Sculpting the Land: Landscape Design Influenced by Abstract Art

Description

Sculpting the Land, by award winning landscape architect Diana Armstrong Bell, is a homage to her unique interpretation of the possibilities of landscape design. A selection of her aesthetically compelling projects, many of which have won international design competitions, show the influence of her study of abstract art, particularly the work of Kazimir Malevich. Diana has developed her own individual approach to landscape design and here she reveals how these unique designs came to be imagined. Inspired by earthworks, lines and patterns in the landscape which over time can appear as land art, spending time in a landscape, observing, listening and gathering clues about its past and how they inform a new story, are all part of the process. All hand-drawn in pencil, ink, collage and watercolour, the book showcases a remarkable collection of art, which is used to develop and present design ideas. Diana focusses on large scale public landscapes in the urban realm, with many of the landscapes being created on 'brownfield' sites including Parco Franco Verga in Milan, Lac de Senart in France, Rochester Riverside Park and Electra Park in London.

Diana Armstrong Bell is a landscape architect whose background in art has informed her approach to design. She uses hand-drawing, collage and modelling to develop and present design ideas. Designs are born out of the history and memories of a place, adding a new chapter to that story. The sculptural qualities of natural and man-made landscapes and the inspiration of artists engaged in spatial studies, particularly Kazimir Malevich, have led to her creative and innovative work winning six international design competitions and being a finalist in a further three. Diana set up her London landscape practice, Armstrong Bell Landscape Design in 1984. She teaches landscape design, has been invited to lecture in the UK and Europe and contributes regularly to international publications.