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 world
Supplies a plant compendium with extensive plant lists comprising more than 750 species
Examines desert flora and fauna as well as the fragile ecosystems they occupy
Reviews human use areas
Investigates grading from an aesthetic and practical standpoint
Explains the significance of adequate site drainage
Discusses schematic, preliminary, and working drawing plans
Lists types of site furnishings and their specific purposes
Describes how various hardscape elements are drawn and specified
Explains plant growth in detail
Discusses the dynamics of plant communities and their function in larger ecosystems
Reviews the factors affecting plant selection in the design process
Identifies desert planning zones
Emphasizes the critical nature of irrigation design in the desert landscape architecture - explaining it as an environmental necessity, not a technical issue
Outlines the basic principles of hydrology related to system design
Discusses water conservation and presents alternatives for reducing water consumption
Examines types of light and sun
