The-History-of-Landscape-Design.pdf
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The History of Landscape Design
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Two general systems of landscape design have evolved over time o One based on geometry o One based on nature
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The origin of the word GARDEN o Hebrew, gan - to protect or defend (enclose or fence in) o Hebrew, oden or eden - pleasure or delight o English, garden - the enclosure of land for pleasure or delight
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The origins of gardens o Lie in agriculture - irrigation, vegetable gardens o Geographic regions influence on Garden Styles
Babylon, Egypt, and Persia
Euphrates Valley (3500 BC) •
Planting beds similar to agricultural fields
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Irrigation channels provided functional water and sensual enjoyment
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Shade from forest trees
Hanging Gardens of Babylon •
Planted and irrigated roof terraces spanning to 300 ft. high
Nile Valley (3500 BC to 500 BC) •
Religious and symbolic significance of trees and shrubs - origins of ornamental plants
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Rectangular and axial flower bed arrangements, ponds, trellises, orchards
The Orient - 2nd major source of garden design
China •
Landscape gardening - gardening in harmony with nature
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Objective - to create a symbolic landscape in which the contrasting forces of nature were harmoniously arranged as a setting for the individual in contemplation or for a release from the conformity of life
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All contrasting forces are in balance, no order, very naturalistic
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Symbolism continually present o Water - a balance to land, essential to harmony, continually changing to serve as a reminder of the constant movement of the cosmos
o Rock - creative forces, symbols of wilderness & mountains o Plants- man’s life in the universe o Entire garden - the universe
Japan
Zen dry garden o Enclosed by a wall, viewed from a veranda, constructed of simple materials o No vegetation within the garden (except moss) o Consists of 15 stones in coarse sand
o The only view of vegetation is the forest beyond the garden (outside the walls) Stroll Garden o Creation of views and experiences in the garden o Entire garden cannot be seen at once due to integration of topography and plants
o The stroller encounters different views along the pathways that meander through the garden exposing lanterns, rocks, streams, plants, bridges, pebble beaches, raked gravel beds
o Much symbolism and allusion o How? By utilizing borrowed landscape and placement of elements o Opening up distant valley or mountain while concealing the garden boundary o Using the same trees inside the garden as outside o Planting larger trees in front of smaller trees o Placing larger hills in front of smaller hills
Ancient Greece and Rome o Purpose - social sanctuaries, enclosed shelters from the environment o Gardens consisted of pots or raised beds with statues, stone basins, marble tables
Islam o Purpose - secluded retreat from the environment o Water was an essential element for practical and symbolic purposes o Organization - geometric and axial
o Water channels quartered the gardens to symbolize the cosmos and the 4 rivers of life o Plant growth was profuse and natural - a contrast to the geometric layout
Many symbolic plants
o At the center of the garden was a pavilion, house, or palace
Moghul Garden o Persian garden was the model o Expanded narrow water channels into large expanses (modified heat)
o Vast array of plant materials
Mexico and California o Gardens closely linked to living areas of the house o Incorporated courtyards with central fountains or wells, diagonal paths, and plantings of exotic fruits, flowers and herbs
Medieval Europe o Essential element - physic garden of 16 herbs for pharmaceutical use and scientific research o Attached to houses o Included herb gardens, orchards, walled gardens, grass covered seats, fountains, flower beds, arbors, clipped hedges, fish ponds
o Idealistic image of nature o Well defined edges, divisions, plots
Italy o Gardens designed by architects o Terraced gardens in the front entrance o Secret gardens behind the residence
o Terraces and stairways incorporated due to uneven terrain o Stairways served to link the elements o First introduced in the Belvedere Garden of the Vatican (1503)
o Features: terraces, stairways, steep slopes, retaining walls, sculptures, avenues of tall cypress, pleached alleys, arbors, clipped boxwoods or shrubs linearly arranged, reflecting pools, fountains, but few flowering plants
I. France o Purpose - unity of house and garden o Gardens designed by professional gardeners trained in design
o The topography of Northern France dictated garden design o Features
o Parterre - low hedges used to separate on kind of herb from another (or some other element); the divisions themselves became ornamental [viewed from above] o Strong axial layout, symmetry
o Alleys cut through the forests o Gardens were clearings in the forest o Slow moving water allowed for moats, canals, large expanses of water o Gentle topography was treated subtlety to distinguish terraces or levels for viewing parterres
o Famous designer and gardens o Andre le Notre - Vaux-le Vicomte and Versailles
The Tudor Garden o A human scale, architectural garden that made a logical and fitting extension of the manor house that it served
o Features o Geometric o Orchard, pleasure gardens, herb gardens, or flower gardens arranged to side or front of house o Terrace on the garden side
o The pleasure garden was enclosed by high fences or clipped hedges
Subdivided into square or rectangular plots by straight walks and right angle cross walks outlined with fences or trellises
Contained knot gardens, flower beds, grass areas
o Topiaries
o Clipped hedges o Statues and fountains o Flowers planted profusely
Colonial gardens o Northern settlers - cottage gardens (utilitarian with little aesthetics) o Except those of higher economics - tudor style o Southern settlers - more extensive gardens (more land)
The English Landscape Garden o The terrain dictated the landscape (unsuited for French gardens, formal gardens)
o Characteristics: large fields, rolling hills, winding streams, scattered trees o Thus came the Romantic Movement
o Direct observations of nature o Surprise, variety, concealment
o Fundamental point - elimination of the distinction between the garden and the landscape
o One technique - the sunken fence o New vistas and views continually revealed o Incorporated the environmental qualities of light, temperature, texture, sound as a part of the garden experience
o Bright flowers were not favored - very naturalistic o Example:
Stourhead (Henry Hoare)
o The garden cannot be viewed from the house o Famous designers o William Kent/Humphry Repton - included parterres and terraces to connect house and garden
o Capability Brown - disliked parterres and terraces, extended grass to house foundation, irregular clumps of plants scattered throughout landscape, very naturalistic
Gardening in the United States Many styles in the US, although a two common themes dominate (the landscape garden and the architectural garden) o Early 1800's (Landscape gardens) o Early on romantic gardens similar to England o Famous designers - Andrew Jackson Downing
Followed by Frederick Law Olmstead - the father of landscape
architecture
Emphasized natural looks and soft edges as a contrast to urbanism
Ex. Central Park
o 1880 to 1930 o Gardens became a hodgepodge of flower beds, specimen plants in lawns, and shrubberies, overall rather formless
o One essential characteristic - the more unusual the collection of plants the better o Then came a move to restore order with architectural gardens o Characteristics
Geometric flower beds and parterres
Half hardy annuals
Clipped hedges in geometric patterns
o Example - Biltmore (Frederick Law Olmstead)
o The two themes were at odds with one another o Landscape gardens - combine hort variety and naturalistic effects; accounted for ecotypes of plants, constant changes and additions
o Architectural - provided form and tied the house to the garden o Gertrude Jekyll solved the problem o Combined formal design near the house (foundation plantings) but allowed for more naturalistic plantings farther from the house (wild gardens, woodlands) o Introduced the herbaceous perennial border
o Her philosophy - integrate the house and garden and take into account the environmental effects of the site and the needs and desires of the client
Chapter 1 – Introduction o What are the functions of the landscape? o Setting, frame, foreground for the house o Public area for arrival o Expression of lifestyle, attitude, values o Views toward environment o Refuge from daily life o Site for relaxation, recreation, gardening o A typical American residence o House in middle of lot o Front yard - appearances •
Generally, lots of lawn
o Back yard – utilitarian •
May or may not fence
o Narrow side yards (utilities, storage) Front yards o Elements
Large turf area
Driveway dominates view (walkways often end up in turf, landscape)
Garage door – lining driveway emphasizes look
Too narrow of walkway into house – 3’
Hidden entryways or lack visual interest •
Sides
o Foundation plantings o Large turf area
Entry foyer too small or not enclosed •
Very exposed to outside views
Foundation plantings •
Often only plants in yard
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Meatballs
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Evergreen
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Only seen from street
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Started in 1800’s to hide high foundation walls
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Often overgrown, obstruct windows – can be safety problem
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Too close – planted
Randomly scattered plants •
Maintenance nightmare
Generally bland and underused
Back yards o Functions o Utilitarian – gardening, storage
o Recreation – gardening (# leisure time activity) o Outdoor living, entertaining
So may include storage, grills, pools, gardens, sand boxes, swing sets, dog runs, lawn furniture
Most intensely used and most difficult to design
o Cost – Challenge – combine function/aesthetics o Elements o Lack of separation or walled
New subdivisions – particularly Eastern US
No separation, no clear definition
In West, walled or fenced
o Size differs from one lot to next
Front yards very similar
o Patios, decks – often terraced
Often undersized 12x12, 10x15
o Lack of privacy
Unfenced yards
Terraced yards
o Harsh microclimates
Not designed with weather in mind
Be mindful of direction (sun, wind)
o Terraces lack character (example: slab of concrete)
Lack relationship to interior of house
o Storage sheds – unsightly o Vegetable gardens
Often in back corner
Unsightly most of year
Far from water source
Side yards
o Primarily provide access (front to back) o Very narrow – 3-5 10-12’ o Exception – corner lots o Very small in many new Florida developments o Elements
Access dominated •
Preferred for storage •
Air conditioners, trash, firewood, etc.
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Equipment
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Vehicles
Damp, dark microclimate •
Small space is shady
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Damp in humid East
Wasted space •
Side walks, drive ways
Little access from inside
Lack of privacy from neighbors
o Houses vs. homes o Many similar houses in a neighborhood, but generally some differences o House + owner = HOME
o Many different architectural styles o Many new neighborhoods have similar styles
o Older neighborhoods – often different styles, some unique with no defined style •
Ranch, Victorian, Colonial, Greek revived, Georgian
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Brick, block, stucco, wood
o In late 90’s, a lot of
Neo-Mediterranean
Nouveau Traditional
o When there is a distinctive style, research the style to find other patterns, details particular to the style
Will help blend house and site
o Some blend different styles – Eclectic
In this case, use architectural characteristics
A composite of physical attributes and features that display overall integrity
o Want to blend house/site – Make it look like they belong o So pay attention to architectural details
Ex. Roof slopes
Window/door patterns/trims
Columns
Railings
Proportion
o Plants provide unity and soften the house hardscape
o Chapter 2 – Outdoor Rooms o Primary Goal – Create usable space o Will be limited by:
o User needs/desires o Money o Relationship between inside/outside o Conditions of the site Components o Base Plane – 2D
o Supports all activities o Plane on which activity occurs o Most organize on this plane – start with function o Frequent use – Hardscape
o Less frequent – Softscape o Vertical Plane – 3D o Provides the feeling, look, view of the space o Includes plants, house features, fences, etc. o Controls privacy, views o Overhead Plane o Provided by tree canopy, arbors, trellises, etc. o Function to control
Light quality, quantity
Perceived scale
o All three planes work together o Can provide very intimate space or wide open spaces
o The “rooms” are not clearly defined like inside a house o Can be defined with plants, walls, furniture, etc. o Can change from season to season (openness), weather, light, growth
Specific Outdoor Rooms o Indoor entry foyer
o Transition zone between outside/inside o Acclimates people
o Outdoor arrival and entry space
Objectives •
Utilitarian o Pedestrian traffic in safe, orderly fashion o Protection from elements o Obvious easy to negotiate
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Aesthetic
o Compliment residence o Convey pleasant experience o Comfort, interest, relaxation
o Sub-zones
o Public zone – occurs at curb, property lines
Need to provide sense of entry
Can be accomplished with plantings, walls, etc. along street •
Create enclosure
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Gives privacy
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Must not interfere with driver’s vision
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Must be in accord with zoning laws
o Semi public zone – occurs on or along driveway
Need enough space for parking, walking
But not too large as to dominate view
Keep walls, plantings back from drive •
Material of drive can affect perceived scale •
(interferes with walking, car doors) Ex. Scoring can reduce visual appearance
For walkways along drive – use different material
Mark where entry way walk is – use landing, funnel shape or focal point
o Transitional zone – walk between driveway and outdoor entry space
1’ function – direct movement to house
Needs to be safe, non-confusing
Can use focal points for interest •
Low plantings, walls to reinforce direction and give enclosure
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Size - > 4.5’
Slope
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