FREDERICK LAW OLMSTEAD was the founder of Landscape Architecture. He was deeply principled and defended that public green space needed to be egalitarian and available to all citizens. Among other projects he designed Central Park in New York, Prospect Park in Brooklyn and Delaware Park in Buffalo. He designed spatial experiences with trees, paths, lakes and meadows.
Olmstead was invited to testify to the city of Malibu defending that they should not sell parcels of land to develop as residential sites, since the vegatation was naturally prone to fire. He urged that this stretch of beach and mountains become part of the California State Parks. Unfortunately the city did not listen to him as the hollywood elite were clamoring for lots. Now some of the worlds most valuable property combusts in flames every 10 years or so leaving families homeless and devastated by loss.
They should have listened to the guy!
shoulda coulda woulda.
With love,
Mom