LA History 2

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE
HISTORY OF LANDSCAPE
AND
GARDEN ARCHTECTURE
HISTORY OF LANDSCAPE AND
GARDEN ARCHTECTURE
• Cosmological landscapes
• Ancient Gardens Prehistoric- 6th Century
• Genius loci
• Western Europe
• Moorish(Spain)
• China 6 th
to 15 th
Centuries( Middle ages)
• Japan
• Japan
• China
• Central Asia
• Italy
• Renaissance in France and England
• Early botanic Gardens
• The Mughal
• Persian (Boults & Sullivan, 2009)
Middle ages
When the cultural advancement in western

Europe was disrupted by the decline of Roman
imperialism to when the power structures of
antiquity were replaced by the humanist
ideologies of the Renaissance.
1) Western Europe
WALLED GARDENS
• From fall of Roman Empire to the
rebirth of humanist ideas in the
Renaissance
• The landscape fell into ruin
• Rival Militias battled to establish

control over the land.
• The plague ravaged cities and towns.
• An environment besieged by
violence , disease and repression
• The focus of western Europe culture

turned inward as the landscape come
to represent the realm of insecurity.
WALLED GARDENS
• Individuals focused .
• Catholic churches was able to assume a powerful

role in the Middle Ages
• Agriculture was the prime activity of the early

middle ages.
• Late middle ages a money economy developed and

cities emerged as trading centres.
• People were tied to the landscape socially politically

and economically.
• The function of the early medieval garden in Europe

was primarily utilitarian-herbs and vegetables.
• Middle class – trade-pleasure gardens.

WALLED GARDENS
• Evidence from 9th century-Capitulare de villis
• The Capitulare de villis is a text composed in c. 771–

800 that guided the governance of the royal estates
during the later years of the reign of Charlemagne
(c. 768–814).
ABBEY OF St.GALL
• Closed gardens, pleasure gardens, monastic
cloister gardens are characteristics of medieval
gardens.
• Versus taken from song of Solomon- Hortus

conclusus is described wit theses elements
• Fountain in garden
• Spring of running water
• The closed gate
• Symbolic flowers-
• Lillies-purity
• Roses –Martyrdom
• Violets –Humility
• Herberium- Utilitarian
• Viridarium- Ornamental plants and trees
• Monastries- Kitchen gardens and physic gardens

ABBEY OF St.GALL (WALLED GARDENS)
• The plan of St. Gall –A 9th Century document-
Important source describes the medieval
gardens
• Model Benedictine monastery – Copied in the

following centuries .
• Within the Wall of the monastery are its water

source, Mill, kiln, brewery, gardens, work shops,
barns, animal yards.
• Three garden spaces are represented in addition

to cloister.
• 1) Hortus/Kitchen garden
• 2) The herbularius or physic garden
• 3) Viridarium(orchard) which doubles
as cemetery
ABBEY OF St.GALL (WALLED GARDENS)
• Walled kitchen garden –close

proximity to the poultry pens and near
dining area.
• Walled physic gardens next to

infirmary .
• Fruits and nut trees are set between

the graves in the
cemetery(Viridarium(orchard)
2) Moorish Spain
Moorish Spain
• Medieval Europe contrasts with Arab .

• Islamic culture spread across the
Mediterranean – from north Africa to
Sicily and Spain.
• The gardens of southern Spain still retain

their Moorish (Hispano Arabic)
Characteristics.
• Islamic garden form is well suited to the

hot, dry climate of the Mediterranean
MOORISH, Spain- Characteristics
• Enclosed patios and courtyards

• Presence of water
• Cool , shady environments
• Decorative paving
• Geometric tile patters in place of human
or animal forms forbidden Quran.
• Predominance of rectangular and axial

geometries.
• Limited use of plants.

MOORISH, Spain- Characteristics
• Abd al –Rahman (independent Emirate at

Cordoba) developed an irrigation system
that would allow the building of palaces
and irrigation system.
• Arabs introduced citrus varieties, date

palms, pomegranates and almond trees
to Europe.
• Sophisticated techniques to impound

and channel water promoted the growth
of orchards , vineyards, and gardens
across the arid landscape.
Example: The court of Oranges at The mosque in Cordoba
• Abd al-Rahman I ordered

construction of the Great
Mosque, which was considerably
expanded by later Muslim rulers.
• Córdoba returned to Christian

rule in 1236 during
the Reconquista, and the building
was converted to a Roman
Catholic church, culminating in
the insertion of a Renaissance
cathedral nave in the 16th
century
Example: The court of Oranges at The mosque in Cordoba
• Example o Moorish Patio.
• Grid system- orange trees aligned

with structural columns of the
temples exemplifies principles of
Unity and order of Islamic gardens.
• Courtyard sub divided into three

rectangle with a basin central to
each.
• Over flow from fountains I irrigated

the trees in series- based on an
Egyptian design precedent.
Example: ALHAMBRA, GRANADA
• Situated on a plateau in the foothills

of Sierra Nevada.
• Palace complex comprises a series of

courtyards and patios that connect
interior rooms.
• Court of the Myrtles and the Court

of The Lions- Expression of Islamic
courtyard forms.
• Court of the Myrtles- mid-14th

Century, Yusuf 1 –rectangular
reflecting pool- Connects an arcaded
wing of the palace with the audience
hall.
Example: ALHAMBRA, GRANADA
• Court of Lions- Built later in 14th

century for Muhammed V.
• A slender alabaster arcade that

frames the space and forms two
delicate porticos on the east and
west ends
• Two highly decorated pavilions open

to the north and south sides.
• Small circular pools inside the

pavilions.
• 4 narrow rills of water extend to

each pool from a central fountain
surrounded by 12 carved lions.
Example: GENERALIFE
• Day time retreat built in the early 14th
century
• Consist of a seven lush garden terraces ,

each with distinctive water elements.
• Intimate scale of courtyard and privacy

afforded by dense paintings
• At the lover level a long narrow canal

forms the spine of the picturesque Patio-
de al Acequia.
• Low scalloped –edged basin sit at both end

of axis.
• The space is contained on the western

slope by an arcaded gallery with a
belvedere .
Example: GENERALIFE
• It affords the view of Alhambra palace • To be a proportion no
and the Darro river valley. longer than it is wide.
• The site plan of Generalife reflects many

of the principles discussed in a 14th
century treatise on agriculture by Ibn
Luyun.
• He wrote- An ideal courtyard villa should

be located on high ground.
• Have shady canals
• Be planted with a mix of evergreen trees

and flowers.
• Contain vine covered trellises
• Covered walkways.
2) China
.
• The landscape of China is characterised

by steep mountains, plains, lakes,
waterfalls.
• Doism advocated the idea of eternal life
• History extend back to hunting parks and through contact with mystical immortals.
pleasure gardens as expression of royal
power. • Thus gardens contained lakes and
rockery that imitated the mountain
• Chinese gardens expressed a cosmology dwellings of the immortals
based on a fusion Confusian, Daoist and
Buddist tenets.
• Balance of opposites found in nature.
• Diosists –Yin and yan-
• Rock and water structured the

garden(Rock male-yin, Water female-yan)
SCHOLARS GARDENS
• During Tang dynasty , Suzhou (Venice of • Symbolism of Plants-

East),located on the great canal system • Plum –endurance
that linked the Yanagzi river in south and • Orchids –Grace
with the Yellow river in north. • Chrysanthemum –
Nobility
• Scholars gardens- Retiring from • Bamboo - Resilience
government service built rustic country
estates.
• Meant for private retreats, self
development, communion with
friends.
• Example Villa of Wang Wei, poet, painter

3) JAPAN
.
• Nature was perceived as an expression of
the divine.
• Recognized the sanctity of landscape by

binding natural forces with straw ropes or
demarcating space with torii gates .
• The ground plane in front of the temple

was often emphasised by an apron of
white sand or gravel and was considered
purified ground.
• This form persisted in later Japanese

garden as a ceremonial and decorative
forecourt.
• Garden design were inspired by poetic

concepts .
.
• Chinese beliefs and artistic styles had a huge impact
on Japanese designers .
• Buddhist cosmology deemed mountains sacred , a

concept sympathetic to Shinto beliefs.
• Political reforms of the mid-7th century abolished the

private ownership of land.
• Nara was the capital for 75 years after 7th century.
• The city’s strict geometrical layout was modelled on

the Chinese capital of Chang-an.
• In Japan early adopted – the large lakes and pleasure

pavilions symbolic of the power and authority of the
Chinese emperor.
• Shiden style courtyard
• Heian period-
• The large central courtyards open to the south were
defined by shinden–zukuri building form Shinden
hall was the main residence and audience chamber .
• Ancillary pavilions were joined to the Shinden by

covered walkways.
• The main hall opened onto a pond –and island type

In Japanese gardens , the pond often referenced
actual costal scenery , and the island symbolised the
myth of the turtle and the crane.
• The turtle island represented as the sacred centre of

universe in Buddhist doctrine .

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LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE

When the cultural advancement in western

• The landscape fell into ruin

• Rival Militias battled to establish

• The plague ravaged cities and towns.

• The focus of western Europe culture

• Catholic churches was able to assume a powerful

• Agriculture was the prime activity of the early

• Late middle ages a money economy developed and

• People were tied to the landscape socially politically

• The function of the early medieval garden in Europe

• Middle class – trade-pleasure gardens.

• The Capitulare de villis is a text composed in c. 771–

• Versus taken from song of Solomon- Hortus

• Monastries- Kitchen gardens and physic gardens

• Model Benedictine monastery – Copied in the

• Within the Wall of the monastery are its water

• Three garden spaces are represented in addition

• Walled kitchen garden –close

• Walled physic gardens next to

• Fruits and nut trees are set between

• Medieval Europe contrasts with Arab .

• The gardens of southern Spain still retain

• Islamic garden form is well suited to the

• Enclosed patios and courtyards

• Predominance of rectangular and axial

• Limited use of plants.

• Abd al –Rahman (independent Emirate at

• Arabs introduced citrus varieties, date

• Sophisticated techniques to impound

• Abd al-Rahman I ordered

• Córdoba returned to Christian

• Example o Moorish Patio.

• Grid system- orange trees aligned

• Courtyard sub divided into three

• Over flow from fountains I irrigated

• Situated on a plateau in the foothills

• Palace complex comprises a series of

• Court of the Myrtles and the Court

• Court of the Myrtles- mid-14th

• Court of Lions- Built later in 14th

• A slender alabaster arcade that

• Two highly decorated pavilions open

• Small circular pools inside the

• 4 narrow rills of water extend to

• Consist of a seven lush garden terraces ,

• Intimate scale of courtyard and privacy

• At the lover level a long narrow canal

• Low scalloped –edged basin sit at both end

• The space is contained on the western

• The site plan of Generalife reflects many

• He wrote- An ideal courtyard villa should

• Have shady canals

• Be planted with a mix of evergreen trees

• Contain vine covered trellises

• The landscape of China is characterised

• Balance of opposites found in nature.

• Diosists –Yin and yan-

• Rock and water structured the