SketchUp and Landscape Architecture

landscape_architecture02SketchUp and Landscape Architecture by Daniel Tal

landscape_architecture

I will always remember the first time I saw SketchUp. A colleague brought a promotional video to the office by a company called @Last Software. The short video demonstrated how to create a simple square, extrude it into 3D and add a roof to make a house. Then, just like that, the video added windows and doors and some funky looking trees around the little 3D home.
It took me all of 10 minutes to download SketchUp version 3 (we are now on version 7) and run through the accompanying video tutorials.
Here was the first 3D program that was easy to use, looked cool and even better it had TREES! Then I discovered that you can ‘turn on’ shadows and I was hooked!
It was love at first site. Actually it was more of an obsession, one that I still live with and has lead me to writing this blog.
I spent the next week learning the mysteries of this new tool. I explored SketchUp with a current project – a rest area and open space in Fort Collins, Colorado.

rest_area01Rest Area

I modeled every square inch of the site plan: buildings, parking lot, landform, surrounding context, dog park with fence and even the containers filled with bags to pick up after your dog. I added trucks and boulders, bridges and swales. Last, I added vending machines inside the rest area building.
My project manager at the time pointed out that about 3/4’s of the detail I had included would never be viewed, seen or even acknowledged. I smiled and kept going. Here was a tool that allows us to model the LAND.

plaza02Plaza

Ok, so I know not everyone shares this obsession. But who isn’t fascinated the first time they see someone modeling in SketchUp?
So, what can SketchUp do for landscape architects?
While I am biased, I believe SketchUp can represent almost any type of design work that falls under the umbrella of landscape architecture.

shrubplanting03Detailed Shrub Bed

For landscape architecture SketchUp does two things well:

  1. It fits into our practice and process. SketchUp is economical; it’s quick and easy to learn and works within the traditional landscape architecture scope and budget. I plan on exploring this in a separate blog.
  2. SketchUp provides landscape architects the capacity to model a variety of different site plans. Be it garden designs, master plans, shaping terrain, plazas, streetscapes, promenades, open spaces, architecture, parks or whole cities.

dunes04Landform

SketchUp is versatile. Be it for making bases for hand renderings, analyzing spatial relationships or producing detailed images and animations. It can meet many project needs.
The bottom line is learning what capabilities SketchUp provides and applying them to projects.
Many people can use it. But like AutoCAD, Photoshop or hand illustration skills, learning SketchUp well provides an edge to the design process. This blog will explore what SketchUp offers to the profession and its place in the pantheon of design programs landscape architects use in their practice.

sketepark_canopy05Complex Canopy

For more info about Daniel and his book, Google SketchUp for Site Design: A Guide to Modeling Site Plans, Terrain and Architecture on SketchUp visit Amazon

For SketchUp YouTube animations created by Daniel visit:
http://www.youtube.com/dtalspace

Check also these Blogs written by Daniel Tal:
SketchUp and Autocad
SketchUp, Scope and Budget

8 Responses to “SketchUp and Landscape Architecture”

  1. Paul on November 5th, 2009 10:24 pm

    Any idea what percent of architects use Sketchup to start their projects?

  2. admin on November 5th, 2009 10:35 pm

    Recent stats show that to be about 31%, check this link
    http://www.cgarchitect.com/news/Reviews/Review070_1.asp

  3. Louis Wynne/landscape architect on March 4th, 2011 8:23 pm

    all I want to do now is add color to a 2d landscape plan in pdf format. I use datacad as my cad source. What is the best way to
    accomplish this?

  4. Jason on March 6th, 2012 10:52 pm

    hi

  5. Tonytextures on September 26th, 2014 8:39 am

    Hey Daniel, it is great to feel your enthusiasm in your words! I can fully understand it because sketchup is really a great tool for starting and getting results quickly! But the link to the book “Google SketchUp for Site Design: A Guide to Modeling Site Plans, Terrain and Architecture on SketchUp” points to a chinese site? Maybe it makes more sense to point to amazon?
    thanks!
    /Tony

  6. admin on September 26th, 2014 3:15 pm

    Tony, that link has now been corrected. Thanks for the heads up!

  7. antonio on February 4th, 2015 2:48 pm

    how did you do that

  8. Hugh Forsyth on July 29th, 2015 1:27 am

    Hi Daniel

    I am working solo and providing short development scenarios on a longer term civic project that won’t support employing CAD operator. As a long time photoshop/illustrator use sketchup appeals and I wondered if it is realistic to just adopt this tool as an interface with the engineers and other ‘deep CAD users’ on the project?

    Thank you for your enthusiasm and generous videos.

    Hugh

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