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DESIGN ELEMENTS
The components used in a landscape design have a number of characteristics which should be considered. These characteristics are sometimes referred to as design elements:
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Line: Line can be either fixed or moving. Examples of fixed lines are borders of paths, fences, walls, the outline of a building, the shape of a statue and the edge of a lawn. Examples of moving lines are the edge of a shadow and the outline of a fast growing plant.
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Form: Form is the outline or three-dimensional shape of an object.
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Mass: Mass is the degree of solidity of forms. Heavier, denser or darker foliage will create the effect of greater mass.
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Space: Space is the volume which is defined by physical boundaries such as walls, trees, shrubs, ground surface and the sky or canopy of plants above.
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Texture: Texture refers to the patterning of the components of the landscape: coarse or fine, rough or smooth etc. Texture is significant when considering scale, particularly in more intimate, smaller areas. There is texture in plants, wood, stone, gravel ... even in water as the wind blows over its surface.
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Colour: Colour can be used for harmony or contrast. Generally (but not always) designers use contrasting colours sparingly. In general pale or cool colours (white, silver, blue, green and pastel shades) create a relaxing atmosphere in the garden while stronger, more vibrant tones (reds, yellows, orange, bright pink) demand attention and subconsciously encourage activity.
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Tone: Tone is the relationship between colour, light and texture.
SOME DESIGN EFFECTS
A smooth boundary will make an area seem larger.
Shadows or openings at one side of an area will make it seem wider.
Looking downhill makes a distance seem longer.
Looking uphill makes a distance seem shorter.
Too much repetition and harmony is monotonous.
Too much contrast is chaotic.
Spaces which are too small can be oppressive.
Large spaces are empty and hollow unless there are a large number of people in those spaces.
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To achieve a harmony in space in enclosed areas the ratio of building height to space width should be no more than 1:4.
Introduced landforms, such as reshaping of land, should blend in with existing topography.
Coarse textures decrease the apparent size of spaces.
Fine textures will make small spaces look bigger.
Flowing curved lines are passive, soft and pleasant.
Geometric lines and shapes are solid, strong and formal.
Sharp, straight irregular lines create an active, vigorous feeling in a garden.
Close (low) mowing tends to make an area seem larger.
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EXTRA READING
Read the following articles from this site (even if you have already read them, read them again):
Blue Garden
Bodnant Garden
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