Landscape Treatment to Debris Resisting Barrier (DRB)

Barry Sum
10 January 2009

Landscape Treatment for Debris-resisting Barrier

International and Local examples
Landscape Design Objectives
Landscape Design Guidelines
Landscape Treatments

International and Local Examples

International Examples of Landscape Treatment of DRB

Concrete Baffles
Mt. Yakedake, Japan

International Examples of Landscape Treatment of DRB

Tensioned Wire Mesh
Aobandoni, Japan

Local Examples of Landscape Treatment of DRB

Reinforced Concrete Barrier Wall
Sham Tseng San Tsuen

Local Examples of Landscape Treatment of DRB

Reinforced Gabion Unit
Leung King Estate, Tuen Mun

Leung Wah House

Local Examples of Landscape Treatment of DRB

Tensioned Wire Mesh Fence
Lei Yue Mun Housing Area Phase 1

Local Practice of Landscape Treatment of DRB

Reinforced Gabion Barrier
Tsing Yi North Coastal Road, Tsing Yi

Findings on International and Local Examples

International Examples
Many overseas examples are in very remote locations.
All examples emphasized on functional requirements,
landscape and visual quality was not considered.
Local Examples
Many examples are close to residential areas and along
highways.
There are opportunities for aesthetic and landscape
design treatment.

Landscape Design Objectives

Landscape Design Objectives

Governing Objectives:

Preservation of existing vegetation

Responsive design to surrounding landscape settings

Visual aesthetic and harmony

Self-sustainable with minimal maintenance

Biodiversity enhancement

Adhere to aesthetic principles

Landscape Design Guidelines

Landscape Design Guidelines

Retention of Existing Vegetation

Always as key objective in any engineering works

Transplanting may not be the most preferred treatment as
many of the affected trees are on slope and have low
survival rate after transplanting.

Identification of key trees or tree groups and preservation in situ at

the early stage of the design process is recommended.

Landscape Design Guidelines

Consideration - Topography

Complement with topography - Terracing profile

Minimize the visual bulkiness of the structure

Landscape Design Guidelines

Consideration - Edge Treatment
Continuous height
Bulky in scale
No edge treatment
No reference to the
surrounding environment

Landscape Design Guidelines

Consideration - Edge Treatment
Columns to create rhythm
and breakdown the
linearity of the wall
Toe and crest planters to
soften the hard surface

Landscape Design Guidelines

Consideration - Edge Treatment
Step down edge to provide
smooth transition.
Toe and crest planters to
soften the hard surface

Landscape Design Guidelines

Consideration use of insitu materials
In-situ (locally found)
materials as wall
surface treatment
Strong visual reference
to the surrounding
environment

Landscape Design Guidelines

Visual Treatment on DRB along Highways

Examples of wall treatment along highway

Simple finishes, bold pattern and rough texture appropriate

near highways and roads where barrier can be viewed for
short duration and at a high speed

Landscape Design Guidelines

Visual Treatment on DRB along footpath

Examples of Masonry Facing

Masonry is more human scale finish and therefore appropriate in

contexts where viewers have closer view to the feature with relatively
slow speed of travelling

Landscape Design Guidelines

Visual Treatment on DRB in rural setting and urban fringes

Examples of Rubble Wall pattern

Random rubble pattern and square bonded arrangement is

more appropriate to rural setting and location at urban fringes

Landscape Design Guidelines

Visual Treatment on DRB in key locations

Examples of murals and artwork

Murals and artworks is appropriate in prominent locations or

points of special interest such as city gateway etc.
Public perception, vandalism and maintenance should be
considered in the design process

Landscape Treatments

Landscape Treatments
Screen Planting as Visual Buffer

Most cost effective, practical and sustainable landscape

treatment provided space is available
Planting selection shall make reference to the species found
on the site.

Landscape Treatments
Planting in crest and toe planter

Crest and Toe Planters are effective solution on Barrier Wall

in limited space.

Landscape Treatments
Climbers / vertical greening on wall surface

Climbers are recommended in with very limited spaces for

barrier wall, gabion and applicable to flexible barriers.
Proprietary vertical green product can be considered as
alternative to provide instant treatment, is only
recommended for barrier walls in key location.

Landscape Treatments
Texture and finishes on wall

Texture and coloured finishes can provide a variety of visual

experience

Landscape Treatments
Planting on gabion wall

Integration of gabion unit and planters with shrubs and climbers

Planting Selection to be native species and drought tolerant

Landscape Treatments
Grasscrete on surface structure

Grasscrete can be used to mitigate large surface area, such

as access road.

Landscape Treatments
Murals and Artworks

Murals and artwork can provided could be an iconic feature

for barriers in prominent locations

Landscape Treatments
Uses of in-situ (locally found) materials

Use of in-situ material for wall finishing and infill for

gabion unit
cost effective and sustainable solution.

Landscape Treatments
Soft Landscape Treatment - Reinforced Barrier Wall

Min. 3m (Preferably 5m) with Buffer tree planting

Sunken footing to allow adequate soil for tree planting

Landscape Treatments
Soft Landscape Treatment - Reinforced Barrier Wall

Raised Planter
Crest Planter
Climbers on Surface

Landscape Treatments
Soft Landscape Treatment - Reinforced Gabion Barrier with concrete frame

Min. 3m (Preferably 5m) with Buffer tree planting

Planters integrated with Gabion Unit

Landscape Treatments
Soft Landscape Treatment - Reinforced Gabion Barrier

Toe Planter with Shrub Planter

Planters integrated with Gabion Unit

Landscape Treatments
Soft Landscape Treatment - Reinforced Gabion Barrier

Landscape Treatments
Visual Treatment on DRB Reinforced Concrete Barrier Wall
Preservation of existing
trees
Grasscrete to soften the
large flat surface
area for vehicle access
Toe and crest planters with
clumbers and shrub to
soften the hard surface

Landscape Treatments
Visual Treatment on DRB - Reinforced Gabion Unit
Planters should be
integrated to the gabion
structure to provide
greenery

Landscape Design Guidelines

Visual Treatment on DRB - Tensioned Wire Mesh
Visually Permeable
Subtle structure with self
finished materials
Opportunities for climbers
to soften the mesh

Landscape Treatments
Soft Landscape Treatment - Tensioned Wire Mesh

Use of subtle and self finished material for pole and mesh
Climber plants on wire mesh
Anchor foundation can be locally adjusted to preserve existing
trees

Way forward
Engineering and landscape
requirements should be
considered together from the
beginning of the design process

Thank You