Landscape Design is about People! The Human scale in the Landscape: Part 1 of 7 - Trees!

The way people feel is affected greatly by the scale (relative size) of the objects in their environments.  Manipulating the scale of the Built Environment (Outdoor areas created by man), can profoundly affect how a person feels and moves in that Environ.  A wise designer will understand thoroughly the intended use of the space before considering the relative scale of the objects he/she will impose upon it. Great cathedrals bring tremendous feelings to those inside. Many people are led to feel small in comparison to the grand ideas and inspirations represented by the Architecture. It is the scale of the building that most directly affects these intimations.  Cathedrals are by design, constructed to be far above the human scale. The huge overhead space imparts a sense of things beyond humaness: greater than that of man.  On the other hand, some religious Architecture is built more toward the human scale.  They are much simpler and smaller than traditional religious structures and in this way bring humaness to the forefront of the spirit represented by the space.
   One only needs to stand among the great rocky spires of Glacier National Park to understand how scale affects human feeling and spirit.  An awe inspiring sight indeed!  Indescribable and profound. The preceeding examples are grand and extreme but the same philosophy can be used to create amazing little courtyards, parks and gardens.
By the Orchestration and manipulation of the scale of the objects in the built environment one can predict and determine the behavior of the people using the space.  The power of large trees in any outdoor area is undeniable.  They create two different feelings simultaneously.  They are grand in scale and therefore elicit a certain amount of awe, but they also provide a sense of protection and intimacy.  Very few feel fear or timidity under the canopy of 200 year old oak tree even though its size is technically far above the human scale.  Trees posess magic!  They are empowering and  protective at the same time. There is no substitute in all the natural or built world.  When what we build in our parks and gardens is folded into the presence of trees the result is comforting, intimate, powerful and human.  Trees provide a comfortable environment for people: a place under which to play,unwind, think and dream.
More in-depth discussion on this topic included in my upcoming book 'Landscape Design is about People: and where they Live, Work, Play, Think and Dream.'

By: Cristian Beaulieu   Pres. EO Landscape Masterworks
http://www.landscapemasterworks.com/