Having Fun with Materials

grasses. Recently the Portuguese government has established a policy with partial subsidies for interested farmers and landowners to rebuild the soil and re-establish native plant communities. Notice the furrows in Figure 8.34, showing an area prepared for planting of crops. Other areas with oak tree and native grass cover are systematically managed as part of a national effort to rebuild native soils and re-establish native plant species. Soils are similar to water and air resources. They must be cared for and not used with little regard to the potential and devastating impacts that human actions might cause. While depletion and degradation of a region’s soils may be evident, reversing the process towards a more healthy and sustainable result is possible. This can be achieved through an enlightened and responsible citizenry and government in partnership, implementing a land and soil stewardship program.

Figure 8.34 Farm in the Alentejo Province of Central Portugal.

Figure 8.35 A: Man emerging from stone wall, Santa Barbara, California; B: Bridge railing made of cast and wrought iron, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

One of the messages of this chapter is that materials are a kaleidoscope of possibilities: possible choices and possible design directions. It is a subject that should be seen as an opportunity to challenge and reward the landscape architect throughout one’s professional career. While the selection and specification B process of materials may seem like work—and it is—it also can produce some fun results. In Figure 8.35 you can see two examples of the playful use of two different materials. Concrete and iron may not seem to have attributes that can add a stroke of