YVETTE L.

TEVES

TOPIC:
LANDSCAPE AND ARCHITECTURE
 UNDERSTANDING OF LANDSCAPE AND ARCHITECTURE
 HISTORY OF LANDSCAPE AND ARCHITECTURE

UNDERSTANDING LANDSCAPE AND ARCHITECTURE

Landscape architecture is the design of outdoor public areas, landmarks,

and structures to achieve environmental, social-behavioral, or aesthetic
outcomes. It involves the systematic investigation of existing social, ecological,
and soil conditions and processes in the landscape, and the design of
interventions that will produce the desired outcome.

“the art—or the science, if preferred—of arranging land, together with the
spaces and objects upon it, for safe, efficient, healthful, pleasant human use”
-Design on the Land, , Norman T. Newton (1971)

“a science and an art [which] embraces those professional activities relating to

the systematic planning of land areas, the design of outdoor places and
spaces, the conservation of our natural resources and the creation of a more
useful, safe and pleasant living environment.”
- (ASLA Handbook of Professional Practice, 1981, p. 19)

Landscape architecture is the profession which applies artistic and scientific

principles to the research, planning, design and management of both natural
and built environments. Practitioners of this profession apply creative and
technical skill and scientific, cultural and political knowledge in the planned
arrangement of natural and constructed elements on the land with a concern
for the stewardship and conservation of natural, constructed and human
resources. The resulting environments shall serve useful, aesthetic, safe
and enjoyable purposes.
Landscape architecture may, for the purposes of landscape preservation,
development and enhancement, include: investigation, selection, and
allocation of land and water resources for appropriate use; feasibility studies;
formulation of graphic and written criteria to govern the planning and design of
land construction programs; preparation, review and analysis of master plans
for land use and development; production of overall site plans, landscape
grading and landscape drainage plans, irrigation plans, planting plans, and
construction details; specification; cost estimates and reports for land
development; collaboration in the design of roads, bridges, and structures with
respect to the functional and aesthetic requirements of the area on which they
are to be placed; negotiation and arrangement for execution of land area
projects; field observation and inspection of land area construction, restoration
ad maintenance.
- (ASLA Members Handbook, 1990‐1991, p. 1)
HISTORY OF LANDSCAPE AND ARCHITECTURE

Three remarkable histories of the landscape architecture profession were

published in the 1970s.
A first comprehensive history of landscape architecture, as distinct from
the history of gardening was written by Norman T Newton with the title Design
on the land: the development of landscape architecture (Belknap/Harvard
1971). The first three chapters are on Ancient Times, The Middle Ages, and
The World of Islam. The last three chapters are on Urban Open-Space
Systems, Variations in Professional Practice and the Conservation of Natural
Resources. This reflects the development of landscape architecture from a
focus on private gardens, in the ancient world, to a focus on the planning and
design of public open space in the modern world. Since kings used to be
responsible for the provision of public goods (irrigation, streets, town walls,
parks and other environmental goods) the distinction between public and
private was not quite the same in the ancient world as it is in the modern world.
A second comprehensive history of landscape architecture was published, in
1973, by George B Tobey, with the title History of Landscape Architecture. It
extends from 5000 BC, through the development of agriculture and towns to
the design of gardens, parks and garden cities. This represents a broader view
of landscape architecture than that of Newton and would have been well suited
to Newton's title 'Design on the land'.
A third comprehensive history of landscape architecture was published
by Geoffrey and Susan Jellicoe in 1975 with the title The landscape of man:
shaping the environment from prehistory to the present day (Thames and
Hudson, 1975). The book has 27 chapters and is more comprehensive than its
predecessors, geographically, artistically and philosophically. Like Bannister
Fletcher's History of Architecture, the book has introductory sections (e.g. on
environment, social history, philosophy, expression, architecture, landscape)
and then a series of examples with plans and photographs. Many of the
examples are parks and gardens but the book also includes the layout of
temples, towns, forests and other projects concerned with 'shaping the
environment'.