“A hundred objective measurements didn't sum the worth of a garden; only the delight of its users did that. Only the use made it mean something”. Lois McMaster Bujold, A Civil Campaign, 1999
The measure of success in what we do as landscape designers is for the most part determined by our ability to creatively conceptualize a space. Designing, specifying and finally building spaces are another story. Our accomplishments as designers hinge on our aptitude with a wide range of materials and systems of measure. Among the benchmarks of a projects success are tolerances for structural stability, dimensioning for human comfort and prudent horticultural spacing to allow for growth. It’s controversial to say, but I believe that many college design programs simply don’t adequately address the issue of dimension, volume and measure. Instead, schools disproportionately spend time having students churn out cloudy conceptualizations of space in plan view. Scores of designers will graduate annually without a basis in the measure of things. So, in the limited space that our blog allows, what are some of the key dimensions that come up often in residential landscape design? Off the cuff, some rules of thumb follow…
Links to some dimensioning details and tables:
Play courts: http://www.sportsknowhow.com/
Deck tables: http://www.blocklayer.com/deckcalculatoreng.aspx
Plant spacing: http://www.premiumplantplugs.com/Spacing-Calculator-30.html
Time saver standards for landscape architecture is the final word on this subject.
In CD or book form, it’s worth a look: http://www.amazon.com/Time-Saver-Standards-Landscape-Architecture-Charles/dp/0070170274
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