Landscape urbanism
Landscape urbanism is the theory of urban planning through the medium of landscape. It promotes the general idea that cities are best planned and organised, not through building and infrastructure design, but through the design of landscape.
Since emerging in the mid-1990s, landscape urbanism has taken several different forms and interpretations. It was popularised by American landscape architects who used the term to refer to the reorganisation and planning of post-industrial cities such as Detroit and others that were in decline. By the late-2000s, the term had come to be used in reference to high-profile projects of urban renewal, often with commercial investment, such as London's Olympic Park.
Other projects that are seen as being influenced by landscape urbanism include; the High Line in New York, Millennium Park in Chicago, the Olympic Sculpture Park in Seattle, and Parc de la Villette in Paris.
As a theory, landscape urbanism originated in the late-1980s, when landscape architects and urbanists such as Peter Connolly, Richard Weller and Charles Waldheim began to explore the perceived boundaries and limits of their respective disciplines within the context of complex urban projects. The first Landscape Urbanism conference was held in Chicago in 1997, following which, academic programmes in America and Europe began to formalise the emerging practice in institutions such as the University of Toronto, Harvard Graduate School of Design, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Oslo School of Architecture.
These theorists sought to 'claim landscape as urbanism' and viewed the concept as a reaction to 'architecture and urban design's inability to offer coherent and convincing accounts of contemporary urban conditions'.
In essence, the theory suggests that landscape should supplant architecture from its traditional role as the foundation for urban form. In terms of a project this may be achieved through managing infrastructure, water, biodiversity and human activity, and examining the ecological and environmental implications of the urban development.
One of the leading theorists, James Corner, suggested the most important ideas for landscape urbanism are:
- Process over time: Ecological awareness with regard to the built environment.
- Horizontality: Horizontal alignment in landscapes, as opposed to vertical structuring.
- Working methods/techniques: Techniques should be adapted to the relevant environment.
- Imaginary: The failure of 20th century planning is a result of 'the absolute impoverishment of the imagination to extend new relationships and sets of possibilities.'
Critics of landscape urbanism point to its stubborn resistance to clarity in terms of a common methodology or even an easy definition. It is argued that it remains an abstract academic theory that uses obscurantist post-modern language with few actual built examples to draw from.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- Biophilia and building design.
- Brasilia Syndrome.
- Charles Waldheim - Landscape as Urbanism: A General Theory.
- Concept design.
- Contextualism.
- Fallingwater.
- Garden cities.
- Green space.
- Landscape architect.
- Landscape institute.
- Living in the hyperreal post-modern city.
- Location.
- Megacity.
- Monument and context.
- Parametricism.
- Place.
- Psychogeography.
- Speculative architecture.
- Street furniture.
- The landscapes of Cambridge.
- The Lowline.
- Trinity River Park.
- Urban design.
- Urban fabric.
[edit] External references
- Scenario Journal - Landscape urbanism
- 'Landscape as Urbanism: A General Theory', WALDHEIM, C., Princeton University Press (2016)
Featured articles and news
The 5 elements of seiri, seiton, seiso, seiketsu and shitsuke.
Shading for housing, a design guide
A look back at embedding a new culture of shading.
The Architectural Technology Awards
The AT Awards 2025 are open for entries!
ECA Blueprint for Electrification
The 'mosaic of interconnected challenges' and how to deliver the UK’s Transition to Clean Power.
Grenfell Tower Principal Contractor Award notice
Tower repair and maintenance contractor announced as demolition contractor.
Passivhaus social homes benefit from heat pump service
Sixteen new homes designed and built to achieve Passivhaus constructed in Dumfries & Galloway.
CABE Publishes Results of 2025 Building Control Survey
Concern over lack of understanding of how roles have changed since the introduction of the BSA 2022.
British Architectural Sculpture 1851-1951
A rich heritage of decorative and figurative sculpture. Book review.
A programme to tackle the lack of diversity.
Independent Building Control review panel
Five members of the newly established, Grenfell Tower Inquiry recommended, panel appointed.
Welsh Recharging Electrical Skills Charter progresses
ECA progressing on the ‘asks’ of the Recharging Electrical Skills Charter at the Senedd in Wales.
A brief history from 1890s to 2020s.
CIOB and CORBON combine forces
To elevate professional standards in Nigeria’s construction industry.
Amendment to the GB Energy Bill welcomed by ECA
Move prevents nationally-owned energy company from investing in solar panels produced by modern slavery.
Gregor Harvie argues that AI is state-sanctioned theft of IP.
Experimental AI housing target help for councils
Experimental AI could help councils meet housing targets by digitising records.
BSRIA Occupant Wellbeing survey BOW
Occupant satisfaction and wellbeing tool inc. physical environment, indoor facilities, functionality and accessibility.