Design and the Desert Environment:Landscape Architecture and the American Southwest.

摘要

Landscape architecture (environmental design) in the hot,arid southwestern U.S. must respond to the extremes of climate,the distinctive landforms,and the vegetative communities that combine to create unique patterns within the desert landscape. Human comfort is defined and serves as a criterion for the manipulation of microclimates to achieve a relative sense of comfort within a hot arid environment. Methods of solar radiation control,wind control,and conservation of water resources are reviewed. The text is supplemented with many illustrations and drawings. Over 200drought-tolerant plant species are listed for use in the desert landscape. Cultural information for each plant is included in a matrix,and many of the plants so described are represented photographically as well. In addition to the references used for the text, a computerized bibliography,including abstracts,of related topics is added in the appendix.