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The impact of Landscape Architecture on the built environment

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The impact of Landscape Architecture on the built environment.
Akhimien, N. G.; Isiwele, A. J.; and Adamolekun, M.O
Full name: Akhimien, Noah Gethsemane.
Department of Architecture, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Nigeria.
E-mail: akhimien.noah@aauekpoma.edu.ng, 

ABSTRACT
The aim of this study was to analyze the impact of Landscape Architecture on the built
environment. Landscape is one of the important and fundamental issues which have
been the center of attention recently. Landscape has had a unique position in
discussions related to sustainable development in Architecture and urban planning so
that landscape is regarded as one of the crucial elements in urban sustainable
development. Landscape Architecture is the art and science of organizing land, spaces,
and the elements on them to be used in an appropriate, healthy and pleasant way. The
research method was based on descriptive method of data analysis to evaluate the
impacts and significance of Landscaping to Architecture and the Environment. Studies
has shown that landscaping has a direct effect on not only the building outfit but also the
functionality, performance and aesthetics. Landscape Architecture over the years has
not be given the deserved emphasis and considerations in design proposals and
construction. Hence, the natural elements of the environment is not fully harnessed in
maintaining ecological balance in built environments as proper landscaping offers
owners and users an increased livability, improved health, greater flexibility, enhanced
energy and environmental performance. Data was sourced primarily from books,
internet and related literature. Landscape is more than a projection unto nature or the
environment, it is a multivalent frame of territory, patterns, politics and aesthetics
determining how the environment is perceived and shaped. The importance of this
study goes beyond highlighting the benefits of Landscape Architecture in the built
environment but also promote the awareness of sustainable Architecture and ecological
balance of the built environment.

Keywords: Aesthetics, Architecture, Landscape, environment, sustainable.

 1. INTRODUCTION
Landscape architecture emphasizes the nature of conservation, development of public
parks, city parks, local parks, artificial forests, lakes, recreational areas, outdoor
recreation centers, open space systems and other components of landscape
architecture in providing opportunities and benefits for real estate development. The
term landscape implies land but can be extended to water surface. Also predominantly
human environments are landscapes. Tim Cresswell observes that, “landscape is an
intensely visual idea” Cresswell, Tim (2004), but appreciation can involve other senses
as well, creating sensory landscapes such as soundscapes or smell-scapes.

According to Laurie (1975), the land becomes a landscape when it is described or

viewed in terms of the earth and environmental features (physiographic and
environmental characteristics). The diversity of landscapes based on these features is
based on the history of human impact upon the landscape, and is further a reflection of
this dynamic, naturalness and social system. According to Council of Europe -
Landscape means an area, as perceived by people, whose character is the result of the
action and interaction of natural and/or human factors” (Council of Europe 2000a: Article
1) Landscape architecture emphasizes on the planning and design of land and water for
use by the local community as well as on the understanding of the system. Planning
acts as a futuristic approach, where the land is regarded as a source of judgment in
relation to the demands and expectations of the society’s needs and values. Design
refers to the use of qualitative or functional layout of the land contained in the planning
process for social -specific functions such as housing, education or recreation.

This study reveals the significant relationship between land, real estate and landscape
architecture. Landscape architecture which provides an open park and green space can
be expanded to benefit the social, environment and economy through optimal used of
space in property development project. Hence, this study discusses the objectives
which are to determine significant factors in the development of landscape architecture,
to identify the importance of landscape architecture in development.

According to the Institute of Landscape Architects Malaysia (1995), landscape

architecture is the art and science of design, planning or management of land, natural
and man-made structures and objects, when the soil is utilized through the application
of scientific knowledge and culture in the study of ecology and behavior, with concern
for natural resource conservation and stewardship of the land and which enables
improvement in the quality of outdoor space for human use and appreciation.
 2. LITERATURE REVIEW
The view on landscape has changed throughout time from being seen as scenery or a
sum of objects, to an on-going process (Saltzman 2000). In Germanic languages the
term “landscape” has meant either a territorial unit, or scenery, which is also the
meaning in Anglo-Saxon languages (Olwig 1996). The use of the word landscape has
varied historically, but today the concept is generally used in a broader and more
inclusive sense. An example of this is the ELC´s definition of landscape that
emphasizes the individual perception and dynamic character of the landscape, being
shaped by interaction of man and nature (Council of Europe 2000a). The landscape
definition according to the time geography approach, which will be discussed later (pp.
19), also emphasizes the landscape’s dynamic and changing character. In a text about
landscape management and protection in relation to the changing landscape, Saltzman
(2000) writes about how landscape can be defined:
The landscape is often described as shaped and reshaped in interplay between
man and nature, it is described as a link between the past, the present and the future,
and as pedagogical panorama of how man through history has learned how to make
use of nature in a more effective way.” (Saltzman 2000: 63) According to Fairclough
(2006), most landscape definitions have been quite narrow and mono-disciplinary,
despite the landscape´s multidisciplinary character. Fairclough advocates a landscape
definition that is about perception, and additionally states that the most useful way of
describing landscape is through narratives. If a definition should be made it should be
broad and inclusive to reflect the landscape´s infinitive diversity (Fairclough 2006).
Landscape planning has over the years increasingly detached itself from territorial
organization, which was practiced when agriculture and other place-bound production
were the main industries, and instead become dominated by functional organization
(Hägestrand 1993). Planning can be seen as a way to manage this seemingly chaotic
situation, and steer the development in a certain direction (Antrop 2005). According to
Dempsey et al. (1979), the involvement of the landscape architecture profession as a
source of creative thinking and planning has long been active in Europe. Some people
even argue that time is the very essence of landscape and that change is one of its
most important characteristics (Fairclough 2006; Hägerstrand 1993).
The development of landscape architecture as municipal parks, recreational
areas and theme parks should be seen as a physical entity that developing land with
other improvements (Mar Iman, 2005). Land which contains the development of
landscape architecture may consider aspects such as size, shape, content creation,
topsoil (epipedon), subsoil (endopedon), accessibility and so on. Repair formed from the
development of a managed landscape architecture can be seen as a building, open
space and recreation, natural or artificial elements of water, plants and so on. The
development of landscape architecture is also seen in terms of the points relative to the
landscape, such as the placement of the center, commercial center, the city and other
seemingly accessible properties.

The landscape architecture profession is relatively new compared to other design

professions like engineering and architecture. Just like any other developing profession,
landscape architecture has and is still finding itself new niches in planning, design,
development and management of land. This new niches are mainly in industries that
have typically been dominated by other professions such as the mining industry, history
(Historic Landscape Characterization), archaeology among others. This is possible
because landscape architecture training prepares candidates to proficiently deal with
specific issues within these industries. The training equips them with understanding of
ethics, aesthetics, and socio-ecological issues (Roberts, 1999). It is a multi-disciplinary
profession that incorporates horticulture, ecology, botany, applied and fine arts,
environmental psychology, physical sciences, geology, and architecture. This
background enables landscape architects to be able to marry different aspects of the
environment to develop sustainable landscapes. They have the capacity to plan, design,
build and manage landscapes of all types, (Buchko and Hitch, 2010).

Urbanization is a present, on-going process that affects not only urban areas, but
the whole landscape, and the people populating it (Antrop 2004). The landscape is
going towards a dichotomy of highly populated areas with very intensive land use, and
neglected, abandoned areas with low population (Antrop 2005; Emanuelsson 2009:
335ff). Sustainable development is a formulation to set a balance between social needs,
economic activity and the environment which has become a vital part in landscape
planning. One of the most debated challenges for the future referring to sustainable
development is the effect that climate change will have on our planet. Climate change
could affect many aspects of the landscape, from biodiversity to economic prerequisites,
but the full effects are still to be discovered. Very likely, nevertheless, is that landscape
planning needs to adapt to be able to meet new needs in the future landscape (Sarlöv-
Herlin 2012: 11).
 3. RESEARCH METHODS
The study investigated the Landscape Architecture through an analytic method of
data interpretation which included an examination of information gathered in
comparison with obtainable standards, An interview protocol was created and interviews
with key informants from the fields of landscape architecture and from previous
acquaintances between the researcher and practicing professionals, Interviews were
recorded via smart phone device, transcribed, and the transcripts were analyzed.
A review of literature and facts from primarily sourced data, data collected from
journals and other related sources. Hence, establishing the impacts of Landscape
Architecture on the environment. The analysis of professionals’ attitudes towards the
built environment and skill in landscape architecture consisted of searching for a list of
key words and phrases developed by the researcher during literature review. These key
words and phrases made the identification of themes possible among the numerous
informant responses. These themes assisted the researcher in making generalizations
and conclusions about the overall role of landscape architectural.
Qualitative data from this research describe the perception of professionals and
the general public pertaining to Landscape Architecture. They also explain whether the
knowledge and skills gained are sufficient for everyday practice in landscape
Architecture.
Secondary sources of data collection included useful literature materials such as books,
magazines, questionnaires, journals and the internet was also very instrumental and
was consulted in the course of the research work.

4. DISCUSSION
Landscape literally means a picture of nature that can be seen from a distance.
In fact, landscape is a part of nature where we settle in and can be perceived due to our
senses and this direct relation largely affects quality of our lives. Although the concept
of landscape is different for people, human has understood that nature is comprising
dependent elements that represents the fundamental aspects of being. Human has
rooted in nature and depends on natural forces. Here, landscape means the
environment in which nature is dominant. In nowadays world, landscape is a live and
dynamic entity which is affected by human, the way he interacts and also association of
memories for a long period of time. Thus, landscape is a concrete mental phenomenon.
Furthermore, the growth of human mental capabilities is continued from achieving the
disperse qualities to more coherent experiences in which components and reciprocal
relationships are perceived generally. Landscape has an important role in making
relationship between nature and both human and human communities and also has a
significant role in deepening this relation. A way to balance different needs, and satisfy
various interests at the same time, is to facilitate the creation of multifunctional
landscapes. This has become increasingly important in the more densely populated
world, and is becoming a more common demand from the rich and stable societies in
Europe (Vos & Meekes 1999). Multifunctional landscapes are essentially about
safeguarding and enhancing different interests and values, such as biodiversity,
production, recreation, cultural heritage and aesthetic values, in one and the same area,
not handling them as separate interests (Sarlöv-Herlin 2012: 14f). This is especially
important in urban areas where land is scarce and landscapes often are under high
pressure.
Environment can be attributed implicitly to everything around us, whether man-
made or natural [10]. Landscape is part of an environment which is a place of our
current actions and we can interact with it at the present moment. In fact, environment
and nature are the main context of landscape architecture [11]. One of the differences
between environment and landscape is that "landscape", as one of the facts of daily life,
has a function and flexibility which is more understandable in compare with
environment. Considering landscape as a phenomenon, one of the factors in its
perceiving is finding out the structure and understanding the principles among its
components.
Accordingly, it can be mentioned that landscape architecture is the art of
integration the form of land, water, plant, buildings, flooring and climate with each other
to make a pleasant outer space. Quality landscape design contributes to attractive,
safe, efficient, and maintainable installations. The designer must strive for sound,
economical, functional, and aesthetic development. A well-designed installation will
satisfy the user's needs, instill pride of ownership, and promote a unified visual image.
With continued emphasis on the environment, landscape development has gained
increased significance in the everyday operation of the installation. Many environmental
issues can be resolved through the application of landscape architecture principles. The
landscape architect typically addresses environmental issues such as storm water
management, erosion control, wildlife habitat preservation, and restoration of damaged
lands through proper design and implementation of water harvesting techniques,
grading, wetlands design, and native species planting design.

The main emphasis of landscape architecture is placed on the elements of land

in outer and public spaces. Therefore, landscape architecture deals with all types of
outer spaces, large or small, urban or rural, by using hard and soft materials. In fact, a
designer of landscape design, must be consider the relation among the building and
surrounding environments and be aware of the climate impacts and the relation among
land, plants, water and building materials in order to create a landscape fit to natural
environment by human Non-physical elements: climatic factors [temperature, radiation,
wind, humidity] and non-climatic factors [light, smelling, noise, weather]
The impact of environment on human has been considered significant to the built
environment and its elements have been used to affect human behavior. In fact, the
relationship between human and environment is reciprocal and they both affect each
other and are affected by one another. This becomes especially important since cultural
heritage is considered to be an asset in the work for a more sustainable development
(Riksantikvarieämbetet 2011). Human, environment and communication are three basic
factors in relationship between human and environment.
Thus, an environmental design is made based on the relationship between environment
and human behavior [14]. Generally, the proposed theories regarding the causal
relationship between environmental factors and social behavior is divided into two parts.
One of them affects natural environmental elements [climate, wind, temperature,
mountain, etc.] and another one emphasizes on build environment factors especially,
urban environments and their impacts on human behavior. In fact, from scholars' view
point, the physical structure affects communication between people, culture of people
and social ecology [15].
Since the landscape is a part of environment, the main trends in landscape
perception were categorized in four paradigms: the expert, the psychophysical, the
cognitive, and the experiential. In fact, the two main factors in landscape design are the
users and their psychology. The relationship between a person and the space observed
causes to perceive and understand the landscape [16]. So that, landscape architecture
is an environmental designing and using which forms the interaction and action of
human and/or natural-cultural factors by combining the science and art together.
Although the characteristics of a physical environment can influence the development
and accuracy of a mental/cognitive map and affect subsequent way finding behavior,
the way in which humans intervene on the landscape depends primarily on the technical
facilities that it holds, or has held at one time [16].
Additionally, one of the significant functions and impacts of landscape
architecture is the ecologic function which is originated from nature. Researchers
believe that environmental affordance in landscape plays a key role in alleviating the so-
called lifestyle-related symptoms [e.g. burnt out disease, stress-related pain], so that
natural views and landscape sceneries ease people’s pressure and change their mood.
Based on these researches, nature is able to compensate for the damages to identity
and brings about a well-balanced personal growth. For instance; water and green space
are two fundamental elements comprising landscape and nature. Both psychological
effects of water, as a life giving element which attracts human, and its visual effects are
significant [17]. Green space has a crucial role in expanding sceneries, providing mental
peace for citizens, improving air quality, reducing noise pollution, and preventing
undesirable effects of automated life style [18]. In an urban structure, green space
works as a filter to reduce environmental pollution such as smoke and noise and it
guarantees relatively the personal and public health of citizens along with their
environmental peace. One of the main purposes in green space designing is to achieve
social and psychological effects of bringing human and nature closer. Investigations
reveal that trees and park sceneries cause the reduction of stress, anger and tension,
landscape enjoyment, and concentration enhancement. A park, with variety of plants,
has a direct restorative impacts and is capable to revitalizing the citizens. Moreover, it is
demonstrate that patients get recovered more quickly when looking out of a window with
natural scenes [19]. Hartig (2003) illustrates that looking at trees and natural resources
make reduction of stress, blood pressure, anger and aggression and bring about
liveliness. In this field, the researches reveals that environmental stressors [e.g.,
crowding, noise] can elicit substantial stress in people, while visual access to nature
shows effects on stress recovery. Old garden and fruit trees with numerous flowers
increase concentration. Bringing people closer to nature, by looking at trees, flowers,
growing plants and observing seasonal differences is instructive and also affects
peoples' sprit and their life styles.
Recently significant advances in computer graphics have been made and
exciting new options for visualizing our environment in three or four dimensions (with
animation over time or movement through space) are emerging. These advances are of
major interest to the profession. Some of the important developments recently have
involved highly realistic representation of vegetation (Prusinkiewicz & Lindenmayer
1996, Deussen et al. 1998, Prusinkiewicz et al. 2001), intelligent display of terrain and
automatic generation of landscape imagery from GIS-based data (Hoinkes & Lange
1995, Bishop & Karadaglis 1997). This technology that exists today enables us to
render visually stunning and richly detailed visual simulations of natural and urban
environments. Comparing it with what we have experienced technologically in the
previous decades it can be foreseen that in the near future even further technological
developments will take place. It can also be expected that these technological
developments will be accessible to most people working in spatially relevant disciplines.

RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONCLUSION

The contemporary view on landscape is that it is dynamic and changing. Time
and change can furthermore be considered to be essential characteristics of
landscapes. Since the landscape is constantly changing, it is a new landscape that
takes the consequences of the decisions that are made in the present. This is relevant
for landscape architects and planners since the decisions that are made today affect
landscapes far into the future. In seeking the right balance between protections,
management and planning of a landscape, it should be remembered that the aim is not
the preservation or "freezing" of the landscape at a particular point in its lengthy
evolution. Landscapes have always changed and will continue to change, both through
natural processes and through human action. In fact, the aim should be to manage
future changes in a way which recognizes the great diversity and the quality of the
landscapes that we inherit and which seeks to preserve, or even enhance, that diversity
and quality instead of allowing them to decline.” (Council of Europe 2000b: paragraph
42) Based on the literature reviewed, the relationship between human and environment
is a dynamic and reciprocal one and landscape has a pivotal role in increasing the
quality of human dwellings. Human, environment and communication are three
significant factors in relationship between human and environment. The design process
is expected to create architecture and landscapes of exceptional, distinguished design
quality, integrity, and sensibility.
Additionally, other parameters in landscape designing are nature, human, his
psychology, and the relationship among them. Then, the impacts of environment and
landscape on human and after that, their affordances in making places with higher
qualities from various aspects were investigated. Landscape has an important role in
reducing stress and tension and increasing concentration. Moreover, studies indicate
that stress and concentration are two involving factors that influence people, and
consequently their efficiency and their learning. Thereby, based on different viewpoints
regarding the influences of environment on human, library spaces should help reduce
stress, increase relaxation and concentration of users. In fact, library environments
should be in a way that users feel less anxious and stressed out and have more peace
and concentration while they are studying. Thus, by concentrating on these two
parameters, it can increase the potentials of library environment to increase learning
more. Landscape can create peace and cheerfulness for users due to its affordances.
People can relief their tension, mental fatigue by being in nature or even by looking at it.
In fact, this research indicates that by integrating the potential of landscape and library
spaces, it can create an environment in which the efficiency and learning of users
improve. All effective landscape designs rely on basic principles. An understanding of
these principles prevents the creation of ugly landscapes and fosters the creation of
beautiful ones. Unity, simplicity, variety, balance, sequence, pattern, shape and scale
are terms often associated with art. Urban parks, local parks, urban forests, green
lawns, game and recreational sites, recreational lakes and so on constitute an important
amenity and consider the need for users or local residents. Nevertheless, the public
perception may not include all scientific explanations believed to be contained in the
components of landscape architecture.
Therefore, the impact of Landscape Architecture on the built environment goes
beyond the provision of complementary spaces around built facilities or structures but
also the psychological impact on the habitants within and outside it, to create a
functional scenery, platform and livable environment that is fitted with all necessary
components to foster a pleasant and sustainable ecological environment.
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