Visualizing landscape architecture

de Elke Mertens

Summary: "We don't sell gardens--we sell images of gardens." This observation on the part of a landscape architect makes it clear just how important it is that a design be effectively communicated to the community, clients, and the public. Drawings, models, simulations, and films communicate the designers' proposed ideas and solutions, but they also convey their attitude toward the use of nature and the environment. With myriad possibilities, including computer programs as well as hand drawings and models, which continue to be widely used, and strong competition in the field, there is now a huge variety of visual representations, with agreed-upon rules but also a great deal of freedom.