SYLLABUS
LEARNING
OBJECTIVES
The aim of the course
is the knowledge of the main passages in the history of the garden and
landscape, with particular regard to the Italian territory and openings on
other experiences of Western Europe, providing the basic methodological tools
for a knowledge of the relationships between architecture and landscape
architecture, as a result of the interaction between History, Culture and
Nature.
In this framework, the
evolution of the art of gardens will be illustrated as the maximum expression
of a conscious and planned transformation of the 'natural datum' with
intentionality in this case exclusively, or mainly, aesthetic-formal and
symbolic, clarifying the links with culture of time (not only architectural),
also analyzing how this has evolved in modernity, to become landscape
architecture.
COURSE
CONTENT
The course offers
a comprehensive overview of the development of gardens and designed landscapes
from ancient times to the present day, with a specific focus on Italy and
particular attention to the 20th and 21st centuries. This focus will ensure
that students’ historical knowledge is closely coordinated with contemporary
landscape design teachings. The
main topics include:
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Foundations and Early Civilizations: Definitions
and historiography of gardens and landscapes; Ancient Egyptian, Mesopotamian,
and Persian influences; Classical gardens of Greece and Rome
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Medieval and Islamic Traditions: Monastic
gardens and walled enclosures in medieval Europe; Islamic garden design and its
cultural significance
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Renaissance and Baroque Gardens: Italian
Renaissance villa gardens: geometry, symmetry, and symbolism; French formal
gardens and the Baroque style (e.g., Versailles); Cultural exchange and
influence on European garden design
-
The English Landscape Garden: Emergence
of the “natural” style in 18th-century England; The Picturesque movement and
its theoretical underpinnings; Spread and adaptation of the English model
across Europe
-
19th-Century Transformations: Romantic
gardens and further developments of the Picturesque; Public parks and the
influence of social reform (e.g., the work of Frederick Law Olmsted);
Technological advances and their impact on landscape design
-
Focus on 20th and 21st Centuries: Modernist
approaches to garden design and landscape architecture; The rise of
environmental awareness and ecological design; Impact of urbanization and
cultural shifts on landscape planning; Italian case studies and their relevance
to contemporary design practice
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Contemporary Perspectives and
Globalization: Postmodern and contemporary garden design trends;
Sustainability, ecological restoration, and the role of green infrastructure;
Cross-cultural influences and the global exchange of landscape ideas
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Critical Analysis and Future
Directions: Understanding the garden as a cultural, political, and
aesthetic artifact; Preservation and conservation of historical gardens and
landscapes; Emerging challenges and innovations in garden and landscape design
Through
lectures, readings, case studies, and a special emphasis on Italy’s rich
heritage, students will gain a deep understanding of how social, political,
technological, and artistic changes have shaped gardens and landscapes. They
will develop skills in visual and contextual analysis, research, and critical
thinking to inform both historical inquiry and contemporary landscape design
practices.
COURSE PURPOSES and LEARNING
OUTCOMES
-
Develop Historical Perspective:
Provide a comprehensive overview of the evolution of gardens and landscapes, with
particular attention to the history of gardens in Italy and to projects
developed in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. This historical
foundation will foster a deeper understanding of how cultural, political, and
technological factors have influenced landscape design across different periods
and regions.
-
Integrate Theory and Practice:
Strengthen the synergy between historical knowledge and contemporary design
practice. By examining key concepts, notable figures, and diverse case studies,
students will gain insights that can inform and enhance their own design
projects and professional decision-making.
-
Encourage Critical Inquiry:
Cultivate an analytical mindset that questions established conventions and
explores new perspectives in garden and landscape history. Students will learn
to assess the cultural, ecological, and aesthetic dimensions of gardens and
landscapes in order to propose innovative ideas for future projects.
LEARNING METHODS AND ACTIVITIES
- Lectures
and Seminars: Core lectures will introduce major historical
periods, cultural influences, and theoretical frameworks, followed by
interactive seminars where students discuss, debate, and consolidate their
understanding of course materials. Lectures will be led by the instructors and may also feature external
experts who will address specific topics. This approach ensures a diversity of
viewpoints and potentially opens discussions that transcend the realm of
architecture.
- Reading Assignments and Case Study Analysis:
Students will engage with scholarly articles, book chapters, and visual
documentation to explore key concepts. In-class discussions will further
develop critical thinking by analyzing diverse garden and landscape
examples. - Group Work and Peer Collaboration:
Collaborative projects, presentations, and peer reviews will enhance
problem-solving and communication skills. Students will learn to
synthesize various historical and theoretical perspectives while working
in teams. A list of garden and landscape works and projects will be
offered to the students, who will have to work in groups on a specific
work and present the completed project to the class at the end of the
semester. - Site Visits and Fieldwork:
Visits to relevant gardens and landscapes in Rome will offer first-hand
insights into spatial organization, historical context, and design
strategies. to underscore
the value of firsthand spatial experience in architectural investigation.
Students will be encouraged to sketch and photograph these spaces (or use
any other artistic technique, subject to prior approval by the
instructor). They will then compile a notebook in which the gardens or
landscape are analyzed. Each set of images will be accompanied by a short
text (up to 300 words) explaining the creative process behind the
observations. - Reflective Essays and Presentations:
Written assignments and oral presentations will help students articulate
their findings, relate historical precedents to current design practices,
and demonstrate the integration of learned concepts into coherent
arguments.
EVALUATION
The course includes
two examinations, each worth 50% of the final grade.
-
First Examination. This will take place at the end of the semester and
will consist of the teamwork presentation to the class
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Second Examination. This will be an individual oral interview during the
final exam session, which must be booked on Sapienza Infostud webpage. In this
interview, students will present the results of their private study, with the
support of their notebooks, and discuss the topics covered throughout the
lectures and assigned readings
SPECIFIC CONDITIONS AND REQUIRED PREVIOUS KNOWLEDGE
Non-attending students will find lectures and
other materials on the e-learning platform, and they will agree on their
individual work to be presented during the exam by sending an email to the
teacher.
It is highly recommended to have attended the
course of history of contemporary architecture.
being a course delivered in english,
knowledge of the language is required.
COURSE MATERIALS – BIBLIOGRAPHY
The books listed here are
general references, not all of them will be examined during the course and
students will agree on the necessary readings with the teacher during the
course
Mandatory text
Girot, Christophe. The course of landscape architecture: A History of our Designs on the Natural World, from
Prehistory to the Present, London: Thames & Hudson Ltd, 2016
General references
English
Aben,
Rob. de Wit, Saskia. Enclosed
Garden, The History and Development of the Hortus Conclusus and its
Reintroduction into the Present-day Urban Landscape, Rotterdam: 010
Publishers, 1999
Clark, Kenneth. Landscape into Art, London: Penguin, 1956
Clément,
Gilles. Kincaid, Jamaica. den Dulk, Leo. Garden Futures: Designing with Nature, Weil am Rhein:Vitra Design
Museum, 2023
Clément,
Gilles. The Planetary Garden and Other Writings, Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania Press, 2022
Conan, Michel. Contemporary Garden Aesthetics,
Creations and Interpretations, Washington: Dumbarton Oaks Publications,
2007
Cooper,
David E. A philosophy of gardens,
Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2008
Mosser, Monique. Teyssot, Georges.
The Architecture of Western Gardens: A Design History from the Renaissance to
the Present Day, Cambridge: The MIT Press, 1991
Phillips, Jonathan D. Landscape evolution. Landforms,
Ecosystems and Soils, Amsterdam:
Elsevier, 2021
Robinson,
William. The wild garden, New York:
Workman Publishing, 2009
Zoppi, Mariella. Gardens of Tuscany, Firenze: Polistampa, 2007
Italian
Cassetti, Roberto. Fagiolo, Marcello. Roma. Il verde e la città, Roma: Gangemi, 2002
Cellini, Francesco. Sabella,
Valentina. Sull’arte dei giardini, Palermo:
Flaccovio, 2009
D’Angelo, Paolo. Filosofia del paesaggio,
Macerata: Quodlibet, 2014
Grimal, Pierre. L’arte dei giardini. Una breve storia,
Donzelli Editore, 2005
Impelluso, Lucia. Giardini, orti e labirinti,
Milano: Electa, 2005
Mancuso, Stefano. Viola, Alessandra.
Verde brillante,
Firenze: Giunti, 2015
Milani,
Raffaele. L’arte del paesaggio, Bologna:
Il Mulino, 2001
Panzini, Franco. Per i piaceri del popolo. L’evoluzione del
giardino pubblico in Europa dalle origini al XX secolo, Bologna:
Zanichelli, 1993
Panzini, Franco. Progettare la natura. Architettura del
Paesaggio e dei giardini dalle origini all’epoca contemporanea, Bologna:
Zanichelli, 2005
Tosco, Carlo. Il paesaggio come storia, Bologna: Il
Mulino, 2007
Tosco, Carlo. Il paesaggio storico: le fonti e i metodi
di ricerca, Roma-Bari: Laterza, 2009
Turri, Eugenio. Il paesaggio come teatro, Venezia: Marsilio,
2001
Turri, Eugenio. Il paesaggio e il silenzio, Venezia:
Marsilio, 2004
Turri, Eugenio. Semiologia del paesaggio italiano, Venezia:
Marsilio, 2014
Venturi
Ferriolo, Massimo. Etiche del paesaggio. Il progetto del mondo umano, Roma: Editori Riuniti, 2002
Zoppi, Mariella. Storia del giardino europeo,
Firenze: Alinea, 2009
- Docente: MARIA CLARA Ghia