John O. Simonds
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John Ormsbee Simonds (1913-2005) was a visionary landscape architect, planner, educator, and environmentalist. Simonds was an original modernist landscape architect and one of the most influential and well-known of his time. He studied landscape architecture at Michigan State University and the Harvard Graduate School of Design from where he graduated from 1939. Simonds was greatly influenced by modern architects such as Walter Gropius and Marcel Breuer, under whom he studied at Harvard. He was a fellow and past president of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) and was awarded their highest medal in 1973 "for unparalleled contributions to landscape architecture and service to the ASLA in the 20th century" (Lowry 1). His work influenced many designers, for the first time, in recognizing environmental planning and design.
[edit] Early life
John O. Simonds was born in Jamestown, North Dakota, the son of a Presbyterian minister. All through school landscape architecture caught his eye and at the end of his junior year studying it, he left school to travel and see the world. While traveling through Asia, his design style was affected by Japanese asymmetrical shapes and how they tied directly into the landscape (Lowry 1). His experiences also led to his respect for nature and ultimately to the two most important issues to him in design, quality and balance (Nemmers 3). His designs are reflective of this in that he did not design forms, he designed experiences (Nemmers 3). This concept of his, coupled with the fact that his father and travels undoubtedly influenced his expressionistic style, is why he never had a unique style in all of his designs that he could call his own.
[edit] Accomplishments
John O. Simonds lived a prosperous life and accomplished many great aspects of his career. Along with creating many major designs throughout his life, he also wrote three influential books: Landscape Architecture: A Manual of Site Planning and Design, Landscape Architecture a prominent college textbook, and Virginia's Common Wealth, a statewide environmental action plan that is still in use (Lowry 1). Also, as co-founder of Simonds and Simonds in 1940, John designed the Chicago Botanic Gardens in the 1960s which are now part of 25 themed gardens. His career also led him to urban planning; he was involved in the design of over 80 planned communities and four new towns, including Florida's Miami Lakes and Pelican Bay. Simonds also designed two downtown public plazas in Pittsburgh, known as Mellon Square and Equitable Plaza, as well as many playgrounds and parks including Marmaduke, Kennard and Swisshelm Park. Also, in 1966, his firm restored Lake Elizabeth with a modern renovation of Allegheny Commons Park. Along with public projects, John also served on many committees and task forces (Nemmers 4). His focus in his design and planning was based around a new focus on ecology and human needs.
[edit] References
Lowry, Patricia (2005). John O. Simonds/Prominent, influential landscape architect. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 2005.
Nemmers, John (2005). John Ormsbee Simonds Remembered. University of Florida Libraries 2004.
