Günther Vogt, Thomas Kissling (eds.)

Mutation and Morphosis

Landscape as Aggregate

Anyone viewing what we call a “landscape” from a distance will recognize that it is an artifact, a habitat created by humans as part of our built environment. Designing this realm carefully is a discipline that is taking on increasing importance today. Günter Vogt, with his practice in VOGT Landscape Architects and as a professor at ETH Zürich, has developed a set of tools and a working method that incorporate all the different dimensions of the human-designed environment, from the large-scale landscape to the small-scale urban public space.

Mutation and Morphosis looks at all the many aspects involved in the collective process of designing and shaping landscapes, from planning to implementation. The model as a tool and the collection as a driving force are illustrated on the basis of an astonishing variety of topics. In theoretical discussions and the examination of detailed dossiers of facts on the ground, a trajectory is traced: from the emergence of new landscapes as a result of climate change to the migration of the wolf to Central Europe, from the impact of invasive plants to the study of geological formation processes. The panorama that unfolds gives us insights into the broad context that landscape architects must consider in their work, exemplified by the outstanding projects realized by VOGT.

Anyone viewing what we call a “landscape” from a distance will recognize that it is an artifact, a habitat created by humans as part of our built environment. Designing this realm carefully is a discipline that is taking on increasing importance today. Günter Vogt, with his practice in VOGT Landscape Architects and as a professor at ETH Zürich, has developed a set of tools and a working method that incorporate all the different dimensions of the human-designed environment, from the large-scale landscape to the small-scale urban public space.

Mutation and Morphosis looks at all the many aspects involved in the collective process of designing and shaping landscapes, from planning to implementation. The model as a tool and the collection as a driving force are illustrated on the basis of an astonishing variety of topics. In theoretical discussions and the examination of detailed dossiers of facts on the ground, a trajectory is traced: from the emergence of new landscapes as a result of climate change to the migration of the wolf to Central Europe, from the impact of invasive plants to the study of geological formation processes. The panorama that unfolds gives us insights into the broad context that landscape architects must consider in their work, exemplified by the outstanding projects realized by VOGT.

Dieses Buch ist auch auf Deutsch erhältlich


“In aggregating a wide range of work across the maze of knowledge that touches landscape architecture directly or indirectly, Vogt embraces our capacity to reconstruct a meaningful sense of order in the face of an accumulating jumble of impressions.”
PIN-UP Magazine


Edited by Günther Vogt, Thomas Kissling, in collaboration with VOGT Landscape Architects, Case Studio VOGT, and the Chair for Landscape Architecture, ETH Zurich

With essays by Maria Alexandrescu, Laure Baretaud, Coralie Berchtold, Amalia Bonsack, Maren Brakebusch, Violeta Burckhardt, Thomas Kissling, Lars Ruge, Alexandra Savtchenko-Belskaia, Roland Charles Shaw, Martijn Slob, Daia Stutz, Günther Vogt, Ralf Günter Voss

With contributions by Julius von Bismarck, Julian Charrière, Chris Dercon, Roger Diener, Olafur Eliasson, Katja Gentinetta, Andreas Greiner, Dehlia Hannah, Roni Horn, Marguerite Humeau, Dafi Kühne, Christian Vogt

Design: Integral Lars Müller

16,5 × 24 cm, 6 ½ × 9 ½ in

784 pages, 1187 illustrations

hardback

2020, 978-3-03778-618-5, English
CHF 60.00

Günther Vogt

Günther Vogt was born 1957 in Liechtenstein. His training at Gartenbauschule Oeschberg provided the practical basis for his intensive landscape work. His knowledge of vegetation and his skills in cultivation continue to be the cornerstones of his work. His studies with Peter Erni, Jürg Altherr and Dieter Kienast at Interkantonales Technikum Rapperswil combined the disciplines of culture, design, and natural sciences. In 2000 his office VOGT Landscape Architects emerged from the partnership with Dieter Kienast, with current branches in Berlin, London and Paris. The firm gained international recognition through projects such as the Tate Modern in London, Allianz Arena in Munich, or the Masoala Rainforest Hall at the Zurich Zoo. The work is characterized by a strong design attitude across scales, the cross-disciplinary exchange and fruitful cooperation with artist. From 2005 to 2022, GŸnther Vogt headed the Chair of Landscape Architecture at the ETH Zurich. In 2012 he was visiting professor at Havard Graduate School of Design and was awarded the Prix Meret Oppenheim by the Federal Office of Culture. As a passionate collector and keen traveler, he is looking for ways to read, interpret, and describe landscapes, and finding answers to questions about future forms of urban coexistence.

Thomas Kissling

Thomas Kissling (*1980) studied architecture at ETH (Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule) Zurich, having previously trained as a draftsman. He graduated in 2010 under the tutelage of Prof. Wolfgang Schett. He has worked at ETH as a research assistant since 2010 and as a research associate at the Chair of Prof. Günther Vogt since 2016. His teaching and research focus on transformation processes in the Alpine landscape and topics relating to design methodology at the interface between digital and analog technology and practice. Kissling is co-editor of “Landscape as a Cabinet of Curiosities” (2015) and “Mutation and Morphosis” (2020) and the editor of “Solid, Fluid, Biotic” (2021).

Letterpress printed poster for the publication «Mutation and Morphosis» by Dafi Kühne on Vimeo.