Drafting Basics

2202Jennifer WoodsPowerPoint 1Line Weight Contrast

Basic principles of line drawings

Landscape architects have traditionally drawn and presented their ideas in a style based primarily on the use of symbols and lines.The landscape architect does not attempt to draw a realistic, photographic image, but simplifies the drawing into a graphic choreography referred to as “line drawing.”

Basic principles of line drawings

Line drawing is unique to landscape architecture when compared to other design professions.To make a line drawing “read” a series of principals and techniques are relied upon, the most important are line weight contrast and value contrast.

Line Weight Contrast

A drawing can be executed using only lines to communicate an idea.Line weight (lines width and darkness) is very important.Line weight contrast (LWC) refers to the principle of developing a hierarchy of line weights within a drawing. From wide dark lines, to thin light lines. Heavy dark lines used for most important

aspects. Lighter lines used for texture and detail.

Line Weight Contrast

Darker heavier lines are used for the outline and edges of 3-D objects. These can be: Walls Buildings Trees

Dark lines also used for a significant change in vertical elevation as in: Top edge of a retaining wall Curb Step

Line Weight Contrast

The greatest degree of LWC typically occurs between the ground plane and any other object.The contrast between different materials, shapes and forms on the ground plane itself should be more subtle.

Line Weight Contrast Examples

The edge of a tree symbol can be emphasized by darkening the tips of the branch lines or by outlining the entire tree with a dark line.Outlining a plant mass instead of each species if they are in one group.Outline of planting texture made heavier to emphasize edge.Stipple (using dots as shading) the heaviest along the edge of material; fade stipple out toward interior of object.

Line Weight Contrast

If an object is below a tree canopy then they must still be shown in a light line below the tree.In perspective drawings, heavier lines are used for those objects closest to the viewer.Lighter lines are used for more distant objects or for detail.

Drafting Basics

2202Jennifer WoodsPowerPoint 2Value Contrast, Texture, Line Quality

Value Contrast

Value Contrast refers to the principle of creating a hierarchy of values within a drawing from black to white.Similar to light weight, a drawing can be made legible using only a range of values with no lines.The objective is to make objects or plans of one value “read” by placing them against objects or planes of a different value. A light object can be viewed by juxtaposing it

against a dark object.

Value Contrast

Successful plan drawings use a full range of values. White areas, a range of middle tone grays,

and dark gray or black

In a line drawing, value may be created by: Shading with a pencil Shading with a gray magic marker Establishing tonal areas of lines and textures

Value Contrast

In plan drawing, a sense of depth and legibility can be achieved by one of two approaches. Make the ground plane and all low

objects light in value, and all objects with height dark in value.

Or switch them making the ground plane dark in value and objects with height light in value.

Value Contrast

Shadows are also used frequently to show contrast. Shadows can be used to show the height of

objects and forms to each other and to the ground plane.

Shadows provide strength and clarity to a plain drawing.

Shadows are normally drawn toward the bottom right of the sheet, regardless or where north is. This supplies visual weight and stability on the bottom of the sheet.

Texture

Texture is indicated on a line drawing by an organization of lines into a pattern that graphically represents a given material.Texture may be a true representation of the material or an abstraction of the materials surface character.The number of textures that can be represented can only be limited to the ability to develop new patterns.

Texture

Texture may be used to provide value and create visual interest.A drawing that lacks texture is normally flat and unappealing.Texture lines are drawn light so they do not compete visually with the space defining from edges.

Line Quality

Line Quality refers to the overall consistency, neatness, and clarity of a line.A line should maintain constant weight and thickness throughout the line.Any variations that do occur normally happen at the beginning and ending of a line. For this reason the start, finish, and intersection

of lines are often made slightly darker for interest and emphasis.

Line Quality

To establish a consistent line quality using pencil it is normal to turn and rotate the pencil as you move along the line to prevent the pencil tip from flattening and creating an increasingly wider line.All lines should be drawn with enough authority and precision to prevent smudging.

Drafting Basics

2202Jennifer WoodsPowerPoint 3Principles of Landscape Design

Principles of Landscape Design

A professional designer achieves a good landscape job through careful planning and knowledge of the following basic principals of design.

Basic Principals of Design

Unity – The ultimate objective of landscape design; all parts interrelate and relate to the whole.Scale – Always related to human scale, so each item, does not distort the picture by making other parts look to big or small.Proportion – The harmonious relationship of the size of one item as compared to another.Balance – The visual relationship among or between landscape elements.

Basic Principals of Design

Repetition – the repeated use of a plant or other landscape elements to emphasize continuity in design.Contrast – The appropriate use of sharp differences in texture, scale, color, balance, size, or material to emphasize a point of interest.Dominance or emphasis – Specimen plants to other landscape elements, such as color, to provide a feature point or theme for the site.Transition – The blending of textures, scales, colors, and size from one to another without sharp contrast.

Principles of Landscape Design

Proper installation is an important key to the endurance of the design.A landscape specialist should be aware of the importance of establishing a landscape that can be maintained readily for years to come.

Drafting Basics

2202Jennifer WoodsPowerPoint 4Reading Plans

Reading Plans - Intro

There are many skills needed in reading plans. There are some particulars involved that indicate specific items of information on a plan.There are words and symbols necessary to understand technical landscaping plans.

Reading Plans - Features

The following are the most important features that may appear on a plan.Orientation or direction is usually indicated by a graphic arrow directing North.Scale indicates what a given distance on the plan would equal on the ground.Building elements are represented by solid heavy black lines for building walls, broken black lines for doors or doorways, and other variable weight lines, for clarity.

Reading Plans - Features

Walkways may be indicated by a pattern representing the material. Usually the paving material is indicated by defining lines and a description or word.Boundaries are usually represented by a long solid line and three short broken lines.Staircases or steps are shown by a series of lines symbolizing the shape of the steps and indicating whether the steps are going up or down from one level to another.

Reading Plans - Features

Contour lines show the levels of constant elevation of the property. These are usually light dashed lines representing the height of the land.Utilities are represented by black dots for telephone poles, short dashed lines for pipes and wires, and letter symbols to indicate telephone, electric, sewer, water, or gas.Garden and lawn features – Pools, grills, and fences are usually indicated by simple outlines or descriptive words.

Reading Plans – Trees and Shrubs

Trees and shrubs have various symbols. The most common is the use of the (+) sign for the location of the individual plant. A series or group of plant materials (+’s) connected with a line to each mans that all plants in the group are of the same variety or a (+) shown within a circle. The circle represents the general crown or extent of the branch tips.

Reading Plans – Trees and Shrubs

Deciduous trees are shown with a round circle.Evergreen trees are often shown as a saw-tooth symbols of various kinds.Shrubs are shown with circular patterns indicating the space occupied.Sheared hedges may be shown by straight line enclosures.Borders, ground covers, and flower beds are shown by enclosed lines representing the shapes, and words printed on the plan indicating the species.

Reading Plans - Implementation

Before actual work begins the total plan should be on paper, comprehensively detailed and prepared.The plan should indicated grades, plantings, structural changes, drainage systems, and other features of the future design of the site.Some landscape firms have the landscape crew supervisor confer with the customer before any work begins to insure the landscape plan includes all items the customer specified.

Reading Plans - Implementation

The plan is then checked to insure it represents the site accurately, and has enough detail to complete the job.Discrepancies should be noted and resolved at this time.When comparing the lot to the plan, dimensions should be checked to insure that legal restriction will not be violated after job completion. This is referred to a zoning.

Reading Plans - Implementation

The most common legal restrictions usually concern: The height and location of fences,

walls, and hedges along property or set-back lines.

Drainage regulation Deed restrictions

Drafting Basics

2202Jennifer WoodsPowerPoint 5Summary

Summary

Landscape design combines the arrangement of plants with other elements creating a feeling of beauty and function.Whatever the area landscaped, practical functions, such as traffic flow, environmental protection, continuity, aesthetic value and land value, must be considered. Residential landscaping involves three areas of

use: The public area The service area The private area

Summary

Commercial, public, and urban landscape development involves all aspects and areas of living outside the private home, from shopping centers to golf courses. Plants that can survive in high stress

areas should be chosen.

Summary

There are eight principals of design and a professional designer has a good knowledge of all of them.

Unity Scale Proportion Balance Repetition Contrast Dominance or

emphasis Transition

Summary

Knowledge of the growth characteristics of plants is very important in their selection for landscape plants. These are: Size Shape Mass Color Texture Line

Summary

Low maintenance landscapes can be nice for a person who wants an attractive look but little time.Before the plan is laid out it is important to be able to read the plan to make it easy to do.A final check with the customer to verify the plantings and the area to be landscaped can insure that the plan is what the customer wants, and that no legal restrictions are being violated.