Italian Gardens:Concepts, Elements & Design

This overview of the long and fascinating history of Italian gardens aims to elucidate concepts and functional and artistic elements that are vital to today's designers. Roman, Renaissance and Contemporary landscapes will be studied examining the interrelationship of the natural, agricultural, and manmade garden. The display of water, green architecture, symbolism and narrative storytelling, technological application, organization of plant material and the deployment of sculpture will be topics of investigation. The early 20th century espousal of the Italianate garden in America under the influence of Charles Platt and Edith Wharton and Cecil Pinsent's (1884-1963) anglicized Italian gardens for the English colony in Florence will be studied. Discussion will focus on restoration and conservation strategies for gardens, their role over time, and the protection of works of "vegetal architecture" with assiduous maintenance. A bibliography will be mailed to you credits: 1.5 course / sec:. HT/AC Course duration: June 10 – July 29 Day and Time: Thursday, 6:00-9:00 PM