As a LEED expert, I have encountered numerous inquiries about hardscaping and its significance in landscape design. As someone who is well-versed in LEED terminology, I understand the confusion that arises when defining hardscape. So, let me break it down for you.
Hardscape
refers to the non-living elements of a landscape, such as stone, bricks, concrete, or metal. In simpler terms, anything that is not alive can be considered as hardscape.On the other hand, soft gardening includes living elements like soil, trees, flowers, grass, and shrubs. A well-balanced landscape design will incorporate both hard and soft gardening elements to create an attractive and functional outdoor space. Now, let's address the question of whether permeable surfaces count as hardscape. The answer is yes. Permeable surfaces are still considered as non-living elements and fall under the category of hardscape.
However, the permeability of a surface does play a crucial role in hardscaping.
