{"id":12388,"date":"2019-11-29T09:24:59","date_gmt":"2019-11-29T08:24:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sunbell.it\/?p=12388"},"modified":"2019-11-29T09:25:01","modified_gmt":"2019-11-29T08:25:01","slug":"basic-principles-outdoor-environments-design","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sunbell.it\/en\/arredamento\/basic-principles-outdoor-environments-design\/","title":{"rendered":"The four basic principles for designers of outdoor environments"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Designers of outdoor environments<\/strong> work on projects which are constantly evolving, as plants grow, environmental conditions change and people use the spaces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For this reason, they must systematically consider all aspects of the land, the environment, the plants and the needs of the end-user<\/strong>, to ensure a visually pleasing, functional and ecologically healthy design.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Given this, the design process begins by determining the needs and desires of the user<\/strong>, but also the conditions of the site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once this information has been gathered, the designer proceeds by organising plants and materials<\/strong>, which are collectively referred to as the \u201cfeatures\u201d<\/strong><\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These features can be physically described by the visual qualities of form, line, colour, texture and visual weight<\/strong>, which are the basic elements of the design.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Basic Principles of Landscape Design<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The basic principles for the design of external environments relate to the fundamental concepts of proportion, order, repetition and unity<\/strong>, which serve as guidelines to organize the <\/strong>\u201cfeatures\u201d<\/strong><\/em> to create a landscape that is aesthetically pleasing and functional.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the publication \u201cBasic Principles of Landscape Design\u201d<\/a><\/em>, Dr Gail Hansen,<\/strong> a professor and researcher at the University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension, describes each of the four basic principles and their application.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As mentioned already, a harmonious composition can be achieved through the application of four basic principles<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. proportion;<\/li>
  2. order;<\/li>
  3. repetition;<\/li>
  4. unity.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    All the principles are related<\/strong>, which means that the application of one is a prerequisite to the achievement of the other.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Through the appropriate use of these principles, two important concepts in design are achieved:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    1. physical comfort;<\/li>
    2. psychological comfort.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

      People feel more comfortable in a landscape that has order and repetition, since predictable patterns are easier to understand, and an environment with proportions compatible with human scale helps one to feel more secure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Let’s look into it further.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      1. Proportion<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

      Relative proportion is the size of an object in relation to other objects,<\/strong> while absolute proportion is the scale or size of an object.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      An important absolute scale in design is human scale<\/strong> – that is, the size of the human body – because the size of other objects is considered in relation to man.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Plants, exterior structures and ornaments, as well as buildings and areas to be designed, should be considered relative to human scale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Proportion can be found in plant material relative to people<\/strong>, the surrounding plants and the house.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      When all three are in proportion, the composition feels balanced and harmonious.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

      A feeling of balance <\/strong>can also be achieved by having equal proportions of open space and planted space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      The use of plants of different sizes can help to achieve contrasts, while using plants that are similar in size achieves a comforting rhythm through repetitions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Human scale is also important for psychological well-being in open spaces.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

      People feel safer in small open spaces, such as patios and terraces, or in places that have an implied ceiling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Spatial comfort does not necessarily come from a solid enclosure, in fact, an implied ceiling, like the branches of a tree, serves as an excellent psychological enclosure that still allows one to see the light and the sky.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      2. Order<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

      Order generally refers to the organization of the design<\/strong> and is most often achieved through balance, which can be:<\/p>\n\n\n\n