has for the project.
- Check what local, urban or town plans exist for the area.
- Sit down and brainstorm some possible ideas that can include any pre-requisites and include some
sustainable elements to give the site new life and satisfy the owners.
A wonderful portfolio of ‘Before and After’ images can be seen at
http://www.haroldleidner.com/index.php#mi=2&pt=1&pi=10000&s=0&p=1&a=0&at=0
And http://sublimegardendesign.com/project-type/before-after/
Langquage Focus 9.2
Activities