February 2010
In his long life’s work Larry Halprin became our foremost landscape architect. The collective importance and originality of his built works is unsurpassed, as are the writings and drawings expressive of his theories of design.
In our staid profession he became a cult figure, always carefully groomed and costumed, he cast himself as the rugged miner prospecting the Sierras for nature’s treasures. There was an edge of drama in every appearance that in turn informed his monumental tableaus of the interplay of energy, sound and light of columns of water. Spectators were irresistibly challenged to test their bravado, their skills and join in the fun.
Yes, Larry did exhibit a healthy and well deserved ego – he proved that ego can be a good thing.
Larry always anticipated the “times – they are a-changing” movements. His famous awareness/interactive séances set in a proscenium of natural landscapes were a prologue to gaining valuable public participation on relevant projects by staging sessions and workshops.
His synergy with Anna is another case. His wife was a performing star in the movement toward Modern Dance. Larry cadenced the dots, celebrated the experientialness of the episodic landscape, reinventing the archetypal processional.
As was his way, Larry has the last word, his autobiography will be required reading.
Photo: Richard Haag (right) in Lawrence Halprin’s office, 1957 (Photo courtesy Architectural Archives of the University of Pennsylvania)