Hardscaping

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The practice of integrating non-botanical features into outdoor spaces involves the use of materials such as stone and concrete, enhancing the overall landscape aesthetics
2. Incorporating elements like stone, brick, and concrete, this technique focuses on creating functional outdoor areas that complement the natural environment
3. Designing outdoor environments by incorporating durable materials such as stone, concrete, and wood to create pathways, walls, and other permanent features

Etymology: "Landscape" began in English as a painter's word. It was borrowed from Dutch "landschap," which meant a picture of an area of land, and only later came to mean the land itself. Gardeners and designers then adopted the word, and "landscaping" grew from it as a name for shaping ground and planting. "Hardscape" combines "hard" with the "-scape" ending from "landscape." The pairing is deliberate: it names the non-living elements of a garden, such as stone, concrete, and timber, and sets them against "softscape," the plants and soil. The word therefore describes the permanent framework of a space, the parts that remain when the seasons change.

Synonyms: landscaping, paving, patios, walkways, driveways