Important things every landscape designer should consider

Landscaping refers to any activity which leads to changes in visible forms, layout, any manmade structure or natural flora and fauna. The ultimate objective is to make the layout more appealing while utilizing the resources optimally. With lots of concern being echoed in various forums about the global warming the landscaping as a branch of architecture has assumed important position. The green belt or green cover has become essential feature of all projects.

Whenever an area is required to be landscaped, there are certain points which a designer must keep in mind.

• Flora and fauna: There are some stipulations by regulatory bodies which prescribe minimum area which is required to be covered with plantation on mandatory basis. The points which are required to be borne in to mind here is that the type and classification of green cover which is being chosen. The green cover should have only those plants and trees which are suited to the climate of that area.

• Physical structures: the manmade structures are so designed that it should enhance the visual appeal. The emphasis should be on symmetry, which is the central theme behind architecture. The structures should be such that they do not hide the green cover but accentuate it.

• Area available: If the area which is required to be landscaped is vast and spread over many acres then landscaping philosophy will be different when compared to a landscaping requirement of a smaller area.

• Purpose: Landscaping a commercial and residential building is altogether a different proposition when compared with a park, stadium or any other utility building. In places where area which is required to be landscaped is in the center of the city then efforts are needed to utilize very inch of the area which has been made available.

• Future provisioning: When ever a landscape design is frozen, care must be taken to ensure that any proposed changes in future get seamlessly integrated. The changes required to be carried out later do not look out of place.

• Solar Energy and Rain harvesting: Landscaping has been evolving over the years. The new concepts like optimal usages of sun and its energy for the purposes of lighting and thermal heating, conservation and optimal utilization of water have already been integrated in to the landscaping themes. But even this concept will get evolving over the years so landscaping should be open to new ideas.