Landscape design research is important for cultivating spatial intelligence in landscape architecture. This study explores Geographic Information Systems as research and operative tools – investigating landscape designs to understand them as architectonic compositions (architectonic plan analysis). The concept ‘composition’ refers to a conceivable arrangement, an architectural expression of a mental construct that is legible and open to interpretation. Landscape architectonic compositions and their representations embody a great wealth of design knowledge as objects of our material culture and reflect the possible treatment of the ground, space, image and program as a characteristic coherence. By exploring landscape architectonic compositions with GIS, design researchers can acquire design knowledge that can be used in the creation and refinementof a design. The research aims to identify and illustrate the potential role of GIS as a tool in landscape design research,
so as to provide insight into the possibilities and limitations of using GIS in this capacity.