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Outdoor rooms
The creation of usable space.
SPACE. In design context, it is the 3-dimensional oid or
hollo!ness contained b" the sides or edges of surrounding
elements#

$oor %base plane&,

!alls %ertical plane&, and

ceiling %oerhead plane&.

'unction of ()utdoor *sable Space+
,. Su-cient space
.. Ade/uate priac"
3. 0ecoration
1. 'urnishings
People 2nd a space to be comfortable, pleasurable and
successful if it proides su-cient room to function in, enough
priac" for the function to occur, decoration, and furnishings.
3 planes of spatial enclosure
Base plane
Spaces may have varying degrees of enclosure
vertical planes
Land form, walls, fences, and plant materials are used to provide spatial enclosure
An outdoor space may be open and allow views to the surrounding landscape
!t may be completely enclosed and isolated from its surrounding
!t tends to be more open and less de"ned compared to indoor spaces
#ertical planes may enframe or screen views
Overhead plane
Overhead planes a$ect the amount of sunlight entering a space
!t can create attractive shadow patterns
#arying heights create di$erent feelings of enclosure
Outdoor rooms%

Entr" 'o"er %transition space&

)utdoor liing and entertaining space

)utdoor food preparation space

)utdoor dining room

3ecreation space

)utdoor 4or56Storage space

7arden space
&ones of entry
8ertical planes
are used
along the
street to
proide a
sense of
enclosure
and
separation
from the
street.
'all plants and(or fences should not be placed in locations that
inhibit the driver)s view of the street
*lants, walls and others located too
close to the driveway interfere with the
opening of car doors and pedestrian
circulation
+al,s on both sides of the driveway
can provide easier access to the entry
A simple scoring pattern on the base
plane -.oor/ can reduce the apparent
si0e of the driveway
An e1panded entry wal, or 2landing3
provides a more welcoming approach
'he 2landing3 should be located where
a car would normally be par,ed
Avoid placing landing steps too close to
the edge of the driveway
Ornamental plants, a light and others
can accent the location of the
2landing3
Outdoor living and entertaining space
'his('hese can be
organi0ed as a
series of smaller
subspaces, each
with its own
function
4se the di$erent
planes to de"ne
space
A variety of
accents can be
used to create
views throughout
the yard
!ndoor and
outdoor can be
visually
integrated by
using repeated
materials
Outdoor food preparation
'his should
be located
near the
dining room,
,itchen and
outdoor
eating
space
'he grill
should be
located so
that smo,e
is blown
away from
outdoor
living and
eating
spaces
Outdoor dining space
!t should use all 3 planes of enclosure for a room5li,e feeling
Recreation space
+or,(storage space
'he wor, and storage space should be located near the carport
and(or basement doors while also being separated from the living
and entertainment spaces
A wor, bench, potting area and storage could be
coordinated on one attractive structure
*lants and fences could be used to screen the
garden
#egetables can be integrated with masses of
other plants
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A range of natural processes such as
growth, decay, sun, wind, precipitation,
runo$, and "re collectively a$ect the
presence and health of the various life
form on the residential landscape site
'hese ever5present forces provide the
necessary ingredients for life to e1ist,
though they can be devastating when
there is too much or too little of any of
them 'he natural forces li,ewise
animate the landscape as they touch,
move through, or seasonally alter every
aspect of the outdoor environment

All in all, the residential landscape is
a living, dynamic setting that is
constantly evolving and should be
designed and managed as such *roper
residential design must promote the
health of all living organism on a site
and be responsive to the natural forces
that are always present Accomplished
design should also be considerate of
the larger environmental issues
a$ecting the region, country, and
world 'his approach to landscape
design is commonly ,nown as
sustainable landscape design
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sustainable
(Sustainable 9andscape
0esign+
It simple means ongoing,
enduring, and self-
su-cient.
Thus, it is a process of
creating an outdoor
enironment that is
capable of enduring
oer time in a self-
su-cient manner !ith
minimal expense of
energ" and
maintenance.
Sustainable design id
integrated into the
landscape !ith
minimal impact on the
land !hile supporting
the health of all liing
organism on the site.
Similar terms# (design
!ith nature+, (green
design+,
enironmentall"
sensitie design+, and
(lo!-impact design+
Thus, the residential site
should#
,. 'it the regional
context
.. :ae minimal site
impact
3. 3estore damage !ith
natural eents and
c"cles
1. 3euse and rec"cle
;. Create a health"
enironment
Ref% Residential Landscape Architecture
By 6orman 7 Booth 8 9ames : ;iss
< Regional "t
Principle# The residential site should conform to the
regional context.
Each region is distinguished
b" a set of climatic factors,
including temperature
ranges and c"cles,
precipitation amount and
patterns, !ind direction and
strength, seasonal sun
angles, the number of sunn"
da"s, and humidit". These
factors should a<ect the
site, location, and
orientation of all outdoor
spaces and use areas on the
residential site.
The regional climate should
a<ect !hat construction
materials and techni/ues
are emplo"ed.
:o! much !ater is used and
!here on the residential site
should also be determined
b" the region=s climate.
3egional Climate 2t
All materials used should be
manufactured, /uarried, or found
!ithin the region as much as
practicall" possible#
A. 9ocal materials are isuall"
harmonious !ith a site because
their compositional ma5eup,
color, texture, and so on are all
around and part of the material
palette that de2nes the regional
character.
>. The" often cost less because
transportation expenses are
minimi?ed.
C. It bene2ts the local econom" b"
emplo"ing people !ho lie in the
area.
3egional plant materials or (natie
plants+ are those found gro!ing
naturall" in the geographic region. It
might also include egetation from
other similar climate and soil
conditions, though care must be
ta5en to ensure that such plants are
not inasie or hosts to pests not
normall" found in the region. This is
bene2cial since indigenous plant
materials hae the innate abilit" to
surie unattended in the region and
are often acclimated to gro!ing in
plant associations !ith other natie
egetation.
4S: Regional =A':R!ALS
> =inimal site impact
A. Presere existing egetation
>. @inimi?e grading
C. Protect surface !ater
0. @aintain !ildlife habitat
Principle# The residential site design should hae minimal impact on the
existing site.
All e1isting vegetation on a site should be
retained as much as possible 'hey have
vital environmental functions such as%

Stabili0ing soil

Retaining soil moisture

?ooling summer air temperatures

Reducing the impact of wind

Removing carbon dio1ide and dust

particles in the air, and

*roducing o1ygen

ALSO a habitat for many birds, animals

and insects
Removing e1isting vegetation%

diminishes the potential bene"ts and

e1poses the site to increase runo$ and
erosion,

higher summer air temperatures,

+ind, and

other related problems

'o safeguard threes that are to remain on site, the ground
below the canopy within a tree)s drip line should not be
altered or compacted in any manner =ost of a tree)s roots
e1ist within the "rst several feet of soil directly below the tree
canopy
During construction, the sensitive ground below all tree
canopies should be fenced o$ to prevent grading, movement
of construction e@uipment, and the storage of construction
materials
'he proposed design should locate all structures, paved areas,
and heavily used lawns outside the tree drip line as well
Structures that must be located under a tree should be
elevated above the ground on posts
a *reserve e1isting vegetation

9ocate house and site structures on relatiel" leel ground

)n steep sites, use retaining !alls to reduce grading

>uild the house into the slope !ith lo!er !al5out leel

Eleate the house !ith post-and-beams.

7rading should be underta5en b" the lightest e/uipment

possible or een b" hand !hen feasible

All topsoil !ithin the graded area should be remoed and

stoc5piled before grading ta5es place. The topsoil can later be
spread bac5 oer the graded area to proide a bene2cial
gro!ing medium.
b =inimi0e grading
Sloped
ground
creates
unstable
footing for
people and
structures

Storm !ater

4et areas6!etlands

Streams, riers, ponds or la5es

Surface !ater should be protected
to#
,. @aintain natural $o!
.. 3educe erosion
3. @inimi?e pollution
1. Protect a/uatic life

9ocate house,
structures and paed
areas outside natural
drainage !a"s on site

Ao structural elements
should be located in
lo! areas and !etlands

Establish egetatie
bu<er along the edge
of all !etlands and
!ater bodies to act as
2lter for !ater draining
into them.
c *rotect surface water
9ocate house, structures and paed areas outside natural drainage !a"s
on site
8egetation bu<er located at the edge of all !ater bodies to
2lter surface runo<.
A dierse range of enironments should be created for !ildlife
habitats.
4ildlife habitats should be as large as possible and
interconnected to each other
3 Site restoration
Common enironmental
problems of a degraded
residential landscape

3ehabilitate soil

0iscard toxic
materials

3emoe unsuitable
egetation
Principle# a $a!ed residential site should be restored to a health"
enironment.
Bene"ts of compost
in restoring soil
moisture
A 6atural events and cycles

Stud" sun and shado!

patterns

@inimi?e sun exposure

during the hot season

@aximi?e sun exposure

during the cold season

Stud" !ind patterns

Proide protection from

cold-season !ind

@aximi?e exposure to hot-

season !ind

Consere !ater

Select plants from regional

precipitation

3educe runo<

Protect from possible

!ild2res
Principle# the residential site should be in concert !ith natural
eents and c"cles.
0esirable locations for outdoor spaces during the summer
season.
Shade trees can shield roofs, e1terior
house walls, 8 the ground from the
sun)s rays
Shade trees cool the air around them
through evapotranspiration
Shade trees should then be located on the
southwest side of the house and outdoor
spaces
!ndividual members of an
overhead plane should be
oriented perpendicular to the
direction of the midday sun
A cold season 2heat poc,et can
be created on the south
Deciduous trees should be limbed up and placed
close to the residence for ma1imum sun e1posure
Shrubs or mass of trees can protect two areas from cold wind
A fence with openings o$ers ma1imum protection from the wind
A shade tree can channel wind and provide
shade for the outdoor space and house
located beneath it
Site irrigation should be organi0ed into 0ones of di$erent water needs to conserve water
B Reuse and recycle

Salage materials
on site

*se salaged
materials from the
region

*se
remanufactured
materials

Integrate a
compost area
Principle# the residential site should maximi?e the reuse and rec"cling of materials
that are on-site and in the surrounding region.
C ;ealthy environment

*se toxin-free
materials

Integrate health"
maintenance
practices
Principle# the sustainable residential site should be a nurturing and
safe enironment for all life.
Additional resources

9EE0# 9eadership
in Energ" and
Enironmental
0esign

Sustainable Sites
Initiatie

7reenScapes

4aterSense

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