Landscape HISTORY & THEORY: History, Theory, Sustainability, Books, Vitruvius, Landscape Architecture, Manifesto, Lanship, Mimesis, Professional Oath, Landscape Architecture History and Theory CD, Definitions,

If landscape architecture is defined as 'the art of composing landform, water, vegetation, buildings and paving to make good outdoor space', then we need a history of the theory of this art. The seven leading theorists have been:

Vitruvius. The first of Vitruvius' Ten books on architecture could well have the title 'landscape architecture'

Alberti. In writing a renaissance version of Vitruvius, took a narrower view of 'architecture' than Vitruvius. He has more to say about gardens but less about the general art of relating building types to the wider landscape.

Humphry Repton. The English theorist is best known for his ideas on the 'picturesque' aspect of estate layout but Repton also had a deep concern for the functional aspects of relating buildings to the outdoor landscape.

John Claudius Loudon. The Scots theorist, who produced an edited version of Repton's works, was  equally conversant with the technical and aesthetic aspects of gardening, architecture and agriculture.

Frederick Law Olmsted. The American theorist was familiar with the work of Repton and Loudon and applied himself to the classic issues of  planning open space in cities, first discussed by Vitruvius.

Patrick Geddes. Familiar with the eighteenth century 'improvers', and the work of Olmsted, Geddes was a pioneer of twentieth century town planning (and an admirer of Charles Darwin).

Ian McHarg. An admirer of  Geddes, and a student of both landscape architecture and city planning, McHarg developed a systematic approach to the incorporation of geographical information in regional planning and design projects.

Books and articles relating to landscape theory (also see 100 Best Books)

Bell, S., Landscape pattern, perception and process E&FN Spon 1999

Bell, S., Elements of Visual Design in the Landscape Published by E&FN Spon

Birksted, J., (ed) Relating architecture to landscape E&F Spon 1999

Francis, M., (ed) The meaning of gardens : idea, place, and action  Mass.; London : MIT Press, 1990. 

Hough, M., City form and natural process Croom Helm London 1984

Hough, Michael.  Out of place : restoring identity to the regional landscape. - New Haven; London : Yale University Press, 1990

Hunt, J.D Gardens and the Picturesque: Studies in the History of Landscape Architecture MIT Press 1992

Hunt, J.D., Greater perfections: the practice of garden theory (Thames & Hudson London 2000) p 8

Hunter, J.M., Land into landscape George Godwin 1985

Kaplan, R, Kaplan, S., Ryan, R.L., With people in mind: design and management of everyday nature Island Press Washington DC 1998

Potteiger, M., Purinton, J., Landscape narratives: design practices for telling stories John Wiley & Sons 1998

McHarg, I.L., Design with nature Doubleday

Moore, Charles, The poetics of gardens Cambridge, Mass.; London : MIT Press, 1988

Thompson, I.H Ecology, Community and Delight. E&F Spon 2000

Spirn, A.W., The granite garden New York : Basic Books, 1984

Spirn, A.W., The language of landscape New Haven, Conn.; London : Yale University Press, 1998.

Steinitz, C. et al 'Hand-drawn overlays: their history and prospective uses' Landscape Architecture September 1976 pp 444-455 

Treib, M., (ed) Modern landscape architecture : a critical review Cambridge, Mass.; London : MIT Press, 1993

Walker, P., Simo, M., Invisible gardens: the search for modernism in the American landscape MIT Press 1994