Landscape design is over a century-old practice. Although it may be argued it was found in ancient Japan and China, the first evidence is found in the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. It was soon a feature of Greek and Roman gardenscape. After a brief lull in the Middle Ages, it reappeared in the 17th century and spread across Europe. Eventually making it to America, landscape design soon became an integral component of residential and public gardens and spaces in cities as disparate as Los Angeles and Asheville NC.
Beauty, Aesthetics and Practicality
While initially, landscape design was more prominent for the elite classes and those with money to hire a landscape designer and gardener, this changed over the decades. The Romans were partially responsible for the spread of design concepts into the public arena (literally and figuratively). Home gardens soon adopted principles associated with landscape design.
During the Middle Ages and beyond, many of these principles were kept alive in monasteries where food, medicinal and decorative plots were created using certain designs and patterns. In the 17th century, landscape design once more achieved a prominent position at all levels of society. From formal Italian piazzas to large park areas and English home gardens, people were influenced by the concepts inherent in landscape design.
Design Inspirations
The 17th century also introduced cottage-style landscape design in Asheville NC creating a model for modern suburban landscaping in American cities such as Asheville NC. Today, however, the focus is turning towards more sustainable landscape design. This includes permaculture.
