The 20th Century....erm....thats right!

Arrgggghhhh.....Uncle Steven....this is an exhausting lecture....with 99 slides!!!...just 1 more slide and it will become 100 slides!

Anyway, we have finally come to an era that we are very familiar with; as we living in it right now. Indeed, this style is evident in all parts of the world that is urbanised. This is the time where logic, funtionality, and basic shapes are embraced in the fields of Architecture and Landscaping alike. This is the time where designers and architects travel around different countries, regions to design styles that are internationally regconised.

In this era, we are guided not by traditional rules and doctrines in our designs. Instead we have a basic knowledge of the essential contemporary theories of designs, in addition to our knowledge of history of landscape designs.

Most of our project references are usually inspired by designers of this era.

Indeed, we humans, the ultimate vermins of the earth, have set yet another achievement in our pursuit for our perfection in life. Welcome to the world of "Artificial Creation"!

History of Landscape V.S. Modern Theories

What can we say??? In the very beginning, landscape were formed out of nothing, through the basic needs of the people, through the consciousness of wanting to worship nature and gods/goddess. It was more of like a survival game rather than doing things that were asthetic and inrelevant to their immediate life. Through years, decades, centuries, landscape had evolved as more and more theories and styles emerged. People began to go further away from traditional thoughts and began to set their own theories about landscape. Today, there is a clear definition of modern theories of landscape design. However there can never be a clear line between History of Landscape and Modern Theories. One evolved from another....who knows what will the future landscape be like in a 100 years time or more???

Carpe Diem!

RE:History of Landscape do apply in games

Erm...just running out of topic to write in this blog. Hello to the "ever-changing moon" aka Hong, sorry that I borrowed your topic to blog...haha...as in "borrowed landscape" rite?...ok I'm getting abit corky already...

Well, I totally agreed with what the "ever-changing moon" said about History of Landscape being relevant to games. Life has its ups and downs, a landscape can never be just a landscape designer, he/she got to get out of his/her own desk and venture into the other aspects of life. But what I'm trying to point out is that games can actually help in our understanding of History of Landscape too!!! C'mon! get on with life...you are now gonna stick to softwares like Autocad, Microstation, Autoviz, Photoshop rite??? How about an adventure into gaming software like Age of Empires, WarCraft, Empire Earth, Civilisation...etc.. All these are not just child's play. Through the design process and the making of these games, one has to know the historical and landscape details of each civilisation before publishing the games. It definitely helps in our understanding towards History and Theory of Landscape...take it as another source of learning other then Uncle Steven's lecture notes and the Theory Book which many of us bought(and left it to rot...)

Landscaping is EVERYWHERE!!!

So dwell into the world of virtual reality to uncover the truft behind the historical making of our world!!!

...comments... :)

Erm…nothing much to say…at last we get to see some informality in the European landscape through the introductory of the Chinese landscape. Although there were attempts in translating the Chinese landscape into European settings, there had also been many shallow interpretations as people failed to comprehend the meaning and philosophy behind the Chinese landscape.
This was a completely new idea to the westerners at that time, but we have to congratulate them for making an effort in incorporating the ideas into their own landscapes!

18th Century Western Classicism...here it goes again...

Right. Here it goes again…More and more theories and styles were introduced. This can be rather confusing for anyone to study about them. Landscaping is no longer just about enjoying a certain view or scenery. It has become a compilation of every thought that will be expressed within landscapes.
Most of the landscapes during this era were grand, splendid, extensive, and (resource-consuming!). These were the sorts of landscapes that could never be found elsewhere in other parts of the world!
However, the Dutch landscape seems to be closer to nature. Somehow, its landscapes were somewhat similar to those of the Far East, where the sky and landscape were enormous while buildings and villages were small. Perhaps if one is to run away from the monstrous man-made of Europe, he/she has to make a trip to the Netherlands!

Italian Mannerism, Boroque & 16th-17th Century France

Erm……pretty much the same for all these styles. All these styles are what most people normally associated with as being “European” when one saw the landscapes of these styles. Formality is the answer to most of the European Landscapes.

During these period of time, landscape was seen more of like a walkthrough, a story, a narration by its own, or even to convey special message to the visitors. There were uses of classical elements like statues of mythical creatures and structures to create interests and mockeries within the gardens and parks. The combination of science, engineering feats, and the rulers’ absolute power also made landscaping to be as they were.

Moreover, personal thoughts and an increase in knowledge seemed to guide landscaping in these eras rather than those of the ancient landscapes in which landscapes were more for religious activities and daily essential needs…

The Classical Age made a comeback!!!

Finally! The rebirth of classical knowledge! It seems like the western theorists could never get away with all the influences from the classical thoughts. This was a time of “enlightment” in almost any fields of studies. In landscaping, large areas of land were converted into parks and gardens. Extensive amount of labour and expenses were spent on these constructions. I personally feel that westerners at that time saw landscape as yet another piece of artwork that was to be impressed and admired. This contrast is some way with the Far East people who saw themselves as part of the entire world and nature itself. Rather than totally manipulating nature with man-made structures, the Far East people had integrated nature with their life…

The mysterious Central and South American civilization...

It is an entire continent by its own. A totally new set of beliefs and landscape approaches. The Aztec, Mayans, Olmecs, Nazcan, Toltecs, Incas. One succeeded the other. Some co-existed, but did not last long. However the common elements shared were the sacrificial buildings, temples to the gods. The abundance of gold and cocoa beans were also found there. Perhaps one of the most amazing and mysterious landscape is the nazca's geoglyphs. No one ever knows if it was done by human or even extra-terrestrial beings (erm...alien?) And also the question on whether the step pyramids of the central Americans have any connections with the pyramids of the Ancient Egyptians. What amazed is also the fact that all the mason work of the incas were carved so accurately to fit into each other as a single structure! Note that only simple tools were used at that time without the aid of modern machinery!

The Aztec and Incas were considered to be two of the last empires in central and south America before the Spanish conquistadors came. Such were a heavy lost for the world's heritages list! But everything comes and goes....Such were the way of nature...The flexibility of landscape and architecture too!!!

A theory closer to home...

For the past few weeks we had been studying about history and theory of the landscape architecture of the various places in the world. Now at last we are studying about something in South-East Asia. But this is not something new which we have never come about. Other than the indigenous religions and beliefs, there have also been a spread of religions and philosophies from other parts of Asia. Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism are the main beliefs that had traveled all their way here. Of course, with a few alternation and a combination with the native landscapes, both landscapes and architectures have evolved.

Perhaps one of the most popular style in SEA is the Balinese style..........It seems that Singapore do not have a style of its own. Or maybe it is too modernized by contemporary theories. All even perhaps we do have a style of our own: with the signature HDB flats and those big storm water canals as the primary elements of THE SINGAPORE LANDSCAPE!!!

The splendour of the Islamic Architecture and Landscape

The architecture and landscape style of the Islamic world was not developed out of nowhere. It actually found it roots in pre-Islamic traditions like the paradise garden, features in Mesopotamia cities, and also the climatic conditions which are largely desert landscape. The Islamic landscape is rich in its architecture, the bold approach in beautifying the landscape, use of palms and oasis that had become important elements. Domes are also a key feature in its architecture style. Mosques and madrassahs are as important as what churches and monasteries are important to the Christians. The idea of Islamic landscape was also made known to the western world during the various crusades in the middle ages where crusaders from Europe brought home with them knowledge of Islamic architecture and other technologies.

Through the spread of Islam over the world, the architecture style may vary as most of the native traditions were incorporated with Islamic design. For example, in parts of Islamic Africa, a different approach was used through the use of mud brick walls and and alternation to the dome was made. In Spain where Islamic Moorish architecture was merged with the native style to create a single unique style of its own. Also in Malaysia, we can see the dome of mosques are sometimes replaced with a the tradition Malay umbrella-shaped roofs. But the overall essence of the Islamic style still maintains up till today.

Christendom of the Middle Ages

This was a beginning of a new age....the age where the former Roman Empire fell, and the rise of Christianity. The old Roman custom was abolished, sacred places like churches, monastery were build. In my opinion, in this age, Europe was divided into two areas: firstly the embracing of formal style buildings and planning, for example using the idea of paradise garden, having cities and town enclosed behind city walls and fortifications. Secondly the total isolation from society into a more solitude setting in the countryside. For example the monasteries that were located near mountainous areas or next to a coast... This is also a time where the people settled down after several wars and casualties due to perhaps the fall of the Roman Empire???

Also, in this period of time, the church authorities held the major powers in most of the matters. This replaced the former idea where the kings and emperors held absolute power over their subjects. Due to this, religions flourished and its influence expanded in almost every aspect of the society.

... :) :) :)

On 6th Dec. 2005 we had a guest from the Lincoln University, NZ to give us a talk about History & Theories stuffs......wow..........it was really enriching.....I am totally inspired by some of the images pf inspirations and designs put up on the slides.

Haha...yup....truly....HISTORY IS THEORECTICAL, THEORIES ARE HISTORICAL!

Mediterranean-scape!

Perhaps one of the most influential culture and civilization is the be Greek's. The Greeks had contributed to many ideas and things that had exist till now. Things like the amphitheatre, stadiums, academies, genus loci, the Olympic game, architectural style, philosophies, and even the idea of democracy are all part of the elements found in the current era. These architectural and engineering feats had also influenced designs in Classical Europe. Indeed the Greeks had given much to the world in almost every aspect of life. Through the conquest of Alexander the Great, the Greek culture was spread to other parts of the world like Egypt, the Middle East, and as far as parts of India. In mathematical achievements combining with engineering feat, the idea of "entasis" was born. It was also through various philosophical, scientific and literature thoughts that brought about much of what Greece was then. Greek mythologies also played a part through the construction of temples for different gods/goddesses. As different city-states had their own patron gods/goddess, the various city-states tried to suppress each other's in terms of the beauty of the temple buildings in addition to the other infrastructures. An example of such achievement was Athens. With the extensive effort in beautifying the city, it had indeed impressed the other city-states as well as in the modern day itself.

As in the case of the Roman Empire, most of the things are pretty much similar to the Ancient Greeks. However eventually the empire was overran by the various foreign tribes and thus losing parts of their culture influences..................

Erm...That's all for now.....

Carpe Diem!

History in the making...

well...everything that we are doing now is a rather like a process. In looking at the macro side... we are merely tools of a greater accomplishment. We may be talking and discussing about past landscapes and while we are doing this, we are embracing contemporary design which.......will unknowingly be recorded as history itself!....

.....imaging... in 3000C.E. erm probably the post-space age.....future landscape architects will be studying about "ancient" Singaporean landscape....How's that for a food for thought?!!!