The second edition of the book "Landscape Architecture: An Introduction to Theory and Meanings", authored by Dr. Seyed Hassan Taghvaei, an associate professor at the Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning of Shahid Beheshti University (SBU), has been published recently by SBU Press in 218 pages.
For many years, landscape architecture has played a key role in improving the quality of living environments, fostering a closer connection between people and nature, and designing landscapes—especially in the urban development processes of both developed and developing countries. Numerous prestigious academic institutions and professional societies in these countries, specializing in various landscape and landscape architecture fields, have helped strengthen the theoretical and practical foundations needed for landscape architecture activities and, in particular, project execution. Despite the rich environmental knowledge and long history of garden design and landscaping in Iran, the need for focused study on landscape architecture and developing localized principles and theories is strongly felt.
This book is the culmination of the author's academic and professional experiences since 1993. It aims to explore the nature of landscapes and reflect on the definitions and theoretical foundations of landscape architecture. Portions of the book were previously shared in articles, presentations, and workshops on landscape architecture since 2004. The structure and content of this book are based on a compilation of articles, field studies, teaching, research findings in landscape architecture, and experiences gained from participating in landscape projects in Iran and other countries. Therefore, considering the needs of the landscape architecture field as a relatively new academic and professional discipline in Iran—along with the shortage of theoretical resources and Farsi-authored texts—this book's content is valuable from several perspectives.
The author's aim is to clarify the nature of landscape architecture by presenting views and definitions from prominent experts in the field of landscape architecture and related disciplines such as ecology, architecture, urban planning, and design. This is achieved through the examination and critique of specialized texts. Additionally, the book proposes a set of comprehensive, holistic definitions and a model of landscape values, based on the author's experience and an eco-centric design approach, which emphasizes environmental knowledge and local perspectives. It is also the first Farsi book that addresses the definitions and theoretical foundations of landscape architecture.
Furthermore, due to its specialized subject, this book can be considered one of the first authored attempts in the field of landscape architecture in Farsi. It strives to present a set of key concepts while offering comparative studies of some theories and perspectives related to the field. In this context, defining the concept of landscape as equivalent to "landscape" (in English) is essential for examining the foundations of landscape architecture and the key aspects influencing it, as well as offering its theoretical basis.
Another feature of this book is the documentation of certain environmental values, the localization of landscape architecture studies, and the comparison of certain views in Iran and worldwide. The presentation of findings from the author's research and the guidance provided in master's theses by landscape architecture students at Shahid Beheshti University in recent years add value to the book. Although the book is authored, a selective glossary of Latin sources is included at the end of the text for readers' reference.
Overall, the content of this book is largely based on the expressed needs of the field, aimed at landscape architecture students and laying the groundwork for further studies in environmental architecture and open and green space design.
Students and enthusiasts can purchase this book from the sales office of SBU’s Scientific Publications Center, located on the ground floor of the Information Technology (IT) Building. It is also available for online order via the center's website. Additionally, an electronic version can be purchased through the "Fidibo" and "Taaghche" platforms.