PLANNING 1

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE &

GREEN ARCHITECTURE
Landscape Elements for Microclimate
Control
General landscape treatment to
create comfortable micro
Landscaping can be used to climate
control several aspects of
the microclimate. The
climatic variables that can
be regulated include solar
radiation (sol-air
temperature), air
temperature, wind speed
and direction, relative
humidity and glare.
Landscaping elements can
be grouped into hard
.
landscaping elements and
soft landscaping elements
 Hard Landscape Elements
Definition
The term hard landscape is used by practitioners of landscape
architecture and garden design to describe the construction
materials which are used to improve a landscape by design.

Hard landscape can also describe outdoor furniture and other

landscape products.

A wide range of hard landscape materials can be used, such as brick,

gravel, stone, concrete, timber, bitumen, glass, metals, etc.
 A. Hard Landscape Elements
Functions of Hard Landscape Elements
to provide physical visual interest, i.e. texture, colours,
materials

to satisfy practical needs of user, i.e. seating, safety,

comfort

to protect landscape plantings, i.e. retaining walls, for

example, can help prevent erosion and porous paving material
limits water runoff.
 A. Hard Landscape Elements
Gazebos/Pavillions

Chinese

Islamic

English Japanese
 A. Hard Landscape Elements
Sculptures

Japanese

English

Chinese

English
Japanese
A. Hard Landscape Elements
Other Elements

Bridge (Japanese)

Pergola (English)

Fountain (Islamic)

Moon Gate (Chinese)

Bollard
 B. Soft Landscape Elements
Definition
The term soft landscape is used by practitioners of landscape design,
landscape architecture, and garden design; and gardeners to describe
the vegetative materials which are used to improve a landscape
by design.

The range of soft landscape materials includes each layer of the

ecological sequence: aquatic plants, semi-aquatic plants, field layer
plants (including grasses and herbaceous plants) shrubs and trees.
 B. Soft Landscape Elements
Ground Covers & Grasses
Some ground cover plants make good
alternatives to turfgrasses in some
locations, especially in the xeriscaped
landscape.

They provide variety of texture and

color, reduce soil erosion, and serve as a
transition between grass areas and shrub
or flower beds.

Grasses add variety to many types of

gardens, including water, Japanese, rock,
wildlife, craft, xeriscape, container and
others.

Ornamental grasses add two elements to

the garden experience that are not readily
obtained from many other plants:
movement and sound.
 B. Soft Landscape Elements
Shrubs
Shrubs are the primary way gardeners can
diversify the garden horizontally.

Shrubs are also a useful source for food

and cover for wildlife on a smaller scale,
often down to ground level.

Shrubs provide cover for some smaller

shade-loving plants.

Some flowering shrubs attract birds with

their fruit and some shrubs even provide
colorful fall foliage rivaling any tree.
 B. Soft Landscape Elements
Trees
Besides the economic value a quality tree
can add, it also provides shade, privacy,
and beauty.

Trees provide dramatic vertical layering

within the landscape and garden.

Trees create shady microclimates in the

landscape, protecting shrubs and
groundcovers from direct exposure to the
natural elements.
 B. Soft Landscape Elements

Fragrant and flowering

shrubs
 B. Soft Landscape Elements

Ornamental Garden (English & French) Topiary

Pattern using evergreen shrubs called As an art form it is a type of
parterres and knots. living sculpture
Shape of geometry, box, yew are
frequently trimmed.
B. Soft Landscape Elements

Annual Plant
Plants that lasting only for a few months
and normally planted at the strategic
location.
 SUSTAINABLE LANDSCAPE
Sustainable landscaping encompasses a variety of practices that
have developed in response to environmental issues.

These practices are used in every phase of landscaping, including

design, construction, implementation and management of
residential and commercial landscapes.

Sustainability issues for landscaping include:

Carbon Sequestration
Global Climate Change
Air Pollution
Water Pollution
Pesticide Toxicity
Non-Renewable Resources
Energy Usage
Native plant
 SUSTAINABLE LANDSCAPE
Non-sustainable practices in landscape design include:
Soil contamination

air and water contamination

persistence of toxic compounds in the environment

non-sustainable consumption of natural resources

Greenhouse gas emissions

Invasive species
 SUSTAINABLE LANDSCAPE
Some of the effects of non-sustainable practices are:
Severe degradation of the surrounding ecosystem;
harm to human health, especially in the case of degraded drinking
water supplies;
harm to flora and fauna and their habitats;
sedimentation of surface waters caused by stormwater runoff;
chemical pollutants in drinking water caused by pesticide runoff;
health problems caused by toxic fertilizers,
toxic pesticides, improper use, handling, storage and disposal of
pesticides;
air and noise pollution caused by landscape equipment;
invasion of wild lands by non-native weeds and insect pests;
and over-use of limited natural resources.
SUSTAINABLE LANDSCAPE

Some of the solutions being developed are:

Reduction of stormwater run-off
through the use of bio-swales, rain gardens
and green roofs and walls.

Reduction of water use in

landscapes through design of water-wise
garden techniques (sometimes known as
xeriscapingTM)

Bio-filtering of wastes through

constructed wetlands

Landscape irrigation using water

from showers and sinks, known as gray
water
SUSTAINABLE LANDSCAPE

Creating and enhancing wildlife

habitat in urban environments

Energy-efficient landscape design in

the form of proper placement and selection
of shade trees and creation of wind breaks

Permeable paving materials to

reduce stormwater run-off and allow
rain water to infiltrate into the ground and
replenish groundwater rather than run into
surface water
SUSTAINABLE LANDSCAPE

Use of sustainably harvested wood,

composite wood products for decking and
other landscape projects, as well as use of
plastic lumber

Recycling of products, such as glass,

rubber from tires and other materials to
create landscape products such as paving
stones, mulch and other materials

Soil management techniques,

including composting kitchen and yard
wastes, to maintain and enhance healthy
soil that supports a diversity of soil life

Integration and adoption of

renewable energy, including solar-
powered landscape lighting