The Art of Survival: Positioning Contemporary Landscape Architecture

Synopsis: This volume examines the evolution of landscape architecture within the context of globalisation and urbanisation. It posits that landscape architecture originates from ancestral land survival techniques accumulated during subsistence activities, constituting ‘the art of survival.’ However, contemporary globalisation and urbanisation have precipitated ecological crises, cultural identity crises, and spiritual disengagement, threatening traditional ‘utopian’ human-land relationships. Consequently, contemporary landscape architecture must undertake the mission of restoring harmonious human-land relationships and re-establishing ecological and cultural equilibrium.

The author emphasises that landscape architecture must transcend the constraints of traditional garden artistry, returning to its essence as land design and stewardship. Employing ‘counter-planning,’ it should construct ecological security frameworks by treating landscapes as urban infrastructure. Strategies are proposed to address three major challenges: sustainable development, cultural identity, and spiritual faith, advocating the integration of the ‘unity of heaven and humanity’ philosophy.

The book illustrates how ecological infrastructure design can guide urban development and safeguard ecological-cultural heritage through case studies such as Taizhou's ecological infrastructure planning and Yongning Park's flood-adaptive landscape, thereby achieving symbiosis between humanity and nature. The author contends that solutions to China's challenges hold global significance, predicting that Chinese landscape architecture will gain international prominence. This publication charts the course for the field's advancement, offering both theoretical and practical value.