Landscape Design

History Of Landscape Design

Throughout human history, landscape works such as the Greek and Roman gardens shared a commonality of an incessant love for greenery and plants. Other than these, the “elements” of nature (fire, water, air, and earth in the ancient Occident and metal, water, wood, fire, and earth in the ancient Orient) have influenced the design of ancient gardens. Japanese gardens are designed to provide a natural setting, sometimes referred to as a mindscape, which draws the mind toward meditation. It often reflects the influence of Zen Buddhism and takes a minimal form, sometimes using raked pebbles rather than water.

In the West, the history of landscape architecture can be traced back to Gilbert Laing Meason (1820–1900), a Scot, who was the first to refer to buildings found in the paintings of landscapes as landscape architecture. In the 19th century, J. C. Loudon, A. J. Downing, and others expounded on the development of landscape gardening and contributed to the distinctive style of landscape architecture. Other pioneers included Frederick Law Olmsted (1822–1903), whose works in cluded Central Park in New York and the Emerald Necklace Park system in Boston; Dan Kiley (1912–2004), whose works included Miller Garden in Columbus, Indiana, and the Chicago Botanic Garden; Roberto B. Marx (1909–1994) of Brazil (the Ibirapuera Park and the Flamengo Park); and other landscape masters such as Lawrence Halprin (1916–Yerba Buena Gardens Master Plan), Ian McHarg (1920–2001), and Martha Schwartz (1950–Dublin Docklands), all of whom were great promoters of landscape architecture in the 20th century.

Twenty-first-Century Challenges

The dawn of the 21st century is marked by four new challenges for the practice of landscape architecture. These challenges arise out of the growing emphasis on sustainability and from the desire to use landscape architecture to enhance the urban experience of life, to explore the therapeutic possibilities of landscape architecture, and to enrich our understanding of cultural landscapes.

First, landscape architects are called on to extend the practice of landscape design to embody [Page 1704]the ecological, social, and economic concerns of sustainability in the planning and design of both indoor and urban spaces. As an example of environmental applications, sustainable landscaping considers a green roof or a roof garden as a rainwater reservoir, a heat sink, and an activity venue, as well as an event for visual enjoyment. Another example is the keen interest that has gone into the research and development of sustainable landscape design strategies and practices, such as artificial wetlands and plant and species selection for enhancing ecological and biodiversity balance in both urban and building settings.

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