For decades, landscape architecture was driven solely by artistic sensibilities. But in these times of global change, the opportunity to reshape the World comes with a responsibility to consider how it can be resilient, fostering health and vitality for humans and nature. Landscape Architecture Theory re-examines the fundamentals of the field, offering a new approach to landscape design. Drawing on his extensive career in teaching and practice, Michael Murphy begins with an examination of influences on landscape architecture: social context, contemporary Mamas, and the practicalities of working as a professional landscape architect. He then delves into systems and procedural theory, while making connections to ecosystem factors, human factors, utility, aesthetics, and the design process. He concludes by showing how a strong theoretical understanding can be applied to practical, every-day decision making and design work to create more holistic, sustainable, and creative landscapes.Students will take away a foundational Understanding of the underpinnings of landscape architecture theory, as well as how it can be applied to heal-world designs; working professionals will find stimulating insights to infuse their projects with a greater sense of purpose.

About the Author
Dr. Michael D. Murphy was a professor of landscape architecture at Texas A&M' University from 1969-to 2012, and served as head of the landscape architecture department from 1989 to 1991. Dr. Murphy has extensive experience in both practice and teaching, also serving as department head at the University of Pretoria. In earlier work, he held appointments as an urban designer and ecological planner on large-scale landscape assessment, planning, and design projects at Chris Mulder Associates Incorporated. He has been particularly interested in ecological design and in programming as a means of integrating the talents of multidisciplinary planning and design teams. In recent years, he has been involved in landscape restoration in the hill country of central Texas.


Book Information
ISBN 9781610917513
Author Michael D. Murphy
Format Paperback
Page Count 272
Imprint Island Press
Publisher Island Press
Weight(grams) 476g
Dimensions(mm) 229mm * 152mm * 20mm