Tenth International Conference on The Constructed Environment

Abstract

Plants are one of the primary visible features that contribute to the definition and identity of a landscape – whether a natural biome or the built environment. Regional climactic differences have given rise to natural plant palettes, while regional cultural influences have done the same for the built environment. A Mediterranean landscape is readily identifiable by the silver-green foliage of the olive tree, the smell of citrus and lavender, and the vibrant colors of geraniums and bougainvillea. Similarly, the dry plains of the western United States are defined by scraggly sagebrush, the scent of rabbitbrush, and willows tracing the few rivers and streams. Even to the untrained eye, plants create a gestalt that establish a strong sense of place. The design of thematic spaces therefore must carefully consider the planting palette being used in order to reinforce the effect of the theming. The creation of a thematic space that does not adequately consider the planting palette and planting design principles being applied will ultimately perform in a sub-par manner as the planting design will, at best, fail to contribute to the overall theme of the site, and at worst, clash with and distract from the other thematic elements. However, the careful and deliberate application of planting design will significantly contribute to the creation of a sense of place. This paper uses a case-study approach to demonstrate the role that planting design plays in effective thematic design and identifies principles off the effective use of plants to create thematic spaces.