writings by james corner

two great readers...

theory in landscape architecture, simon swaffield editor

recovering landscaperecovering landscape, james corner editor[/url]

contemporary theory

sorry here's the james corner book: www.amazon.com/gp/product/1568981791/ref=pd_bxgy_text_b/103-3092600-3205435?%5Fencoding=UTF8

both are good, but between the two, definitely read recovering landscape

I second Recovering Landscape. I would also add J.B. Jackson's The Vernacular Landscape, and perhaps Paul Shepheared's The Cultivated Wilderness.

Not exactly on point, but Leo Marx's The Machine in the Garden is tops.

I suggest Ian McHaarg's Design With Nature, Raymond Williams' "Ideas of Nature," William Cronon's (ed) Uncommon Ground, Spirn's Granite Garden, Rosalind Krauss in The Anti-Aesthetic and check out Neocreationism and the Illusion of Ecological Restoration by del Tredici for good measure.

Jens Jensen, Siftings

Jens Jensen, The Clearing

no mention of Marc Treib - Modern Landscape Architecture: A Critical Review .

i've always thought Henri Lefebrve's writings were more about landscape than anything.

which brings me to another question why 'landscape architecture' is always thought of as the 'green, fluffy, pastoral, and reminiscent'?

Landscape and Memory by Simon Schama goes to great lenghts explaining the ties between culture and landscape