HOR 240 Sustainable Landscape Design

Lecture Hours: 3
Lab Hours: 2
Credits: 4

Provides students with basic skills for designing residential and light commercial landscapes. Focuses on sustainable principles, including energy, soil, and water conservation applications. Introduces fundamental concepts for formulation of a landscape design. Identifies and describes the art and principles of design. Surveys various plants and hardscape materials. Establishes desired uses for public and private outdoor spaces. Explores issues of budget considerations and client needs, while minimizing negative impacts on the future environment.

Student Learning Outcomes:

Summarize sustainable landscape development concepts.
Explain basic art and design principles as related to landscape design.
Discuss ecologically sound management options for landscape construction and maintenance.
Develop a site assessment and draw a base map.
Formulate a basic landscape design for a project of moderate size.
Present a landscape plan solution integrating client wishes and budget constraints.

Content Outline

Landscape Architecture Overview
- History and significance of residential landscape and garden design
- Residential landscape design in the pacific northwest
- Industry and growth trends
  - Market opportunities
  - Environmental impacts
  - Human dimensions
Introduction to Sites
- Obtaining and analyzing site data
  - Vegetation
  - Landform and soils
  - Water and irrigation
  - Paving, traffic and safety
  - Structures and lighting
  - Current sustainable assets
- Critical thinking and design
- Visualization techniques
- Evaluating client needs
Principles of Landscape Design
- Unity
- Balance
  - Symmetry and style
  - Asymmetry and style
- Transition
- Focalization
- Proportion
- Rhythm
- Repetition
- Simplicity
- Sustainability
Elements of Art in Landscape Design
- Color
  - Monochromatic
  - Analogous
  - Complementary
  - Seasonal effects
- Line
  - Rectilinear
  - Arc and tangent
  - Arc and radii
  - Arc and arc
  - Curvilinear
  - Free form, biomorphic
  - Line and style
- Form
- Texture
- Scale
Energy Management and Sustainable Landscape Applications
- Porous paving
  - Primary hardscapes
  - Secondary hardscapes
  - Planting choices
  - Irrigation methods and water conservation
  - Permaculture
  - Habitat conservation
  - Soil conservation
  - Solar systems
Media and Graphics Products
- Base drawings
  - Examining project need
  - Bubble mapping and concept brainstorms
  - Laying out the page
  - Basic drafting
- Preliminary Designs
  - Determining hardscape areas
  - Determining functional uses
  - Determining style and aesthetic goals
  - Identification of sustainable applications
- Working Plans
  - Developing planting designs
  - Budget considerations
  - Other drawings and plans
  - Details and specifications
Presentation Skills
Working with Installers