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:

-         Foundations and Early Civilizations: Definitions and historiography of gardens and landscapes; Ancient Egyptian, Mesopotamian, and Persian influences; Classical gardens of Greece and Rome

-         Medieval and Islamic Traditions: Monastic gardens and walled enclosures in medieval Europe; Islamic garden design and its cultural significance

-         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

-         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

-         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

-       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