ABSTRACT
Why is a critique being written? This chapter explores the range of motives for criticism, from evaluation through to interpretation. Drawing on a range of authors, a classification of approaches to criticism is developed. A number of questions are raised, including when a critique should be undertaken, and whether the intentions of a designer should be considered when criticising a built work of landscape architecture. As part of demystifying landscape architecture criticism, the chapter also asks who can do criticism, and who the audience is for a critique. A model for design critique is introduced as a means of foregrounding the purpose and position of criticism, and for use in both the analysis of critique, as well as in writing criticism. The impact of the Internet on social media on landscape architecture critique is discussed.
