The Mid-Century Modern Garden: Capturing the Classic Style

by Ethne Clarke

The Midcentury Modern Landscape explores the origins of midcentury modern garden design for the home, revealing how designers at the time blurred the divisions between indoors and outdoors, creating gardens that were for living, a style that went on to inspire contemporary gardens around the world.

The Midcentury Modern Landscape is a fresh guide for those seeking bold approaches to redefine their outdoor space, or wishing to learn more about the history of mid century modern aesthetics.

Ethne Clarke is an award-winning journalist, former garden editor of Traditional Home, and contributing editor for House & Garden. Well-known as the author of a number of best-selling books on practical gardening, design and landscape history, she holds a Master of Philosophy from the faculty of Fine Art, De Montfort University, England. Her research has involved a close study of architectural history between the Arts and Crafts period and early Modernism, and this has been a guiding influence on the renovation of her house and garden in Colorado--a small midcentury modern ranch built in 1958.

Genres: Design, Gardening, Reference, Architecture, Art, Nonfiction

224 pages, Hardcover

First published October 3, 2017

Reviews

[Pam · Rating 2 out of 5]

As a gardener in the northeast, I found this book very difficult to relate to. Like other books on midcentury landscaping, all the examples relate to California and similar warm climates. Much of the midcentury landscape structure used is not compatible with snow and ice, snow removal, and even significant amounts of rain. This book is a great review of landscaping for midcentury buildings, but does not push beyond what was done.

[Bethany · Rating 2 out of 5]

This coffee table book offers lots of inspiration photo-wise. I like the international scope and that Clarke tries to correct some of the misconceptions we have today about MCM design. That said, the book’s narrative is quite personal - approaching a memoir - and the focus isn’t tight enough. Clarke spends time on the roots of the landscape architect profession and on modern landscaping that I’d love to have seen invested in the role that electric lawnmowers and insecticides, for instance, played on MCM landscapes.

[Jackie Mills · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is divided between the history of the mid century modern landscape and practical application. I bought this for visual inspiration for my home in Texas. The author did their best to name colors, plants, and philosophy of MidMod. Better coffee table book than practical guide.

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bought this for inspo for our MCM in Texas. Has many photos but ultimately was not useful even with the focus on warmer climates.