How can you create a balanced landscape design?

You can design a balanced landscape using sizes, proportion, repetition, variety, symmetry, focal points, lines and curves. Plants of varying heights and textures should be grouped together by color or texture. Use hardscape elements to create emphasis points and give your landscape structure and harmony.

A Landscape that has 70 % plantation or green area and 25 % of the hardscape area after that 5% area with water bodies included in the design is a balanced landscape 1. Plantation or green area Plants ,Grasses , Trees , Bushes, Creepers, Ground covers etc. 2. Hardscape Sculpture & pathways some siting features and structures. 3.Water bodies: Pond /Koi pond , Fountain, run water source.

It is how you make it “Appetising” to one’s eye, that reflects the final outcome. In achieving a final balanced perspective of the whole initial conspectus given by the client

A balanced landscape design always starts with understanding the natural element, existing conditions, environmental concerns, site analysis and methods to be used for designing and executing the design. One must always consider the basics such as how can design minimise the environmental degradation, how to enhance, protect and preserve the existing flora, fauna and site conditions. Balanced design should thus should be a good amalgamation of detailed study of site, issues, possible solutions which minimise, negate and reduce the trauma to nature. That according to me would be perfect balanced landscape design.

Site assessment should not only consider the conditions within the site, but also the location of the site and the surrounding context. For example, is the site located within a densely populated urban centre, the suburbs or urban/rural fringe? Understanding this is key to understanding how the site is likely to be used, which is essential to developing a balanced design that combines functionality with aesthetics.

Water features are excellent focal points, not only because they draw our attention creating visual interest, but also because their benefits go beyond the aesthetic qualities. Water features can help reduce stress and improve overall well-being by creating a calming atmosphere. Additionally, water features can help mitigate the sounds of the city and create a more peaceful environment. Moreover, water features can also create climatic comfort by increasing humidity levels and reducing temperatures in the surrounding area. This is particularly important in urban areas where temperatures tend to be higher due to the urban heat island effect. As a result of these benefits, people naturally gather around water features.

I agree; I will just add that the focal point is or should by itself be the central topic or addition to the concept. The focal point is the epitome of the design idea.

There's a rule I follow regarding "focal points". Focal points is the place you would take a selfie with it. In a more extreme phrase, it's where everyone wants to take pictures of. The more people use it as selfie background or take pictures of it, the more its status as a focal point is legitimated. But if not, then it would probably means it failed.

Great points. I would expand on this to include what I would call "vertical balance "; that is, the physical and visual balance of elements from the ground plane, to the overhead plane. A space that has all ground plane elements (plant material, interesting hardscape, etc...) but lacks elements at other vertical levels is going to feel bottom-heavy and not as interesting. Similarly, if there are elements above the user's heads, that's great, but leaves the lower levels feeling empty and over-looked. A skilled landscape architect will understand the need for balance at all vertical levels, from the user's perspective, and design it as such.

In most of my works, I use many symmetrical or asymmetrical balance, depending on the site and user's request. But one thing a always try to follow, is to use odd numbers instead of even numbers. like 5 trees on left, and another 5 on right. In other case, use 5 on left and 7 on right. Other case, in a group of items, I put odd numbers of items in it. Such as group of 5 trees, 7 stones, etc. This may not be always possible but I try to follow that rule in every chance I can. Most of the results are good, or at the very least, acceptable.

I think that a balanced landscape design is one that creates a sense of harmony and order by using repetition and variety in a thoughtful way. Repetition is the use of the same or similar elements throughout the landscape, such as plants, rocks, colors, shapes, or textures. On the other hand variety is the use of different or contrasting those elements to create interest and diversity. In my opinion repetition and variety can work together to create a unified and pleasing landscape design with using a theme or a pattern in landscape or using different scale and proportion to adjust the size and quantity of the repeated and varied elements.

The effect of repetition is patterns and as humans, we tend to feel at home with patterns. I agree that too much and too predictable repetition in a landscape can be boring and takes the wow-factor out of the design. It's important then to use variety in your repetition by how you arrange the elements that are being repeated which could be individual elements or groups of elements. Too many patterns can also be overwhelming on the user's experience and it takes an artistic eye to be able to marry the two and create a harmonious landscape design.

My mentor says this (and I always remember it): "Don't make a beautiful site plan but make a beautiful view to see. Why? Because only God can see a site from the top view. Humans see a site from a human level of view." The scale and proportion are viewed according to the distance of the viewer. A 2m height statue may be considered too big when built in the workshop, but when it's placed in the middle of a plaza, it may become too small. The same size of items can be used, but the distance would make the difference. This also apply to density and colors. Finally it depend upon where the user are expected to see a design and what the designer want the user to see. Whether to be dramatic, or monotonous. Grand, or modest.

It is a good overview of proportion and scale in landscape design, but it could be improved by adding more specific examples and practical tips. For example, it could mention specific plant sizes and placement strategies, or provide guidance on how to use hardscape elements to create balance and harmony. Additionally, the text could discuss the importance of considering the human perspective when designing outdoor spaces.

Consider that plants are dynamic. They bloom at different times. They will grow. What's the project going to look like in summer, spring... winter? What well it look like 5 or 10 years from now? Plan spaces to evolve.

All great points. Although, what helps me get started is to look at the exterior as an 'outdoor room'. Just like we add elements of interest/ focus to any room, we can approach the exterior space the same way. Then we can break the monotony and emphasize the spatial interest by adding verticality through elements like feature walls and playing with textures in hardscape and softscape. The last stroke should be layering the space with variations of foliage.

The article covered all the basic points of design but we need too keep in mind that we always have two types of landscapes to deal with. We will either be starting from scratch on a new build such as a newly constructed subdivision developement. Or, we will be starting with an already established and possibly overgrown property that is in need of a refreshing. You have very different considerations in these two senarios. While the article did cover the considerations I think it could have done a little better on when and where they could be applied in these polar opposite senarios. Thoughts?

A balanced Landscape design, in my perspective, doesn't apply 100% to the design aspect. It also apply on how the landscape would be maintained after. Of course, my perspective may be a little too capitalistic for some (I apologize for that, it's my own mindset however), that the world spins on its economy. But a design that integrate contrast, ryhtm, harmony, unity, while considering of how it would be maintained, I believe that would be a truly "balanced" Landscape design.

I agree with all above points and would like to add further, The balanced landscape design must strike balance between nature and human. The balance of designing such landscape depends on how one sees the natural ecosystems. Nature is habitat of many species, while designing a balanced landscape we should provide equality to all. Such landscape would help human beings connect to the nature, and help grow micro ecosystems within. We should also consider the economic factor of landscape design while discussing this, as how would giving back to nature will help someone in their earnings, or how would someone maintain a well designed landscape. Landscape which is low on maintenance and highly balanced would sustain ecosystem.

A well balanced landscape design supports the activities, ecosystem, and resources of the site. You wouldn't want to put up a water-dependent landscape design in a place that is mostly dry as it overburdens the region's water resources. Technology can be implemented that allows for recycling of water from the buildings and surface run-off on to the landscape, if it accounts for majority of the water being used in the gardens. Landscape design should support an area or enhance it with consideration of the existing conditions.