DESIGNING PATHS AS A PROMENADE

Promenades are essentially vegetated paths within a landscape design.  The presence of vegetation is reason enough to stroll, to saunter,… breathing in the perfumed air of plants and flowers, touching the leaves and rustling the grasses, the transitional experience of moving from dappled shade to sunlight. These are highly sensorial experiences, a significant aspect of landscape design and garden design.  Not to be forgotten is the sauntering among other people, many of which are equally engaged in people watching. “A place to be seen.”

Promenades tend to mediate between large and human scales, play environmental roles in narrow urban spaces, in essence they are avenues.  When elevated they provide the pedestrian with a new perspective and experience, above the typical ground plane that one views its surroundings.

An esplanade is sometimes used interchangeably with promenade. Esplanades became popular in Victorian times in England when it was fashionable to visit seaside resorts.