Landscrapers

Since the days of cave dwellers, humans have made use of nature's geological formations, but recent developments in structural engineering make it possible to engage the Earth's surface as a building element in its own right. With an increased awareness of the planet's limited natural resources and with landscape architects' greater influence on contemporary design, architects around the world are building into the earth, merging man-made forms with the contours of the land.Presenting the most exciting, sensitive, and innovative buildings from the most acclaimed international architectural practices, Landscrapers offers a global tour of these spectacular structures. From Zaha Hadid's Landesgartenschau pavilion in Germany to MVRDV's Villa VPRO in the Netherlands, from Future Systems' hill-burrowing house in Wales to Maya Lin's Vietnam Memorial in Washington, more than fifty projects reveal the breadth and depth of this new direction in architecture.Aaron Betsky begins with an introduction that considers our historical preoccupation with communing with the land through building. He then explores the different ways in which geotecture responds to, interacts with, becomes a part of -- and yet remains distinctive within -- our natural landscape. A reference section includes useful project and architect information, along with further reading.