The 40 projects encompassed by this text reflect the importance of landscape design in contemporary architecture and planning. They range from constructions made almost entirely from hard materials for corporate clients, to highly individual private gardens, often created with traditional planting. Some have been selected as representative of the achievements since the 1970s - such as Isamnu Noguchi's California Scenario - while others demand attention because of their innovative qualities - like Bernard Tshumi's extensive development of the Parc de la Villette in Paris.