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I can see what your seeing. I feel like I got slightly carried away with my curves, and realized I was getting off track with my concept. I’m not quite sure if I understand how classical lines allow the landscape to flow. I guess I always thought as classical lines as a more rigid manual feeling. Something contrary to a natural flow. You seem to…[Read more]

Interesting. What do you mean by “Nebulosity” of the form? I’m unfamiliar with the term. Looked it up in the dictionary, but couldn’t quite make sense of it.

Oh! and which Halprin are you referring to?

Thanks for your thoughts!

and sorry for all these questions…

I have to qualify my statement – I found, while teaching, that men certain types of men can get STUCK in the curve design mode, with every plan having the same curves, all over it…I think if one finds oneself stuck in curve mode, it is your responsibiltiy as a designer to investigate other things, just as an excercize – perhaps you will come…[Read more]

Laura,
No, I didn’t apply this year. I will also be applying for the fall 2011 semester. I met a person that has a undergrad degree in landscape architecture from Purdue and is currently working with the parks & rec dept. here in Austin. We began talking about UT’s grad program and he attended the open house for potential students this past fall.…[Read more]

Yup, just like I said, Andrew – curves are ‘holding’ i.e., controlling..Classical proportions imitate nature more ideally, while curves are sort of a human construct that is a pale imitation. Straight lines more naturally allow the plants to flow in their inevitably wild manner, while with curves, the planting plan must deal with the curve..I find…[Read more]

Why is it that it always is implied that if someone suggests that we need development to work, they are immediately for all of the worst rape and pillage of the land and the worst examples are brought out to make us look like evil people?

Do you work on anything other than converting toxic spaces back into habitat? I don’t get it.

I work on…[Read more]

Some of the appeal of curves is from what we see in nature on a big scale – meandering rivers, undulating hills, shoreline, …

Also, rectilinear lines may be the shortest route between two points, but they create abrupt intersections that are extremely inefficient. rectilinear spaces create corners in those spaces which may not be as…[Read more]

Personally not into curves – and definitely watch out for what I call the two boobs effect – although this may be more visible in plan..I find curves to be excessively controlling and too specific, contrary to what Nick is saying, while simple classical lines allow the landscape the flow through the circulation patterns..

I have a little theory that designers are drawn to curvilinear geometry because of the nebulosity of the form. You can apply almost any type of program to a curvilinear form. Curve tend to be all inclusive, loose, and also unsure at atimes, whereas bold axis and straight lines tend to speak to that part of our brain that needs to apply direct…[Read more]

To answer Andrew’s questions–

Is all development on the land irresponsible?

No, but is most? Probably. How many 5 star island resorts in the south pacific do we need, especially now? How many drive-thru coffee shops and gas stations do we need? If there truly is demand, is it in our best interest as a society to keep repeating these patterns?…[Read more]

I agree, but I also think the connotations go beyond semantics and sensitivity to certain verbage.

When we say ‘development’ we all know what we’re talking about–houses, streets, bridges, highways, gas stations, strip malls, and yes…even parks. But I think we all also know that the old way of thinking about ‘development’ is based on false…[Read more]

i was around a friend of mine just yesterday who is about to graduate. He told me that out of the 42 people graduating only 2 people have jobs lined up. I am employed with a landscape contractor but unable to find design work and work with an LA…. therefore no license…..

well, i think the word development in the context of land issues implies building and paving, vertical construction, highways, gas stations, and irrigated lawns. In essence, it’s a one dimensional, one-directional verb whereas ‘improved land’ may be more multi-directional in the sense that we can improve the value of something, in this case land,…[Read more]

Or are there any good books on landscape that people would recommend me bringing?

It’s finalized—-I will be in Chile and Mexico for a year next year, 6 months in each place. I am so excited!

In Chile, I definitely want to go to Santiago, Valparaiso and spend time in Patagonia and visit the Atacama desert. To save on costs I will be WWOOFing for part of it.

In Mexico I want to visit the floating gardens (I forgot where they…[Read more]

Hey— did you end up applying to landscape architecture programs for this fall? i would be applying for next year (2011) probably!

Why are you afraid to use the word development? … are we programed to feel dirty if we work in “development”?

mine is simple as well:

http://www.jon-quackenbush.com