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The flyleaf in Stephen Cantor's new book,
Contemporary Trends in Landscape Architecture, whets the reader's appetite,
promising a "detailed reference source for landscape architecture practice" with
"world-renowned landscape architects describing in their own words dozens of
plans, sites, and projects." Upon review of the table of contents which
identifies the trends to be presented: (1) Impacts of Scientific Research; (2)
AIDS Memorial Gardens; (3) Populations with Unique Needs; (4) Historic
Preservation; (5) International Practice; (6) Eclecticism; (7) Residences and
Housing; (8) Parks and Recreation; and, (9) Computer Technology, the reader asks,
"Why these particular trends? Why not new urbanism, innovations in stormwater
management and sewage treatment, ecotourism, new materials, and reclaiming of
urban waterfronts, to name a few?" Clearly, though, this list is similarly and
inevitably colored by the lens of this reader's personal experience, and another
reader's list would likewise differ.
The reader who remains untroubled by
the subjectivity of Cantor's choices will be rewarded, though somewhat unevenly.
At its best, Contemporary Trends presents a useful report of a wide range of
projects. The author's style is largely descriptive, based on his evident
interest in presenting "the real story." Project entries frequently include
particular attention to useful but hard-to-discover information such as special
challenges in the design process, procedures required when working with certain
agencies, detailed descriptions of selected design details, and original design
intentions not realized in the final project. The best project entries include
effective images, quotes from the designers explaining their intentions, and
detailed descriptions of the projects as built. |
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| By far the best section of the book - the one this reader wishes
were the template for the whole - is the chapter on "Parks and Recreation." Six
truly noteworthy projects by a range of highly respected firms and designers are
profiled: the Mount St. Helens National Monument Visitors Center by EDAW; Richard
Haag's Steinbreuck and Jordan Parks; Menke and Menke's new entrance to the
Philadelphia Zoo; WRT's work at Camden Yards; and Weintraub and di Domenico's
Octagon Park on Roosevelt Island in New York. The range of project types in this
chapter is appropriately broad, descriptions are effective, and it's a rare treat
to glimpse some design details for these projects.
But at its worst, Contemporary Trends
is an overly personal compendium with too little analysis to be truly effective.
The author fails to provide useful insights into the issues inherent in each of
his chosen trends. The design of the book is surprisingly unsophisticated,
considering its topic, and the cover, arguably the graphic highlight of the
whole, strangely displays an image of a project not presented in the book.
So the reader who will benefit from
Contemporary Trends must recognize the book for what it is, not what it claims to
be. It is a detailed compendium of contemporary projects representing one
landscape architect's point of view. The information provided on most of the
projects is both useful and interesting, clearly representing the highly
practical perspective of a practitioner of landscape architecture. In fact, it is
in the final sentence of the book that the author truly identifies its
usefulness. He writes: "Opportunities to interact with one another and increase
the discussion nationwide about landscape architecture are frequent occurrences
in the academic community, but not in practice. Perhaps, this book can contribute
to the process." Here is the real benefit of this book. Contemporary Trends
presents a vehicle for practitioners to learn something about one another's
process and product.
Eliza Pennypacker is professor and
head of the department of landscape architecture at Pennsylvania State
University. Her research and teaching interests include design history, theory,
criticism, and effective verbal communication. |
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