Feature:
Landscaping
DESIGN
SOLUTIONS
DESIGN SOLUTIONS
Trees, as part of design, transform spaces. The aesthetic and spiritual
attributes of trees add value to landscapes and communities alike. Form
and function of trees compliment the architecture of the built environment.
The tapestry of spaces is undoubtedly enhanced by bold tree planting.
T
his article is about trees – trees whose structure, habit and other
characteristics make them especially useful to design with regards to
buildings and outdoor spaces in an urban setting.
Trees are visualised in terms of their relation to buildings. The tree
height to building height, leaf texture to wall surface, density or sparsity
of foliage to the arrangement of windows and doors in a building, spring
and autumn colouration to building material and tree form to overall
composition, should all be taken into consideration when it comes to
design.
Seasonal changes
The tree is considered as an element of design, an ever-changing, living object
available for the embellishment of buildings and enrichment of outdoor spaces.
Seasonal change in the appearance of a tree, is an important design factor. Trees are
generally grouped into three sections: deciduous trees (those which lose their leaves
during winter), evergreen trees and the foliage/blossom of trees. Deciduous trees
prevent solar radiation during summer and transmit solar radiation in winter. The
design of a building combined with the careful planting of trees can significantly
reduce the amount of fuel used to heat or cool buildings. Trees provide shelter
and reduce wind speed, thus minimising heat loss from buildings during winter. In
summer, shade is provided whilst the evapo-transpiration of water from the leaf
surface has a general cooling effect on surrounding air. This can lessen the need for
air conditioning during hot weather.
It is also necessary to consider the colour effects of evergreen versus deciduous trees.
Evergreen foliage provides permanent colour in a landscape, as these trees are green
year-round. Deciduous trees shed their leaves in winter, but still offer great interest
with their form and branch structure as well as bark colour and texture.
Spring and autumn colouration can also be relevant. The rich yellows, browns and
reds of deciduous trees’ foliage at the end of summer
heralds the beginning of the cold season. When
Adding
these trees are grouped together or planted in a
value with
lane position, the burst of colour attracts the eye.
In addition, the new foliage that emerge after
arboretums
winter can vary in colour from a fresh green
Read more here
to brilliant red.
africandesignmagazine.com
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