Landscape Architecture Glossary

Articles + Resources

The LA_B glossary is an alphabetical list of terms + concepts with accompanying definitions that landscape architects/designers and students may find useful in their practice and study. Many terms also have links to online resources to learn more. 

By Nicki Copley

A

Active transportation, also known as active mobility

Active transportation, also known as active mobility is the movement of people or goods using non-motorized means i.e. walking, bicycling, skateboarding, wheelchairs etc.

“The majority of the world’s people rely on cycling, walking, and other forms of human-powered transport like rickshaws to commute to work and get around their cities every day.

Yet, traditional transport planning continues to focus on improving conditions for private automobiles at the expense of safe sidewalks and bike facilities. Increasing the use of bicycles and the ease of walking is one of the most affordable and practical ways to reduce CO2 emissions, while boosting access to economic opportunity for the poor.” – Institute for Transportation & Development Policy [1] 

Learn more:

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Anthropocene

“The Anthropocene Epoch is an unofficial unit of geologic time, used to describe the most recent period in Earth’s history when human activity started to have a significant impact on the planet’s climate and ecosystems.” – National Geographic

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B

Biodiversity

Biodiversity (biological+diversity), refers to the full diversity of life on earth, including people, animals, plants, fungi, and organisms. The term is used for both the global-scale, as well as the local, such as someone discussing the biodiversity of their residential garden. Within a garden context, biodiversity refers to the diversity of plants, insects, birds, soil microbes, etc. that frequent or live in the garden. Improving biodiversity is a critical action for landscape architects. See Keystone species. 

See Resource Guide: Biodiversity

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Biomimicry

“Biomimicry is a practice that learns from and mimics the strategies found in nature to solve human design challenges.” – Biomimicry Institute

Learn more:

Browse Biomimicry Institute – Solutions – the site contains many inspiring and innovative projects and applications of biomimicry. 

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Bioretention

Related to green infrastructure. Bioretention refers to the process where stormwater runoff is absorbed and filtered by soil and vegetation. Rain gardens are sometimes referred to as bioretention cells or bioretention basins. 

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Brownfield

A brownfield is an abandoned or underutilized property, often in urban areas, that could be contaminated with hazardous materials due to past actions on the site. Redevelopment of brownfields can have many economic and social benefits but can require extensive cleanup. See greenfield.

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C

Carbon – Embodied and Operational

Embodied carbon refers to the total greenhouse gas emissions associated with a construction project’s life cycle, including the emissions generated from raw material extraction, manufacturing, transportation, installation, and product/material end-of-life. 

Operational carbon refers to the emissions generated from the practices that keep a building or landscape operational or managed, such as mowing, fertilizer, electricity, pruning, etc.

Eliminating embodied and operational carbon is critical to the practice of landscape architecture. The International Federation of Landscape Architects (IFLA) Climate Action Commitment states “As a global profession, we commit to attaining global net zero carbon emissions by 2040.” 

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Community science

Community science (sometimes referred to as citizen science) is where scientists and non-scientists collaborate on scientific research tasks such as data collection and observations, typically under the organization of a research institution or scientist. A popular community science app is iNaturalist – a joint initiative of the California Academy of Sciences and the National Geographic Society. iNaturalist enables users to take a photo of a plant or animal and helps them identify it. User observations contribute to biodiversity science. Use of the app is worldwide and free to use.

Another community science app is Globe at Night – an international campaign to raise public awareness of the impact of light pollution that asks community scientists to observe night sky brightness.

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CPTED (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design)

“(CPTED) is a multi-disciplinary approach of crime prevention that uses urban and architectural design and the management of built and natural environments.” – International CPTED Association. Many cities or government agencies publish their own design guidelines on CPTED which an internet search will uncover. Although a useful theory, the application of CPTED however, is not clear-cut. Poorly thought-out implementation can lead to negative community impacts. [1] 

Learn more:

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D

Dark sky 

Dark sky is a term for areas that have very little or no light pollution. Light pollution from buildings, street lights, outdoor lighting, etc. severely limits people’s experience of the natural night sky. Instead of a sky thick with stars, only a handful of the brightest stars may be visible. The ability to observe, calculate and celebrate stars is engrained in our cultures, yet the vast majority of people today experience some degree of light pollution. Light pollution also negatively impacts wildlife, and wastes energy. Many communities have ordinances that require dark sky outdoor lighting. Landscape architects can contribute by being purposeful in the lights they specify. 

Learn more:

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Defensible space

In the context of fire control, defensible space refers to the area surrounding a structure that is designed and maintained with the aim of reducing fire danger. Defensible space can ideally slow or stop the progress of fire toward a structure and can provide firefighters with a safer environment as they defend against fire. Considerations include planting layout, plant species, irrigation, material selection, and landscape maintenance.

Learn more:

  • Check out CalFire’s resources (California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection). 
  • Many governments of fire-prone areas or non-profit groups put out their own advice and guidelines. 
  • You can also find a detailed overview here, within the Australian government’s ‘Your Home’ guide – Live and Adapt section

The term ‘defensible space’ is also sometimes used in regard to ‘crime prevention through environmental design’. – See CPTED 

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E

Ecotype

Related to Biodiversity. In reference to plants, an ecotype is a genetically distinct variety of a plant species that is adapted to a particular environment. 

See Resource Guide: Biodiversity

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F/G

Gender-inclusive urban design

Urban areas have been historically designed by men, and as a result, are more likely to cater to the needs of heterosexual, able-bodied, cisgender men. Gender-inclusive urban design responds to this lack of equality in our cities by acknowledging men, women, gender minorities and children use cities in different ways and seeks methods to plan and design a more equitable built environment. 

Learn more:

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Green facade

A green facade is a wall or structure covered in vines and climbing plants that are either planted in the ground at the base of the structure, or above ground in a planter box. 

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Green infrastructure

Green infrastructure represents a collection of site elements such as rain gardens and bioswales, that enable developed areas to function in an ecological and hydrological beneficial way. In particular, green infrastructure provides resilient and cost-effective solutions for stormwater management. 

See Resource Guide: Stormwater Management

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Green roofs or Living roofs

Related to green infrastructure. Green roofs are roofs where all or a part of the roof is planted. Green roofs consist of multiple layers, the topmost being the vegetation layer. Other layers include a lightweight growing substrate, filter cloth, root barriers, and waterproofing. 

Learn more:

Check out a database of green roof projects here: www.greenroofs.com/projects/

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Green walls

Also referred to as ‘living walls’, or ‘vertical gardens’, a green wall is a supported system of planted containers that attach vertically to a wall or structure. 

Learn more:

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Greenfield

Development of a property that has not been built on before i.e. forests, wetlands, prairies, etc. Most definitions also include agricultural land. See brownfield.

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H

Habitat fragmentation

Related to biodiversity and landscape ecology. Fragmentation is a process where portions of an area of habitat are destroyed, typically by human development such as farming or housing, resulting in smaller areas (patches) of habitat that no longer connect. This can restrict or eliminate the ability of a species to move across the wider landscape. It can also lead to a loss of genetic diversity which reduces species resilience. Each time a habitat patch is fragmented, the amount of habitat along the perimeter of the patch (the edge) increases and the amount of interior habitat decreases – threatening the plant and wildlife species that can only survive in the interior of a habitat patch. 

Learn more: 

The USDA National Agroforestry Center provides useful diagrams and design considerations for patches and the implications of fragmentation. 

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Heat island

Heat islands are urban areas that are significantly warmer than outlying areas. Structures such as roads, rooftops, paving, and other infrastructure emit more of the sun’s heat than natural surfaces. Urban areas have higher densities of buildings and roads and have less vegetation than suburban or rural areas, therefore emit more heat, creating heat islands. Higher urban temperatures can result in higher energy consumption on hot days due to air conditioning use, and negative health impacts for residents. Strategies for cooling include incorporating more trees and vegetation as well as using ‘cool pavements’. 

Learn more:

EPA (United States Environmental Protection Agency). Learn about Heat Islands.

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Hydrozone 

Hydrozones are areas of planting where plants have similar water needs i.e. Hydrozone A may contain plants with low water needs and can be on one watering schedule, and Hydrozone B may contain plants with moderate water needs and can be on a separate watering schedule. 

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I/J/K

Keystone species

Related to Biodiversity. The term borrows the concept of an arch keystone – where the keystone at the top of the arch supports the arch. If the keystone is removed, the arch crumbles. In ecology, keystone species fulfill a similar role where they maintain the overall structure and integrity of an ecological community [1]. Read more here about the concept and different examples of keystone species. With plants, Keystone species are the plants that support the food and shelter needs of the most other species, i.e. caterpillars, bees etc. Becoming familiar with your local area’s keystone plant species and incorporating them into landscape projects is a significant action you can take to improve local biodiversity. 

Learn more

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L

Landscape Architecture

“Landscape Architects plan, design and manage natural and built environments, applying aesthetic and scientific principles to address ecological sustainability, quality and health of landscapes, collective memory, heritage and culture, and territorial justice. By leading and coordinating other disciplines, landscape architects deal with the interactions between natural and cultural ecosystems, such as adaptation and mitigation related to climate change and the stability of ecosystems, socio-economic improvements, and community health and welfare to create places that anticipate social and economic well-being. “ – IFLA (International Federation of Landscape Architects.

See the post ‘What is Landscape Architecture’.

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Landscape ecology

“Landscape ecology is the study of the pattern and interaction between ecosystems within a region of interest, and the way the interactions affect ecological processes, especially the unique effects of spatial heterogeneity on these interactions.” – Clark, W. (2010). Principles of Landscape Ecology. Nature Education Knowledge 3(10):34. 

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Landscape urbanism

Landscape urbanism is a theory of urban design and landscape architecture that evolved in the 1990s, that emphasizes the importance of landscape processes to drive design. Rather than focusing on buildings and form as with new urbanism, landscape urbanism focuses on horizontal conditions, on the capacity of a project/design to evolve and adapt over time in response to changing environmental or social conditions. In 2006, Charles Waldheim edited the book ‘The Landscape Urbanism Reader’, a series of influential essays that explored the ideas and origins behind landscape urbanism. See new urbanism.

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Low-impact development (LID)

Related to green infrastructure. “Low-impact development is a term used in Canada and the United States to describe a land planning and engineering design approach to manage stormwater runoff as part of green infrastructure. LID emphasizes conservation and use of on-site natural features to protect water quality.” – Wikipedia. The terms ‘low impact design’ (LID)’, ‘water sensitive urban design’ (WSUD), and sustainable drainage system’ (SuDS) are used in different countries to refer to the same or similar approach. 

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M

Mixed-use

The term mixed-use has wide usage. It can refer to a single building, a cluster of buildings or developments, or a zoning classification. But through all these applications, the essence of mixed-use remains constant. Mixed-use is where different uses i.e. residential, retail, office, hospitality, health, industrial etc., are mixed together. Mixing different building functions can have multiple benefits, including eliminating or reducing the need for residents and commuters to travel far distances to meet their needs, and can lead to a more vibrant urban area. 

Learn more:

Zamorano, L. & Kulpa, E. (2014). People-Oriented Cities: Mixed-Use Development Creates Social and Economic Benefits. World Resources Institute. https://www.wri.org/insights/people-oriented-cities-mixed-use-development-creates-social-and-economic-benefits

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N

New Urbanism

New urbanism is a planning and urban design theory or approach, begun in the 1980s, that outlines a number of strategies for urban development. The new urbanist goal is to enable walkable, human-scale neighborhoods that have high accessibility to public transit and quality public space.  Many new urbanist ideas align with transit-oriented development. Although new urbanism has many supporters, the approach is also widely criticized. See transit-oriented development (TOD) and Mixed Use.

Learn more:

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No-till / No-dig

Historically, conventional farming and gardening practice is to till – to turn over the soil with a plow or spade in preparation for planting. However, this can damage soil microbial biomass (fungi, bacteria, fine roots), cause erosion, deplete soil’s water-holding capacity, and release greenhouse gases stored within the soil. In contrast, no-till can improve soil health and enhance plant productivity [1]. See Soil health

Learn more:

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O/P

Participatory design

Participatory design is where stakeholders, such as community members, property managers, school students, etc. are involved in the design process and outcomes to a varying degree. In a MITD-Lab article by Sher Vogel (2021) titled Co-Creating a More Equitable World: The Transformative Benefits of Participatory Design, Vogel outlines three types of participatory design: 1. Design for users (user-centered design where participants are consulted but not actively designing), 2. Design with users (co-design), and 3. Design by users (user-generated design). Landscape architects will often engage community members in the design process, particularly in community-based or public projects where there can be multiple stakeholder groups.

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Patch-Corridor-Matrix

Related to landscape ecology and biodiversity. A patch is an area of habitat that is different from the adjacent land i.e. an area of native grassland surrounded by houses, or an area of forest surrounded by shrubland. The matrix is the prevailing landscape i.e. the shrubland landscape that surrounds the patch of forest. The term corridor refers to narrow habitat patches that link larger habitat patches or conversely refers to a narrow barrier that may create negative impacts.  See Habitat fragmentation, Landscape ecology, and Stepping stones.

Learn more:

The USDA National Agroforestry Center provides a number of useful diagrams and design considerations for patches, matrices, and corridors. 

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Permeable / Pervious Paving

Pavers with non-permeable joints, concrete, and asphalt are impervious – they do not allow rainwater to pass through, and instead create stormwater runoff which can lead to flooding and other negative impacts. Permeable paving is paving that allows rain to infiltrate through the paving into the soil. Types of permeable paving include pervious asphalt, pervious concrete, and interlocking pavers. See Stormwater Management: Resources.

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Phytoremediation

Many brownfield sites require cleanup of soil contaminants before the land can be repurposed. Phytoremediation refers to the use of plants and soil microbes to reduce concentrations of contaminants within the soil. “Phytoremediation is widely accepted as a cost-effective environmental restoration technology. Phytoremediation is an alternative to engineering procedures that are usually more destructive to the soil.” [1]. See brownfield.

Learn more:

[1] Greipsson, S. (2011). Phytoremediation. Nature Education Knowledge 3(10):7. https://www.nature.com/scitable/knowledge/library/phytoremediation-17359669/

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Plant community

A plant community is a distinctive group of plants that share a common physical environment, i.e. climate, soil, topography, animal interactions, etc.  Plant communities can be widespread, and be present in multiple different locations throughout a region or wider area, or they can be rare. The plants that make up the community may not be rare themselves, but their combination as a community may be rare. Plant communities are often either named after the dominant species within the community, such as Kahikatea / mataï podocarp forest (New Zealand), or named after the environment they reside in i.e. Coastal salt marsh (California).

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Q/R

Rain garden 

Related to green infrastructure. Rain gardens are depressed or sunken areas of planting that collect, filter, and store stormwater runoff, allowing it to soak into the ground over time. Typically rain gardens will form part of a wider stormwater management system. 

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S

Soil Health

“Soil is not an inert growing medium – it is a living and life-giving natural resource. It is teaming with billions of bacteria, fungi, and other microbes that are the foundation of an elegant symbiotic ecosystem.” – USDA. (2023). Soil Health. Natural Resources of Conservation Service. https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/conservation-basics/natural-resource-concerns/soils/soil-health 

Soil health refers to the soil’s ability to function as a healthy living ecosystem that provides sustaining functions for people, animals, and plants. USDA outlines 4 key principles to manage soil health: maximize the presence of living roots, minimize disturbance, maximize soil cover, and maximize biodiversity. See No-till

Learn more

USDA Farmers.gov. Soil Health

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Stepping stones

Related to biodiversity and landscape ecology. Stepping stones refer to small habitat patches that can act as ‘stepping stones’ for wildlife traveling between larger habitat patches. See Patch-Corridor-Matrix

Learn more:

The USDA National Agroforestry Center provides useful diagrams and design considerations for stepping stones and gaps. 

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Sustainable drainage system (SuDS)

See low-impact development

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Swale 

Related to green infrastructure. Terminology and functions vary. Terms include grassed swale, mown swale, bioswale, and vegetated swale. In general, swales are planted linear depressions that take the place of a traditional gutter. Stormwater is conveyed along the swale and vegetation slows the water, enabling water to infiltrate into the soil. Typically swales will form part of a wider stormwater management system. 

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T

Transit Oriented Development (also known as TOD)

A city planning and urban design strategy where compact residential and mixed-use development is focused around transport centers, such as railway stations or bus interchanges. Transit Oriented Development emphasizes pedestrian scale and walkability, high-quality public space, and lively and active urban areas. Another key goal for TODs is a reduced reliance on personal vehicle travel. See Mixed-use and New Urbanism

Learn more:

Check out the Transit Oriented Development Institute for more information, research, design principles, and case studies. 

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U

Universal design

“Universal Design is the design and composition of an environment so that it can be accessed, understood and used to the greatest extent possible by all people regardless of their age, size, ability or disability.” – Center for Excellence in Universal Design

Learn more:

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Urban Design

“Urban design is concerned with the arrangement, appearance and function of our suburbs, towns and cities. It is both a process and an outcome of creating localities in which people live, engage with each other, and engage with the physical place around them. Urban design involves many different disciplines including planning, development, architecture, landscape architecture, engineering, economics, law and finance, among others.”  – Creating Places for People: An Urban Design Protocol for Australian Cities. Read the full definition here.

Learn more:

Click on the links below to find numerous case studies, downloadable publications, and research.

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V/W

Water-sensitive urban design (WSUD)

See low-impact development

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X/Y/Z

Xeriscaping

Xeriscaping is a landscaping or gardening practice where the need for watering a landscape or garden is either eliminated or significantly reduced through using drought-tolerant plants or plants with very low water needs such as cactuses and succulents, and the use of gravel and rocks instead of lawn.  Xeriscaping is common in arid areas of the USA and is also promoted in areas that experience drought.

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