Parks of Sprawl: The Corporate Landscape
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The grass lawn is the most visually significant characteristic of the office park landscape. In the United States, grass lawns were initially associated with private residences before they were adopted by corporations, but the lawn is usually historically traced to the constructed landscapes of Capability Brown in England, famous for important estates and such famous landscapes as Kew Gardens. While the aesthetic of vibrant green fields was attainable in England’s rainy climate, it requires significant technology and labor in the many other climates of the United States. In many areas of the U. S., grass is one part of natural plant succession, but the quality of grass that develops ‘naturally’ is not the same as the uniform green ‘carpet’ image of the popularly idealized lawn found in office parks and homes and advertisements. The desire for the ideal lawn contributes to many of the negative aspects of this landscaping type. |
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