Design Considerations

6. Specialized requirements, such as design for reduced water consumption (particularly in arid regions), snow removal and storage design standards (in cold weather regions), irrigation system design requirements, regulations guiding use of invasive plant species, and construction-related restoration requirements. 7. Surface soil erosion and dust control impacting adjoining properties and public roads.

Earlier in the design process chapter, Chapter 3, program analysis was discussed. The process begins with meeting with the client to identify the project program: the activities and facilities to be incorporated in what will ultimately be the design. For example, if the project is a neighborhood park, the landscape architect would meet with the client (the professional staff of the parks department) to identify what types of facilities and activities are desired. Will the park serve as a passive or active facility?, should it have a children’s play area and for what age groups?, should there be a group picnic area or playfield for active sports?, and should other functional elements and facilities be incorporated in the proposed park plan? Programming under a professional contract scope of work may also include such activities as wetland protection and storm-water management, both important aspects of site development that the landscape architect may have the responsibility to consider and incorporate into a design solution.

Once a program is identified, a diagram showing the desired physical relations between the design elements would then be prepared. This diagram is also referred to as a program coordination diagram, that groups program activities that are preferably adjacent or in close proximity and that might share certain functional elements such as parking or outdoor common areas. A circulation diagram would be superimposed, showing access, vehicular traffic flow and sequence, and pedestrian circulation requirements. Based on these other diagrams the landscape architect would prepare one or more preliminary schematic design proposals.

One approach to deciding the best location to place each program use area is to match each program with the most suitable percentage of slope category prepared during the slope analysis. The slope recommendations should cover most situations; however, special circumstances may require adjustments. The exception is where maximum slope standards must be adhered to, as in the case of 8 percent for ADA accessible ramps and where government codes dictate specific maximum–minimum slope standards. Creating a slope analysis of the project site is useful to help determine the optimum locations for the various program elements. The slope analysis map might be constructed identifying four or five classes of slope. For instance, areas that are 0–5 percent, 6–10 percent, 11–20 percent, and areas over 21 percent. After completing the slope map for a project