Eco-Landscape Design

Landscape design is an independent profession and a design and art tradition, practised by landscape designers, combining nature and culture. In contemporary practice, landscape design bridges between landscape architecture and garden design. Eco-Landscape Design demonstrates that an intelligent and thoughtful approach to landscape design can not only ensure survival, it can reap compound benefits and rewards far in excess of those originally envisaged. The ability to adapt to a changing environment has ensured the continued survival of the human race into the 21st century. The effects of drought, melting polar ice and increased incidences of extreme weather events will impact on the diverse landscapes of the earth and a human population predicted to be 9 billion by the middle of the 21st century, a three-fold increase in less than one hundred years. Landscape design focuses on both the integrated master landscape planning of a property and the specific garden design of landscape elements and plants within it. The practical, aesthetic, horticultural, and environmental sustainability components merit Landscape design inclusion. It is often divided into hardscape design and softscape design. Landscape designers often collaborate with related disciplines such as architecture and geography, soils and civil engineering, surveying, landscape contracting, botany, and artisan specialties. Design project focus can tend towards: in landscape design - artistic composition and artisanship, horticultural finesse and expertise, and a detailed site involvement emphasis from concepts through construction; whereas in landscape architecture - focus of urban planning, city and regional parks, civic and corporate landscapes, large scale interdisciplinary projects, and delegation to contractors after completing designs. The precious resources of water and the air that we breathe are no longer taken for granted; rivers flowing through the worlds mega-cities are now being cleaned, restored and given pride of place in the landscapes they flow through. Conservation projects provide evidence that even fragile island and desert landscapes can be protected from the negative impacts of population. This book, Eco-Landscape Design, provides a valuable comprehension into landscaping activity worldwide by those tasked with housing, feeding and nurturing all species that share the planet.