Editor: Marc Treib (ORO Editions, 2022)
Transforming the natural environment is fundamental to our species. Since ancient times, humans have reshaped landscapes for a variety of purposes. Some, like the Newark Earthworks and recently discovered patterns hidden beneath the dense canopy of Brazil’s Amazon rainforest remain shrouded in mystery. Others have more practical reasons, ranging from the creation of agricultural terraces and irrigation systems to the design of gardens, parks, and public spaces.
All of these modifications—big and small—reflect our ongoing relationship with the land. Over millennia, the purposeful transformation of terrain has evolved into the complex field of landscape architecture but the simplicity of the primary act of moving and reconfiguring the earth remains. This is a topic that prolific writer Marc Treib captures in “The Shape of the Land: Topography & Landscape Architecture.”
Based on the presentations of a symposium held in 2020 that gathered several landscape architects and historians, Treib assembles the insights of twelve prominent practitioners and scholars who explore the complex relationship between topography and landscape architecture.
Given the star cast of contributors— Stephen Daniels, Georges Descombes, Adriaan Geuze, Jennifer Guthrie, Kathleen John-Alder, Ana Kučan, Karl Kullmann, José Miguel Lameiras, David Meyer, Elissa Rosenberg, Bas Smets, and Laura Solano—the book builds from symposium’s dual focus on utility and aesthetics with each essay capturing a different facet of terrain manipulation, and examining how transforming land can meet the complex demands of human society while creating opportunities for artistic expression.
The strong mix of scholars and practitioners allows The Shape of the Land to cover over three centuries of design evolution, delving into subjects ranging from the works of the 18th-century English landscape designer Humphry Repton to contemporary works, including several projects by West 8 Urban Design and Landscape Architecture and Georges Descombes 2015 renaturalization of the River Aire in Geneva, Switzerland.
Canadian content also makes its way into the book in Laura Solano’s insightful piece describing Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates Inc.’s work on Toronto’s Port Lands and how land’s form can be reshaped to serve diverse ecological functions and cultural meanings.
The success of books compiling diverse voices, particularly from academia and practice, hinges on the editor’s skill in weaving these perspectives into a cohesive narrative that balances theory and practice. Within this context Treib’s opening chapter, Reforming Terrain, deserves special mention. With masterful clarity, the editor distills humanity’s modification of land into three fundamental actions—digging, piling, and shaping—each performed individually or in combination. He describes these actions succinctly, supporting his argument with a range of global examples that provide valuable context.
The strength of Treib’s introduction lies in its ability to ground each subsequent essay within a clear, cohesive framework that enables each contributor to position their work within this broader context. This structure not only clarifies the overarching themes but also allows the varied voices in the book to seamlessly connect their insights to a unified vision of the impact of shaping the earth.
Strategically placed at the book’s midpoint, Treib’s second essay, Ten Topographic Acts, amplifies the introductory themes. By presenting ten case studies through the lens of digging, piling, and shaping, this interlude reinforces the framework while providing a memorable bridge between the book’s two halves.
Buttressed by Treib’s thoughtful framework and evocative essays, The Shape of the Land: Topography & Landscape Architecture invites readers into the rich, unfolding story of humanity’s interaction with the land. It’s an essential read for those captivated by the beautiful dance between human design and natural form, casting new light on our ongoing dialogue with the earth and the ways we shape—and are shaped by—it.
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For more information on The Shape of the Land: Topography & Landscape Architecture visit the ORO Editions website.
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Erick Villagomez is the Editor-in-Chief at Spacing Vancouver and teaches at UBC’s School of Community and Regional Planning.
