DIGITAL LANDSCAPE DESIGN AS AN EXTENSION OF ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN: A CONTEXTUAL FRAMEWORK FOR SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENTS IN NEPAL

Abstract

The integration of landscape and architectural design has become increasingly important in addressing environmental sustainability, climate responsiveness, and the quality of contemporary built environments. However, landscape design is often treated as a complementary component of architecture rather than as an integral extension of the architectural design process. In Nepal, this separation is particularly relevant because diverse topography, climatic conditions, ecological characteristics, and cultural landscapes require context-sensitive design approaches. This study aims to develop a contextual framework that positions digital landscape design as an extension of architectural design for creating sustainable environments in Nepal. The research employed a qualitative design-research approach combining literature review, contextual site analysis, digital mapping, and comparative analysis of landscape and architectural design strategies. Digital design methods were examined in relation to site characteristics, vegetation, topography, solar exposure, water management, circulation, and spatial relationships between buildings and landscape. The results indicate that integrating digital landscape design into the architectural workflow can improve environmental responsiveness, spatial continuity, and design coordination. The proposed framework identifies four interconnected stages: contextual data acquisition, digital analysis, integrated architectural-landscape modelling, and environmental performance evaluation. The framework demonstrates that digital technologies can support context-sensitive landscape decisions while strengthening the relationship between architecture, ecology, and local environmental conditions. The study contributes a contextual design framework for sustainable architectural and landscape integration in Nepal.