Top 6 Landscape Architecture Trends of 2014
The results are in from the American Society of Landscape Architects‘ 2014 trends survey, which asked landscape architects across the country to handicap the popularity, in the next year, of residential outdoor design elements in six categories: Design Elements, Living Features, Recreation Amenities, Landscape/Garden Elements, Sustainable Design Elements, and Outdoor Structures. What do we learn? A projected desire among Americans to enjoy a landscaped, eco-friendly, well-lit environment with, say, a grotto, but without doing too much work to maintain it. Sounds about right.
Here are the top 6 trends predicted for 2014 across all categories:
1. Design Element: Gardens/landscaped spaces
2. Outdoor Living Feature: Lighting
3. Recreation Amenity: Decorative water elements such as ornamental pools, splash pools, waterfalls, grottos, water runnels or bubblers
4. Landscape/Garden Element: Low maintenance landscapes
5. Sustainable Design Element: Native/adapted drought-tolerant plants
6. Outdoor Structure: Terraces/patios/decks
The full results are below.
Outdoor Design Elements (Overall rating for 2014)
Percent Rating Popular or Somewhat Popular:
Gardens/landscaped spaces – 94.2%
Outdoor living spaces (kitchens, entertainment spaces) – 92.0%
Outdoor recreation amenities (pools, spas, tennis courts) – 75.8%
Sustainable design practices – 74.2%
Vegetable/fruit gardens – 72.4%
Turf lawns – 54.0%
ADA/accessible design – 29.7%
Outdoor Living Features (Overall rating for 2014)
Percent Rating Popular or Somewhat Popular:
Lighting – 98.3%
Seating/dining areas – 97.7%
Fire pits/fireplaces – 95.4%
Grills – 94.3%
Installed seating (benches, seatwalls, ledges, steps, boulders) – 89.6%
Outdoor furniture – 84.1%
Counter space – 75.5%
Utility storage – 65.5%
Stereo systems – 60.7%
Wireless/internet connectivity – 56.0%
Sinks – 55.0
Refrigerators – 53.7%
Televisions/projection screens – 49.4%
Outdoor heaters – 48.9%
Showers/baths – 46.8%
Outdoor cooling systems (including fans) – 37.2%
Hammocks – 34.1%
Bedrooms/sleeping spaces – 14.9%
Outdoor Recreation Amenities (Overall rating for 2014)
Percent Rating Popular or Somewhat Popular:
Decorative water elements such as ornamental pools, splash pools, waterfalls, grottos, water runnels or bubblers – 86.1%
Spa features (hot tub, Jacuzzi, whirlpool, indoor/outdoor sauna) – 76.4%
Swimming pools – 73.8%
Sports/recreational spaces (tennis courts, bocce ball, etc.) – 58.6%
Movie/video/TV theatres – 42.3%
Landscape/Garden Elements (Overall rating for 2014)
Percent Rating Popular or Somewhat Popular:
Low maintenance landscapes – 95.4%
Native plants – 84.5%
Fountains/ornamental water features – 83.9%
Food/Vegetable gardens (including orchards/vineyards etc.) – 76.4%
Xeriscaping or dry gardens – 69.1%
Organic gardens – 64.0%
Ponds/streams – 60.0%
Rain gardens – 58.3%
Rooftop gardens – 53.1%
Plant walls/vertical gardens – 49.7%
Sustainable Design Elements (Overall rating for 2014)
Percent Rating Popular or Somewhat Popular:
Native/adapted drought-tolerant plants – 88.0%
Drip/water-efficient irrigation – 84.5%
Permeable paving – 78.9%
Reduced lawn – 72.6%
Recycled materials – 65.1%
Rainwater/graywater harvesting – 60.6%
Compost bins – 51.2%
Solar-powered lights – 42.7%
Geothermal-heated pools – 27.2%
Outdoor Structures (Overall rating for 2014)
Percent Rating Popular or Somewhat Popular:
Terraces/patios/decks – 97.7%
Fencing (includes gates) – 88.5%
Pergolas – 82.8%
Decks – 82.3%
Ornamental water features such as fountains or splash pools – 81.6%
Arbors – 81.1%
Steps – 77.7%
Porches – 74.4%
Kitchens/ovens – 71.4%
Art (sculptures, murals etc.) – 64.4%
Play structures (tree houses, swing sets, etc.) – 60.6%
Utility sheds (tool sheds, garden sheds, etc.) – 59.0%
Pavilions – 56.6%
Gazebos – 48.5%
Awnings, including retractable – 47.7%
Columns – 45.4%
ADA-accessible structures (ramps, bars, accessible shelving, etc.) – 33.1%