Basics of Landscape Design Part 3: Landscape Design Principles
Landscape design includes elements and principles of importance. There are certain landscape design principles that are present in successful landscape designs. While there are many opinions on the elements and principles that should be used in a successful design, I will touch on the importance of unity, balance, emphasis, and scale.
Unity is creating a unified feel. This is achieved when there is a replicating factor in the design. Unity can be shown in design pattern, texture, or color. The goal is to achieve a cohesive feel in the design.
The second equally important design principle is balance. Balance can be shown symmetrically or asymmetrically. Achieving balance occurs when the design isn’t weighted more heavily on one side than the other or when one element doesn’t dominate the landscape.
Emphasis can be created through focal points or accent areas. This is achieved by drawing attention to specific elements of the design. The goal is to guide the participant’s gaze through the landscape.
Finally, the Scale should be considered. The overall height and size of a home in relation to the size of the plants should be prioritized. A large building with tiny shrubs would not match the scale just as a large shrub in front of a small home with low windows would not be in scale. Another way to look at it is to have appropriate proportions and/or size relationships.
A lot can be divided into different spaces. These spaces can act much like outdoor “rooms”.
Each room can have a separate purpose such as lawn and games, public area, garden area, etcetera. Lines are used to separate the different spaces. Curved lines often reflect a natural and more casual design. Straight lines are common for hardscapes including patios, steps, and decks, but they can also be used to separate bed lines from lawn areas to create a more formal design.
The types of plants and hardscape materials also play a role in determining the overall formal or informal feel of the area. Next time, I will discuss how selecting plants and other materials in the design can bring a desired feeling to the landscape.
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Next : Basics of Landscape Design Part 4: Selecting Landscape Plants and Materials
