Ecology, Community And Delight: Sources Of Values In Landscape Architecture

Ecology, Community and Delight Landscape architecture is a key profession for a world facing an uncertain environmental future. Yet it is hindered by a chronic identity crisis. Is it primarily concerned with making beautiful places, helping people or saving the planet from ecological catastrophe? This book examines the three principal value systems which influence landscape architectural practice—the aesthetic, the social and the environmental—and seeks to discover the role that the profession should be playing now and for the future. Ecology, Community and Delight combines a close analysis of important theoretical texts with an interviewbased investigation into the values of many prominent landscape architects. A number of case studies of contemporary projects are included. Questions explored include: should landscape architecture aspire to the status of an art form? What is the relationship between aesthetics and ecology? Does landscape architecture have a social mission? How must landscape design adapt to the challenges of environmental sustainability? The book presents a tripartite framework for understanding the values and motivations of landscape architects. It denies that any one value—beauty or usefulness or ecological integrity—can be elevated above the others but suggests that the richest and most successful designs occur when all three of the main value fields are simultaneously addressed. Ian H.Thompson is a Lecturer in Landscape Architecture at the University of Newcastle. Originally trained as a philosopher, he practised as a landscape architect for thirteen years before returning to research and teaching. Ecology, Community and Delight Sources of values in landscape architecture Ian H.Thompson London and New York First published 2000 by E & FN Spon 11 New Fetter Lane, London EC4P 4EE Simultaneously published in the USA and Canada by Routledge 29 West 35th Street, New York, NY 10001 This edition published in the Taylor & Francis e-Library, 2005. “To purchase your own copy of this or any of Taylor & Francis or Routledge’s collection of thousands of eBooks please go to www.eBookstore.tandf.co.uk.” E & FN Spon is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group © 1999 Ian H.Thompson The right of Ian H.Thompson to be identified as the Author of this Work has been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. The publisher makes no representation, express or implied, with regard to the accuracy of the information contained in this book and cannot accept any legal responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions that may be made. British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data Thompson, Ian H., 1955– Ecology, community and delight: sources of values in landscape architecture/Ian H.Thompson. p. cm. ‘Published simultaneously i