When studying landscape architecture, it is essential to comprehend a wide range of information encompassing design theory, environment, technical design, human experiences, and sociology. The following is a list of recommended reading, and I have also provided a list of standard texts and readings at the end that are often required by many landscape architecture courses.
250 Things a Landscape Architect Should Know – B.Cannon Ivers (Ed)
250 Things a Landscape Architect Should Know a collection of thoughts by 50 contributors and voices about the landscape. The book is inspired by the work of Michael Sorkin and spawned by his loss in 2020. The editor seeks the reader to understand “that to really know a subject takes time and dedication”. Ivers has successfully bought together several interesting, fun, inspiring thoughts from contributors that challenge the reader to reflect on landscape architecture and the profession.
The Landscape Project | Edited by Richard Weller & Tatum Hands
The essay writing of The Landscape Project makes the book easily readable and accessible. A collection of 18 essays edited by Richard Weller & Tatum Hands as “something of an homage to the department” of landscape architecture faculty at the University of Pennsylvania Weitzman School of Design. Each essay provides some historical background and then explores each topic through the lens of landscape architecture and how landscape architects can contribute to the profession and its discourse.
The Landscape Imagination: The Collected Essays of James Corner
A complitation of Corner’s essays and lectures that explore the ideas core to landscape architecture in contemporary design and urbanism. The essays date from 1991 to 2010 and discuss landscape theory, representation, landscape urbanism and landscape (creative & methods) practice.
Codify: Parametric and Computational Design in Landscape Architecture edited by Bradley Cantrell and Adam Mekies
Although this book is from 2018, it was one of the earlier books to explore the ideas of computational design in landscape architecture. The book features a diverse range of contributors from around the world, including landscape architects, academics, and tech firms. They offer essays and interviews covering coding’s relationship to landscape architecture, including history, theory, definitions, and practice. Topics include graphic representation, 3d printing, modelling, prototyping, data analysis, sensors, and beyond the book’s title. The varied writing styles and topics from design to research allow readers to either read cover to cover or focus on specific areas, exploring the possibilities of computation and digital methodologies.
Landscape Architect’s Pocket Book by Siobhan Vernon, Susan Irwine, Joanna Patton, Neil Chapman
A small format book that provides references for industry terminology, materality and other considerations whilst designing projects. This book is especially valuable to those who are about to graduate or just joined a design office and wish to learn the industry (UK, Australia, etc) terminology.
Environmental Horticulture: Science and Management of Green Landscapes by Ross Cameron, James Hitchmough
A book that provides landscape architecture and design students with the fundamentals realting to horticulture, landscape management, plant science. Alternatively you can seek out the recently (2025) revised edition of The Dynamic Landscape: Design, Ecology and Management of Naturalistic Urban Planting by Nigel Dunnett and James Hitchmough that covers scientific and ecological planning design philosophy that addresses the need for more sustainable designed landscapes
Local Planting Design Books
All students should seek inspiration from the planting design books by Piet Oudolf, B. Cannon Ivers and others along with The Aesthetics of Contemporary Planting Design by Marc Treibet al. However, most importantly students should seek out planting design books from their country and local area. When undertaking planting design there are many considerations that go beyond aethetics or style of planting including ecology, indigenous/endemic plants, weeds (local & noxious), climate and cultivation. I would encourage all students to seek out local planting design books and plant lists but to also speak to local horticulturalists, ecologists, etc to gain a better understanding of what good and successful planting design can be.
Firm Monographs
Although somewhat out of fashion lately, firm monographs provide students with a curated collection of a landscape design firm’s work, eliminating the need to open multiple browser tabs or rely on social media snippets. I would encourage students to head to the library and read through some of your local design firms and international design firms books to understand how landscape design has evolved over time and also how a design firm can have or have not a particular design language.
Required Reading by many Landscape Architecture Courses
Design with Nature by Ian McHarg
The Death and Life of Great American Cities by Jane Jacobs
The Landscape of Man, by Geoffrey Alan Jellicoe and Susan Jellicoe
The Landscape Urbanism Reader edited by Charles Waldheim
Landscape Architecture: An Introduction Paperback by Associate Professor of History Robert Holden, Jamie Liversedge
Landscape Architecture: A Manual of Environmental Planning and Design by John Ormsbee Simonds and Barry Starke
Landscape Graphics by Grant W. Reid
Site Engineering for Landscape Architects by Donald H. Brandston and Steven M. Strom
Time Saver Standards For Landscape Architecture by Charles W. Harris and Nicholas T Dines
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