LARE LARE Stewardship and Design Principles 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In landscape grading design, a 2% minimum slope away from building foundations is primarily intended to:
- Create visual interest in the terrain
- Ensure positive drainage that prevents water intrusion into structures (Correct answer)
- Meet ADA slope requirements for accessible paths
- Reduce the amount of topsoil needed on site
Correct answer: Ensure positive drainage that prevents water intrusion into structures
Positive drainage away from foundations at 2% minimum prevents water from pooling against structures and causing moisture damage.
Question 2: Which of the following best describes the design principle of 'hierarchy' in landscape architecture?
- Organizing plants by height only
- Establishing a clear system of primary, secondary, and tertiary spaces and elements that guides user experience (Correct answer)
- Using the most expensive materials at the site entrance
- Placing the tallest structures at the center of the design
Correct answer: Establishing a clear system of primary, secondary, and tertiary spaces and elements that guides user experience
Hierarchy organizes spaces and elements into a system of relative importance that helps users understand and navigate the landscape.
Question 3: A landscape architect is evaluating a brownfield site for redevelopment. Which stewardship action is most critical before design begins?
- Selecting a planting palette
- Conducting Phase I and Phase II environmental site assessments to identify contamination (Correct answer)
- Preparing schematic design drawings
- Submitting building permit applications
Correct answer: Conducting Phase I and Phase II environmental site assessments to identify contamination
Environmental site assessments are essential to identify contamination on brownfields before any design or construction decisions are made.
Question 4: Which stormwater management approach best supports groundwater recharge in a suburban residential development?
- Increasing impervious surface with concrete driveways
- Incorporating permeable paving, bioswales, and rain gardens to promote infiltration (Correct answer)
- Installing curb and gutter systems to maximize runoff speed
- Directing all runoff to a detention pond with a sealed liner
Correct answer: Incorporating permeable paving, bioswales, and rain gardens to promote infiltration
Permeable surfaces and infiltration features allow stormwater to percolate into the soil, replenishing groundwater rather than running off.
Question 5: The principle of 'genius loci' (spirit of place) most directly informs which phase of landscape design?
- Construction document preparation
- Site analysis and programming, where the designer interprets the site's unique character to guide design intent (Correct answer)
- Plant installation scheduling
- Post-occupancy evaluation
Correct answer: Site analysis and programming, where the designer interprets the site's unique character to guide design intent
Genius loci is discovered during site analysis and programming, shaping the conceptual design response to the site's existing identity.
Question 6: What is the primary ecological benefit of incorporating wildlife corridors into a regional park master plan?
- Providing scenic trails for human recreation
- Connecting fragmented habitats to allow species movement, gene flow, and ecological resilience (Correct answer)
- Creating visual buffers between land uses
- Reducing maintenance costs by limiting planted areas
Correct answer: Connecting fragmented habitats to allow species movement, gene flow, and ecological resilience
Wildlife corridors link isolated habitat patches, enabling animals to migrate, find mates, and maintain genetic diversity essential for long-term species survival.
Question 7: A landscape architect must recommend a slope stabilization strategy for an eroding hillside in a wildfire-prone area. Which approach best balances stewardship and safety?
- Install concrete retaining walls across the entire slope
- Revegetate with fire-resistant native groundcovers and shrubs that establish deep root systems (Correct answer)
- Apply erosion control fabric without any vegetation
- Grade the hillside flat to eliminate slope risk
Correct answer: Revegetate with fire-resistant native groundcovers and shrubs that establish deep root systems
Native fire-resistant vegetation stabilizes soil through deep rooting, reduces wildfire risk, and supports local ecology better than hard engineering alone.
LARE LARE Stewardship and Design Principles 4
In landscape grading design, a 2% minimum slope away from building foundations is primarily intended to: