Church, Thomas D.: GARDENS ARE FOR PEOPLE [HOW TO PLAN FOR OUTDOOR LIVING]. New York: Reinhold, 1957.

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GARDENS ARE FOR PEOPLE

Thomas D. Church

Thomas D. Church: GARDENS ARE FOR PEOPLE [HOW TO PLAN FOR OUTDOOR LIVING]. New York: Reinhold Publishing Company, 1957.  Second printing. Folio. Green paper covered boards with olive cloth quarter strip decorated in gold. Photo illustrated dust jacket. Color frontis. 248 pp. 14 color photographs. 600 + black and white photographs and diagrams. Jacket lightly chipped to top edge. Interior unmarked and very clean. Out of print. An amazingly well-preserved copy.A nearly fine copy in a nearly fine dust jacket.

10 x 12.75 hardcover book with 248 pages and over 600 illustrations and photographs – some in full color. Adapted from Church's House Beautiful articles, this book presents a cogent view of post-War American Modernist landscape architecture by one of its preeminent practitioners.

From the book: "with the aid of over 600 illustrations and photographs – some in full color and a witty conversational style, Mr. Church (America’s foremost landscape architect) guides you on a tour of gardens he has designed over the last 15 years. Most of these gardens are located in California, particularly San Francisco where he lived. At the end of the tour you will have seen some of the most beautiful gardens in the country."

  • Introduction to Design
  • The Tour - Typical Backyards, Town, City and Country Gardens
  • The Arrival - Welcome
  • The Terrace
  • Wood Decks
  • Beach Gardens
  • Remodeling
  • Garden Details - Steps, Fences, Paving, Seats, Curbs, Playgrounds
  • Swimming Pools
  • Index

Outstanding book for those interested in Modern Landscape Design, Modern Architecture and Modern Homes. Includes work by Pietro Belluschi, Gardner A. Dailey, Garrett Eckbo, Emmons and Jones, Eichler Homes (Palo Alto -- Greenmeadow), Joseph Eskerick, Pirkle Jones, Cliff May, and many other Modern Californians.

This classic of landscape architecture has been required reading for the residential garden design professional, student, and generalist since its publication in 1955. Gardens Are for People contains the essence of Thomas Church's design philosophy and much practical advice. Amply illustrated by site plans and photographs of some of the 2,000 gardens Church designed during the course of his career.

Called "the last great traditional designer and the first great modern designer," Church was one of the central figures in the development of the modern California garden. For the first time, West Coast designers based their work not on imitation of East Coast traditions, but on climatic, landscape, and lifestyle characteristics unique to California and the West. Church viewed the garden as a logical extension of the house, with one extending naturally into the other. His plans reflect the personality and practical needs of the homeowner, as well as a pragmatic response to the logistical demands of the site.

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