Landscape architecture plays an important role in shaping the places in
which we live and work. But what is it? Landscape architects are
involved, amongst other things, in the layout of business parks, the
reclamation of derelict industrial sites, the restoration of historic
city parks, and the design of major pieces of infrastructure such as
motorways, dams, power stations, and flood defenses, as well as the
planning of parks and gardens. Taking a historical perspective, Ian
Thompson looks at both the roots of landscape architecture and the
people that established it.
This Very Short Introduction explores some of the misconceptions about
landscape architecture and considers the discipline's origins in
landscape gardening. Thompson takes a look at a number of areas,
including the influence of Modernism, the difference between landscape
design and landscape planning, and the way that planning legislation has
driven the growth of the discipline. He also explores contemporary
environmentalism, the debate as to whether landscape architecture is an
art or a science, landscape architecture in the community,
post-industrial projects, and its relationship with ecological urbanism.
About the Series:
Oxford's Very Short Introductions series offers concise and original
introductions to a wide range of subjects--from Islam to Sociology,
Politics to Classics, Literary Theory to History, and Archaeology to the
Bible. Not simply a textbook of definitions, each volume in this series
provides trenchant and provocative--yet always balanced and
complete--discussions of the central issues in a given discipline or
field. Every Very Short Introduction gives a readable evolution of
the subject in question, demonstrating how the subject has developed and
how it has influenced society. Eventually, the series will encompass
every major academic discipline, offering all students an accessible and
abundant reference library. Whatever the area of study that one deems
important or appealing, whatever the topic that fascinates the general
reader, the Very Short Introductions series has a handy and
affordable guide that will likely prove indispensable.
