LANDSCAPING ELEMENTS AND

PRINCIPLES

IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT
OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE DEGREE OF
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN ARCHITECTURE



Submitted by:
QUINONES, IRENE
RAMOS, PRINCE JAMES
RAYMUNDO, MARY ANTONNETTE
BSA-3A
LANSCAPING ELEMENTS AND PRINCIPLES

LANSCAPING

Landscaping refers to any activity that modifies the visible features of an area of land, including:
living elements, such as flora or fauna; or what is commonly known to as gardening, the art and craft of
growing plants with a goal of creating a beautiful environment within the landscape. Natural elements
such as landforms, terrain shape and elevation, or bodies of water; human elements such
as structures, buildings, fences or other material objects created and/or installed by humans; and
abstract elements such as the weather and lighting conditions.

TYPES OF LANSCAPING:

HARDSCAPING
o Hardscaping refers to the solid, hard elements in landscape design that stay the
same for years. Examples of hardscape designs are: Patios, Decks, Driveways,
Walkways and stairs, Water features, and Retaining walls.
SOFTSCAPING
o Softscaping is unlike hardscaping in that it doesnt have that long-term or
permanent quality. You can think of softscape design as it sounds the soft
features. Softscaping includes: Plants, Shrubs and hedges, Flowers, Vines, and
Trees
PRINCIPLES AND ELEMENTS OF LANDSCAPING
Landscape design principles include:
Emphasis Balance Rhythm
Proportion Order Sequence
Scale Repetition Interconnection
1. EMPHASIS Dominance and subordination of elements
Emphasis is created as a visual break in the sequence and flow of the landscape.
Emphasis can be achieved through different sizes, bold shapes, groupings, and the
unusual or unexpected.

Emphasis is achieved with the tree being dominant and the shrub grouping being
subordinate.
2. PROPORTION AND SCALE
Proportion is the relationship that exists among the components of a landscape. It also
describes the relationship between the components of the landscape and the landscape
as a whole.
Scale is the human perception of the size of space and form related to the human
dimension.
2 TYPES OF SCALE
ABSOLUTE SCALE - relates to the comparative value of landscape elements to a
fixed structure (house).

In absolute scale, the small trees on the left drawing give the feeling that the house is
large. On the right drawing, the large trees give the feeling that the house is small. Both houses
are the same size.
RELATIVE SCALE - relates to comparative sizes or values of objects in the
landscape.

Perception of tree size is based on the relative size of the person. Being emotionally
charged, relative scale can create feelings of action or relaxation.
HIGH SCALE - promotes action. It is used around large buildings and in large spaces
to fill the space. Use of high scale in small spaces makes the space feel smaller.

Here in the fountain area at Butchart Gardens, scale is high with the brightly colored
flowers. The action feeling of high scale helps move people through.

LOW SCALE - is relaxing and calming. It is used in the home landscape to give a
feeling of peace and relaxation.

3. BALANCE
Balance is a design principle defined in terms of weight. It is the equalization of
visual weight from one area of a landscape composition to another.
TYPES OF BALANCE
SYMMETRICAL BALANCE - Symmetrical balance is a formal balance. It is
sometimes referred to as bi-lateral symmetry. Formal balance repeats the
same left and right, giving stability, stateliness, and dignity.

Symmetrical Balance is giving a mirror image from left o right and vice versa.

This type of balance can also help show emphasis on a specific element.


ASYMMETRICAL BALANCE - An asymmetrically balanced design implies equal
weights on either side of the center axis. However, it does not have the sameness
on each side.

Informal balance differs from left to right giving curiosity, movement, and feels
alive. It does not show visible balance but showing balance by providing equal
visibility weights.
4. SIMPLICITY
It is an important principle of design, but it is a hard one to achieve. Too many design
themes can be confusing, and unity of design lost, so the design should be kept simple.
Too many different colors, textures, and forms result in visual confusion, and any sense
of design can be ruined. One way to achieve simplicity is by using a limited range of
plant species.

But over simplication is boring, so we have to provide VARIETY, it is for interest and to
focus attention on the desirable aspects of your property.

5. ORDER AND UNITY - Order and unity are emotional and visual reactions to the overall structure
and organization of the design elements.
ORDER - Order is the overall organization and structure of a design. It is the basic
scheme or skeleton of the design. Order is created and carried out through the
composition. Examples of order in a design may be symmetrical versus asymmetrical
balance or a formal versus naturalistic arrangement.

Unity develops from the story line. Here in Jeff de Jong's garden a story line around "sacred
space gardening" creates unity with the feeling of peace and tranquility.
TRANSITION - an edge created from one space ending and another beginning
Two types:
Sharp - occur most often in formal landscapes and form hard edges. An example of
this landscape design idea is putting a brick mowing strip to break the transition
from the mulch in your planting bed to your lawn.
Gradual

6. RHYTHM
Rhythm describes the dynamic unity or the related, orderly movement that implies
continuity. They are the apparent flow of lines, textures, and colors that express a
feeling of motion rather than confusion.

As shown in the picture, there is a feeling of continuity using rhythm.
7. SEQUENCE
Sequence is the Change or Flow in Form, Color, Texture, and Size Giving Movement or
Life.
SEQUENCE WITH TEXTURE





SEQUENCE WITH COLOR

8. REPITITION
Repetition involves repeating or using an element more than once throughout a design.
It helps establish and add order and unity to a design. Repetition provides a common
feature throughout the design that pulls the design together.





ELEMENTS OF LANSCAPING - The elements of design are the visual and physical
features of the plant and hardscape components that make up a landscape design. These
features include line, form, texture, and color. A landscape designer uses these features to
enhance the design principles.
LINE COLOR
FORM TEXTURE
1. LINE
Line plays an important role in a landscape. This design element causes physical
and/or visual movement. Line leads the viewers eyes through the landscaped
space. It defines and delineates space.

TYPES OF LINE ELEMENTS
VERTICAL LINES - can be used to pull the eye up and make a space feel
larger.

Trees are one example of vertical elements; tall trees could larger visibility of a space.
HORIZONTAL LINES - can make a space feel bigger by pulling the eye
along the ground.



Curved lines could also be a great element to add design and flexibilty on the landscape
2. FORM
Form is the two or three-dimensional shape and structure of an object or space.
Whether it is two or three dimensional, form is line surrounding mass. All the
components in a landscape have a distinctive and natural form. The forms of plants
contribute to the total design composition. The basic form of each plant depends on the
plants natural growth habit. Some of the more common forms of landscape plants
include round, conical, oval, weeping, horizontal, and upright.


3. TEXTURE
Texture is the surface quality of any plant material or structure in the landscape. It is the
feature of a plant or structures physical surface qualities as determined by form and
size.
Generally texture is added to a garden with plants. However, texture can also be created
using hardscape materials. Plant texture refers to the fineness or coarseness, roughness
or smoothness, heaviness or lightness of a particular plant. A plant's flowers, leaves,
bark, and branches all have texture. Using plants with different textures is a great way
to create variety in a garden.

4. COLOR
In landscape design, color is crucial. Color brings a garden to life by adding dimension
and interest. It can be added with plant material or hardscapes, such as paving, walls or
fences. Similar colors can be used to create harmony, while different colors can be used
to create contrast.


What color schemes work for the landscape story line?

Color is the most powerful of the design elements. Choose colors carefully
to create the mood desired in the story line.













QUESTIONAIRE:
ITEMS 1 T0 3: What are the two types of landscaping? Differentiate.
ITEM 4: It is the dominance and subordination of elements.
ITEM 5: Asymmetrical Balance is an example of ______ balance.
ITEM 6: It is applied to avoid over simplification.
ITEM 7: These are the visual and physical features of the plant and hardscape
components that make up a landscape design.
ITEM 8: Draw a tree forming a WEEPING form.
ITEM 9: Using plants with different textures is an example of?
ITEM 10: What color could give the following feelings?










ANSWERS:
ITEMS 1 T0 3: Hardscaping refers to the solid, hard elements in landscape design that stay the
same for years
Softscaping is unlike hardscaping in that it doesnt have that long-term or
permanent quality.
ITEM 4: EMPHASIS
ITEM 5: INFORMAL BALANCE
ITEM 6: VARIETY
ITEM 7: ELEMENTS OF LANDSCAPING
ITEM 8:
ITEM 9: VARIETY
ITEM 10: PURPLE/ VIOLET