Conceptualist Landscapes
An Alternative Way to Design Gardens
by Paul Cooper

Synopsis

Conceptual gardens depend on inspiration, which is the result of an exhaustive intellectual process. The starting point is an idea or stimulus that pushes the design along, rather than observing more conventional styles – whether classical or modernist – into which ideas or relationships are fitted. Horticultural considerations, architectural or aesthetic doctrines and practically-based problem-solving are either abandoned or regarded as a means to an end rather than the end in itself. So idea-driven design means that it cannot be taught by a ‘rule-of-thumb’ methodology, and thus, how to design a conceptual garden is not the theme of this book; nor does it contain ‘off-the-peg’ solutions for garden and landscape designers.

This book is part of the series, Workshops on Garden Design.

Contents

Introduction; What is a Conceptual Garden? The Design Process, Part 1 – Seeking inspiration: site specific, historical information, visual references, autobiographical; Part 2 – Developing the Idea: working with the site, the narrative method, visual impact, individual expression, the intellectual approach; Part 3 – Ways of Making: new materials and new methods, short-term gardens, kinetic and theatrical solutions ; Planting with Meaning: plants as the idea, plants in a narrative, environmental and ecological issues, new ways of planting; New Challenges – festival and show gardens, gardens for specialist needs, future gardens; Conclusion; Bibliography; Index.

The Author

Paul Cooper was born in Manchester in 1949 and now lives in Wales. He was a professional sculptor at the start of his career, and taught the subject at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne, 1972–74 and then art and design at the University of Lancaster, 1974–86. He was a visiting professor and artist in residence at the Maryland Institute of Art, Baltimore, in 1984.

Paul became interested in garden design in 1984, and later lectured at Central St Martin’s College, London, the Inchbald School of Design, London, Writtle College, Chelmsford, Essex, and Leeds Metropolitan University. He has won Royal Horticultural Society bronze, silver and gold medals, and his ‘Cool and Sexy’ garden at the RHS Chelsea Show in 1994 caused a sensation and established him among the most thought-provoking contemporary designers in Britain. He has published four books: The New Tech Garden , Living Sculpture, Interiorscapes and Gardens Without Boundaries. He now lectures widely and continues to design gardens for private and public clients. Paul is now recognized as one of the front-runners in the emergence of conceptualist garden design.

Date of publication: March 2010
ISBN: 978 185341 145 8 (paperback only)
Pages: c.80 with colour photos and line drawings and plans
Dimensions: 187 x 245 mm (landscape); weight: c. 300 grammes
Price: £19.99