This document discusses landscape design and its key elements. It defines landscape design as a form of art that arranges physical and natural elements through the application of design principles. Some of the main elements of landscape design discussed include rhythm and repetition, scale and proportion, and balance and harmony. Rhythm and repetition aim to achieve visual unity, while scale and proportion refer to the size of individual plants and their relationship to structures. Balance and harmony involve juxtaposing elements like trees, hedges and colors. The document also notes that landscape design combines nature and culture to plan integrated landscapes and gardens.

1. 2009e.c
Landscape architecture
ASSIGNMENT
MICHEAL ABEBE _ _ _ _ 0259/2006

2. What is Landscape ..?
Landscape design, like painting, sculpture, and
architecture, is a form of art. “Design” is defined
as “the planned arrangement of elements to form
a visual pattern” in David Laurer’s Design Basics.
The opposite of design is to place elements by
chance or at random.
Landscape design differs from other three-
dimensional art forms in that it is dominated by the
color green and it is a living form that continues
to change with its component plants’ adaptation,
nutritional status, and pest problems. Its technical
considerations may include irrigation, lighting,
water features, and the need to accommodate
“hardscape” features such as streets, sidewalks,
and walls. A landscape’s functional needs must
also be satisfied in the design.
Elements in design are form, line, texture, and
color. In landscape design, additional elements of
sound (chimes, or the sound of water in rivers, the
ocean, or waterfalls) and fragrance can also be
included. Design elements are arranged
according to design principles. These include
order and unity, scale and proportion, balance
and harmony, and rhythm and repetition. Design
themes such as Japanese, tropical, or
contemporary can also unite the design
components in a distinct fashion.
Landscape, in both senses, includes the physical
elements of geophysical defined landforms such
as (ice-capped) mountains, hills, water bodies such
as rivers, lakes, ponds and the sea, living
elements of land cover including indigenous
vegetation, human elements including different

3. forms of land use, buildings and structures, and
transitory elements such as lighting and weather
conditions.
Combining both their physical origins and the
cultural overlay of human presence, often
created over millennia, landscapes reflect a
living synthesis of people and place that is vital
to local and national identity. The character of a
landscape helps define the self-image of the
people who inhabit it and a sense of place that
differentiates one region from other regions. It is
the dynamic backdrop to people’s lives.
Landscape can be as varied as farmland, a
landscape park, or wilderness.
The earth has a vast range of landscapes,
including the icy landscapes of polar regions,
mountainous landscapes, vast arid desert
landscapes, islands and coastal landscapes,
densely forested or wooded landscapes including
past boreal forests and tropical rainforests,
and agricultural landscapes of temperate and
tropical regions.
Landscape may be further considered under the
following categories: landscape art, cultural
landscape, landscape ecology, landscape
planning, landscape assessment and landscape
design. The activity that modifies the visible
features of an area of land is named landscaping.

4. What is landscape design…?
Landscape design is an independent profession and a
design and art tradition, practiced by landscape
designers, combining nature and culture. In
contemporary practice, landscape design bridges
the space between landscape architecture and
garden design
Landscape design focuses on both the integrated
master landscape planning of a property and the
specific garden design of landscape elements and
plants within it. The practical, aesthetic, horticultural,
and environmental sustainability are also components
of landscape design. It is often divided into hardscape
design and softscape design. Landscape designers
often collaborate with related disciplines such as
architecture and geography, soils and civil
engineering, surveying, landscape contracting,
botany, and artisan specialties.
Design projects may involve two different
professional roles: landscape design and landscape
architecture.
 Landscape design typically involves artistic
composition and artisanship, horticultural finesse
and expertise, and emphasis on detailed site
involvement from conceptual stages through to
final construction.
 Landscape architecture focuses more on
urban planning, city and regional parks, civic and
corporate landscapes, large scale
interdisciplinary projects, and delegation to
contractors after completing designs.

5. There can be significant overlap of talent and skill
between the two roles, depending on the education,
licensing, and experience of the professional. Both
landscape designers and landscape architects
practice landscape design.
What is element of landscape design…?
1_ Rhythm and repetition
The principle of rhythm and repetition tends
to achieve visual unity.
Golf courses have a natural aesthetic
appeal because of the repetition of
grassed areas.
Water features, the ocean, lakes, and
rivers achieve an effect because of
The repetition of water. Many people take
pictures of sun sets over the ocean because
of the outstanding color of the setting sun
and the stark simplicity of the sky and
ocean. sand dunes and deserts is also
visually appealing.
Even a walkway that curves to the front
door of a residence can give a strong
feeling of rhythm to a landscape, even when
the rest of the landscape is
not that good.

6. 2_ Scale and proportion
Scale and proportion can refer to
individual plants or the relationship of the
plants to the architectural structure. If a
ti plant has a diameter of 6 inches from one
end of the foliage to the other end, the
plant may be in good proportion below 1
foot or be out of proportion above 2 feet.
Single-trunk tree ferns and palms may be in
scale when young but out of proportion
when old. Large trees such as monkey pods
are generally
too large for small lots but are fine for
large parks
3_ Balance and harmony
The use of line can be a strong element in
design. Vertical lines, for example, can
impart an emotional lift to a design. coconut
trees, cook pines, bamboo, and ironwood
trees have been used as vertical elements in
landscapes. In the U.S. Northwest, conifers
can be used in the same way. The use of
horizontal lines in hedges and the stairs of
buildings can impart a solid, grounded
feeling. One use of the principle of balance
and harmony would be the juxtaposition of a
single large tree on one side of a
residential lot with many smaller trees on
the other side of the lot. Even the use of
complimentary colors can provide a
balance between the colors (Itten 1970). For

7. example, one part of yellow balances three
parts of violet, one part of orange
balances two parts of blue, and one part
of red balances one part of green.
… To be continue…