NATURE SITE RESTRAINT : THORBJOERN ANDERSSON LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT

This is a book about contemporary Swedish landscape architecture, reflected through the work of the country´s leading landscape designer Thorbjörn Andersson. Three essays by international writers open the book, elaborating on the concepts of Nature, Site, and Restraint. The essays are followed by the project section, including photographs, drawings, and descriptions. The projects are in the public realm; mainly squares and parks in Sweden. Swedish landscape architecture stands firm in the world, directed towards social use and careful design. Sweden has developed a tradition built on human values, selective design, and an urge to work in a resourceful way. The book covers a selection of recent projects by Thorbjörn Andersson, who is one main interpreter of contemporary Swedish landscape design. Essays are by Annemarie Lund of Denmark, critic, editor and author, Marc Treib, professor emeritus of UC Berkeley and prolific author, and Udo Weilacher, chair of Landscape department at TU Munich and author.

Thorbjörn Anderssons work has received rewards and international attention, and has earlier been covered in the book Places/Platser (2003). An elected member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Fine Arts he is currently professor at Swedish University of Applied Life Sciences in Ultuna, Sweden, in addition to his continuing practice. Recent work includes Vassara square in Gallivare, Sweden, Town Hall square in Umea, Sweden and the Physic Garden at Novartis, Basel, Switzerland.