ELEMENTS OF LANDSCAPE DESIGN
NATURAL ELEMENTS
• Land forms / Earth forms
• Water
• Flora and Fauna of the place
• Built up spaces with natural materials like
timber, stone, etc.
MANMADE ELEMENTS
•Man-made Landscaping Materials
– Brick, concrete, plastic, glass, etc.
•Structural elements – Bridges,
Steps, Pergolas, Water proofing,
etc.
•Enhancing elements – Lighting,
Seating, Fountains, etc.
LANDFORMS / EARTH FORMS
• Landform is synonymous with topography, refers to the three dimensional
relief of the earth’s surface.
• Serves as a base for all outdoor activities – can be thought of as artistic and
utilitarian element for design.
1. MACROLANDFORMS – Regional scale
– types of valleys, mountains, prairies, etc.
2. MICROLANDFORMS – Site scale – mounds,
berms, slopes, level areas, etc.
3. MINILANDFORMS – subtle undulations, ripples
of a sand dune, textural variations of stones and rocks
in a walk.
Sloped landform blocks
views and creates spatial
edges. Level landform
does the opposite.
DIFFERENT LANDFORMS LANDFORMS IN REGIONAL SCALE
Himalaya, alps,
Western Ghats
Embankment
Swale
Bangalore out skirts
English landscapes,
Valley
Mound
Deccan plateau etc.
Landscape
Curve
Gully
DEVELOPMENT OF LANDFORMS
Dramatize the
landform to make it
more appealing
or retain as it is but
never neglect the
landform by making
it flat.
LAND FORM AND CONTOUR READING
By looking at the contour map one can visualize ridge, valley, uniform slope,
steep slope, mounds, flat areas etc.
CONTOURS AND LANDFORMS
Uniform slope, convex slope, concave slope, ridge, valley, steep slope,
retaining wall etc. can be identified in a contour map
LAND FORM - CUT & FILL
Cut – waste of soil and disposal
has to be taken care
Fill – Bring extra soil from
outside
Cut & fill – balanced, what is
removed is filled back
Represent slope always in
percentage or ratio
Sections helps to modify and
locate building, road, gutter,
retaining wall etc.
CONTOUR MAP AND SECTION
Contour map indicates
the existence of
landforms.
Site sections are useful
to understand the
landforms.
Sectional elevations or
sectional views helps to
explain what you have
visualized.
LAND FORM AND DECK
In any sloping site there is scope for
using bridges, decks, stilts etc.
How, where, when and why used is
Landscape Architect’s choice
LAND FORM
ALONG WATER
BODY EDGE
Results in dock, deck,
overlook and terraces
LAND FORM
It always results in
water body, bridges,
steps, level differences,
vistas, retaining walls,
cascades etc., make use
of them in your design
LAND FORMS & WATER BODY
Slope along water body also
can be considered under
landforms. Various
manmade and natural
alternatives can be
suggested.
LAND FORM & SLOPE RETENSION
Slope can be retained in many
ways. It depends on the
Landscape architect’s concept,
visualization and selection
based on function and site
conditions.
LAND FORMS AND SECTIONS
Helps to explain the one that cannot be
explained in plans
Many interesting features can
be visualized and explained
New concepts and ideas can be
developed and demonstrated
LANDFORM ADVANTAGES
What is your preference on Development of landforms?
Any examples for Accentuation? Analyze a live example and submit by
next class.
(Ragi gudda, Mahalakshmi layout, Hanumanth nagar, Bull temple)
Thank you
