LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE (Introduce yourself) LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE DESIGNING USABLE OUTDOOR SPACES

What is Landscape Architecture? Landscape architecture is the profession which applies artistic and scientific principles to the research, planning, design and management of both natural and built environments. (read definition)

Landscape Architects design outdoor spaces to serve specific purposes and meet certain needs of the users. A landscape architect designs the outdoor space to serve a certain purpose, such as this environmental education garden.

Architects design buildings to serve specific purposes and meet certain needs of the users. Churches Art Museums So what does this really mean? Much like an architect designs a building to serve a certain purpose – such as a church or an art museum…

Centennial Olympic Park – Atlanta, GA Landscape Architects also design large urban parks… Centennial Olympic Park – Atlanta, GA

Residential Developments… Seaside, FL

Private Residence – Cary, NC Private gardens … Private Residence – Cary, NC

John Bunker Sands Wetland Center – Combine, TX And created wetlands for wildlife John Bunker Sands Wetland Center – Combine, TX

What makes Landscape Architecture so intriguing What makes Landscape Architecture so intriguing? It’s about MANIPULATION!!! Big things we have to manipulate into the landscape are: Farms Roads Shopping Centers Schools Airports Little things we have to manipulate into the landscape are: Neighborhood Parks Sidewalks and Bike Paths Community Gardens So… how does this apply to your project? Well, you probably have a lot of different types of places you have to fit into your landscape. Some of them are… (repeat the list on the slide)

No one likes to be manipulated, but sometimes we have to do it to get what we want. Sometimes we only have to change the existing landscape a little bit to meet our needs… But sometimes we have to manipulate the existing landscape a lot! Sometimes we can adapt our use to an existing landform, with very little manipulation, like building a ski slope on the side of a mountain. But other times we have to severely manipulate landforms to accomplish our goals, such as this rice paddy field. I bet this mountain didn’t look like this originally!

Let’s talk about… RESPONSIBLE DESIGN! It would be great if all the outdoor uses we needed to design spaces for fit into the natural landscape as well as that ski slope, but they don’t. I am sure you have all heard the term “Sustainability”, but I want you all to think about your design using another term – “Responsibility”

RESPONSIBLE DESIGN IDEA #1: What do I need, and how can I get it with the least amount of disturbance to the natural ecosystem? Sometimes we try to leave the existing landscape alone as much as possible in order to protect the natural features. Boardwalks through this Pacific rainforest allow people to explore the environment without destroying the existing vegetation. Responsible Design is design that has the least impact on the existing native vegetation.

RESPONSIBLE DESIGN IDEA #2: How can I meet the needs of the users in a way that protects their health and safety? You want to go down to the local coffee shop and hang out with your friends. Which sidewalk would you rather walk down? This one… Pedestrian circulation is often an afterthought to vehicular circulation. or this one? Responsible design takes into consideration all the users. In both examples there are cars and a sidewalk, but the photo on the right shows how the sidewalk has been separated from the road by trees and plants. This not only keeps the people from having to walk right next to the cars, it also provides them with shade to keep them cool.

RESPONSIBLE DESIGN IDEA #2: How can I meet the needs of the users in a way that protects their health and safety? Some things just aren’t meant to be. Both these situations are unsafe for the users. Steep slopes and cars don’t mix. Neither do houses and flood plains, yet many homes are still being built in flood prone areas. Responsible design does not create a situation that is dangerous or unusable.

RESPONSIBLE DESIGN IDEA #3: How can I design an outdoor space with the least impact on our natural resources? Using local materials is the best way to conserve fuel. Why ship bricks from Chicago to Florida when you can just use local limestone? Indigenous cultures have been using local building materials for centuries. People in Bali didn’t have the option to import marble from Italy. Responsible Design is design that uses readily available natural resources, such as local stone or wood.

RESPONSIBLE DESIGN IDEA #3: How can I design an outdoor space with the least impact on our natural resources? Recycling isn’t just for aluminum cans. Outdoor spaces can be recycled, too! The Blackpool Zoo in England is situated on what used to be an airfield. So was this state park in Hawaii. Responsible Design is design that takes advantage of existing infrastructure, such as parking and sewer.

Some other things to consider… Think about what you need to build (is it a school or an ice skating rink). Determine who the users are going to be - dogs, skateboarders - and what their needs are. Try to locate the outdoor space someplace where it makes sense – locate the park near the neighborhood, not the sewage treatment plant. Think about the existing landform and how a space can be designed to adapt to that landform rather than alter it. (Go through wrap up)

Complete: Landscape Architecture Vocabulary sheets. Landscape Architecture Project border sheet

Urban Design Project: New Water Park Place

Landscape Design Project: New Kingwood Water Park Show Details! Neatness! Entrance/Ticket Booths Parking showing parking stalls Restrooms/Changing rooms Lazy River Wave Pool Kiddie Pool Colored Tube Ride 1 Retail Store 1 Restaurants Grass Trees Flower beds Walkway to Water Park Place Sidewalks/Pathways

Complete: Landscape Architecture Vocabulary sheets. Landscape Architecture Project border sheet