In the landscape design
professions, landscape architectural accessories are often referred to as
"hardscape" elements. These hardscape accessories can include:
-elements of the surface or floor plane such
as paving materials, walks, drives, patios, and decks
-elements of enclosure or the wall plane such as fences, walls, and
screens
-elements of the overhead or ceiling plane such as trellises,
pergolas, gazebos, and other shade structures
All accessories and elements of a landscape project
should be selected and designed to harmonize and fit well with each other
and with the overall scheme, style, or mood of the design. Along with the
various planes and elements of a landscape, a designer also must be aware
of other basic design principles. The mass or volume of the element is
important as well as the space or spaces surrounding and enclosed by that
element.
Related to mass and space is the scale or
relationship to the human size and form, the human scale. A landscaped
space should be designed to accommodate the many uses and numbers of
people using the space. The human form and activities should be a primary
consideration when designing landscape accessories, elements and spaces.
Color and texture should also be important
considerations when designing or selecting accessories and elements. Both
principles should relate to the overall design and should express the
inherent or natural characteristics of the materials being used. Too much
color or too much texture in a design can be a distraction to the overall
scheme.
Simplicity in design will allow elements to fit
comfortably into a landscape, to facilitate relatively easy construction,
to reduce or control overall costs, and to minimize long-term maintenance
and care. However, the overall style of the design may affect the
simplicity of a project or accessory. Some styles, by nature, are very
ornate and complicated, thereby precluding a simple approach to the design
of the landscape elements and accessories.
Design Considerations
In order for a landscape element to be successful in
a design it should serve a useful or functional purpose. The purpose can
be as simple as providing enclosure, such as a fence; providing shade,
such as a pergola or trellis; or as a focal point for a view or vista,
such as a piece of sculpture or a waterfall.
Durability, both in length of life and usefulness
but also in style, and whether and element will be appreciated over time,
are important considerations in landscape design. If an element is to last
it must be carefully designed, built of durable materials, constructed
with skill and craftsmanship, and properly cared for and maintained.
Safety factors are also important. Surfacing and
paving materials and elements must be design and constructed to maximize
safety by eliminating potential slipping or toe-stubbing hazards. Textured
surfaces tend to be much safer than smooth surfaces.
Short-term or initial costs as well as long-term
costs, including maintenance and repair, must be considered. Too often
designers and clients will sacrifice durability and relatively low
long-term maintenance costs for low initial costs, with the risk of early
replacement and much higher maintenance costs.
The ease of care and maintenance of landscape
elements must be considered in the design and selection process. The
maintenance operations and procedures, as well as a maintenance budget
would be carefully thought out and planned. Shortsightedness in this area
is often the cause for most unsuccessful projects.
Last, but not least, is the consideration for the
overall beauty of the element or accessory. All of the above
considerations are important, but to apply them only at the expense of the
beauty or appearance of an element or accessory is inexcusable. Care
should be taken by designers of all elements included in a landscape to
develop a pleasing aesthetic appearance. Too often useful and practical
elements such as transformers, meters, and lights are designed with low
cost and function as primary considerations, and then the landscape
designer is asked to hide or screen the unsightly element. The cost of the
screening and the long-term maintenance are never considered at the time
of the design of these offensive elements.
Landscape architectural accessories and hardscape
elements are important to all landscape projects, whether residential,
commercial, or public. Equal attention should be given to their design,
selection, construction, and maintenance, as is given to any other facet
of a landscape design project.
References
Basic Elements of Landscape Architectural Design
by Norman K. Booth
Landscape Architecture
A Manual of Site Planning and Design, Second Edition by John
Ormsbee Simonds
The Art of Home Landscaping
by Garrett Eckbo
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