Mirrors Of Paradise: The Gardens Of Fernando Caruncho

Guy Cooper & Gordon Taylor

Editions

Review

Authors Cooper and Taylor, The Curious Gardeners hbk £19.99 of television celebrity, bring to our attention the distinctive and distinguished work of Spanish landscape architect Fernando Caruncho in an appropriately elegant format from the Monacelli Press.

Caruncho’s designs emerge as spectacular contemporary creations inspired by the great traditions of his native land, where geometry and symmetry, using stone and water with a remarkably restricted repertoire of plants, allow him to put his highly individual stamp on over 80 projects, all but two of which are in Spain.  This perhaps goes some way towards explaining his lack of recognition internationally.

Prominence is given to an interview with the Maestro in which he reveals his early influences and guiding principles.  Much is made of his study of Greek philosophers and while it is true that his schemes do have a classical sensibility, I fear that more rigorous editing would have improved the text in which many of his pronouncements seem destined for “Pseud’s Corner”.

The book concludes with an interesting series of plans detailing several commissions underway from Tokyo to Florida, suggesting a slight relaxation in Caruncho’s signature adherence to the geometric grid, to allow more freedom in his style – a development which should boost the reputation of this remarkable artist and bring him to a wider audience. - review by Stewart Grimshaw