Principles of Landscape Design - Printable Version

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Principles of Landscape Design - Manish Jain - 02-13-2023

Landscape design involves the creation of outdoor spaces that are functional, aesthetically pleasing, and environmentally responsible. The principles of landscape design guide the design process and help ensure that the end result meets the needs and expectations of the client and the environment. 

Landscape design principles include 
• Focalization or Emphasis  
 A focal point is an area or element in a landscape that draws the eye and provides a center of interest. This can be a unique feature, such as a fountain or a statue, or it can be created through the use of color or contrast.

Focalization or Emphasis directs visual attention to a point of interest or prominent part of the landscape design. This could be a hanging earth-forms sculpture, a stone-finished Corinthian garden fountain. Emphasis refers to those garden elements which initially seize attention and to which the eye continually returns. It is the creation of the more important and the less important elements in the garden. The parts of any composition should not be equal in their visual interest.

• Proportion and Scale  
 Proportion refers to the relationship of the size and scale of different elements in a design, such as the relationship between the size of a patio and the size of a house.

• Proportion is the relationship that exists among the components of a landscape. 
• It also describes the relationship between the components of the landscape and the landscape as a whole. 
• Proportion involves the size relationships between and among the components making up the landscape 
• Proportion describes the size relationship between parts of the landscape design or between a part of the design and the design as a whole. 
• A large fountain would cramp a small backyard garden, but would complement a sprawling public courtyard.

Scale is the human perception of the size of space and form related to the human dimension. 
• Scale is relative to the perception of the viewer. For a large two-story house, corner plantings that are proportional to the house may appear out of scale to the viewer. 
• Relationship between the size of an object to the size of the other objects. within the same composition

• Balance : Balance in a landscape design can be symmetrical or asymmetrical, but it refers to the distribution of visual weight in a space. A balanced design is calming and visually pleasing.

Symmetrical or Formal Balance
It is achieved when the mass, weight, or number of objects both sides of the landscape design
are exactly the same.

Asymmetrical or Informal Balance
• In landscape design suggests a feeling of balance on both sides, even though the sides
do not look the same.
• Asymmetrical balance in visual attraction may be achieved by using opposing
compositions on either side of the central axis.
• This form of balance often has separate or different themes with each having an equal
but different type of attraction.


• Order and Unity : Creating a sense of unity in a landscape design is achieved by repeating design elements such as color, texture, and form throughout the space.
• Order is the overall organization and structure of a design. It is the basic scheme or “skeleton” of the design. Order is created and carried out through the composition. Examples of order in a design may be symmetrical versus asymmetrical balance or a formal versus naturalistic arrangement. 
• Unity refers to the use of elements to create harmony and consistency with the main theme or idea of the landscape design. 
• Unity gives the landscape design a sense of oneness and interconnection. 
• Unity in landscape design can be achieved by using plants, trees, or material that have repeating lines or shapes, a common hue, or similar texture. 
• Consistency creates unity in the sense that some or all of the different elements of the landscape fit together to create a whole. 
• Unity can be achieved by the consistency of character of elements in the design. Character, means the height, size, texture, color schemes, etc. of different elements.


• Repetition : Repetition refers to the repetition of design elements, such as color, texture, form, and line, throughout a space. Repetition creates a sense of unity and coherence in a landscape, making it feel like a cohesive whole rather than a collection of unrelated parts.

• Repetition is the continuing thread in a garden and is generally defined as duplication. When any design element is repeated the mind is better able to understand the composition as a whole and so a sense of order is introduced.
• Repetition involves repeating or using an element more than once throughout a design. It helps establish and add order and unity to a design. Repetition provides a common feature throughout the design that pulls the design together.

• Rhythm : Rhythm can be used to lead the eye through a space and guide the viewer's attention to specific areas or elements. For example, a rhythmic pattern of repeating plants or trees along a path can create a sense of movement and progression, while repeating the same design elements, such as columns or arches, at regular intervals can create a sense of structure and stability.
Rhythm creates a feeling of motion which leads the eye from one part of the landscape design to another part. Repeating a color scheme, shape, texture, line or form evokes rhythm in landscape design. Proper expression of rhythm eliminates confusion and monotony from landscape design.

• Sequence or Transition : Transition refers to the movement from one area of the landscape to another, and can be achieved through the use of paths, steps, or changes in elevation.
• Sequence or Transition creates visual movement in landscape design.
• Sequence in landscape design is achieved by the gradual progression of texture, form, size, or color.
• Examples of landscape design elements in transition are plants that go from coarse to medium to fine textures or softscapes that go from large trees to medium trees to shrubs to bedding plants
• Natural transition can be applied to avoid radical or abrupt changes in landscape design.

Transition is basically gradual change.
• Sharp transitions occur most often in formal landscapes and form hard edges. An example of this landscape design idea is putting a brick mowing strip to break the transition from the mulch in your planting bed to your lawn.


• Contrast and Harmony : Contrast refers to the use of opposite or contrasting elements, such as light and dark colors, rough and smooth textures, or large and small forms, to create visual interest and excitement in a landscape. The use of contrast can help to create focal points, draw the eye to specific areas, and create a sense of depth and dimension in a landscape.


Harmony, on the other hand, refers to the use of similar or complementary elements, such as colors, textures, and forms, to create a sense of unity and coherence in a landscape. A harmonious landscape design feels cohesive and balanced, and can create a calming and relaxing atmosphere.

Harmony is a quality of relatedness 
• Found in similar plant forms, similar textures, similar qualities of line and closely related colors. 
• Aesthetic impact of Harmony depends on simultaneous perception of both similarities and differences. 
• We perceive the world as a pattern of similarities picked out as different from its background. 
• Harmony and contrast go together; neither can exist without the other. 
• Contrast is found between different plant forms, strikingly different qualities of line, texture and colour.


• Function: A well-designed landscape should serve the functional needs of the people who use it, whether that be a private backyard, a public park, or a commercial property.



• Environmental Responsibility: A good landscape design should be sustainable, using plants and materials that are appropriate for the local climate and minimizing harm to the natural environment.

These are some of the fundamental principles of landscape design that can help create beautiful, functional, and sustainable outdoor spaces.

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