Architectural Review of a Book

(Landscape Architecture by John O. Simonds

Summary by Richie Fiscus Land 110
November 17, 2009

Submitted to MA’AM AYESHA MALIK

Submitted by Umer Younus

F2016101031
John Simonds book explains many aspects of landscape architecture that are
overlooked by the common man, and since each chapter breaks down an
interesting aspect of his thoughts and ideas, I will summarize the book on a
chapter by chapter summary. All of the chapters share one thing in common,
trying to make harmony with people and the landscape.

CHAPTER 1: THE HUMAN ENVIRONMENT

Chapter one is about the harmonious ideas that need to be employed to create a successful
and beautiful environment. John Simonds discuss the idea that when a zoo or exhibit is
created, it is designed to mimic that environment for which to create a living space for that
creature or item. However, we do not do that for our own environments. If you look at large
cities, one never really sees a natural environment for humans. But this is exactly what
Simonds is saying, Landscape Architect’s need to create this natural area.

All of the natural sciences play a key role in understanding and creating this magnificent
human Habitat these sciences include; geology, hydrology, biology, botany, and ecology.
Each of these sciences plays a major role in the environment, with an understanding of
each of these fields, landscape architects can create a great and beautiful scene, not
fighting with nature but blending it with the needs and uses that one has for a space.
CHAPTER 2: CLIMATE
Chapter two describes the climate and the effects it has on the environment. Climate is
described as an average weather conditions at a place over a given time. Climate is an
important aspect to think of when designing a landscape. Seasonal weather, proximity to
weather changers like the gulf stream or warm ocean, average precipitation, temperature,
and elevation. All of these are very important when you are creating a space.

There are four basic climatic regions of the earth; cold, cool-temperate, the warm humid,
and the hot-dry climate. There is not much you can do to change the climate but one can
make the best of the environment in which they live. However, there is no

precise boundaries or given areas where one begins and one ends, each zone contains its
own unique characteristics (the United States of America contains all four of the
environmental climate.)

Global warming is, for the first time in history, changing the climate of this planet because
of the acts of humans. And for the first time, humans are having to create around this
climate change. This could make it had to plan for the future, especially for people in the
ʻgreenʼ type careers, including that of landscape architecture.

Microclimatology, or the study of the climate conditions within a limited area. Or sometime
called ʻscience of small-scale weather.ʼ This field helps to determine the usefulness of a
given space for a certain or specific area.

Seasonal changes are very important to think about when looking at a sight. A landscaper
has to think about how each of his/her designs will look during summer, winter, fall and
spring. When thought about during all of these steps in the year, a designer can make a
space useful through out the whole year, making it much more valuable of a space that it
might have been otherwise.
CHAPTER 3: LAND
Our ancestors did little harm to the environment, hunting, fishing and living without leaving
lasting damage to the environment. As population increased, the evidence of the
environmental destruction increased. Now our cities remove all of nature to make room for
all the humans that live there. In doing so we have driven species to extinction, moved
marshes or even destroyed them.

Land is our greatest resource. Mismanage it and it could send us in to an economic downfall.
The undeveloped areas of the country serve a very important role also. The undeveloped
land serves as a form of topsoil reservoir. Once lost, this resource can never be regained
again. Managing that resource is of great importance.

Land is the habitat for all the living organisms on the earth. Ecology teaches us that all
creatures and living organisms are interdependent. Without one creature, many others
suffer or more likely go extinct. Humans however are the only creatures that claim sole
ownership of the land. Not much thought has been put toward the consequences of slitting
land up geographically. This can cause a lot of issues in the long run.

CHAPTER 4: WATER
Water is a very important to modern day society. Lakes and rivers once supplied water
pioneers, and with the advances in technology water has almost become a sacristy. Planning
out the use of this water is not an easy task, using it efficiently is a matter of opinion and
dependent on ones needs.

Not only is water a resource, it’s also an item that has to be removed from unwanted areas.
One such case of this is drainage. Drainage is a meticulous and daunting task. But to be truly
efficient a designer has to think of how to use all that he can without wasting and make it
last as long as possible.

One such idea is using the drainage water to water the landscape. This removes the water,
and accommodates the place in the environment. In addition to that, water makes for
wondrous views, and scenic escapes.

CHAPTER 5: VEGETATION
Vegetation is an important selection when trying to create a beautiful environment.
Depending on climate and seasonal preferences, one can make a shaded get away, or
turning it into a desert with clashing plants and an uncomfortable feel.

Vegetation has several key roles in an environment. Plants help to stave erosion, create
fertile and lush soil, and feed all the living organisms on earth. When this delicate balance is
shifted or completely destroyed, it wreaks havoc on the landscape. Such is the case in the
middle east where once forested areas have turned in to the vast deserts that are now the
first thought when the middle east is mentioned (at least landscape wise.) The planet was
once completely cover in lush plant life, but humans have proceeded to destroy it.

Plants are one of the most important items when creating a landscape, before there was
much life plants where here to create oxygen and feed the first of the humans. Plants are
the base of all food chains, without them the earth would be a lifeless, uninhabitable rock
floating through space.

CHAPTER 6: LANDSCAPE CHARACTER

Unity among the landscape and animal creates landscape character. The more obvious this
unity is, the stronger the landscape character. This means that sometimes a designer has to
remove unwanted aspects like plants that are not natural to the area. This can also be
called elimination of Incongruous Elements’

Sometime the introduction of items is also required. This can be called accentuation of
Natural Form This can strengthen the look or feel of the land in a way that could not have
been accomplished without the manmade nudge.

Incorporating these techniques a designer can increase the pleasantness of the landscape,
make it more comfortable to remain in the environment and to make people wish to return
as soon as possible. This requires much imagination and patience to wait for the perfect
idea for a specific project.

But environments do not just have to be built; one can preserve an environment or
landscape. This can be seen in the national parks, scenic parkways and so on. Some
landscapes require no modification or tampering with, they just require the ability to exist.

CHAPTER 7: TOPOGRAPHY
Topography is defined as the art of showing in detail on a major map the
physical features of a place or region. Landscapes are seldom level, they
consist of many elevations. River beds, lake beds, prairies, and mountains all
have their own unique patterns with are not necessarily predictable.

Being able to read a contour map is very important, it allows a designer to

create and shape the landscape on a three dimensional plan. Not only that but
it allows the construction and presentation of ones idea on paper. There are
many ways to survey a space to make a topographical map, the compass and
chain method is a good for logging roads but is hardly suited to high precision
projects.

Three types of topographical surveys are; property, general, and datum.

Property surveys are property to be surveyed is marked on the enclosed
location map (to be provided to the surveyor by the landscape architect.)
General; surveyor shall do all work necessary to determine accurately the
physical conditions existing on the site. And finally, datum; elevations shall be
referenced to any convenient and permanent bench mark with an assumed
elevation of 100 feet. The bench-mark location shall be shown on the map.