Desert Landscape Architecture

This book provides an understanding of desert environments, their climatic conditions, and unique physical beauty - using the five American deserts of the southwestern United States as an example. Through considerable research, sensitivity, and practical experience, the author provides insight into how built environments are designed and installed in order to cope with the harsh, unforgiving physiographic area. Bridging the gap between professional jargon and common sense, Desert Landscape Architecture displays detailed information for every facet of landscape design, environmental concerns, water issues, cultural issues, and plant material use.This unique, thorough book:Provides information applicable to any desert region of the worldSupplies a plant compendium with extensive plant lists comprising more than 750 speciesExamines desert flora and fauna as well as the fragile ecosystems they occupyReviews human use areasInvestigates grading from an aesthetic and practical standpointExplains the significance of adequate site drainageDiscusses schematic, preliminary, and working drawing plansLists types of site furnishings and their specific purposesDescribes how various hardscape elements are drawn and specifiedExplains plant growth in detailDiscusses the dynamics of plant communities and their function in larger ecosystemsReviews the factors affecting plant selection in the design processIdentifies desert planning zonesEmphasizes the critical nature of irrigation design in the desert landscape architecture - explaining it as an environmental necessity, not a technical issueOutlines the basic principles of hydrology related to system designDiscusses water conservation and presents alternatives for reducing water consumptionExamines types of light and sun