The
Principles of
Landscape
Design
What is Landscape Design?
• Involves the union between nature
and man’s built environment.
• Includes aesthetics and function
(beauty and practicality).
• For people and/or the environment.
Steps in the Landscape Design Process
• Client Interview
• Site Survey and Analysis
• Problem Statement
• Objectives
• Concept
• Preliminary Design
• Final Design
Program Phase
• Client Interview
• Site Survey and Analysis
• Problem Statement
• Objectives
• Concept
Design Phase
•Preliminary Design
•Final Design
Program Phase
• Considers facts of the project (collects
facts about site and client).
• Anticipating problems, future needs,
activities, development of site.
• Plan to satisfy needs of the customer
(need to know personality, lifestyle,
needs, desires, priorities).
How important is the
Program Phase?
If the designer does a poor job……..design
decisions will be inaccurate…recommendations
to the client will be ineffective………the client
will be dissatisfied…………the designer’s
reputation suffers………there will be no new
job referrals…………the firm goes out of
business.
Client Interview?
• Find out as much about the client
as possible.
• Client may not even know what
they want.
• This makes people skills very
important.
Questions to Ask Client
• How much free time?
• Hobbies?
• Personality (Social or Private)?
• Children and/or Pets?
• Budget?
• Favorite Colors or Plant Types?
• Entertain Guests?
• Future Plans?
Site Survey
• The purpose of the site survey is to
inventory the existing features of
the site. The items that are
inventoried include……...
• Topography-shape of the ground
• Geology-what is the ground made of
• Hydrology-water table and movement
• Existing Vegetation-what plant matter is
present
• Circulation-people movement in the landscape
• Utilities-gas/power lines, septic tank, water
ways
• Views-what might be pleasurable to see or not
• Off-site Influence-city ordinance,
neighbors, roadways
• Climate-macro (entire lot) and micro
(specific area within the site
• Soil-structure and fertility
• Record views-back door, living room
window, driveway to front door, deck,
road
Site Analysis
• Identify Use Areas (for
example, a large, open area
with a gentle slope and good
soil and no overhead wires
would be an ideal location
for a garden).
Problem Statement
• Defines the scope (kind) of
project with general
sentences or phrases.
• Defines what you are trying
to accomplish through this
process.
• General. Not Specific.
Objectives
• Create more specific
statements that identify the
goals of the project. These
still are not actual design
decisions.
Concept
•Create a “bubble
diagram” of the
property and the uses
for each portion of the
property.
Design Phase
•The purpose of the design
phase is to put all of the
information, thought and
ideas gathered in the
program phase into a
working design.
Preliminary Design
• Tends to be a rough sketch, not
exactly to scale, not fully labeled.
• Include specific design items, include
plant and hardscape materials.
• This design is shared with the client
for feedback.
Final Design
• The preliminary design is modified to
include the feedback from the client.
• The final design is professionally
completed, drawn to scale, and
includes clearly labeled items and a
materials list.
• This design is provided to the
landscape contractor for installation.