Furniture Design Ideas

Concrete masonry units (CMU) are precast concrete blocks that are prefabricated in specific sizes and shapes. Unlike the typical gray concrete blocks used for house foun­dations or other structural applications, these concrete units are decorative in nature and intended to be seen (Figure 12—66). The exact size of concrete masonry units fluctuates widely among manufactures, […]

Brick used for landscape structures has the same dimensional and visual qualities as brick used for pavement. However, brick used for structures doesn’t have the same physical makeup as pavement brick and will usually break apart over time when placed on the ground because of wear and freeze/thaw cycles. Brick is suitably used to: • […]

In addition to considering the pavement materials on a site, the landscape designer must also determine the materials and patterns of walls, fences, benches, trellises, overhead structures, and so on. The following paragraphs outline a palette of com­mon materials used on the residential site for these structures. As can be seen, many of these materials […]

In addition to being suitable to the shape of the paved area, a pavement pattern should be compatible with its surroundings including the house, nearby site struc­tures, and the landscape beyond. House Paved areas that directly abut the house or are in close proximity to it should be designed to visually fit with the house. […]

The design of a pavement pattern should be directly related to the shape of the over­all paved area. A paved area and its internal design go hand-in-hand and need to be considered in concert with one another. The following paragraphs outline fundamen­tal considerations for variously shaped paved areas. Rectangular Areas The pattern within a rectangular […]

In addition to selecting the appropriate material for a paved area in the landscape, it is also necessary to determine its pattern. A pavement’s pattern is produced by the pavement material’s size, shape, color, arrangement, and whether the material is used by itself or in combination with other materials. In studying a pavement’s pat­tern, the […]

Adhesive pavement materials are those that are pliable when they are first installed. That is, these materials have no predetermined shape and are poured as a “plastic” ma­terial into a temporary form of any shape or size. Adhesive materials are highly adapt­able and relatively inexpensive in comparison to other pavement materials, especially for irregularly shaped […]

Unit materials are found or manufactured in fixed sizes and shapes, such as stone, brick, tile, concrete pavers, and wood. Generally, unit materials are more expensive to use than either loose materials or adhesive materials because they require more labor to quarry, manufacture, and install. Stone Stone is a unit material that embraces a broad […]

The following paragraphs outline the different categories of pavement materials typi­cally used on a residential site. The summary of pavement materials focuses on their appearance and design character, but does not discuss their recommended installation techniques. The reader should consult other sources for this information. Pavement or hardscape materials are categorized according to their physical […]

The general selection of materials during preliminary design and the refined selection during the preparation of the master plan should be based on (1) function, (2) form, (3) style/character, (4) regional climate, (5) sustainability, (6) budget, and (7) availability. Additional consideration should also be given to the clients’ preference, compatibility with the architecture of the […]