ZIMMERMANN, ASTRID
When turning a design concept into a realizable plan, landscape architects are constantly switching back and forth between two levels: on the one hand, the general planning standards and parameters for different types of open space, and on the other, the particular use-related requirements of the specific planning task. The publication Planning Landscape offers the planner a practical guide to achieving this balancing act. It compiles and summarizes dimensions, measurements and threshold values that are crucial to the decision-making process in designing a space. The first chapter explains the basics of, and general conditions for, designing in open spaces. The second chapter deals with measurements of general functional areas such as paths or railings. The third chapter focuses on special types of open spaces: dimensions of playing fields or of recreation areas in schoolyards, for example. The final chapter lists production-related dimensions for certain building materials, such as maximum and minimum sizes of prefabricated products or the working widths of tools and machinery. Aspects of barrier-free construction and sustainable planning approaches are integrated into each chapter.
