Landscape architecture. Basic terms, functions and objects

In modern society, the architecture is gaining in popularity, which is associated with the organization of gardens, parks and other open spaces, where the landscape and various plants are the main element and tool for creativity.

The concept of

Landscape architecture is defined as an art whose main goal is to harmoniously compare the natural beauty of a place and the activity of a person. The main functions of this direction in architecture are:

• Preservation of natural beauty of the area.
• Creation of a system where both natural and man-made landscapes will be combined.

Proceeding from this, this concept also includes an area known as landscape-park architecture, where nature and human activity harmoniously intertwine with each other.

Basic terms

For today, the terms "landscape design" and "landscape architecture" are most often used as interchangeable words. However, there is a difference between these concepts.

Landscape architecture implies a harmonious and easier implementation in the natural environment, minor changes, where the basis continues to be the naturalness and naturalness of a particular place.

As for landscape design, this term implies a deeper intervention in the natural environment. The terrain in this case is not just reorganized or supplemented with separate man-made elements, but completely transformed and gets a completely new and unique appearance. Despite this, when creating a design, natural resources of a particular area are actively used: water, features of relief and typical vegetation.

Some experts, however, believe that it makes no sense to breed these two concepts, since they both relate to the formation and organization of an open space, and also create a comfortable environment for a person's stay.

Functions

In addition to the obvious aesthetic function, the landscape architecture performs a number of other tasks:

• Protects the natural features of a specific locality.
• Landscapes the territory.
• Makes space more environmentally friendly.
• Introduces an aesthetic moment in a person's life.

Additional tasks

In addition to the functions described above, this branch of architecture also deals with global issues, such as the problem of climate change, which affects weather conditions, water systems and directly affects the diversity of flora and fauna. Landscape architecture allows you to see the general picture and perform some kind of educational function in the perception of this problem by ordinary people.

Landscape design provides knowledge that helps improve the state of the environment, as well as offers solutions to the problem of conserving natural resources, taking care of nature and other equally important environmental issues.

The main objects of landscape architecture

As for the objects of landscape architecture and landscape design, they are quite diverse and have a complex multi-level structure. Their typology is determined depending on the specific features or scope of use. According to the functional criterion, for example, a recreation center or a reserve of historical and cultural significance is distinguished. As for the actual origin, experts identify a natural park or the water-green diameter of a human settlement.

In addition, when designing landscape design or architecture, the scale of the designated object plays an important role, which is considered from the point of view of hierarchy. In accordance with this point, the following objects of landscape design and landscape architecture are singled out:

• Macro-level objects. As can be seen from the term, this group includes quite a large area. These can be national parks, nature reserves, complex landscaping systems for large areas of modern cities and suburban areas, etc.
• Objects meso level. This group includes recreation centers that are located in close proximity to the city, countryside areas where people are resting, various historical and historical and cultural reserves, parks that perform multidisciplinary functions, specialized parks, resort recreation areas, sites that are Monuments of landscape art, and so on.
• Objects of micro level. This group is represented by small areas and most often includes gardens, boulevards, public gardens, embankments, beaches, gardens on the territory of schools, businesses or other similar institutions.

Landscape architecture deals with a number of issues, including: a harmonious combination of nature and human activities, planting of greenery and improvement of the environment.