Landscape Design: A Cultural and Architectural History

by Elizabeth Barlow Rogers
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Editorial Reviews

This volume presents a history of the ways in which human beings have shaped the landscape at cult sites, in cities and on great private estates, from prehistoric times to the present, throughout the world. The book considers what the evolution of the design of the landscape reveals about the development of society and culture, examining famous cities, palaces and parks, as well as lesser-known designed landscapes, and even sites now vanished from around the world. Illustrated with hundreds of phtographs, drawings and plans, the book leads the reader through ancient cities, palatial gardens and magnificent sanctuaries. Also covered are: the royal cemeteries of ancient Egypt; the superb temples of ancient Greece and Rome; the magnificent gardens of Renaissance and Baroque Europe and the Far East; the great public parks of the late 19th century; and some of the most exciting avant-garde gardens and earth works of the present day.

Customer Reviews

Bought this book for landscape history class at Princeton, 2008-02-27
by Kaitlyn E. Hay (Princeton)
Excellent excellent text- very thorough, good pictures. Even if you're not in a class, good reading!
A valuable landscape design history book, 2008-01-06
by Gang Chen (outskirtspress.com/examguide)
As the founding president of the famous Central Park Conservancy and of Cityscape Institute, Elizabeth Barlow Rogers summarized her experience, research and observations and her extensive training in art history and city planning in "Landscape Design: A Cultural and Architectural History."

"Landscape Design: A Cultural and Architectural History" covers architecture, landscape architecture, conservation, city planning, earthworks, and other landscape designs in many different cultures from dawn of humanity to present, such as Stonehenge, ancient Egyptian royal cemeteries, gardens of Renaissance, Baroque Europe, English naturalistic Landscape, the Forbidden City of Beijing, Versailles, and New York's Central Park, etc.

For many years, "The Landscape of Man: Shaping the Environment from Prehistory to the Present Day" used to be the only comprehensive book covering landscape architecture at a grand scale, with striking bird's eye view photos showing how brilliant human beings can be. "Landscape Design: A Cultural and Architectural History" can supplement "The Landscape of Man: Shaping the Environment from Prehistory to the Present Day" since it provides more in-depth discussions.

"Landscape Design: A Cultural and Architectural History" has 544 pages and 633 line drawings and dazzling interior photographs (many of them are color). It is a valuable landscape design history book for landscape architecture students, seasoned design professionals and ordinary garden lovers!

Gang Chen, Author of "LEED AP Exam Guide" & "Planting Design Illustrated." LEED AP, AIA



Landscape Design, 2006-11-09
by John B. Gray (New York, NY)
This is one of the most tedious books that I've ever read. It focuses more on historical, cultural and politcal influences than actual garden design. I wouldn't recommend it, unless you're in need of a good night's sleep.
Perfect History book for a visual learner, 2005-07-21
by Ben Pershouse (Boulder, CO)
This is a great book. It is very readable, and even if you are not particularly interested in landscape design/architectural history, Elizabeth Barlow Rogers will inspire you. This book follows landscape and cultural architecture through history and makes me wonder why all schools - from elementary on up - don't attack history lessons from such a practical and fascinating point of view.
Also, compared with other landscape Arch books this is much less narrow and really weaves in many many threads of cultural and historical interest.
Great coffee table book, bad text book, 2003-12-17
by Geoffrey Brady (Chandler, AZ United States)
I had to purchase this book for my LA class and it's a bug squasher. While the pictures are impressive, and the coverage of the subject in-depth, the author can be long winded. What she covers in a page could have easily been said in a couple of paragraphs. I also don't care for the glossy pages. While they make the pictures look nice, reading the fine text that it's printed can give one a headache.