LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE

Land become landscape when it is described or seen in terms of its

physiographic and environmental characteristics.

Landscape varies accordingly and also according to the historical impact of

man on it.

Landscape architecture is concerned with the planning and design of land

and water for use by society on the basis of the understanding of these
systems.
Planning implies futuristic approach to land. The planning involves political and economic
procedures.

Design refers to the qualitative and functional arrangement of parcels of land set aside in
the planning process for some specific social purpose like housing, education, recreation
etc.

Planning and design suggest manmade or man regulated landscape.

SIGNIFICANCE OF TIME IN LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE
During the course of time man’s attitude towards his environment has changed.

Gutkind identifies 4 stages in man’s changing attitude.

1st stage –
Primitive man was characterized by fear of the unpredictable forces of nature with an
accompanying desire for security or shelter.

Edakkal Caves ,Wayanad Koteshwar Temple Cave ,Uttarakand

 SIGNIFICANCE OF TIME IN LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE
2nd stage –
This stage is one of growing self confidence leading to a more rational
adaptation of the environment for different needs. People work with nature
on the basis of understanding its processes and realizes their limitations in
terms of manipulating nature. Landscape was regarded as a resource .
Eg:
•the regulation of rivers for the irrigation of crops as seen in the midddle east.
•the temples and the pyramids of Egypt.
•Medieval town with its church and castle and organic winding street pattern closely related to
physiographic features.

Badami caves,Karnataka.
SIGNIFICANCE OF TIME IN LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE

Matera is located in a remote corner of

southern Italy in the small region
Basilicata. It is a UNESCO World
Heritage Site in 1993.

Buildings climb up and down the hillside, houses

piled on top of each other, the roofs of some acting
as streets for those above. They were carved out of
the rock and the original caves extended with facades
that look like normal homes.
SIGNIFICANCE OF TIME IN LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE
3rd stage – has led to the present situation .
It is a stage of aggression and conquest. The adjustment to the
environment seen in the second stage has been replaced by exploitation
and waste of natural resources .
As a result of scientific specialisation in the 19th century, the awareness of
the total relationship of man and nature was weakened. It became an
automobile oriented spreading urban region with felled forest, worked out
mineral deposits and polluted rivers.
4th stage– lies in the future and is an age of responsibility and unification .

Renewed understanding and insight into the workings of nature has resulted
in social awareness and more sensitive adjustment to environmental
conditions.

This attitude depends on the science of ecology. This is the stage where
landscape architecture has a significant role.
Contours
Contours
 Contours
Contour lines are used to represent a 3-dimensional landscape on a 2-
dimensional map.

A contour line is a line joining points of equal height above sea level.
 Contours
Understanding the characteristics of
contours is necessary for planning the
development of a given site.

Contours help in visualising the site in the

third dimension.

They show existing elevations of

topography and consist of a contour map
that reveals site characteristics.

Contour lines are used to represent a 3-

dimensional landscape on a 2-dimensional
map. A contour line is a line joining points
of equal height above sea level
 Mean sea level Contours

Contours are lines of equal elevation above the same reference plane.
The reference (datum) plane is generally referred to and it is located at the
mean sea level.
Mean Sea Level is a measurement of the average height of the sea between
high and low tide recorded for a period of 19 years.
 Contour lines Contours
Contour interval
A contour interval is the vertical distance between contours.

Common intervals usually used are 1,2 and 5 ft.

The choice of a suitable interval results from the purpose for which a
topographic map is used.

Source: http://raider.mountunion.edu/~mcnaugma/Topographic%20Maps/contour.htm
Source: http://www.slideshare.net/paidraig/contours-
33309921
Concave slopes go from steeper to gentler terrain with
movement downslope. There are closer contour spacing at
the top and wider spacing at the bottom of the concave
slope.
Convex slopes roll from less steep to steeper terrain.

Depending on the contour interval and the size of the feature,

convexities on terrain may be detected by wider contour spacing
on top and closer contour lines on the bottom of the roll
Andinas or Agricultural Terraces near the town of Písac
Source: http://www.rediscovermachupicchu.com/agricultural-terraces.htm
Runoff water flows down hill perpendicular to contour lines.
 Grading of the site
The primary purpose for changing existing contours is to direct runoff water
away from structures or activity areas and to adapt man-made structures to
the existing topography.
This process is called grading.

Positive drainage, an important concept in grading , causes water to flow

away from structures towards drainage channels and thereby prevents
flooding.
Grading of the site
2 types of grading that reshape existing contours are

•Rough grading – done before construction.

•Finished grading - after construction.

•Before rough grading is begun

existing top soil should be
stripped from the area to be
graded and stock piled away
from the construction area.

•Top soil of good quality can e

reused in the process of fine
grading.
Sub-soil is then removed from the higher side of the site and replaced
on the lower side, this is done in layers which are compacted each time
so that the ground is stable and firm.
The site is dug level with the use of laser levels attached to the excavator and
the excess subsoil and top soil is landscaped so as to blend with the original
ground levels.
Drainage channels are dug into the finished level with the correct falls, over
which a membrane is laid which follows into each channel.

Perforated drainage pipe is laid in the channels before being covered with
clean stone over which a layer of binding material and finally the layer of sand.
 Cut and fill

When a proposed contour is moved back to an existing contour cut is

indicated.

When a proposed contour is moved away from an existing slope fill is

indicated.

It is the purpose of earthwork calculation to determine if a balance exists

between cut and fill or whether material will have to be added to or
carried away from the site.
Cut and fill
 LANDSCAPE DEVELOPMENT IN HISTORICAL CONTEXT
•The word garden probably originated from the Hebrew words “gan “ meaning
to protect or defend which implies a fence or enclosure and “oden “or” eden”
meaning pleasure or delight.

The English word garden is a combination of the two meaning the enclosure of
land for pleasure and delight .

•The concept of the pleasure garden perhaps originate in mythology, whereas

its layout and organization seem to derive from ancient cultivation and
irrigation practices.

•Most of the major religious faiths describes gardens or paradise at the

beginning of time or the end of life on earth.

Eg :- The promised garden of Mohammed said to be filled with groves of trees

and fountains .
 LANDSCAPE DEVELOPMENT IN HISTORICAL CONTEXT

The Garden of Eden in which God placed Adam and Eve described in
Genesis I and II as a park planted by god in which there where all kind of
trees delightful to see and good to eat. The tree in the center yielded
knowledge of good and evil. There were also a river that branched into four
streams on leaving the park. there

Mythological Garden of Eden

Source: https://www.lds.org
 LANDSCAPE DEVELOPMENT IN HISTORICAL CONTEXT

Mythological Garden of Eden.

Source: https://johnsbibleblog.wordpress.com
 LANDSCAPE DEVELOPMENT IN HISTORICAL CONTEXT
If the origin of garden layout lies in agricultural practices ,the fenced vegetable
patch may be regarded as the prototype.

Eg :the Euphrates Valley around 300BC , where gardens were made for
pleasure .

The leisured segments of society (the heads of state and the ruling classes ),
supported by the productivity of settled civilizations ,lived in palace complexes
of sun-baked brick with gardens of this type.

The dimensions and shapes of planting beds were those of the fields.

Irrigation channels and ponds were incorporated for functional reasons as

well as for sensuous enjoyment of water in a hot climate.

Shade was provided by forest trees planted in regular groves and the garden
was protected with a wall to keep out animals and intruders.
 LANDSCAPE DEVELOPMENT IN HISTORICAL CONTEXT

Mythological Garden of Eden

Source: https://www.lds.org
 LANDSCAPE DEVELOPMENT IN HISTORICAL CONTEXT

The Hanging gardens of Babylon were unique and was considered as one of
the seven wonders of the ancient world. It is the only one of the seven
whose location has not been definitively established.

It is known to the world through descriptions given in texts by ancient Greek

and Roman writers.

Because of the lack of evidence it has been suggested that the Hanging
Gardens are purely mythical, and represent a romantic ideal of an eastern
garden. However if it did exist, it might have been destroyed sometime after
the first century AD.

This great monument is said to have occupied 4 acres and to have risen in a
series of planted and irrigated roof terraces to a height of 300ft from which
views of the valley and the surrounding dessert were obtained.
 LANDSCAPE DEVELOPMENT IN HISTORICAL CONTEXT

Assumed locations of
the'HangingGardens’

Source:https://www.theguardian.com/science/2013/may/05/babylon-hanging-garden-wonder-
nineveh
This hand-coloured engraving, probably made in the 19th century depicts the fabled Hanging
Gardens, with the Tower of Babel in the background.
(Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanging_Gardens_of_Babylon)
 EGYPT

The Nile valley civilization

of Egypt lasted from 3500-
500 B.C. The rich built
residences and walled
gardens in the agricultural
countryside.

A mosaic from the roman city of palestrina depicting earlier

life on the nile.

Source :http://boston-decks-and-porches.com/2016/01/01/what-is-a-pergola-and-
why-would-your-deck-want-one/
 EGYPT

The officials’ gardens of

Thebes is probably typical.
It consists of a rectangular and
axial arrangement of flower
beds ,ponds ,enclosures and a
vine trellis under which one
walked from the gate to the
house.
Fruit trees were planted for
shade.
There were irrigation channels
and garden pavilions and the
garden was surrounded by a
high wall.
The house and garden of an Egyptian government official
at Thebes 2000 B.C.
Source: https://www.pinterest.com/Sweden71/historia
PERSIA

About 500B.C the kings of Persia created lavish formal gardens for delight,
consecrated to joy ,love ,health and luxury.
A Persian palace garden of this era would have irrigation channels running
through it as though it were fields of some economic crop.
PERSIA

Source: http://sabafarmand.livejournal.com/973.html

Here guarded by high look out towers and walls, fruit trees and scented
flowers ,including roses and violets, were cultivated between rills of water
emanating from a central fountain as four basic channels, symbolic of the
cosmic cross namely the four branches of the river rising in Eden mentioned in
the book of Genesis.
PERSIA

Source: http://sabafarmand.livejournal.com/973.html

This strong tradition of irrigation systems supporting cool, shady environments

,symbols of paradise ,filled with exotic fruits and flowers persisted into the
Persian Empire of the sixth century.
A schematic diagram of a Persian garden.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persian_gardens
Elements of the Persian garden

Bagh-e Fin, Kashan

Source: http://iranian.com/History/Oct98/Garden/p9.html
Elements of the Persian garden
•Sunlight and its effects were an important factor of structural design in
Persian gardens.
•Textures and shapes were specifically chosen to harness the light.
•Iran’s dry heat makes shade important in gardens, which would be nearly
unusable without it.
•Trees and trellises largely feature as biotic shade; pavilions and walls are also
structurally prominent in blocking the sun.
•The heat also makes water important, both in the design and maintenance of
the garden. Water is employed for irrigation and air cooling and is imbued
with religious and symbolic significance.
•The Persian style often attempts to integrate indoors with outdoors with the
help of architectural elements such as vaulted arches . this inner courtyard of
vaulted arches connects the interior of the building with the outer garden
thereby providing an open relationship between garden and architecture.
 Elements of the Persian garden

The garden in the Golestan Palace of Tehran.

Source:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persian_gardens
The Persian Garden Influences around the World
The Persian garden concept was taken from one empire or civilisation to
another after the rise of Islam.
The tradition and style in the design of Persian Gardens, known as Iranian
Gardens ,has influenced the design of gardens around the world, from Spain
to India and beyond.
The Taj Mahal in India is one of the largest Persian Garden interpretations in
the world.

View of the garden at the Taj Mahal, Agra, India.

Islamic tradition.

The Islamic garden concept was introduced into North Africa by the Moors
and eventually introduced into Spain during the 13th century where the
theme of the paradise garden was combined with the atrium of Roman
origin.
The Persian Garden Influences around the World
The Persian Garden Influences around the World
The Persian Garden Influences around the World