Radical landscapes - Reinventing Outdoor Space (hardcover)

For many years landscape design was an often disregarded component of the building it surrounded. Today, however, the highly professional practice of landscape architecture is one of the most active and revolutionary areas of design. Drawing on a broad palette of ideas and concepts, landscape designers are reshaping man-made surroundings, from small-scale private gardens to large public spaces. Radical Landscapes presents entirely new ways of seeing and designing outdoor space. Innovative, sometimes synthetic materials, unusual plants, and unexpected forms offer alternative solutions to standard approaches to gardens and yards. To help the reader unlock the potential hidden in any landscape, the book is organized according to the most important issues and techniques of the moment: light and color, movement, order and objects, interaction, new contexts, urban interventions, and narrative. Each chapter is illustrated with works by internationally known designers and architects such as Fernando Caruncho, Adriaan Geuze, Kathryn Gustafson, Walter Hood, Maya Lin, Reiser & Umemoto, and Peter Walker. Meticulously researched and written in an engaging and accessible style by practicing landscape architect Jane Amidon, the texts are packed with information and ideas, a boundless source for professional and enthusiast alike. 433 illustrations, 313 in color.