Hardscaping is a term extensively used for highly urbanized area. It deals with the practice of landscaping in a particular area for particular purpose. In broad terms it stands for the practice of making side walks and streets, housing developments and business complexes. The main feature of this practice is that upper surface profile developed is not exposed to the actual surface of the earth. In other words the surface has nothing to do with the actual soil of the land. It happens in the massively urbanized areas.
The whole process of hardscaping requires artificial method of construction. It is done to make the drainage or run off to carry heavy volumes of water in case of heavy rain. The water then gets absorbed in to the ground through the bare soil. Thus housing complex or business premises are quite safe with minimum water interference. This is necessary particularly in condition of hurricanes, thunderstorms or typhoon. In the absence of this landscape designing heavy rush of water may create major problems for the people staying or visiting this area.
The water level in the highly urbanized area is usually low. It happens because rain water is not absorbed in to the ground as the area is least exposed to the actual surface of the earth. Hence water table remains low in comparison to the rural area. In this condition these areas have to largely depend on the imported water from lakes, dams, rivers or reservoirs.
Hardscaping is done by the specialists like landscape architectures. They are experienced people with good idea of materials required for designing the hard landscape. They know how to improve a particular area of landscape to meet the needs of the localized people. The materials required for hard landscape designing include gravel, brick, stone, bitumen, timber, concrete and metals. A hardscape designer has to choose materials that are compatible to each other. It is necessary as they have to do things like planning architecture, interior designing, garden designing and such other designing. While designing the urban societies designer has to deal with other outdoor landscape products and materials also.
The basic purpose of such designing is to provide a well designed environment that facilitate easy and comfortable environment for human activities. It ranges from large scale civic environments to the personal surroundings. It is usually opposed to the natural environment but designers try to give them a natural look giving soothing effect.
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