The great parks and gardens of Europe come alive by the skiful interplay of natural landscape and architectural elements. Thoughout the ages, however, the relationship has been treated in very different ways. The gardens of the Italian renaissance in the 15th or 16th century were based on rational plans, whereas the French parks of the Baroque period seem rather more geometric in design, and the English parklands of the 18th century present a scenic composition.
In this publication famous historical gardens from all over Europe are enalysed, and these graphic analyses allow us to see into mind of the designers. By highlighting the design proceses, they also function as models for future landscape projects. More than 30 renowned gardens have been examined and documented with a wealth of illustrations.
Amongst the parks presented are Palladio's Villa Emo, the perfect order of the Baroque garden Vauxle-Vicomte near Parks or the pastoral yet mysterious park of Blenheim Palace near Oxford.
Ciements Steenbergen, born in 1946, and Wouter Reh, born in 1938, are landscape architects and Professors at the University of Delft. Both have written numerous publications on landscape design.