Lanscape architecture

Introduction

Landscape Architecture, the science and art of modifying land areas by organizing natural, cultivated, or constructed elements according to (1) a comprehensive, aesthetic plan. These elements include topographical features such as hills, valleys, rivers, and ponds; growing things such as trees, shrubbery, grass, and flowers; and constructions such as buildings, terraces, roads, bridges, fountains, and statuary. No unalterable rules exist(2) in landscape architecture because each plot of ground offers unique problems caused by variation in contour, climate, and surrounding areas.

Landscape architecture was formerly called landscape gardening and was limited to the creation of gardens around private dwellings. Today landscape architecture covers a much wider area of concerns(3), ranging from the setting out of small gardens to the ordering of parks, malls, and highways. It includes landscape gardening, which is now understood as the work done by commercial gardeners, who install and care for flowers and greenery according to the design of landscape architects. The landscape architect, who usually holds an academic degree in this field(4), has the same professional standing as an architect or engineer and receives a fee directly from the client. The landscape gardener may be a commercial contractor or an amateur, who landscapes the grounds of a private home. Most large-scale gardens are planned by landscape architects, who provide for grading and drainage as well as for decorative design. Small gardens usually do not require the services of a landscape architect.

Notes

1. according to – згідно з

2. No unalterable rules exist – не існує незмінних правил

3. landscape architecture covers a much wider area of concerns – ландшафтна архітектура охоплює значно більше турбот

4. who usually holds an academic degree in this field – який звичайно має вчений ступінь у цій галузі

Vocabulary

comprehensive – всеосяжний, повний

aesthetic – естетичний

statuary – скульптура

unalterable – незмінний

plot – ділянка

mall – алея для прогулянок

highway - автомагістраль

greenery – рослинність, зелень

fee – гонорар

Vocabulary exercises

1. Practise the pronunciation of the following words:

architecture, modifying, comprehensive, aesthetic, topographical, feature, valley, terrace, statuary, unalterable, сontour, unique, private, commercial, client, amateur

2. Find the stem in the following words; point out prefixes and suffixes. Translate the words into Ukrainian.

natural, comprehensive, topographical, construction, unalterable, formerly, creation, academic, professional, directly, commercial, contractor, decorative, greenery, shrubbery

3. Find the odd word out:

a construction: home / dwelling / house / valley / building

to change: to modify / to care / to alter

a plot of ground: land area / bridge / the grounds of a private home

to create: to design / to exist / to landscape / to organize / to plan

greenery: trees / flowers / shrubbery / grass

4. Fill in antonyms:

amateur, art, large-scale gardens, natural , different, today

constructed .................................... professional .......................................

the same ........................................ small gardens .....................................

formerly ........................................ science ...............................................