The Story of Landscape Architecture This podcast episode, hosted by Tom Turner, provides an
overview of the history, theory, and future prospects of landscape architecture. Introduction
(00:00:07.200 - 00:00:53.170) Tom Turner introduces himself, highlighting his involvement with
the [Link] and [Link] websites, as well as his authorship of
books on these subjects. He announces the launch of a podcast series aiming to provide a
comprehensive overview of urban design, garden design, and landscape design, covering their
history, theory, current state, and future prospects. He emphasizes the need for a better
understanding of landscape architecture outside the profession, stating that it requires a
compelling story to explain its origins, current state, and future direction. He sets the stage for
his narrative by introducing an outline of the story of landscape architecture, using a storytelling
approach. Golden Nugget of Wisdom: Landscape architecture needs a better story to be
understood outside the profession. The Nomadic Ancestors (00:00:58.659 - 00:02:30.370) Tom
describes how our ancestors were nomadic, lacking gardens but possessing a deep
understanding of landscapes. He highlights their knowledge of hunting, gathering, and hiding
places, and how they built tombs and temples as they moved. He uses Stonehenge as an
example of a significant place in the landscape, emphasizing its cultural importance dating back
10,000 years. He explains the animistic beliefs of the time, which centered on features in the
landscape, including objects, animals, and places associated with spiritual qualities and unseen
powers. He suggests that these landscapes were culturally significant long before they became
sites for building temples. He introduces Göbekli Tepe in Turkey, believed to be the world's
oldest surviving temples, dating back around 12,000 years. He emphasizes that Göbekli Tepe is a
work of landscape architecture rather than architecture, as it wasn't built for human habitation
but for its placement within the landscape. Golden Nugget of Wisdom: The landscape itself held
cultural and spiritual significance long before the construction of temples and buildings. The
Epic of Gilgamesh (00:03:09.290 - 00:04:23.509) Tom references the Epic of Gilgamesh, the
world's oldest literary work, as an account of landscape architecture. He describes the story of a
Mesopotamian king who lived around 4,000 years ago, highlighting the text's detailed
description of the city's layout and its relationship to the surrounding landscape. He emphasizes
the importance of the city's walls, gardens, and temples in shaping the urban environment. He
connects the development of cities and gardens to the concept of civilization, tracing the word's
origin to the Latin root "Civitas," meaning a community. He highlights the emergence of cities as
centers for civilization, showcasing the interconnectedness of urban design and landscape
architecture. Golden Nugget of Wisdom: The Epic of Gilgamesh provides a glimpse into the early
understanding of landscape architecture as an integral part of urban design and civilization. The
Rise and Fall of Landscape Architecture (00:04:26.240 - 00:05:30.949) Tom explains that the arts
involved in creating cities, gardens, and landscapes declined with the fall of the Roman Empire.
He notes that these arts were revived during the Renaissance and spread to northern Europe,
the Americas, and beyond. He highlights the shift in leadership for the creation of public goods,
with municipal authorities taking over from princes and bishops. He describes how this led to
the development of specialized professions, including surveyors, engineers, architects, and
landscape architects. Golden Nugget of Wisdom: The development of specialized professions,
including landscape architecture, was driven by the need to create public goods and manage
urban spaces. The Birth of Landscape Architecture as a Profession (00:05:34.729 - 00:07:03.860)
Tom traces the origin of the term "landscape architect" to an 1828 book title and its subsequent
use by English garden designer William Andrews Nesfield and American gardening author
Andrew Jackson Downing. He acknowledges the influence of John Claudius Loudon, who used
the term "landscape architect" but not in its modern sense. He credits Frederick Law Olmsted
with giving landscape architecture its modern meaning in the 1860s, emphasizing his work on
Central Park in New York City and the Emerald Necklace in Boston. He highlights the global
impact of Olmsted's work, leading to the establishment of landscape architecture as a
worldwide profession. He notes that the profession specializes in planning and designing
municipal public goods, including greenways, parks, and other public open spaces. He
acknowledges the tendency to perceive landscape architects primarily as "green space people,"
even today. Golden Nugget of Wisdom: Frederick Law Olmsted's work on Central Park and the
Emerald Necklace solidified the role of landscape architecture as a profession dedicated to
creating public goods and enhancing urban spaces. A Broader View of Landscape Architecture
(00:07:08.009 - 00:09:46.040) Tom criticizes the Encyclopedia Britannica's limited definition of
landscape architecture, which focuses solely on decorative planting. He contrasts this with Sir
Geoffrey Jellicoe's broader view, emphasizing his role as a historian and imaginative designer.
He highlights Jellicoe's belief that understanding the past allows for a clearer vision of the
future. He quotes Jellicoe's statement that landscape design may become the most
comprehensive of the arts, as it shapes the environment around us. He emphasizes the
emergence of the collective landscape as a social necessity in the present century. He provides
his own definition of landscape architecture, emphasizing the composition of buildings, pavings,
landforms, water, and vegetation to create places that satisfy the three Vitruvian objectives:
utility, firmness, and delight. He acknowledges Thompson's suggestion of rendering these
objectives as ecology, community, and delight, highlighting the importance of creating useful,
beautiful, and sustainable outdoor spaces. Golden Nugget of Wisdom: Landscape architecture is
a comprehensive art that shapes the environment around us, encompassing not only green
spaces but also urban design, ecological planning, and the creation of sustainable and delightful
places. Conclusion (00:09:46.040 - 00:10:06.820) Tom concludes by summarizing his outline of
the story of landscape architecture. He encourages listeners to explore further information on
the [Link] and [Link] websites and YouTube channels. He
invites listeners to subscribe for future podcasts focusing on designing cities and landscapes.
Golden Nugget of Wisdom: Landscape architecture is a dynamic field with a rich history and a
promising future, shaping the environment around us and contributing to the creation of
sustainable and delightful places.
ANSWER:
One of the most important contributions of landscape architecture to the development of the
built environment throughout history is its role in shaping the relationship between cities and
their surrounding landscapes. This is evident in the example of the Epic of Gilgamesh, which
highlights how the design of cities, including their walls, gardens, and temples, was intricately
connected to the surrounding landscape. In his podcast, Tom cites the Epic of Gilgamesh, the
oldest known literary work, as a testament to early landscape architecture. He points to the
epic's detailed portrayal of a Mesopotamian city circa 4000 years ago, showing how its design
integrated city walls, gardens, and temples with the surrounding landscape. Tom demonstrates
the link between the development of cities and gardens, and the very concept of civilization
("civitas" meaning community in Latin), highlighting the early connection between urban
planning and landscape design. This connection wasn't merely aesthetic; it was fundamental to
the city's function and its role within the larger ecosystem. The podcast episode emphasizes
that cities weren't just built structures but rather integrated parts of a larger landscape. This
understanding of landscape architecture as a force that shapes the relationship between the
built and natural world has continued throughout history, influencing the design of cities, parks,
and public spaces. Before time the importance of landscape architecture was to create a
balance between human settlements and the natural world, blending natural features like
water, plants, and land contours into city planning. Monasteries, parks, and public green spaces
provided crucial areas of nature within expanding cities, improving the health and happiness of
residents and offering a break from city life. In our era now the importance of landscape
architecture is the connection between nature and urban areas as we face challenges like
climate change, uncontrolled urban growth, and environmental damage. Landscape planning
can help mitigate these problems.