COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING &

ARCHITECTURE

ARC 045 SITE PLANNING AND LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE

• RSW NO: 1 •
• BASIC DESCRIPTION OF TERMS •
• JULY 18, 2022 •

Ar. ALLAN FERDINAND M. AQUINO

JHON- KENETH P. RESOLME

• SITE PLANNING
• LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE
• LANDSCAPING
• SITE DEVELOPMENT
• DIFFERENCE OF DESIGN AND PLANNING
• DIFFERENCE OF LANDSCAPING AND LANDSCAPE
ARCHITECTURE
SITE PLANNING
Site planning typically begins by assessing a potential site for development
through thorough site analysis. Information about slopes, soils, hydrology, vegetation,
parcel ownership, orientation, etc. are assessed and documented. Going through a
thorough analysis of the feasibility of developing a site allows the architect to determine
optimal locations and design for a structure that works within the space. While conducting
the site analysis the architect also needs to review zoning of the potential project
site. These are the regulations that have been developed by the local municipality to
separate the land into different use areas such as residential and industrial zones. This
allows the town or city to not be over powered by one type of land distinction.
Site planning is a process that involves developing and implementing a specific
organizational plan for an interior or exterior space. Landscape architects develop site
plans for the grounds surrounding a home or place of business. Commercial architects
perform a similar function when designing the interior placement of key elements of the
building construction, such as the placement of artificial and natural lighting, entry and
exit options, and any other amenities that are intended to provide function as well as form.
However, site planning is not just about coming up with a workable layout for the space.
It also involves making sure the area is designed so that the space will comply with local
laws that relate to zoning, construction, and any other regulations that govern what can
and cannot be included. From this perspective, the architect must be very familiar with all
laws that apply to the project and make sure everything meets with the local codes.
Failure to do so can result in the loss of a great deal of time and money, as well as the
possibility of fines or other actions on the part of local authorities.
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE
Landscape architecture is the study and practice of designing environments
(outdoors & indoors) of varying scale that encompasses elements of art, environment,
architecture, engineering, and sociology. Landscape Architecture is a profession that is
unknown or misunderstood as gardening by many. Its value to society is greater than
many can imagine and should be celebrated by the population of every town, city, and
country.
Landscape architects are involved in the conceptual design of spaces that “creates
and enables life between the buildings”. The involvement of landscape architects can be
seen in streets, roads, shared paths, housing estates, apartment compounds, shopping
malls, squares, plazas, gardens, pocket parks, playgrounds, cemeteries, memorials,
museums, schools, universities, transport networks, regional parks, national parks,
forests, waterways and across towns, cities and countries. Landscape architects often go
beyond site design and also create masterplans, frameworks and policies for place and
city-shaping that enable citizens and government to create better places for all.

LANDSCAPING
People have practiced landscaping for centuries. As far back as the ancient
Mayans, humans were manipulating the land for both aesthetic and practical reasons.
The addition of plants, changes to the existing terrain and the construction of structures
are all part of landscaping. Today landscaping refers to the planning, laying out and
construction of gardens that enhance the appearance and create useable space for
outdoor activities around a home.

Modern landscaping is a process that makes changes to an area of land in one or

SITE DEVELOPMENT
The design of the spaces between buildings is an important aspect of every
campus. Each campus building is tied to the campus through its site, and the success of
both buildings and the campus as a whole requires careful site development. The users
of a campus usually experience the campus landscape by moving through it, unaware of
the arbitrary lines that may separate one site development project from another. This
means that any given site development project needs to be designed as part of a larger
campus fabric that extends beyond the limits of the project itself. Whereas campus
buildings are often characterized by their discreteness and unique separateness, the
landscape of most campuses is all-embracing and continuous. Whereas buildings often
tend to be objects in space, the campus landscape consists largely of linkages,
transitions, and connective spaces. Therefore, the most valued characteristics in campus
site development are continuity, unity, and the coherence of spatial relationships. Campus
site development is complicated by the fact that campuses usually evolve over time
through multiple projects executed by many people, and landscapes are, by nature,
dynamic processes that grow and transform themselves over time.

Planners and designers should recognize that the campus is ultimately a setting
for campus life in all of its many aspects. The campus serves essential functions such as
access and circulation, but it also provides symbolic meanings that people will carry with
them for a lifetime. Because site development can have a powerful impact on the basic
functionality of a campus, as well as on its deepest meanings, designers should attend to
it with the utmost care and thoughtfulness. Site development is the design of human
experience.
Site development, as used here, refers to designed physical improvements or
modifications to the campus landscape, excluding utilities and buildings. Site
development is also distinct from campus master planning because of its focus on specific
physical projects that include the preparation of construction documents and project
implementation. Master plans define a broad physical framework for campus land use,
facility location, circulation, natural systems, infrastructure, and overall space
organization. Site development is the process by which the ideas of a master plan are
designed in detail and brought to realization on the ground. Site development elements
typically include drainage, earthwork, roads, paths, exterior pavements, site structures,
exterior signage, exterior lighting, site furnishings, lawns, and plantings
DIFFERENCE OF DESIGN AND PLANNING

Design inquiries into the nature of a problem to conceive a framework for solving
that problem. In general, planning is problem solving, while design is problem setting.
Where planning focuses on generating a plan—a series of executable actions—design
focuses on learning about the nature of an unfamiliar problem.

DIFFERENCE OF LANDSCAPING AND LANDSCAPE ARCHITETURE

LANDSCAPING
Landscaping refers to activities which enhance and modify the features of the land or
site.
Gardening is the art of growing our plants in such a way that it provides an
aesthetic look and pleasing landscape.
Natural elemental designing such as land forms or bodies of water. Abstract
designs such as artificial lighting and weather conditions.
When you hear landscape architecture and landscape design, the two undoubtedly
sound similar, but they are both entirely separate. When hiring professional help for an
upcoming project, it’s imperative you understand the difference in order to hire the right
service partner.

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE
Landscape architecture can be described as a multidisciplinary field. It includes
studies of different sub-fields such as architecture, urban designs, geography, fine arts,
environmental psychology, civil engineering, botany, industrial designs, ecology,
horticulture, and soil sciences. Some essential key landscape architecture elements are
as follows:
• Greenspace (a natural landscape that is covered with a thick layer of greenery).
• Hardscape (human-made landscape architecture, which includes walls or paths).
• Waterscape (a natural or artificial landscape that has water as a dominant feature).
 REFERENCES

• https://worldlandscapearchitect.com/what-is-landscape-
architecture/
• https://www.aboutmechanics.com/what-is-site-planning.htm
• https://www.landscapingnetwork.com/landscape-design/what-
is.html
• https://www.appa.org/bok/site-development/
• https://www.mcneilengineering.com/the-difference-between-
landscape-design-and-landscape-architecture/