Sustainable Landscape Construction: A Guide to Green Building Outdoors, Second Edition (Paperback)

by J. William Thompson (Author), Kim Sorvig (Author)
Key Phrases: search terms, respect darkness, design workshop, Sustainable Landscape Construction, United States, Kim Sorvig (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Published at the beginning of the twenty-first century, Sustainable Landscape Construction took a new approach to what was then a nearly new subject: how to construct outdoor environments based on principles of sustainability. This enormously influential book helped to spur a movement that has taken root around the U.S. and throughout the world. The second edition has been thoroughly updated to include the most important developments in this landscape revolution, along with the latest scientific research in the field. It has been expanded to provide even more ideas for designing, building, and maintaining environmentally sensitive landscapes. It is essential reading for everyone with an interest in “green” landscape design.

 

Like its predecessor, the new edition of Sustainable Landscape Construction is organized around principles that reflect the authors’ desire to put environmental ethics into practice. Each chapter focuses on one over-arching idea. These principles of sustainability are clearly articulated and are developed through specific examples. More than 100 projects from around the globe are described and illustrated. A new chapter details ways in which landscape architectural practice must respond to the dangers posed by fire, floods, drought, extreme storms, and climate change.

 

Sustainable Landscape Construction is a crucial complement to basic landscape construction texts, and is a one-of-a-kind reference for professionals, students, and concerned citizens.

 

About the Author

J. William Thompson is editor for Landscape Architecture, the magazine

of the American Society of Landscape Architects.

 

Kim Sorvig is a research assistant professor at the School of Architecture and Planning at the University of New Mexico, and co-author of the Sustainable Building Technical Manual, published by the U.S. Green Building Council.

Product Details

• Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Island Press; 2 edition (November 13, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1597261432
• ISBN-13: 978-1597261432
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #119,973 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #21 in	Books > Professional & Technical > Engineering > Civil > Construction > Management
  #51 in	Books > Arts & Photography > Architecture > Urban & Land Use Planning
  #60 in	Books > Business & Investing > Economics > Sustainable Development

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Textbook style yet very interesting and engaging, April 21, 2008

By	BanditoJose (Warwick, RI) - See all my reviews

This book is very lengthy and full of information, but unlike typical textbooks, it is not overly 'heady' nor boring... Each chapter is quite long (50 pages approx.) and the words are quite small, yet you can sit there for four hours straight and still be interested in what is on the next page!? The only thing that would make this book better would probably be color pictures (there are a good amount of informative pictures, yet they are all black and white). Great book for anyone in the construction industry...very interesting!

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the most comprehensive books on sustainable landscape construction, December 25, 2007

By	Gang Chen "LEEDSeries.com, Bestselling Author... (http://www.ArchiteG.com/) - See all my reviews

Time has changed. A few years ago, few people knew about sustainable design and construction, green buildings or LEED. Today, sustainable design and construction has gone mainstream. How do we know? We actually have clients asking us to design a LEED certified building or do a sustainable landscape design. Architecture and landscape architecture are knowledge-based, service-oriented professions. Architects and landscape architects have to catch up and become experts in sustainable design and construction, green buildings and LEED to be able to provide the necessary professional service to the clients.

"Sustainable Landscape Construction: A Guide to Green Building Outdoors" is one of the best books on sustainable design and construction. It covers 10 principles of sustainable landscape construction: keep healthy sites healthy (preserve topsoils and existing trees, minimize construction damages, etc.), heal injured sites, favor living, flexible materials, respect the waters of life (understand, protect and restore wetlands, restore rivers and streams to full health, collect and conserve water, reuse gray water, etc.), pave less (reduce paving, reduce runoff from paving, use porous paving, etc.), consider origin and fate of materials (Use local, salvaged or recycled materials, avoid toxic and non-renewable materials, etc.), know the cost of energy over time, celebrate light, respect darkness (lighting efficiency and light pollution control), quietly defend silence (various ways of noise control), and maintain to sustain (alternate to mowing, bio-based maintenance products, etc.). Each principle is demonstrated with case studies and followed by resources for further studies.

"Sustainable Landscape Construction: A Guide to Green Building Outdoors" has 416 pages and many line drawings and interior black-and-white photos. It is one of the most comprehensive books on sustainable landscape construction.

Gang Chen, Author of "LEED AP Exam Guide" & "Planting Design Illustrated," LEED AP, AIA

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellant comprehensive book, July 4, 2009

By	TASART "TAS" (San Francisco USA) - See all my reviews

Comprehensive and up to date. It leaves no stone unturned. Despite the textbook style it is a pleasure to read. An excellent reference.