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  • My Kind of Countryside: Finding Design Principles in The Landscape by Roger G. Courtenay
  • Mary Myers (bio)
My Kind of Countryside: Finding Design Principles in The Landscape Roger G. Courtenay. 2012. Chicago, IL: Center for American Places at Columbia College Chicago. 157 pages. $35.00 clothbound. ISBN: 978 1935195160

My Kind of Countryside is an evocation of personal experience in and observation of the northern Virginia countryside. The book is structured as a series of vignettes describing “non-designed” places, such as fording spots on rivers; and “designed” places, such as the campus of University of Virginia. Early chapters emphasize the importance of kinesthetics to landscape perception, describing observations from the vantage point of foot, horseback, canoe, and car. Later chapters present broader “planning” aspects of the landscape—explaining the pattern and placement of buildings, roads and towns in the Piedmont hills, and tidewater valleys. The author concludes each chapter with a paragraph distilling his observations into a design principle. The principles are more general and philosophic than specific, fitting the impressionistic tone of the writing. They frequently cause the reader to pause and reflect upon the author’s ability to communicate the essence of what is important in landscape. Most of all, the book shows us that beautiful landscapes continue to persist near large centers of population and that they await our engagement.

Courtenay guides us to his own appreciation for and understanding of the pre-suburbanized countryside. Knowledge of the European settlement patterns that shaped the land informs his observations and imagery. For example, in describing the reasons for the proximity of warehouse lots and captain’s houses in Alexandria’s old riverfront area, he writes that they “are separated by not much more than a quick run in the rain . . .” (113). This type of vivid imagery stirs us and makes the landscape present. He points out that Alexandria’s ordinary work spaces were peculiarly shaped exterior spaces used for carpentry, blacksmith and laundry yards. The irregular lots lend personality and mystery to the town, which according to Courtenay, modern town planning with its striving for regularity and perfection, would not support. The “odd” configuration of Alexandria’s old riverfront reminded me of the twisting streets, hidden courtyards and oddly shaped plazas found in medieval towns, such as Sienna [End Page 236] or the grass market area of Edinburgh. Such places may differ from Alexandria in height, density and openness yet offer the same sense of enticement to pedestrians with ever changing, unpredictable views and spaces.

One wishes for more information on non-European influences on Virginia’s land patterns. More than one mention of hunter-gatherer is made but, perhaps for lack of written or physical evidence, is not delved into. Courtenay creates enticing imagery in picturing migrating Indian parties or bare foot Civil War soldiers “sloshing” through a ford in Virginia’s mountains. His explanation of a ford’s physical qualities, calm water, shallow bedrock, makes the reader wonder about universal appeal and continuous use of such places. Additionally, the author analyzes pre-Civil War great houses and landscapes but very little mention is made of the slave labor that shaped them, nor the slave quarters that were part of these landscapes. This omission combined with the chapters describing a fox hunt and point-to-point horse relay (modeled on the Irish steeplechase), might lead some readers to consider this a romanticized “throw back” view of Virginia. Despite this possible interpretation, there is much to reward the reader. The book contains consistently rich landscape detail communicated with refreshing imagery. The author’s unique perspective originates in his love for his regional landscape and his ability to discern reasons for its patterns and forms.

There is a dreamlike quality to some of the passages, especially those describing heat and rain, drawing the reader into the landscape experience. Yet some of the writing seems overly casual. Linkages between passages and thoughts are frequently missing, leaving the reader to wonder where the writing is leading. Some nonsequiturs pose difficulty in following the logic of argument supporting a design principle. Early chapters are particularly obtuse. But if the reader continues on, s/he will be rewarded in later...

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