Landscape Design – Prof.

B S Jagadeesha Chandra, Architect, Landscape Architect, MSRIT

GARDEN DESIGN BASED ON FUNCTION

Semi permanent feature ROCK GARDEN:
Frequent changes in design not possible  Interesting and eye catching
Knowledge of growth and development of plants  Selection & laying to be natural and pleasing
Maintenance at different seasons  Plants in rock crevices
 Plant selection and natural effect
DEFINITIONS:  Suit well for formal gardens
A) A place for growing plants of various types for  Looks ugly with artificial surrounding
ornamentation, aesthetics & visual enjoyment.  Rock buried looks natural
B) Arrangement of trees, shrubs, climbers etc with building, ROSARY:
walks, drives, artificial and natural features for human use  Rose flower & plant
C) Art of arranging land and landscape for human use,  Hibiscus plant & rose plant
convenience and enjoyment in a broad sense.  Rose garden location, selection
 A separate area
DESIGN:  Sunny spot in all seasons
Determination of the character of an object to serve a certain  Clean soil around & patchy look
purpose known in advance  Rose climber
Example - garden for active or passive recreation or
 Hybrid tea & Floribunda
A residential garden with areas for private, public, children
WATER BODY:
play area etc.
 Integral part
Aesthetic design or economic design or combination of both
 Flowing, still, trickling, gushing etc
AESTHETIC DESIGN - purely attractive and pleasing in
 Pleases the eye and ear
appearance
ECONOMIC DESIGN - meant to serve practical and utilitarian  Attraction
purpose  Tourist spots, Any other?
Combination of both the above may be a good choice. WILD GARDEN:
GARDEN MATERIALS:  Informal garden
Plant materials, water, fountain, brick or stone retaining & low  Blends with nature
wall, paving materials  Informal beds, undulated surfaces etc
To be judiciously used taking advantage of climatic condition  Plant selection depends on location, soil type, local plants
& principles of design etc
TERRACE GARDEN:
TYPES OF GARDEN:  Best suited for sloping sites
BASED ON DESIGN  Steps, retaining walls, cascades, water falls, level
differences etc
FORMAL GARDEN:
Symmetry, defined edges, straight lines of plantings, pruned  Roof terrace garden
hedges, manmade levels, retaining walls, geometrical patterns CHILDREN GARDEN:
etc.  Curious plants to create interest
Symmetrical or formal garden type  Play grounds, sand pits, shallow ponds, miniature
Central axis is most common gardens
Mughal gardens, Spanish gardens, English formal gardens,  Combination of shade, sunny areas
French gardens etc.  Parents watching area
INFORMAL GARDEN: KITCHEN GARDEN:
Asymmetrical balance, curved paths, planting made freely,  Utilitarian garden and
pruning almost avoided, natural look  Located in the back yard
Chinese and Japanese gardens  Formal design
FREE STYLE GARDEN:  Vegetables & fruits
Combination of both formal and informal garden features  Mental happiness & satisfaction
It has many features of formal garden but symmetry is CONTAINER GARDEN:
avoided.  Popular now a days.
Normally adopted in urban landscape designs  Indoors and out door.
 Miniature garden in trays fixed or portable
GARDEN TYPES ALSO AS LANDSCAPE ELEMENTS  Soften bare steps
Based on the function or usage the gardens can be classified in  Act as edge and boundaries
to various types. If the same type is used in small scale in a  Various shape, texture, size and material - attractive &
large garden it can act as a garden element. For example, useful
some terraces in your large garden are developed using the BOG GARDEN
site condition, it is not only a terrace garden but also an  Garden in marshy area
element of your large garden. Listed below are some of the All the above can be considered as garden features too.
garden types as landscape element.
Similarly you can adopt formal style or informal style in your
garden design or it may be a combination of both or as free
style design.
 Landscape Design – Prof. B S Jagadeesha Chandra, Architect, Landscape Architect, MSRIT

DESIGN CONSIDERATION FOR RESIDENTIAL OR SMALL  Colourful climber over a wall etc
GARDENS:  To hide ugly features, architectural defects like exposed
FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES: pipes, ducts, service yards, etc
Owners comfort and convenience  Growing materials unlike building materials
Simplicity  Overall growth of a plant like annual or biannual or
Variety but too much is not desirable perennial etc
Minimum cut and fill and natural grading  Ultimate size of the plant, form or shape like round,
Suspense and surprises - fresh vistas, disclosing new interest conical, spreading crown
etc  Colour of the flowers, fragrance
Avoid long and straight path to reduce monotonous and  Foliage like evergreen or deciduous
boring effect  Patterns like drooping, weeping, clumps, feathery,
Judicious and careful use of plant material vertical, horizontal, transparent etc.
Colour and contrast  Perennial plant materials and overall maintenance
Site characteristics and surroundings
 Annuals and biannual are restricted
Hastening in planning to be avoided
Unwanted and ugly feature to be screened or eliminated
LAWN:
GOALS:
 Essential and most expected
1) PRIVACY
 Ground cover for walk, play
2) COMFORT
 Binds the soil
3) BEAUTY
4) CONVENIENCE/ SAFETY  Outdoor natural carpet
5) EASE OF MAINTENANCE  Colour - visually pleasing and attractive
6) FLEXIBILITY.  Prevent dust
Design will be effective and impressive.  Outdoor activity like play, party etc
The three essential portions DOOB GRASS: Common, requires mowing and regular
a) APPROACH maintenance
b) SERVICE AREA BERMUDA GRASS: Common, soft, attractive, maintenance
c) OUTDOOR LIVING. free
APPROACH: (PUBLIC ZONE) MEXICAN or KOREAN GRASS: Soft clumps, undulating surface,
Well designed to give an overall picture of the garden no mowing
Area which creates impression to the people who visits KENTUCKY BLUE GRASS: Broad leaf blades, spreading habit,
Gate to the main entrance may be considered as public unusual green colour
Direct, shortest & very attractive space STEPS:
Drive way to the garage  Undulating or sloping areas
Walk way to the rear side entrance is private and service zone  Choice of materials like stone, brick, wood, concrete etc
SERVICE AREA: (PRIVATE ZONE)  Rise and tread
Waste disposal, pots storage, manure yard, utility, kitchen  Blend well with the landscape
garden, nursery etc WALKS AND PATHS:
properly located and hidden  Essential features
Screen by fence, hedge etc  Skeleton connecting all the important features
OUTDOOR LIVING (SEMI-PUBLIC ZONE)  Variety of material choice like brick, gravel, stone,
Extension of the interior space concrete, wood etc
Maximum area  Patterns with combination of materials
Recreational areas, enjoyment zones  Edges - beautiful groundcovers, dwarf shrubs, annual
Aesthetics, pleasing design and details beds etc
Garden elements are lawns, terraces, flower beds, fountains, FENCES AND GATES:
paving, rocks, trees, shrubs, ground covers, climbers, seating,  Essential for boundaries, screening, security etc
steps etc.  Variety of materials and combination
 Plants as hedges
THE GARDEN FEATURES  Thorny shrubs, plants not eaten by animals etc
PLANT MATERIALS:  Immediately noticed before entering
 Major and essential material  Very attractive and pleasing
 Various functions like  Ornamental, simple, functional
 To provide shade from sun glare, ARCHES AND PERGOLAS:
 To improve micro climate,  Enhance beauty
 To mark boundary or zones like kitchen garden, private &  Acts as covered link to connect different parts
public zone etc  Colourful climbers
 To soften architectural harshness  Various designs and materials
 The shrubs act as transition between vertical wall and the WALLS:
horizontal ground.  Essential feature
 Enhance beauty of architecture like  To separate different parts
 a tree in front of a solid wall  Level differences - retaining walls
 As focal point  Material choice is plenty like brick; stone, concrete,
 Cascading creeper, plastered finish etc
 Landscape Design – Prof. B S Jagadeesha Chandra, Architect, Landscape Architect, MSRIT
 Bring texture, variety, contrast etc
 To create planter boxes or
 As a seating with coping
GARDEN FURNITURE:
 Seats, bridges, lighting fixtures, bollards, dustbins etc
 Essential & attractive features
 Seat - types, sizes, shape etc.
 Bridges - to cross water body or embankments
 Lighting - shapes, material, night time effects etc
 Bollards, dustbins – functional and attractive
 Sculptures
 Any other??
 What is Garden furniture?
 Compare with street furniture?
 List the various garden furniture and explain them briefly
 Select examples available in gardens of Bangalore city
 Select examples in various gardens abroad
 What is your conclusion?
STREET FURNITURE
 Refer Garden furniture notes
 What is street furniture?
 Compare with garden furniture?
 List the various street furniture and explain them briefly
 Select examples available in streets of Bangalore city
 Select examples in various cities abroad
 What is your conclusion?
COMPONENTS OF LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE
Diversified and classified activities
Needs of changing world
Environmental problems, pollution of water, air, conservation
of water etc
Three clearly definable and related types of activities as below
1. LANDSCAPE PLANNING
2. SITE PLANNING and
3. LANDSCAPE DESIGN
1. LANDSCAPE PLANNING for very large areas and in regional
scale. It can be compared with Urban and Regional planning.
Examples –
 Study of diminishing forests in Western Ghats
 Influence of mining on forests
 Project Tiger proposals etc
2. SITE PLANNING – Landscape for medium scale projects like
campuses, large parks, housing colonies etc (Discussed in
detail later)
3. LANDSCAPE DESIGN
 Creation of personal, functional and personal
environment
 Details are more important
 Well-defined problem
 Limited solutions
 Immediate building surroundings, Courtyards etc
 Selection of materials for Plants, paving, walls etc
 To blend well with architecture, and surrounding
 Existing spaces properly and qualitatively defined
 Features like paving, steps, fountains, levels etc
 Importance of aesthetic and visual character
 Equivalent to exterior design (Compare with interior
design)
 Around the buildings, plots, courtyards etc
RESIDENTIAL LANDSCAPE DESIGN
 Planning of outdoor space to fulfil enjoyment as interior
design
 The aesthetic & functional needs of each family member
 Life style of the owner, needs and necessities active,
passive recreation, children play area, utility space,
kitchen garden etc
 Budget the owner
 Increase the property value
 Save time & money over maintenance
 Graphic representation
 To plot the plan to scale
 Graph paper
 Openings, sill heights for views view from inside
 Size and type of plants
 Where pathways should lead
 Existing structure, light pole, tree, rock formation etc
location
 Plotting
 Visit the site and experience the feeling
 Position yourself at entrances, windows etc to locate
features
 Collect extra copies of the plan for various possibilities.
 Detailed study of various spaces
UTILITY AREA:
 Storage of garden tools, pots, mowing machine, hose
pipe etc
 Cloth drying area, dust bin etc
 If exposed may become an unpleasant seen
LIVING AREA:
 Sit in the living room and experience views from the
windows.
 If it is drab and dry add for visual enjoyment like
landscape design features
 Extension of living room interior to the exterior
 Accommodation for future expansion - swimming pool
 Pet shelter, dog cannel etc for safety, look etc
 Outdoor eating, private garden
GARDEN AREA:
 Spaces for a rock garden, flowerbeds, rose garden,
vegetable garden etc
RECREATION AREA:
 Children play area - safety aspects, housewife’s view,
sandbox, swing
 Play areas - paved or as lawn
 Spaces for badminton, basket net etc
CIRCULATION AREA:
 Driveways, pathways etc
 Guides vehicular movement for various places
 Materials choice & selection?
 Availability, durability, cost factor architecture
 Plant materials play major role
 Growing materials
 Selection is not an easy job
PLANT MATERIALS – HOW TO SELECT?
Soil, climate, existing conditions, aesthetic effect,
topography, and future expansion
SOIL:
 type of soil available like sand, clay, loam etc
 deciding factor to select the plant material
 clayee soil - roots will rot
 sandy soil - roots cannot absorb water as it drains out
quickly
 Landscape Design – Prof. B S Jagadeesha Chandra, Architect, Landscape Architect, MSRIT

 soil condition to be modified  Ground covers preferably shade loving type

 soil test in a laboratory  Raised bed, geometrical patterns informal curve, seating
 pH value of the soil for acidic or basic or neutral etc
 neutral pH value is best suited for unlimited number of  Balanced mixture of shrubs, trees and other landscape
plant materials elements
CLIMATE:  Evergreen, deciduous, flowering, foliage, branching
 Average rainfall, seasons etc to choose the plant material pattern to add colour, texture and variety
 Microclimate study - nearby water body, vegetation etc
EXISTING FEATURES: NATURAL & MANMADE ELEMENTS
 shadows cast by the building, neighbouring building, big NATURAL ELEMENTS
tree etc.  Rivers, lakes, forest, mountains, flora & fauna etc
 shady area, semi-shade area, sunny spot for selection of  Exists with perfect balance on its own
plant material like lawn, flowering plants, indoor plants  Environment & ecologically balance
 Climate and landscape relation in architecture like room  Organic and informal in nature
in south west corner, exposed terrace etc MANMADE ELEMENTS
 Existing tree may be pruned to allow better light etc  River, forest, mountain etc can all this be manmade?
 Existing trees, shall be preserved  Is it so easy to achieve balance from all these creations?
TOPOGRAPHY:  Environmental & ecological issues – how to tackle?
 Creation of levels  It is formal but is it possible to make it look like informal?
 Visually pleasing NATURAL LANDSCAPE ELEMENTS
 Sometimes created artificially Water body:
 Level differences, rocky formations, stream, low lying River, lake, cascade, water falls
areas etc in site etc.
 Helps to develop design Shape is informal, natural &
 Rock garden, flowing stream, cascades, ponds, terrace balanced
gardens etc, Edges are natural and informal
 Formal sitting areas, steps, retaining walls, bridges etc Vegetation
 Ground covers to bind the soil along steep slopes Wild growth, forest, agricultural
 Creating artificial levels? fields, wild ground covers etc.
AESTHETIC EFFECTS: Trees, shrubs, climbers, groundcovers etc mixed
 Landscape design - three basic types Natural in appearance, organic in growth
 Formal, Informal and Freestyle Landform
FORMAL: Hills, rocks, ridge, valley, difficult approach
 Common and easy to design Low lying areas
 Well-defined planting area, straight and neatly trimmed Irregular walks and paths
rows, Natural slope, natural soil binding
 Symmetrical balance, imaginary axis Development
 Less challenge Organic in development
INFORMAL: Informal in style
 No imaginary axis or symmetry Natural curves
 Balance achieved by grouping plants by their size, colour Balanced & harmonious
etc Aesthetics
 Natural, free flowing and less rigid Forms are natural, gigantic, Sculpturistic
Pleasing to eye
 Difficult to achieve
Colour and textural harmony
FREE STYLE:
Automatic
 Combination of formal and informal designs
MANMADE LANDSCAPE ELEMENTS
 At selected places it may be formal or informal
Water body:
 Good experience is required
symbolic, created, miniature etc
GUIDELINES AND TIPS:
Geometrical, formal or created as natural
 Plant materials not to overpower the architecture. Created with various materials like stone pitching, bank, etc.
 Blend well and enhance the architecture, Vegetation
 Limit the number of plants. Lawn, ground cover, hedges, topiary, flower beds, parterres
 Uniformity to be avoided, variety to be created for good etc. Utilitarian plant
balance All plant materials planted based on planting plan
 Deciduous plants – ornamental, mobility Organised, formal or informal
 Careful design near entrances, windows etc Landform
 Good combination of hard and soft surfaces Mounds, rock gardens, elevated areas, approach created,
 Rock garden along slopes, terraces at steep slopes and steps, ramps, terraces
adopt steps, bridges, retaining walls suitably bog garden, water body
 Flowerbeds for visual effects Organic or formal (Purely manmade)
 Annuals or perennials Retaining wall, terraces, stone pitching, Planters etc.
 Add colour, texture and direct the way Geometry, symmetry, to look like nature
 Underneath the trees - lawn mower, shade Formal in style or can be informal also
 Landscape Design – Prof. B S Jagadeesha Chandra, Architect, Landscape Architect, MSRIT

Man made curves  Plant materials can compensate architectural mass

Aesthetics Add good frontage to enhance building
As per designers concept  Architectural v\s landscape solution -
Created as per designer's choice Tree canopy, pergola with a climber, seating etc
Symbolically created as purely Imagine a site with a busy road
natural or as a manmade creation  How to achieve privacy, visual barrier and noise control?
Colour theory, designer's choice etc Group of plant material with thick foliage acts as a back drop
 A white marble statue with thick green as a contrast at
URBAN & RURAL LANDSCAPE back
RURAL LANDSCAPE 1a, TREE AS A LANDSCAPE ELEMENT
Dominated by agriculture, natural elements c. DEFINITION
Informal in development  woody plant
Man's influence limited  thick trunk >15cm dia
Dominated by natural elements  spreading crown
Symbolic creations - nil  trunk ht +2m
Natural materials common  height +4m
Ecologically balanced GROWTH
Environmental Pollution lilmited  Climate
Social Forestry  Habitat
URBAN LANDSCAPE  Temp & light condns
Dominated by urban developments, man  Humidity
made elements etc.  Soil
Formal and created ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITIES
Man's influence maximum  Influence climate & rain
Dominated by manmade elements  Improves microclimate
Symbolic creations adopted maximum  Prevents soil erosion
Natural & manmade materials common
 Shelter to animals & birds
Designer should achieve
AESTHETIC QUALITIES
Public gardens
 Ornamentation
 Foliage, flowers
LANDSCAPE ELEMENTS  Texture
Compare landscape design to a beautiful painting & list  Branching pattern
various elements present in the painting. Compare them to  Crown shape
Landscape elements.  Tree shape
MAJOR LANDSCAPE ELEMENTS DESIGN QUALITIES
1. Flora & fauna 2. Landform 3. Water  Aesthetic value
MINOR LANDSCAPE ELEMENTS  Shade & scent
Manmade elements or natural elements in a smaller scale  Buffer from wind, dust
(Refer notes on Garden elements)  Zone demarcation
 Color & texture
MAJOR LANDSCAPE ELEMENTS  Transparency
1. FLORA & FAUNA (VEGETATION)  Improve microclimate
Plant materials – trees, shrubs, climbers, ground covers  Tree house
PLANT MATERIAL(Sketches explanation)  Topiary qualities
 They have harmonious relations  Arboriculture
Can be used for attraction  Permanent landscape element
 Their shapes helps to adopt design principles like  Dynamic
Repetition, Rhythm, Balance, Texture, Colour etc  Enhance architecture and manmade elements
 Repetition is good but too much is monotonous DESIGN PRINCIPLES
Create a mass and repeat the mass as a whole  Reduce monotony
Add colour, texture and form / shape  Rhythm & repetition
 Space below a tree with a planter, shade loving ground  Color and texture
cover, seating, out door activity etc  Accent and balance
A picture window with good view of plant materials,  Scale & emphasis
combination with water, sculpture, mural etc COMMERCIAL VALUE
 Deciduous plants bring variety and mobility  Fruits, timber, fuel, oils, gums, resins, waxes, spices,
New look in every season beverages. Medicines etc
Judicious use of plant material is a must SIZE – MEDIUM, TALL, SMALL
 Compare a built form with and without plant materials HABIT – EVERGREEN, DECIDUOUS
Compare a building with & without rendering LOCAL CONDITIONS
Plant materials always enhance the building  Swampy & marshy
 Shaded pathways  Dry localities
planter boxes, flowering plants, foliage plants, colour,  Saline soils
texture helps to increase aesthetic value
 Landscape Design – Prof. B S Jagadeesha Chandra, Architect, Landscape Architect, MSRIT

 Humid areas DESIGN PRINCIPLES

 Acidic soils  Reduce monotony
 Draught resistant  Rhythm & repetition
FUNCTION  Color and texture
 ORNAMENTATION – large areas, small areas, traffic islands,  Accent and balance
growth, colour, aesthetic effect, texture etc  Scale & emphasis
 WIND BREAK, SHELTER BELT – In groups / groves with other COMMERICAL VALUE
plants  Fruits, timber, fuel, oils, gums, resins, waxes, spices,
 RELIGIOUS BUILDINGS – Temple, mosque, church etc beverages. Medicines etc
 BOUNDARIES – tall trees SHRUB SELECTION & CLASSIFICATION
 ALONG WATER BODIES – to check soil erosion, aesthetics, SIZE – MEDIUM, TALL, SMALL
drooping foliage HABIT – EVERGREEN, DECIDUOUS
 TOPIARY EFFECTS - pruning LOCAL CONDITIONS
 FOLLIAGE EFFECTS – evergreen, dense, leaf size and shape  Swampy & marshy
 ARBORICULTURE – Shade, ornament, small, medium &  Dry localities
large roads  Saline soils
TREE CROWNS  Humid areas
Tree crown shapes can be a deciding factor for tree selection  Acidic soils
When fully grown the crown shape attains aesthetic value  Draught resistant
Oval – Tamarindus indica  Full sun
Columnar – Polyalthia longifolia  Partial sun
Round – Mangifera indica  Shade
Pyramidal – FUNCTION
Conical – Cupressus, Christmas tree  ORNAMENTATION – Around buildings, traffic islands,
Irregular – Jack fruit growth, colour, aesthetic effect, texture etc
Vase – tabubia rosea  WIND BREAK, SHELTER BELT – In groups / groves with other
Fastigate – plants
Weeping – Weeping willow, Bottle brush tree  BOUNDARIES – Hedges, not eaten by animals
 ALONG WATER BODIES – to check soil erosion, aesthetics,
1b. SHRUBS AS A LANDSCAPE ELEMENT drooping foliage
DEFINITION  TOPIARY EFFECTS - pruning
 Woody or semi woody plant  FOLLIAGE EFFECTS – evergreen, dense, leaf size, shape,
 Spreads from ground color etc
 Erect & bushy  HEDGE – Flowering, Foliage, Height
 Height 0.5 to 4m  FLOWER – Summer, winter, Rain
GROWTH  FRAGRANCE – Flower, leaves
 Climate  ROCK GARDEN –
 Habitat  Focal point, Branching pattern, Berries
 Temp & light condns  Pots, containers, hanging pots
 Humidity
 Soil 1c. CLIMBER AS A LANDSCAPE ELEMENT
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITIES DEFINITION
 Influence climate & rain along with trees  Special structures to climb
 Improves microclimate  Twiners
 Prevents soil erosion  Creepers
AESTHETIC QUALITIES  A support needed
 Ornamentation GROWTH
 Foliage, flowers  Climate
 Texture  Habitat
 Branching pattern  Temp & light condns
 Plant shape  Humidity
DESIGN QUALITIES  Soil
 Aesthetic value ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITIES
 Shade & scent  Influence climate & rain along with trees
 Buffer from wind, dust  Improves microclimate
 Zone demarcation  Prevents soil erosion
 Color & texture AESTHETIC QUALITIES
 Transparency  Ornamentation
 Improve microclimate  Foliage, flowers
 Topiary qualities  Texture
 Dynamic  Branching pattern
 Permanent landscape element DESIGN QUALITIES
 Enhance architecture and manmade elements  Aesthetic value
 Coppicing character
 Landscape Design – Prof. B S Jagadeesha Chandra, Architect, Landscape Architect, MSRIT

 Shade & scent  Landform terms – Embankment, Valley, Ridge, Landscape

 Buffer from wind, dust curve, Gully, swale, Mound
 Zone demarcation  Landform in design – Wind shelter, Sound barrier, Privacy,
 Color & texture Building on slopes, Building Hierarchy & concept
 Transparency development, Sunken fence
 Improve microclimate  Landforms through section – Cave, water body, Waterfalls,
 Topiary qualities Road, walk, solar panel, Underground structure with water
 Dynamic display, terrace garden etc
 Permanent landscape element
 Enhance architecture and manmade elements 3. WATER BODY
 Coppicing character WATER AS A MAJOR LANDSCAPE ELEMENT
DESIGN PRINCIPLES • Water is an integral part of any landscape design.
 Reduce monotony • Difficult to maintain but most preferred
 Rhythm & repetition • Used in different permutations and combinations
 Color and texture History
 Accent and balance • Italian garden – steep slopes, waterfalls, cascades
• Japanese garden – natural, symbolic, informal
 Scale & emphasis
• Islamic garden – char bagh, formal design, man made
COMMERICAL VALUE
• French garden – slow moving, ponds, Reflections, formal
 Fruits, timber, fuel, oils, gums, resins, waxes, spices,
• Mughal garden – formal, manmade
beverages. Medicines etc
• Romantic garden – dynamic, light & sound, fountains,
CLIMBER SELECTION & CLASSIFICATION
flowing
SIZE – HARD CLIMBER, SOFT CLIMBER
• Rural areas – natural, informal
HABIT – EVERGREEN, DECIDUOUS
• Urban areas – formal, manmade, appear like natural
LOCAL CONDITIONS
Utilitarian purpose
 Humid areas, acidic soils, draught resistant
• Dams, lakes
 Full sun, partial sun, shade
• Reservoirs
FUNCTION • Swimming pool
 ORNAMENTATION – Around buildings, traffic islands, • Boating
growth, colour, aesthetic effect, texture etc • Recreation
 BOUNDARIES – Over fences, not eaten by animals Krs dam, Shalimar bagh, Halsur lake
 TOPIARY EFFECTS – pruning, over supports Man made
 FOLIAGE EFFECTS – evergreen, dense, leaf size, shape, color • Fountains
etc • Artificial water body
 FLOWER – Summer, winter, Rain • Symbolic elements
 FRAGRANCE – Flower, leaves • Active & passive recreation
 Pots, containers, hanging pots Natural
• River, river front
2. LAND FORM • Lake, lake related
 Introduction • Water falls
 Landform in broad scale – Hills, Rolling hills, Plains • Sea, sea related
 Ways to develop landform – Preservation, Conservation, Urban areas
Destruction, Accentuation • Manmade elements
 Landform & water body edge – Stone walls, Sand bags, • Conservation & treated water
Stone pitching, Retaining wall, Plants • Light, Colour & sound
 Ha Ha fencing • Recreation
 Natural profile of a landform, Neglected, Dramatized • Health related
 Landform – steep valley, bridge, Soil binding by GC, Steps • Rain water harvest
and terraces, Retaining walls • Grey water
 Contours and site sections – Understanding of contours • Water recycling
 Landform and slope retention – Soil binding by GC & plants, • Pollution??
Stone pitching, Sand bags, Retaining wall types like stone, Rcc, Rural areas
Dry wall, Pre-cast material etc • Utilitarian purpose
• Natural elements
 Grading and Landform – Existing and proposed contours,
• Passive recreation
Contour modification, cut & fill
• Pollution??
 Landform – slopes, steps, terraces, Deck etc – Plan &
Cascades
sections
shallow
 Landform – contours – spot elevation, ridge, valley, convex
steep
slope, concave slope etc
water in nature
 Landform, Grading and contours – Uniform slope, convex &
source
concave slope, Ridge, valley, Steep slope, Cliff, Retaining wall
spring
 Landform – sloping site – cut, fill, cut & fill, Sections to stream
explain pond
 Water edge & Landform – Dock, deck, Overhang, Terraces marsh
 Landscape Design – Prof. B S Jagadeesha Chandra, Architect, Landscape Architect, MSRIT

lake Adventure – steep fall, jet of water, heavy sound

falls WATER EFFECTS
tributaries VISUAL – aesthetics, recreation, views
river AUDITORY – various sounds, moods, music & sound
delta SYMBOLIC – water falls, river flow, lake
Water in landscape design FUNCTION – Storage, Aeration, water harvesting, to improve
aesthetics climate
moods
sound effects LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS
surroundings William Kent
shapes First professional to design gardens in the new manner.
concept & ideas He argued and said that bronze fountains cast, to look like
formal & informal trees, trees clipped to look like stone, and other such
size & scale trappings found at Versailles were dishonest or at least
treated water foolish.
conservation A natural cascade or serpentine stream was purer in concept
combination with plants than a jet of muddy water drawn up at great expense from a
Manmade cascades marsh.
manmade but natural look The taste for the irregular and natural was thus considered
geometrical shapes highly moral.
design style At Rousham, built between 1738 and1740, Kent planned the
materials used entire view from the existing house and built a miller’s cottage
size & scale and a ruin on a distant hill to complete the romantic
selected plants composition. Thus the design consideration extended to the
Natural cascades entire landscape visible from the house. The cumulative effect
existing but modified of this approach has resulted in the way the English landscape
natural shapes looks today. The garden at Rousham lies to one side of the
materials house and includes a classical arcade, a serpentine rivulet, a
natural plant materials grotto, cascades, and evocative status placed within clearings
size & scale in woodland and connected with vistas and walks.
Man made water elements Lancelot brown
fountains By the mid-eighteenth century, the new style in gardening was
over flowing widely accepted. Lancelot brown was better known as
jet Capability Brown, became the leading exponent and was in
falling great demand. Unlike Kent, he did not approve of
opening shapes architectural features in the garden. Terraces and parterres
focal point were to be cleared from the base and only grass left which
natural cascade came up to foundation. A sunken fence eliminated visual
man made cascade boundary. Clumps of trees over undulating land and a lake
light effects made to look natural were the features of the landscape. His
sound effects landscape works depended on good estate management and
Space around water body productive agriculture, for they encompassed
view working farms and field. In addition, the making of
relax picturesque landscapes that would blend visually into the
scenery existing natural system depended on an understanding of
edge ecological principles.
flora / fauna Humphry Repton
micro climate In the late 18th century and early 19th century Humphry
WATER Repton published a theory of landscape gardening, and
1. STILL WATER became the leading exponent of the style.
1A. Uninterrupted – reflection, window Repton modified Brown's ruthless formula and favoured the
1B. Interrupted – Texture, activated restoration of the terrace to connect the house to the garden.
2. MOVING WATER A technique of more importance were his "red books" which
2A. Gravity illustrated his proposals with "before" and "after" drawings or
a. Free fall – sheet, interrupted sheet, disturbed sheet, falls watercolour comparison of these showed how a quiet,
b. Flowing – turbulent, stream, quiet stream, aerated water uninteresting meadow and stream could be transformed into
fall a beautiful landscape with serpentine lake and irregular
c. Cascade – over steps, stepped pools, fast moving, slow, plantation as an environment for a castle-like establishment
steep fall set on a broad terrace.
2B. Air pressure Andrew Jackson Downing
a. Spouts – vertical jet, aerated spray, sheet of water Natural landscape, woods, plantations etc to be preserved.
b. Fountains – musical, colorful, nozzle shape Aesthetic is the essence of landscpae gardens.
WATER MOODS Many suburban villas were designed with Romantic idiom as
Peace – still water, uninterrupted water the theme.
Joyful – moving, flowing, light & sound
 Landscape Design – Prof. B S Jagadeesha Chandra, Architect, Landscape Architect, MSRIT
He created very creditable landscapes in the English manner
but with care to emphasise the particular qualities of each
site.
Frederick Law Olmsted 1856
First to coin the term landscape architect in 1858.
Landscape is very much essential for human morality, health
and happiness.
Strongly advocated the informal and natural style by
recognising the constraints and potentials of each site.
Emphasised nature and natural looks, with soft edges, curving
lines as a contrast to urbanism either for a single building or a
whole city.
According to him Landscape architecture includes designing of
urban spaces, traffic systems, university campuses, private
estates etc.
Climatic conditions, human health and comfort, close
relationship between house and garden are the important
facts to be considered.
An East Coast tradition was developed in practice and taught
at Harvard University and other schools of landscape
architecture.
In Stanford campus (1889) design, the landscape elements
included, architectural forms, arcades, courtyards etc to
compensate the effects of heat and wind. The lawns were
avoided and the drought tolerant species suited to the climate
were adopted. His other projects include Central park at New
York, Yosemite valley at California etc.
Thomas church
One of the earliest qualified landscape architect who studied
at Berkeley and Harvard. He set up his practice in 1930. His
work was extremely influenced the profession of landscape
architecture especially the domestic garden, small or large, in
California and elsewhere. Initially the garden forms were
traditional with clipped hedges and eclectic motifs. Domestic
gardens cannot be natural if it was to serve as an extension to
the house. Their scale and use called for hard surfaces,
screens to separate the areas, and design forms that would
increase their apparent size. The vital function of an urban
garden is to provide space for privacy and the function of the
house has to be extended in to the garden. The garden space
of modern architecture must contain the features like,
Outdoor entertaining, games, children's play, hard surfaces,
ground cover plants etc using simple and interesting shapes. If
there is shortage of space, the front open space itself can be
used for a private space by using walls, fences etc as screen
from outside.
Church developed a theory based on cubism, that a garden
should have no beginning and no end and that it should be
pleasing when seen from any angle, not only from the house.
Asymmetry, simple forms, lines and shapes were regarded as
more restful to look at and easier to maintain.
Form, shape and pattern in the gardens were provided
through paving, walls, and trained plants.
Donnel garden at Sonoma
Expression of affluence and a delight with indoor/ outdoor
living.
show further sophistication in his approach and in the
manipulation of form.
The form of the swimming pool, quite simple in plan is more
complex and elegant when seen in perspective. The outline is
derived from the meandering of the Sonoma River in the
flatlands seen below. The aesthetic connection between pool
shape and, forms in nature is dynamic. The garden shows
concern for the existing and surrounding environment. Thus
Donnel garden has become one of the most beautiful modern
garden in the world. (The genius of the California garden thus
lies in the combination of numerous concepts and traditions
and recognition of local conditions. Landscape architects from
Britain, Scandinavia, Germany, and Switzerland produced a
European synthesis with equally distinctive results.
Other Landscape Architects
San Francisco became the home of many of the best-known
landscape offices in the country. In addition to Church and
Eckbo, Royston, William, Halprin, Osmundsun, and others
designed gardens in the bay area in the 1940s and 1950s. A
second exhibition in 1948 at the San Francisco museum of art
showed the development in style and form and also the wider
ranges of project being handled by landscape architects in
California.)
TAXONOMY
Identification, nomenclature and classification of both plants
and animals.
With reference to plants, it is known as plant taxonomy or
systematic botany.
UNITS OF TAXONOMY
SPECIES
SUB SPECIES
GENUS/ GENERA
FAMILY
SUBFAMILY
ORDER
SUBORDER
CLASS
PHYLUM OR DIVISION
PLANT KINGDOM
SYSTEMS OF CLASSIFICATION
NATURAL SYSTEM –
Using all important character of plants in relation to natural
condition
PHYLOGENIC SYSTEM –
Based on bytogenic and phylogenic evidences.
Not very easy with available knowledge.
Many taxanomists have developed mixed form of systems
based on both above.
In Engler and Prantil system flowering plants are classified on
basic evolution of flowers. There are 14 divisions and the 14
th
division is EMBRYOPHYTA SYPHONOGAMA (All seeded plants).
These are further subdivided in to Gymnosperm and
Angiosperm.
The details are as below.
Plant kingdom --- 14 subdivisions
th
14 subdivision - - - embryophyta syphonogama - - -
Gymnosperms (7 classes) & angiosperms (covered or enclosed
seeds)
ANGIOSPERMS - - - MONOCOT & DICOT Each subdivided with
order, family, subfamily etc.
BINOMIAL SYSTEM OF NOMENCLATURE
Recognition plant by scientific name
Common throughout the world
Eliminates the disadvantages of common or local name
Two parts, first part the generic name & second part spefic
name
Example- Piscum sativum (Garden pea)
Derived by Carlous Linneaus (Father of Taxanomy)
His famous book 'Systema Naturae' was publishin ed 1958
 Landscape Design – Prof. B S Jagadeesha Chandra, Architect, Landscape Architect, MSRIT
Scientific names are long and difficult to remember
Each name has certain system, this helps to remember
The first part – Genus, species, vernacular name, person's
name, family, subfamily etc
The second part – Discriptive, country name etc
Both the parts comprises of Latin
Examples
Lagerstroemia flosreginae – Largestrom is a close friend of
Linneaus, flos= flower & reginae=queen i.e. "flower of the
queen". Common name – ‘Queen’s flower’
Bahunia varigata – Bahune the botanist, Varigata is mixed
colour in flower or with white patches.
Tamarindus indica and Mangifera indica – Tamarindus and
Mangifera Latin version of tamarind and mango, indica is
Indian origin
Michalia Champaka – Michel, the scientist's name and
Champaka is samskrith name.
SITE PLANNING
DEFINITIONS
Art & science of arranging the uses of portions of land
It involves
Selection and analysis of site
Formation of land use
Organization of vehicular and pedestrian circulation,
Development of visual and material concepts
Adjustment of site factors for the proposed use
It is a compromise between adaptations of the site
To fit the program
OR
Adaptation of the program to suit site condition
A process in which
Program requirement is provided,
Located and connected to each other
With minimum destruction of land along with imagination and
sensitivity based on site analysis
Medium size projects like, Campuses, Housing colonies,
Resorts etc
For a successful Architectural composition
UNDERSTAND THE SITE
ANALYSE THE SITE
Along with SURROUNDINGS, ACCESS, LINKS ETC AND
WHAT is known about the site
HOW it is understood
HOW both above are utilized is SITE PLANNING
SITE CHARACTER
WHAT IS HAPPENING
ON the site?
TOPOGRAPHY, VEGETATION, LANDSCAPE ELEMENTS,
SURFACE DRAINAGE ETC
BELOW the site
GEOLOGY, HYDROLOGY, SOIL TYPES, BEARING CAPACITY OF
SOIL, WATER LEVEL ETC
AROUND the site
VISUAL FEATURES IN SITE, AROUND SITE, IMMEDIATE
SURROUNDING, APPROACH ETC
PROJECT DEVELOPMENT
ADJUST WITH THE EXISTING SITE CHARACTER FOR THE
PROPOSED USE
Eg: A site was given to Bangalore University and it is
developed based on the site character
OR
SEARCH A SITE SUITED FOR THE PROPOSAL
Eg: Kaiga project at Karvar was selected based on the function
An observatory at Kavalur near Jolarpet was selected for the
proposal
OR
PROPOSE THE LAND USE BASED ON SITE CHARACTER AND
ANALYSIS
A hill near a beach is proposed for a hill resort
The site of old Central jail of Bangalore is proposed for a
freedom park, why not for a city centre? or a commercial
building?
Location of KRS dam and Brindavan Gardens
SITE ANALYSIS
TO IDENTIFY AREA SUITED FOR BUILDING LOCATION
Existing feature like vegetation, slope, water body etc
influences the proposal
Examples
Daria Doulath adjacent to Cauvery river in Srirangpatna
GKVK Library, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore
located on the topmost spot of the site (by Kanvinde)
Vidhana Soudha over high grounds, geographical centre of city
Kovalam beach hotel along the slopes facing sea
Hotel rooms of Murdeshwar facing sea
TO PRESERVE & EXPLOIT SITE CHARACTER
The old jail building is retained in Freedom Park
The exixting lake and hill of Lalbagh
A steep hilly region of Chandigarh developed as a Rock Garden
TO ARTICULATE SPACES WITH IN SITE
Imagine a site with a hill, a water body and steep as well as
medium slope areas
Hill side for rock garden, steep waterfalls, restaurant with
good view etc
Water body zone for an aquarium, water sports, swimming
pool, lake side restaurant, boat house, boat club etc
Steep sloped area – action to prevent soil erosion, natural
greenery
Medium sloped area for buildings in levels, cascades, garden
in terraces etc
TO LOCATE OTHER USES LIKE – PARKING, SERVICE AREA,
RECREATION ETC
Parking – noise, Visual Segregation, Location Segregation
Service area – Noise, Functional requirement, Service building,
service entry etc
Recreation – Swimming pool, water sports, boating,
viewpoints etc near water, Play ground, play courts, skating
ring etc in flat areas, Rock climbing, trolley etc near steep
slope
TO INTEGRATE WHAT IS PRESERVED, CHANGED, PROPOSED
ETC HARMONIOUSLY
Lalbagh –
Preservation – Hill, Lake
Changed – A part of lake, space behind the hill
Proposed – Glass house, topiary garden, nursery, aquarium
etc
Are they harmonious?
Freedom park
Preserved – Heritage building
Changed – Major part of the site with gardens etc
Proposed – Many new activities
Are they harmonious?
Bangalore University campus – Site analysis helps to
understand the proposal, is it good, bad or improved??
GKVK campus initially designed by Kanvinde & Rai
IIM campus, Bangalore
Is it possible to do an analysis for Present race course?
 Landscape Design – Prof. B S Jagadeesha Chandra, Architect, Landscape Architect, MSRIT

SITE DEVELOPMENT
DATA --- SYNTHESIS ---- CONSTRAINTS & OPPORTUNITIES ---
CONCEPT --- PROPOSAL--------- BUILDING COMPONENT

SITE DEVELOPMENT = USE FACTORS + SITE FACTORS

USE FACTOR – BUILDING PROGRAM – ARCHITECTURAL PART
SITE FACTOR – UNDERSTANDING & EXPLOITATION OF SITE
CHARACTERSTICS

SITE FACTOR = NATURAL FACTOR + CULTURAL FACTOR

+ DESIGN FACTOR
NATURAL FACTORS
GEOLOGY - Rock, Bed rock
PHYSIOGRAPHY - Landform, topography,
slopes, ridges & valleys
HYDROLOGY - Water, flood plain, marsh,
aquifer etc
SOILS - For buildings, For vegetation
VEGETTION - Trees, shrubs, ground covers,
Eco-systems – Terrestrial, aquatic
WILD LIFE - Open land, wood land, wet land
CLIMATE - Data, micro-climate, wind, radiation
ENVIRONMENTAL - Air pollution, water pollution, erosion,
floods, impact of development
CULTURAL FACTORS
EXISTING LAND USE - Ownership, adjacent property, Nuisance
SURROUNDINGS - Impact, influence
TRAFFIC & TRANSIT - Access, approach
DENSITY & ZONING
SOCIO ECONOMIC - Public opinion survey, rehabilitation
UTILITIES - Electricity, sanitation, telephone, storm water,
potable water
EXISTING BUILDING - Condition of the building To be retained
or demolished?
HISTORICAL FACTORS - Age, value, land mark, archeology, etc
DESIGN FACTORS
CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT - Influence of any major factor
ZONING - Broad zones based on site features & site analysis
CIRCULATION PATTERN - Vehicular, pedestrian, concept
AESTHETICS - Natural Landscape elements, views, vistas
DETAILS - Site or street furniture, Paving, wall, steps,
sculptures, fountain, water bodies, flower box, plant material
DESIGN PRINCIPLES - Harmony, Sequence, repetition, rhythm,
balance, proportion, scale, frontage, emphasis etc
Landscape Design – Prof. B S Jagadeesha Chandra, Architect, Landscape Architect, MSRIT
Landscape Design – Prof. B S Jagadeesha Chandra, Architect, Landscape Architect, MSRIT