**1.1 Components of landscape**

Hard-scape & soft-scape are the two constituents of landscape design. Both differ in their characteristics; Hard-scape has a solid character while soft-scape is more fluid in nature. Hard-scape remains unchanged throughout time but soft-scape changes with time as they mature. Soft-scape acts as a breathing animated component of the landscape (**Figures 1**–**3**).

Hard-scape elements – walkways, driveways, rocks, paver patios, etc. Soft-scape elements - flowers, trees, turf, plants, vines, shrubs, etc. Some of the key advantages of landscaping are as follows:


**Figure 1.** *Softscape (vegetated swales). Source: Co-author.*

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realm.

**Figure 3.**

*Co-author.*

*Energy-Efficient Landscape Design*

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.94904*

Some of the major concerns that landscape deal with are:

• Improving both outdoor & indoor environmental quality.

**2. Types of vegetation and its landscape-oriented benefits**

settlements, industry etc. to the natural world.

system, it is widely used in landscape design.

• Integrating man-made structures such as agriculture, forests, transport,

*Energy efficient landscape solution-combination of hard and soft paving: grass-paver blocks: Source:* 

• Designing land, together with spaces & objects upon it, to develop a public

Growth habits define the shape or form of the plants and play a key role in both their esthetic character and their function in the landscape. Based on growth habit, plants can be classified as trees, shrubs, groundcovers, or vines. The boundaries between these growth habit types are not always distinct, nor consistent. A plant species may fall into several categories depending upon the conditions of a particular site or its maintenance regime. Despite the shortcomings of this classification

Herbaceous & woody plants are the main two kinds of landscape plants. Both kinds of plants differ in their characteristics. Plants that do not produce woody stems are known as herbaceous plants. They are known botanically as herbs. They can grow either in an upright, prostate, or creeper manner. Trees, shrubs, or woody vines are different types of woody plants. It is usually difficult to find out a clear distinction between trees and shrubs. Woody plants can be further divided into evergreen & deciduous plants. Deciduous trees usually shed their leaves in autumn while evergreen trees keep their leaves. Trees are relatively larger than shrubs. Shrubs are usually taller than 0.5 m and less than 3 m in height. Plants that grow over and cover ground areas are known as ground covers. They act as the bottom layer in a planting design. Groundcover has various advantages and can be used for different purposes. It can protect from drought & soil erosion. It is also used to

• Composing land, water & vegetation with built elements & paving.

**Figure 2.** *Hardscape (hard paving).*

*Energy-Efficient Landscape Design DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.94904*

#### **Figure 3.**

*Design of Cities and Buildings - Sustainability and Resilience in the Built Environment*

Hard-scape elements – walkways, driveways, rocks, paver patios, etc. Soft-scape elements - flowers, trees, turf, plants, vines, shrubs, etc.

• Reducing energy consumption, CO2 impact & heat island effect.

Some of the key advantages of landscaping are as follows:

Hard-scape & soft-scape are the two constituents of landscape design. Both differ in their characteristics; Hard-scape has a solid character while soft-scape is more fluid in nature. Hard-scape remains unchanged throughout time but soft-scape changes with time as they mature. Soft-scape acts as a breathing animated compo-

**1.1 Components of landscape**

nent of the landscape (**Figures 1**–**3**).

• Treating nitrogen pollution in rain.

• To negate acid rain effect.

*Softscape (vegetated swales). Source: Co-author.*

• Aesthetical value

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**Figure 2.**

**Figure 1.**

*Hardscape (hard paving).*

*Energy efficient landscape solution-combination of hard and soft paving: grass-paver blocks: Source: Co-author.*

Some of the major concerns that landscape deal with are:

