THINKING ABOUT LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE
park, incorporated elements of the ancient water infrastructure in their work. Schjetnan was aware of the ancient water system and canals of the Aztecs. He developed a progression of canal-like fountains as the central design element with parallel walks to connect the two museums (see Figure 5.8). Along the walks he placed lounge-type furniture not only to provide seating but also to suggest lounging in reference to the original retreat purpose of the forest-park reserve.
Inspiration from Nature Nature seems a tempting if not a fallback source, inspiring the designs of landscape architects. Many garden design traditions both in the East, such as in China and Japan, and the West, including North America and Northern Europe, contain natural elements and materials as well as designs informed by nature. Some of the natureinspired landscapes are steeped in symbolism while other designs are attempts to create a stylized or—and some people might acknowledge—a reasonable facsimile. For a garden or landscaped space to look natural, such as New York’s Central Park, it often requires that a romanticized interpretation of nature be taken. Successful contemporary landscape designs are the result of creating new patterns and forms based on the natural patterns found in the landscape. Landscape architects attribute a significant influence to nature in their designs. They find design inspiration through observation and experience in their travels, hiking expeditions, and critically observing the surrounding project context (see Figure 5.9). Landscape architects also learn from nature and, for instance, select native plant species and their distribution and habitat when composing a new landscape. The regional landscape also provides clues to the astute and careful observer. They use what they learn about such factors as climate variability, wind conditions, soil composition, and hazard potential (potential for landslides and erosion), and hydrologic patterns when developing their design proposals.
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Figure 5.9 A: Santa Barbara coastal mountain dry streambed; B: Dreamworks campus water feature in San Francisco, by Lawrence Halprin, landscape architect. 94
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