Illustrated History of LA - 19th Century Flashcards
19th-century landscape
urban, public, and Romantic
John Claudius Loudon (1783–1843)
known for his prolific contributions to the literature of landscape design and his progressive views on public space.
He published Gardener’s Magazine from 1826 to 1843, a popular source of garden information for the middle-class homeowner
He designed the Derby Arboretum, which opened to the public in 1840
Joseph Paxton (1803–1865)
he authored and published several gardening journals; he designed buildings and engineered sites; he was a Fellow of the Horticultural Society, and an elected Member of Parliament. His innovations in glasshouse technology and his advocacy of public parks are two particular contributions we examine here.
built the conservatory (the “Great Stove”) at Chatsworth in 1836, the largest glasshouse ever constructed at the time.
he designed the Crystal Palace for the Great Exhibition in Hyde Park
was first to develop the idea of “subscription plots” to help make public parks economically feasible.4
Birkenhead Park in Liverpool, designed by Paxton in 1843
The first park publicly funded and maintained, and opened to everyone, the park opened in 1847
Frederick Law Olmsted visited the park in 1850 and was particularly impressed by its unique circulation system, which separated carriage traffic from pedestrian traffic.
William Robinson (1838–1935)
referred to the geometrical presentation of plants as “degrading the true garden art to the level of the pastrycook’s notions of design
In his book The Wild Garden, published in 1870, he proposed a natural approach to planting based on the horticultural needs and artistic qualities of the plants
In his book of 1883, The English Flower Garden, Robinson cataloged all the new plant species introduced in the 19th century and focused on creating lowmaintenance habitats. .
Reginald T. Blomfield (1856–1942)
called for a return to formality
In 1892, he wrote The Formal Garden in England, citing the Italianate terrace garden as the perfect example of garden art.
architect Edwin Lutyens (1869–1944) and landscape designer Gertrude Jekyll (1843–1932).
art and nature met in the partnership
Lutyens created the structural geometry for Jekyll’s softscape
Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821)
was elected consul for life by representatives of the people of France under the provisions of their new constitution (France’s “fi rst republic”).
Baron Georges-Eugene Haussmann (1809–1891)
was appointed Prefect of the Seine (city manager) by Napoleon III in 1853
He implemented the emperor’s plan for modernizing the city of Paris, which involved upgrading the existing infrastructure and adding new tree-lined boulevards, road junctions, green squares, and parks.
Haussmann appointed engineer-designer Jean-Charles-Adolphe Alphand (1817–1891) as head of the division of Promenades et Plantations
the agency responsible for carrying out the redevelopment plan
Alphand established a coherent design language for all public spaces in the city
The Bois de Boulogne
a former royal hunting park, was opened to the public by Louis XIV and given to the city in 1851
Radial allées and rond-points
typical of French formalism inscribed the dense woodlands.
The refurbished park was a popular attraction
Olmsted met with Alphand in 1859 and toured the Bois de Boulogne.
Gustave Eiffel
designed the iron tracery of the Eiffel Tower—at 984 feet high, it remains one of the tallest structures in the world.
public park and the idea of a wilderness aesthetic
The important contributions to the history of landscape architecture in 19th-century America
The works of both Andrew Jackson Downing and Frederick Law Olmsted
were shaped by the aesthetics of the English landscape garden and the ideals of social reform.
ANDREW JACKSON DOWNING (1815–1852)
His early training was in horticulture.
His book, A Treatise on the Theory and Practice of Landscape Gardening, Adapted to North America
His belief that environment influenced behavior formed the focus of his professional career. Downing’s early support of the public’s right to open space was crucial to the eventual realization of Central Park in Manhattan.
architect Calvert Vaux (1824–1895) met Downing in England and persuaded Vaux to join his practice in New York
Vaux later formed an equally influential partnership with Olmsted.
In 1804, Pere Lachaise Cemetery
as one of the first cemeteries in which plots could be purchased in perpetuity. It was a blend of both formal and informal geometries.
Mount Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge, Massachusetts
was developed in 1831 by the Massachusetts Horticultural Society as an experimental garden, arboretum, and cemetery.
Its sweeping lawns, lakes, native trees, and exotic flowers were reminiscent of English landscape gardens, and became the vocabulary of park design.
FREDERICK LAW OLMSTED (1822–1903)
Olmsted was a gentleman farmer who had a keen interest in the cultural landscape
He toured the English landscape in 1850 and commented on the success of Birkenhead Park.
“the Greensward Plan”
preserved the wooded area and exposed bedrock in the middle part of the site, south of the reservoir, which they called “The Ramble.”
Extensive site engineering was necessary to create the many lakes and sloping lawns within the park
They included a formal pedestrian mall and terrace
Winning entry of Olmsted teamed up with Calvert Vaux: entered the competition for the design of Central Park in New York City
boating and skating
were the only organized sports originally accommodated in Central Park
Prospect Park
In 1866, Olmsted and Vaux collaborated on the design of the 526-acre park in Brooklyn for 8-year period
