Kathryn Gustafson on The Art of Landscape Architecture

“When you design landscapes, remember that it’s a journey. Nothing is fixed. Everything is going to evolve over time.”

Kathryn Gustafson embodies the role of artistry through landscape architecture that often combines complex sensory elements like light, sound, heat, wind, water, etc.. Noting that art is often a reflection of the artists’ contemporary moment, Gustafson seeks to channel art through landscape design as a reflection of the world around. By showing her design process, which involves sculpting clay models, she emphasizes not only the aesthetic qualities of her projects but how they respect their natural environments in sustainable manners.

Kathryn Gustafson is a landscape architect and co-founded the landscape architecture firm Gustafson Porter + Bowman, based in London. Gustafson is renowned for creating very artistic, sculpture-like landscape forms that enable people to engage in their surroundings, interact with others, perceive how a landscape feels. Her projects include Gardens of the Imagination in Terrasson, France, Cultuurpark Westergasfabriek in Amsterdam, the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain in London, Morbras Meeting Point in Paris, the Robert and Arlene Kogod Courtyard at the Smithsonian American Art Museum, and the African American Museum of History and Culture, Washington, D.C.

Photo © Alexandra Siebenthal

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[foolsgoldenrod]

Consistently elegant, in presentation, speech, and solution. Art and function at once, without compromise.

[lisve]

So inspiring! I can't wait to become a landscare architect myself

[verdugoroadtech]

Thanks for sharing.I couldn't express my gratitude any better.Mucho gracias.

[vcimanieeh]

one of the best landscape architects ever!

[crosantjes]

Super inspiring. I love the design proces. I was wondering; Is there a specific type of clay used for the models? What type would it be? If anyone knows, let me know :)

[Prussianbluex]

How can replacing a water feature with a black granite wall in any way be considered “value engineering”? The client just didn’t want to inherit a maintenance liability but the solution was probably more costly in the contract. That is not “value engineering” . . .

[krock]

this is, by far, one of the worst presentations on the understanding of art in any form of architecture