Site Planning – the art of arranging structures on the
land and shaping the spaces between; the art and
science of arranging the uses of portions of land
2 Methods of Establishing a Site
1. Site Selection Process – selects a list of
potential sites one that suits best the given use
and requirements of the project
2. Development Suitability Process – selects the
best possible use and development for a given
site
NATURAL FACTORS
1. Geology – the natural science that studies the
Earth
a. Igneous rocks – rocks produced by
crystallization from liquid; hardest rock;
granite and gneiss
b. Sedimentary rocks – igneous rocks exposed
to weathering; soft; shale and sandstone
c. Metamorphosed rocks – sedimentary rocks
pushed to deeper levels of the earth; slate
2. Geomorphology – branch of geology that deals
with the origin, nature, and distribution of land
forms
a. Texture – composite sizes of particles in a
soil sample
CLASS LOAM – 40% sand, 20% silt, 20% clay
b. Composition
 Mineral particles – skeletal structure of
the soil
 Organic matter – soil fertility
 Water
 Air
c. Drainage
GOOD DRAINAGE – soil’s ability to transfer
gravity water downward through;
 Infiltration – water penetrates the soil
surface
 Permeability – water within the soil
moves through a give volume
 Percolation – water is taken up by the
soil
POOR DRAINAGE – gravity water is not
readily transmitted by the soil and the soil is
saturated
d. Typography and Slopes
SLOPE ANALYSIS – an important analytical
process made on a topographic map that
makes a proper match between land uses
and slopes
SLOPE FORM – expressed graphically in
terms of a slope profile
4 Basic Slope Forms
Straight
S-Shape
Concave
Convex
ANGLE OF REPOSE – angle at which soil can
be safely inclined and beyond which it will
fall
ANGLE OF SLIDE – opposite of angle of
repose
TOPOGRAPHIC MAP – a map of a portion of
the earth that describes the shape of the
earth’s surface
CONTOURS – are imaginary lines that join
points of equal elevation on the surface of
the land
DESIRABLE SLOPES – when slopes are
selected according to building type and the
activities associated with it
SOIL EROSION – when rocks are broken
down into small fragments, and are carried
by wind, water, ice and gravity
4 Factors to Consider in Forecasting Erosion
Rates
 Vegetation – organic litter
 Soil type
 Slope size and inclination
 Frequency and intensity of rainfall
3. Hydrology – the natural science that studies the
waters of the earth…
 Hydrologic cycle – the planet’s water
cycle; movement of water from the
oceans to the atmosphere to the
continents and back to the sea
 Water table – the upper boundary of
the zone of groundwater; the top of
unconfined aquifer
 Aquifer – a permeable geological
stratum or formation that can both
store and transmit groundwater in
significant quantities
 Water shed – a geographic area of land
that captures precipitation, filters and
stores water and drains waters to a
shared destination
4. Vegetation
a. Climatic control
 Solar radiation – the earth’s source of
light; warms the earth’s surface
 Wind – control temperature
 Precipitation – intercepting rain and
slowing it down
b. Environmental engineering
 Air purification – plants clean air
through the process of photosynthesis
 Noise – sound waves can be absorbed,
reflected, or deflected; 60 dB – normal
 Glare and reflection – light source is
primary glare; reflected light is
secondary glare
 Erosion control
VITIVERIA ZIZIAINOIDES – Vitiver Grass
c. Architectural and aesthetic uses
 Space definition - to form outdoor
spaces
  View control – provide backdrops for 4. Socio-economic factors – determine whether
sculpture and fountains; provide there is a need, an interest, or any objections
filtered views of buildings or spaces on the project; compatibility
 Mood 5. Utilities/services
5. Wildlife – habitats provided by plant a. Sanitary/sewage system
communities b. Electric power supply
a. Openland wildlife – crop fields, meadows, c. Water supply
pastures, and non-forested lands d. Drainage
b. Woodland wildlife e. Telecommunications
c. Wetland wildlife 6. Historic factors
6. Climate – COLD, TEMPERATE, HOT ARID, HOT a. Historic buildings
HUMID b. Historic landmarks
a. Solar orientation for buildings c. archaeology
June 21 – summer solstice
December 21 – winter solstice AESTHETIC FACTORS
August 21 – autumnal equinox 1. Natural features – features of earth, rock,
March 21 – vernal equinox water or plant material may be incorporated in
b. Best facing slopes the site development as natural assets of the
c. Wind flows for breezes land
Amihan – northeast monsoon 2. Spatial patterns – the way an open space of a
Habagat – southwest monsoon given site is configured according to an
PASSIVE COOLING – the technology of cooling arrangement of elements that evoke activity or
spaces through proper siting of structure and flow, both physically or visually
use of energy-efficient materials 3. Visual resources
a. View – a scene observed from a vantage
CULTURAL FACTORS point
1. Existing land use b. Vista – a confined view; has three
Land Use Plans – available in each city and components – a viewing station, a view, and
municipality to determine areas for zoning a foreground
Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP)
Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE – the profession that
(HLURB) practices the art of arranging or modifying the features
URBAN LAND USE MAP COLOR CODES of a landscape, an urban area, etc. for aesthetic or
Category Color practical purposes
RESIDENTIAL Yellow Landscape Design – the art of arranging or modifying
COMMERCIAL Red the features of a landscape
INDUSTRIAL Violet
INSTITUTIONAL (schools, 2 Types of Landscape
Blue 1. Softscape – the animate elements; plants
church, gov’t bldgs., etc.)
PARKS/PLAYGROUNDS Green 2. Hardscape – the inanimate elements; masonry
INFRASTRUCTURE/UTILITIES work
Gray
(railroad, land transport, etc.)
BUILT-UP AREASS Yellow
Landscape
AGRICULTURE Light green Planting
AGRO-INDUSTRIAL (piggery,
Light violet
poultry)
FOREST (wildlife, national Art Science
Dark green
parks, watershed, etc.)
MINING/QUARRYING Brown
GRASSLAND/PASTURE Olive green Planting
SWAMPLAND/MARSHES Aqua Horticulture
Design
OTHER LAND USE (cemeteries,
dumpsite, idle lots, etc.)
Horticulture – the science of art of cultivating fruits,
2. Traffic and transit systems – efficient traffic vegetables, flowers, or ornamental plants
and transportation systems will result in
successful integration of the different PLANTING DESIGN PROCESS
developments in the vicinity 1. Examination of historical precedent
3. Density and zoning – determine whether 2. Analyzing the environment
existing utilities and land areas will be sufficient 3. Exploring design ideas
to sustain additional future development; 4. Creating a design vocabulary
population per unit land area; families per 5. Composing the planting design
hectare; floor area ration 6. Developing a plant palette
 7. Planting the garden CREATING A DESIGN VOCABULARY
8. Maintaining the garden The form and function of plants:
1. Plants create an architectural framework
EXAMINATION OF HISTORICAL PRECEDENT 2. Plants produce aesthetic effects
1. Egyptian 3. Plants modify the microclimate
2. Greek 4. Plants provide solutions to engineering
3. Roman problems
4. Chinese
5. Japanese Garden Floor
6. Medieval European 1. Carpet bedding
7. Moorish 2. Lawn
8. Renaissance Italy 3. Terrace
9. Formal French 4. Meadow
10. English 5. Parterre
11. English Victorian 6. Pathway
12. Edwardian 7. Tapis vert
13. American Garden Ceiling
14. Modern 1. Arbor
15. Environmental Movement 2. Pergola
3. Grove
ANALYZING THE ENVIRONMENT Garden Walls
1. Espalier
Analyzing the
Environment
2. Hedge
3. Palisade
Climate Soil Openings
1. Arbor
Moisture and
Temperature
Aeration 2. Arch
3. Gate
Moisture Physical
Conditions Structure Garden Hallway
1. Allee
Chemical
Light
Structure 2. Pleached walkway
3. Border
Wind

COMPOSING THE PLANTING DESIGN

EXPLORING DESIGN IDEAS
1. Establishing a design concept
2. Determining the design program
3. Creating the design
Design Entails Analysis
Axial Conditions (axis) – an imaginary line about which a
form, area, or plane is organized
Circulation – represents design elements of both
movement and rest, setting the pace, mood,
atmosphere and experience
Geometry
Grid – a system of coordinates; an understandable
pattern
Hierarchy – refers to the physical form of rank ordering
of space or features
Points of transition – loci of change, from inside to
outside, darkness to light, etc.
Structuring elements – physical forms that define space
Public vs Private spaces
The borrowed view – describes scenery or elements
beyond the actual design
Jie Jing – Chinese
Shakkei – Japanese
Integrazione scenica – Italian
Figure and ground – to reveal the form of the ground
plane by darkening the figures of the design
5 Fundamental Principles of Planting Design
Composition:
1. Line – the essence of plant form
2. Form – the overall outline or silhouette of a
plant
3. Mass – 3D grouping of plants
4. Texture – the surface qualities of plants
5. Color – the reflection of the different bands of
light on an object
Principle Design Elements Related to Principle Design
Components
1. Balance – the mass is distributed equally on
both sides of the axis
2. Emphasis – differentiates the more important
from the less important
3. Proportion – the actual size of an object or its
size relative to another objects; absolute
proportion – size or scale of an object; relative
proportion – object’s perceived size
4. Repetition – the placement of the same or
similar form, texture, or color over and over
again
5. Rhythm – a patterned repetition of a design
principle at a regular or irregular intervals
6. Scale – perception of an object’s size based on
its relation to the human body or relation to
another object
7. Sequence – arranges the design so the viewer’s
attention moves in a different way
8. Simplicity – restraint, moderation and fitness of
design
9. Symmetry – similarity of size, form, and
arrangement of parts in opposite sides of a
plane, line or point
10. Asymmetry – when garden features are not
symmetrical
11. Variety – diversity of design qualities in a
composition