ASSIGNMENT - 2

LANDSCAPE
ARCHITECTURE
ASSIGNMENT - 2
WATER AS AN ELEMENT IN LANDSCAPE

SUBMITTED BY

CHITTARI TARUN KUMAR

101115009
Landscaping refers to any activity that modifies the visible features of an area
of land, including:

1. living elements, such as flora or fauna; or what is commonly referred to

as gardening, the art and craft of growing plants with a goal of
creating a beautiful environment within the landscape.

2. natural elements such as landforms, terrain shape and elevation, or

bodies of water;

3. human elements such as structures, buildings, fences or other material

objects created and/or installed by humans; and

4. abstract elements such as the weather and lighting conditions.

landscape could be generally classified into two:

• Organic

• Inorganic

DIFFERENT ORGANIC AND INORGANIC ELEMENTS

ORGANIC ELEMENTS

1. Plants

2. Water

3. Earth forms

INORGANIC ELEMENTS

1. Stone

2. Brick

3. Timber

4. Metal

5. Plastics

6. Glass

7. Composite materials (mixture of glass and plastics)

ORGANIC ELEMENTS:

2.WATER BODIES:

 Water is also another most important landscape element.

 Water bodies improve the quality and the worth of the site.it makes the
site attractive.

VARIOUS FORMS IN WHICH WATER OCCURS IN NATURE AND HOW IT CHANGES

THE CHARACTER OF THE LANDSCAPE.

The quantitative aspect of water is such that water covers 71% of the
Earth's surface, and is vital for all known forms of life.

Our rivers and oceans have resulted into creation of beautiful riverfronts
and has given human diverse opportunities to explore life under
water,in terms of diversification of plant and animal life example
corals,jelly fishes which is an exquisite example of nature’s
creation.These natural forms in which water occur supports a diverse
variety of sea animals and plant life.
Niagara falls

Lake Ouachita, Hot Springs

Natural valleys and lakes are also resultant of water’s dynamism in nature.

HOW MAN MADE WATER FEATURES ACCENTUATE A PARTICULAR LANDSCAPE IN

MANY WAYS.

In today’s world where technology and resources have reached to any

remotest place, it has become relatively easier to incorporate water as
an element in our landscaped environments for many reasons.

The various reasons for incorporation can be:

Physical attributes:

Role that water plays in creating spatial organizations better in a

particular concept where the presence of water holds a particular
relevance in the whole landscape concept. Any landscape with the
potential to hold a water body that can be easily maintained brings
out the special quality of landscape than a landscape without
water.Ripples of water, water falling in the form of drops,flowing
water,water in creek are some of the examples of how water used in
different forms produces different effects.
 TYPES OF MAN MADE WATER FEATURES

Dynamic Forms Static Forms

1. Cascading water. 1. Still Water.

2. Spouts. 2. Lake

3. Fountains

Still Water: It gives a feeling of calmness and serenity which soothes the
senses gives a feeling of relaxation.

Fountains: It is more vibrant in natureas well as appealing to the eye,

generates feeling of enthusiasm and creates positive wave of mental
well-being.

Spouts: Gives a healing effect as the intensity of flow of water is slow.

Water falling: The sound of water creates the magic and also due to
fall of water,the intensity is higher.

Spouts Cascading water

Aesthetic Appeal:

The aesthetic appeal of water is such that the blue colour and the
smooth texture of water appeals to the eye and imparts a soothing
effect.

Microclimate:

Presence of water bodies in any landscape setting changes the

microclimate by decreasing the temperature.

Therapeutic effect of water in landscape:

Physical health Mental health

1. Sensual Effect. 1. More interactive

2. Cooling. Environment.
3. Visually pleasing. 2. Mood enhancing
 3. Relaxation to the mind

4.Closeness with nature

Sensual Effect.

A landscape with natural coast line is always a visual and

psychological relief to the eye and senses as compared to the dry and
arid landscape with scarce water.

Links between landscape and health have been observed for a long
time and in many different cultures and societies. The belief that
viewing vegetation, water and other natural elements can ameliorate
stress and is beneficial for patients in healthcare environments dates as
far back as the earliest large cities in Persia, China and Greece.

Example: In the Middle Ages, the first hospitals in Europe were infirmaries
in monastic communities where a cloistered garden was an essential
part of the environment used to bring relief to the ill.

Visually pleasing.

Looking at water in the form of waves, strong and gentle gives us a

feeling of exhilaration and relieves our inner stresses both mental and
physical.

Cooling

A brisk walk by the lakeside with cool breeze blowing refreshes us by

virtue of the visual magic of water and the waves produced by the
blowing wind.

Three main kinds of health effects have been identified in the

study:

 Short-term recovery from stress or mental fatigue,

  Fasterphysical recovery from illness.
 Long-term overall improvement on people’s health and well-
being.
Water thereby plays a crucial role in creating a meaning full and
lively environment in landscape designed spaces and thus water
should be used wisely as a tool to enhance user’s physical and
psychological health.

ROLE OF WATER IN MENTAL WELL BEING

MORE INTERACTIVE ENVIRONMENT

An urban set-up is accentuated by adding water element.Apart from

that the set up tends to become more interactive as water pulls people
both children and other age groups near to it.If water feature produces
sound ,it makes the set-up playful and vibrant making people stay for
longer.

Example: Lakesides
MOOD ENHANCING

We all recognise the calming effect of a walk alongside a water

body.As human beings have evolved in intimate contact with nature,
they respond in a better way when with nature, especially water
stimulates the senses. Our inner self relates instantly with the ambience
and one feels in a better state of mind when surrounded by water.

The sound of waves besides the sea soothes our ears and we feel the
difference it makes to us as in today’s world stress and noise has taken
a toll on human and one really need the magical play of water to
reduce the stress levels and help us to recuperate ourselves and build
strengths of concentration,focus,decision making.

RELAXATION TO THE MIND

Water effects the senses in a positive way as the environment created

breaks away from the noisy areas. Thereby the mind releases out stress.

CLOSENESS WITH NATURE

With rapid urbanization it has become a difficult task to establish

contact with nature in our day to day lives, whereas nature is an
integral part of our existence.Presence of water and greenery in our
daily routine starting from our home to office place makes our working
capacities better and efficient in comparison to the monotonous office
environments and other places.