Just like the architectural elements that compose and shape built space—floors, walls, and ceilings—vegetative elements are also capable of shaping open spaces across large, medium, and small scales, from parks to residential gardens, acting as spatial organizers. According to Benedito Abbud, “Landscape design is the only artistic expression in which all five human senses participate. While architecture, painting, sculpture, and other visual arts rely heavily on sight alone, landscaping also involves smell, hearing, taste, and touch. This provides a rich sensory experience by combining the most diverse and complete perceptual experiences. The more a garden can heighten all the senses, the better it fulfills its role” [1].
In this second part of our series, we will demonstrate through practical examples how visual landmarks, axes, scales, views, and sensory experiences are conceptualized and applied in landscape design.
Visual Landmarks and the Shaping of Axes
