I recently came across an Apocalyptic Landscape Architecture Manifesto. You may already be familiar with its contents, as it was written several years ago by the folks at Iowa State University. I'd love to read what other people think.
IS LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE REALLY DEAD!!!
Here's the link: http://www.public.iastate.edu/~isitdead/dead_f2.pdf
-Daniel Bradshaw
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2 comments:
Hey Daniel -
Great link. I had seen this once before and am still intrigued by it. Not sure how much I agree, or more importantly, not sure how much I like a manfesto without an alternate doctrine (aside from dissolution). I think Landscape Architecture needs a good kick in the pants to maintain a level of relevance, but I also think it is more relevant than ever - more than anything it is just not competing very well with other disciplines to distinguish it as a unique and necessary design field. What are your thoughts?
Hi Brent,
Thanks for commenting! I found the article extremely thought provoking, well written and…a bit morbid. I agree with your perspective. Where’s the other side of the coin? I suppose that is why the article is a “manifesto” rather than a “critique or disquisition.”
Charles Darwin once said “It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.” Landscape architecture is extremely relevant today. Maybe more now than ever! (Am I biased?...and perhaps a little ignorant? You better believe it! Hey, I’m new to this!) I do wonder, however, about the profession’s response time. Have landscape architects allowed other disciplines to lead the issues most important to us? It may be difficult for landscape architects to take an authoritative position on art, planning, design, management, preservation, and rehabilitation when so many duties within the scope of the profession each have their own experts and intellectuals. (ASU offers three degrees in Sustainability!)
So, what do we do? What do you suggest for that “kick in the pants?” What direction do we go?
I sure would love to hear solutions proposed by the authors of the manifesto. I’ve got to imagine that if the writers continue to teach landscape architecture at Iowa State, then they must cling to some small hope hidden deep within them.
Daniel
p.s. I don’t think landscape architecture is dead…just a little underappreciated and a bit spread thin. Oh, and I don’t know if that is necessarily a bad thing. I see a bright future ahead!
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