Appreciating Natural Landscape Characteristics - Landform PDF

APPRECIATING NATURAL LANDSCAPE CHARACTERISTICS - LANDFORM ASSOC. PROF. DR. MAZLINA MANSOR 1 DEPT. OF LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE KAED IIUM  LANDFORM Landform is “a natural feature of the landscape” and in a broader sense, encompasses a whole rang...

APPRECIATING NATURAL LANDSCAPE CHARACTERISTICS - LANDFORM ASSOC. PROF. DR. MAZLINA MANSOR 1 DEPT. OF LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE KAED IIUM  LANDFORM Landform is “a natural feature of the landscape” and in a broader sense, encompasses a whole range of features from oceans and valleys to mountains and plains. Landform in a design sense usually comes in the shape of earthworks. The use of earthworks within the landscape has evolved to become an essential tool of designers and landscape architects. 2  LANDFORM –landscape form for design Landform is an important category used to study visual and functional qualities of the land.  Landform is the base for all outdoor activities. 3 It is one compulsory spatial material in landscape architectural design.  LANDFORM ▪ Synonym with topography – a 3D relief of the earth’s surfaces. Surficial ground element of the exterior environment ▪ The “lay of the land” - A base plane or floor for activities. Many ancient landforms are of huge historical significance - Varying functions from creation of spaces for worship to burial grounds to defence structures. Today landform is used within design for many functions from boundaries and borders to sculptures and art forms. 4  5 Landform is a base plane or floor for activities – The “lay of the land”  LANDFORM LANDSCAPE FEATURES Regional scale landform – Macrolandform valleys, mountains, rolling hills, plains, prairies. Site scale landform – Micro landform mounds, berms, slopes, level areas, elevation changes by steps/ramps. 6  EXPRESSION OF LANDFORM 7 ▪ 0 - 1%: too flat ▪ 1 – 5%: flat ▪ 5 – 10%: suitable for most types of land uses and functions. Provide exciting level changes. ▪ 10 – 15%: rolling – maybe too steep for many land-uses and functions. Minimum grading required becaue may cause erosion ▪ +15%: too steep for most land-uses  LANDFORM - TYPES 1) Level Landform 8  LANDFORM - TYPES (cont’d) 2) Convex Landform 3) Concave Landform 9  LANDFORM - TYPES (cont’d) 4) Ridge Landform 10  Landscape Characteristic ▪ Variation of landform results in landscape character when it combines with climate, vegetation and culture ▪ Evokes different feeling & qualities to the landscape character: e.g. ocean and large lake feel open and expansive, visual continuity and unity Hilly and mountainous have a sensation of separation, isolation and rhythm 11  MODIFICATION OF LANDFORM- MODIFIED LANDSCAPE Our actions to design/modify the natural landscape RULE OF THUMB?  General course of actions can be approached -- e.g. for hill development 12  MODIFICATION OF LANDFORM 1) Preservation of natural form – leave it undisturbed, hence can be set aside for resource production e.g. timber or preserve as parks and natural areas. 13  MODIFICATION OF LANDFORM 14 2) Destruction of natural form The proposal of destruction of natural form –e.g. by grading destroys landscape character and poses physical problem.  MODIFICATION OF LANDFORM 15 3) Alteration of natural form Alteration of natural form by modifying its shape may be detrimental or present improvement to the site’s landscape character, e.g. new landscape of hills, sculptured slopes.  MODIFICATION OF LANDFORM 16 4. Accentuation of natural form – e.g. hill may intensify its landscape characteristic by eliminating its negative aspects and accentuating its positive quality.  LANDFORM & DESIGN The Influence of Landform in How We See the Landscape and Its Design Landform is a thread that ties all elements and space – a unifying factor. It is an underlying structure of a landscape ( like a framework for a building). 17  LANDFORM & DESIGN The Influence of Landform in How We See the Landscape and Its Design A change in landform means a change in delineation, appearance and function of other physical elements. 18  LANDFORM & LANDSCAPE DESIGN Landform has great significance in the landscape design because of its direct association with other elements in the landscape. It will affect: 1) definition and perception of space. Land-use and organization of functions of a site 2) Affect views 3) Movement of people and drainage pattern 4) Influence microclimate 5) Aesthetic character of an area 19 LANDFORM & LANDSCAPE DESIGN landscape projects that work with the natural landscape to create landform: terraced garden project Sculptural element e.g. grass amphitheater, playground 20  FUNCTIONAL USES OF LANDFORM 1) SPATIAL DEFINITION ▪ Create and define exterior spaces - by excavation, filling earth, build up from existing base plane 21 1) SPATIAL DEFINITION Landform creates and define exterior spaces 22 Landform creates and define exterior spaces land-use and organization of functions of a site 23 Landform creates and define exterior spaces land-use and organization of functions of a site 24 Landform creates and define exterior spaces land-use and organization of functions of a site 25 Landform creates and define exterior spaces land-use and organization of functions of a site 26 Landform creates and define exterior spaces land-use and organization of functions of a site 27 FUNCTIONAL USES OF LANDFORM 28 2) CONTROL VIEWS ▪ Direct views to specific points in the landscape ▪ influence what and how much is seen at any given point ▪ create sequential viewing or progressive realization, and completely block views Landform influences what and how much is seen at 29 any given point 2) CONTROL VIEWS Landform influences what and how much is seen at 30 any given point 2) CONTROL VIEWS Landform influences what and how much is seen at any given point 31 FUNCTIONAL USES OF LANDFORM 32 3) INFLUENCE MOVEMENT ▪ direction, speed and rhythm FUNCTIONAL USES OF LANDFORM 33 4) AFFECT MICROCLIMATE ▪ modify microclimate – can be used to establish areas to receive/block sun and wind directions. 34 FUNCTIONAL USES OF LANDFORM 35 5) AESTHETIC USES ▪ as compositional and visual elements As a sculptural elements of striking patterns of light and shade, sensuous form, etc. Landform creates aesthetic quality - e.g. As a sculptural elements of striking patterns of light and shade, sensuous form, etc. 36