Urban Design, Basics in Landscape Architecture

April 2011. Written by Ed Wall & Tim Waterman (2010) AVA Publishing.

‘Nowadays, relatively few public spaces are created with only the public good in mind. More often than not, urban spaces are viewed from a more corporate viewpoint that sees only their economic value. Even trees must now be given a cash value for people to gauge the importance of keeping them. Urban designers must be constantly vigilant to ensure that the functions of public squares are not given over totally to commerce or to flashy spectacles that have little to do with the pleasant banality of everyday life’.

Following my studies at university, this paragraph sums up perfectly my reflection of many Landscapes and the true intensions of those involved. Every student of Landscape Architecture should buy this book and read it a couple of times. It outlines so many of the key issues, principles and formulas for landscape Architecture, using books and projects as constant resources.

Book of The Week, Shaping London

Feb 2011. I was fortunate enough to get Sir Terry Farrell to sign a copy of his latest book, Shaping London. He was inspired to write it, following a lunch with Charles Jenks, by a fellow guest Helen Castle. Farrell refers to it as an indulgence to follow his thoughts as an urban planner and architect, as he explores the natural growth of the city along the Thames and the emerging roads and railways. It contains many simple but inspiring sketches and drawings, showing how a clear condensed image can give so much information.

Book of The Week. New Landscape Architecture, Baumeister, N.

Jan 2011. New Landscape Architecture, Baumeister, N. This colourful book focuses mainly on German Landscape, interviewing the Landscape Architects about the brief, their thoughts and the design process for many of the parks. It is a great resource for students studying the discipline, to explore design possibilities and criteria.

Time saver Standards for Landscape Architects

Book for the week. Time-Saver Standards for Landscape Architecture, Charles Harris & Nicholas Dines. Slow reading and not the sort of book you can take lightly. It is more of a reference to things you will need to know, from shade in the designs of spaces, to what tools to use and design considerations for bridges.

Book: The Alchemy of Landscape Architecture

Book for Focus Week. The Alchemy of Landscape Architecture. George Hargreaves, Julia Czerniak, Anita Berrizbeitia & Liz Campbell Kelly. This is a highly illustrated book on the work of Hargreaves Associates over two decades and their design strategies, showing the conceptual workings of small projects to masterplans. I would advise all Landscape Students to get it, if they have any money left over.