CLARB - Council of Landscape Architectural Registration Boards Schematic Design and Planning Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: During the schematic design phase for a new urban park, a landscape architect creates a series of freehand drawings composed of circles and amorphous shapes to represent different programmatic elements like 'playground,' 'picnic area,' and 'open lawn.' Lines of varying thickness connect these shapes. What is this type of drawing BEST known as?
- A master plan
- A functional or bubble diagram (Correct answer)
- A site inventory plan
- A construction detail sheet
Correct answer: A functional or bubble diagram
A functional or bubble diagram is a drawing used early in the design process to explore the relationships between different spaces and programmatic elements. Circles or 'bubbles' represent functions, and connecting lines indicate the desired strength of the relationship or circulation path between them.
Question 2: A landscape architect is developing a schematic plan for a corporate campus. The client's primary goal is to encourage spontaneous interaction among employees from different departments. Which of the following circulation strategies would be most effective in achieving this goal?
- A series of direct, straight pathways connecting building entrances to parking lots.
- Creating a single, winding central spine with multiple nodes or 'pause points' that connect all major buildings. (Correct answer)
- A grid-based pathway system that offers the shortest distance between any two points.
- Minimizing pathways to encourage employees to cut across lawn areas.
Correct answer: Creating a single, winding central spine with multiple nodes or 'pause points' that connect all major buildings.
A central spine with pause points, such as plazas or seating areas, encourages people to move through a shared space and provides opportunities for chance encounters and informal gatherings. This strategy deliberately funnels traffic and creates nodes for interaction, unlike direct paths or grids which prioritize efficiency over social mixing.
Question 3: Which of the following elements is typically considered TOO detailed for inclusion in a schematic design package for a landscape project?
- General locations of primary and secondary pathways.
- The specific species of a perennial to be used in a planting bed. (Correct answer)
- Approximate size and location of major programmatic areas like plazas and lawns.
- Identification of major view corridors to be preserved or created.
Correct answer: The specific species of a perennial to be used in a planting bed.
Schematic design focuses on the big picture: the overall layout, scale, circulation, and relationships between spaces. Specific plant species, material choices, and detailed construction methods are determined later in the Design Development and Construction Documentation phases.
Question 4: When presenting a schematic design to a client, what is the primary objective?
- To obtain a final building permit from the local municipality.
- To provide contractors with exact quantities for bidding purposes.
- To gain approval on the overall design concept, spatial arrangement, and general project direction. (Correct answer)
- To finalize the selection of all site furnishings and lighting fixtures.
Correct answer: To gain approval on the overall design concept, spatial arrangement, and general project direction.
The schematic design phase aims to establish and confirm the overall design vision with the client. It's about ensuring all parties agree on the proposed layout, the relationships between spaces, and the general character of the project before investing time in developing further detail.
Question 5: A preliminary cost estimate prepared during the schematic design phase is typically expected to have what level of accuracy?
- Within +/- 5-10% of the final construction cost.
- An exact figure used for securing construction loans.
- Within +/- 15-25% of the final construction cost. (Correct answer)
- A rough order of magnitude based on land value only.
Correct answer: Within +/- 15-25% of the final construction cost.
Schematic design cost estimates are based on major systems and general scope, not detailed specifications. Therefore, they have a wider variance. An accuracy of +/- 15-25% is a common industry standard at this stage, which gets refined to a smaller margin in later phases like Design Development and Construction Documents.
Question 6: During the transition from site analysis to schematic design, a landscape architect's focus shifts from:
- Specifying materials to preparing construction schedules.
- Documenting existing conditions to proposing spatial organization and relationships. (Correct answer)
- Generating broad concepts to creating detailed planting plans.
- Bidding the project to administering construction.
Correct answer: Documenting existing conditions to proposing spatial organization and relationships.
Site analysis involves gathering and documenting existing site data (e.g., topography, vegetation, climate). Schematic design uses this information as a foundation to begin shaping the site by proposing how different uses and spaces should be arranged and connected, often through tools like bubble diagrams.
CLARB - Council of Landscape Architectural Registration Boards Schematic Design and Planning Questions and Answers
During the schematic design phase for a new urban park, a landscape architect creates a series of freehand drawings composed of circles and amorphous shapes to represent different programmatic elements like 'playground,' 'picnic area,' and 'open lawn.' Lines of varying thickness connect these shapes.
What is this type of drawing BEST known as?