Reflecting Sir Geoffrey Jellicoes view that landscape architecture is the "Mother of the Arts", the author offers a survey of the discipline for designers, planners and architects. The five chapters of the book discuss the themes of image and function of urban spaces: ecological survival; sustainability; native peoples and their settlements; environmental education; and the role and nature of human settlement. Schemes range from a disused German gasworks to an indigenous peoples settlement in Australia, and take the shape of urban parks, botanic gardens, government buildings and ecological projects. Featured designers include Christophe Girot, Gustafson Porter, George Hargreaves Associates, Dan Kiley, Land Use Consultants and West 8.