The Planting Design Handbook

Description

Since the first edition was published in 1992, Nick Robinson's The Planting Design Handbook has been widely used as a definitive text on landscape architecture courses throughout the world. It remains one of the few titles written by a practicing landscape architect and educator who is also a horticulturalist and accomplished plantsman, and which deals with the application of planting design on a large scale in landscape architecture and urban design projects. The Planting Design Handbook is distinctive for its elegant integration of an ecological approach with an understanding of visual and spatial composition. It emphasizes the role of vegetation layers and designed plant communities in complex and diverse plant assemblages for all kinds of sites and uses. This expanded and comprehensively updated third edition still provides a complete examination of principles and practice of design for public, institutional and private landscapes. It takes account of developments in theory and practice, especially in the use of perennials, and reflects a variety of media and approaches current in landscape architecture and design. All chapters have been revised and re-written to ensure updated references and new references have been added. Many new photographs of planting and projects around the world have been included, with examples of current professional drawings to illustrate the design process. It is generously illustrated, including a colour section and the beautifully detailed line drawings of the Chinese architect and painter Jia-Hua Wu. Cover Dedication Title Copyright Contents List of Figures List of Plates List of Tables Preface to the Third Edition Introduction PART I PRINCIPLES 1 Why Design? Planting Design – an Expression of Function Planting Design as Intervention in Ecological Processes Planting Design for Aesthetic Pleasure So What is Successful Planting Design? Habitat Loss and Climate Change 2 Plants as a Medium for Design Plants as Living Materials Environmental Influences Cycles of Plant Growth and Development Creative Management The Landscape Designer’s View of Plants Plants as Spatial Elements Plants as Ornament Plant Selection Functional and Aesthetic Considerations in Design Naturalness and Artificiality in Design 3 Spatial Characteristics of Plants Spatial Functions of Plants in the Human Landscape Ground-level Planting (Carpeting Plants) Shrubs and Herbaceous Plants Below Knee Height (Low Planting) Knee- to Eye-level Planting (Medium-height Planting) Planting Above Eye Level (Tall Shrub Planting) Tree Planting 4 Creating Spaces with Plants The Experience of Space The Use of Spaces The Elements of Spatial Composition Enclosure Degree of Enclosure Permeability and Transparency of Enclosure Dynamics Shape Vertical Proportion Slope Focus Symmetric Focus Asymmetric Focus Focus on the Boundary External Focus 5 Composite Landscape Spatial Organizations Linear Organizations Clustered Organizations Contained Organizations Hierarchy of Spaces Hierarchy According to Function Transitions Transitions Between Abutting Spaces Transitions Between Interlocking Spaces Transitional Spaces Entrance Zones 6 Visual Properties of Plants Subjective and Objective Responses to Plants Visual Characteristics Form Form and Habit Prostrate, Mat and Carpeting Forms Hummock, Mounded and Dome Forms Arching Form Tussock, Tufted or Caespitose Form Erect or Upright Form and Veil Planting Palm Form Succulents and Sculptural Form Oval Upright Form Conical, Columnar and Fastigiate Forms Tabulate and Level-spreading Form Open Irregular Form Trained Form Line and Pattern Ascending Line Pendulous Line Horizontal Line Diagonal Line Quality of Line Texture Fine Texture Coarse Texture Medium Texture Colour Hue Value Saturation Colour Perception Colour Effects Seasonal Colour Visual Energy Combining Plants 7 Visual Composition Five Principles of Visual Composition Harmony and Contrast, Diversity and Unity Balance Emphasis and Accent Sequence and Rhythm Scale and Complexity The Influence of Movement and Viewing Angles on Composition Unity and Diversity in Planting Design Ideas and Themes Inspiration 8 Plant Assemblages Plant Communities Forest Structures Two Principles – Ground Cover and Diversity Typical Canopy Structures as Models for Design Deciduous Cool Temperate Communities (North-west Europe and North America) Three-layer Canopy Structures Two-layer Canopy Structures Single-layer Canopy Structures Layers Within Layers Layering of Herbaceous Plant Communities Evergreen Temperate/Subtropical Communities (New Zealand) Four-layer Canopy Structures Three-layer Structures Two-layer Structures Design Interpretation of Natural Ecologies Matrix Planting 9 Ecological and Horticultural Factors Plant Materials and Design Process Growth Requirements and Tolerances Competition and Coexistence Plant Strategies Rejuvenation and Spread Increase by Seed Vegetative Increase Growth Habit Life Cycles and Succession Plant Knowledge PART II PROCESS 10 Design Methodology Inception – Establishing the Design Brief and Working Relationships Initial Contact With the Client Brief Understanding – Gathering and Organizing Information Survey Assessment Synthesis – Generating and Organizing Ideas Planting Strategy Design Concept Schematic or Outline Planting Design Masterplan Sketch Planting Proposals Detailed Planting Design Habit and Life Form Growing Conditions Planting Functions, such as Character and Aesthetic Qualities Working Drawings Specifications Realization – Refining and Implementing the Proposals Planting Establishment and Editing Management Learning Through the Design Process PART III PRACTICE 11 Large-scale Planting Introduction Large and Small-scale Planting Forest and Woodland Designing Forest and Woodland What Functions will the Forest or Woodland Perform? What Canopy Structure is Ultimately Required? What are the Soil and Climatic Conditions? What Forest Species Already Grow Successfully Nearby? How will the Forest or Woodland be Perpetuated? Planting Mixes High Forest/High Canopy Woodland Approaches Layer Components Nurse Crops Developing a Planting Mix Constituents of the Mix Mix Proportions Spacing and Setting Out Subsidiary Mixes Low Forest/Low Woodland Shrub Thicket Woodland Scrub Tall Shrubland Edges Tall Edge Low Edge Outlying Groups Clumps and Copses Woodland and Forest Belts Hedges and Hedgerows Hedges Hedgerows Perimeter Hedging Avenues Avenue Species Setting Out and Spacing Wetland Planting 12 Small-scale Planting Layout of Planting Areas Diversity in Urban Planting Canopy Layers in Small-scale Planting Seasonal Layers Composition and Scale Accents Accent Groups Ecological Ornamental Planting Woodland Gardens Meadow Gardens Scrubland Gardens Colonization of Urban Plantings Planting Patterns Plant Spacing Setting Out Urban and Garden Hedges Raised Planting and Container Planting Trained Trees and Vines Walls, Pergolas, Trellis and other Vine and Epiphyte Supports Ornamental Planting in Specialized Habitats Conclusion References and Further Reading Index Plates