Eckbo, Garrett

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Garrett Eckbo studied landscape architecture at UC Berkeley graduating in 1935. He then attended Harvard University's Graduate School of Design where with classmates Dan Kiley and James Rose led the "Harvard Revolution," ushering in the modern period in landscape design. Following graduation in 1938, Eckbo worked as a landscape architect for Norman Bel Geddes on the General Motors Pavilion for the 1939 World's Fair in New York and for the Farm Security Administration. Eckbo taught at the University of Southern California and in UC Berkeley's Department of Landscape Architecture, serving as Chair from 1965-1969. Eckbo was a prolific author who published seven books and innumerable articles. He received the 1975 American Society of Landscape Architects' Medal of Honor.

From the description of Garrett Eckbo collection, 1933-1990. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 79867535

Landscape architect.

Member, International Fraternity of Lambda Alpha, Golden Gate Chapter.

From the description of Garrett Eckbo papers, 1946-1978. (Cornell University Library). WorldCat record id: 64072587

Biographical Note

Garrett Eckbo (1910-2000) was born in Cooperstown, New York. Eckbo received his education in a variety of cities, including Chicago and Alameda, CA. In 1929, Eckbo spent six months studying in Oslo, Norway, where he "acquired both ambition and direction" . Upon his return, he worked at several jobs before attending Marin Junior College in 1932. One year later, he began studying landscape architecture at UC Berkeley.

When Eckbo graduated from Berkeley in 1935, Professor John Gregg helped him obtain his first architectural job as a garden designer for Armstrong Nurseries in Los Angeles. During his first year on the job, Eckbo designed almost one hundred gardens for various clients. In 1936, Eckbo's submission to Harvard University's Graduate School of Design won him a first prize scholarship. Eckbo and his classmates Dan Kiley and James Rose led the "Harvard Revolution," ushering in the Modern period in landscape design. Following his graduation in 1938, Eckbo worked as a landscape architect for Norman Bel Geddes on the General Motors Pavilion for the 1939 World's Fair in New York and for the Farm Security Administration, planning new communities and designing housing developments, first for migrant workers, later for war workers.

In 1937 he married Arline Williams and by 1939 Eckbo had published his first articles in the journals Pencil Points and Magazine of Art . In 1942 Eckbo formed a business partnership with his brother-in-law, Edward Williams, to form the firm of Eckbo & Williams. Following World War II, they were joined by Robert Royston, thus expanding the practice. The reputation of the firm grew, and Eckbo, Royston, & Williams oversaw the design and construction of gardens for hundreds of residential, religious, and educational buildings in the newly-developed edge cities and suburbs of Los Angeles and beyond. During this period Eckbo also served as an associate professor at the University of Southern California (1948-1956).

After the 1953 dissolution of Eckbo, Royston, & Williams, Eckbo's work changed to include projects that required large-scale design and master planning. While continuing to design various commercial and educational projects, Eckbo began teaching in UC Berkeley's Department of Landscape Architecture, serving as Chair from 1965-1969.

Eckbo received the 1975 American Society of Landscape Architects' Medal of Honor, and in 1978 became Professor Emeritus at UC Berkeley. He continued to publish books and essays on landscape architecture and environmental design, in addition to working on various international projects. His publications include Landscape for Living (1950), The Art of Home Landscaping (1956), Urban Landscape Design (1964), The Landscape We See (1969), and People in a Landscape (1998).

  • 1942 - 1945 : Eckbo & Williams San Francisco
  • 1945 - 1953 : Eckbo, Royston & Williams Los Angeles and San Francisco
  • 1953 - 1973 : Eckbo, Dean, Austin & Williams Los Angeles, San Francisco, Berkeley, Honolulu, Minneapolis
  • 1979 - 1983 : EckboKay Associates San Francisco
  • 1983 - 1990 : Garrett Eckbo & Assoc. San Francisco/Berkeley

Sources: Treib, Marc and Dorothee Imbert. Garrett Eckbo: Modern Landscapes for Living, Berkeley: University of California Press, 1997. Garrett Eckbo typed biography, 1984.

From the guide to the Garrett Eckbo collection, 1933-1996, (bulk 1945-1980), (Environmental Design Archives. College of Environmental Design.)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Maynard L. Parker negatives, photographs, and other material., 1930-1974, bulk 1940s-1960s The Huntington Library
referencedIn Edwin Gilbert Thurlow Papers, circa 1930-1974 North Carolina State University. Special Collections Research Center
referencedIn Thurlow, E. G. (Edwin Gilbert), 1909-1997. Edwin Gilbert Thurlow papers, circa 1930-1974 [manuscript] North Carolina State University, NCSU Libraries
creatorOf Garrett Eckbo collection, 1933-1996, (bulk 1945-1980) Environmental Design Archives
creatorOf Eckbo, Garrett. Letter, 1954, to Lewis Mumford. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
creatorOf Eckbo, Garrett. Garrett Eckbo collection, 1933-1990. California Digital Library
referencedIn Garrett Eckbo : vertical file. Centre canadien d'architecture, | Canadian Centre for Architecture | CCA
creatorOf Richard E. Filipowski papers Archives of American Art
referencedIn Serge Chermayeff architectural records and papers, 1909-1980, 1930s-1970s Columbia University. Avery Architecture and Fine Arts Library. Department of Drawings and Archives.
referencedIn Ginzton family. Ginzton Residence Papers, 1948-1978. California Digital Library
creatorOf Eckbo, Garrett. Artist file. Brooklyn Museum Libraries & Archives
creatorOf Eckbo, Garrett. Garrett Eckbo papers, 1946-1978. Cornell University Library
creatorOf Chermayeff, Serge, 1900-1996. Serge Chermayeff architectural records and papers, 1909-1980. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Chermayeff, Serge, 1900-1996. person
associatedWith Eckbo, Dean, Austin & Williams. corporateBody
associatedWith EckboKay Associates. corporateBody
associatedWith EckboKay Associates. corporateBody
associatedWith Eckbo, Royston & Williams. corporateBody
associatedWith Eckbo & Williams. corporateBody
associatedWith Eckbo & Williams. corporateBody
associatedWith Filipowski, Richard E., 1923- person
associatedWith Garrett Eckbo & Associates. corporateBody
associatedWith Ginzton family. person
associatedWith Lambda Alpha International. Golden Gate Chapter. corporateBody
associatedWith Online Archive of California. corporateBody
associatedWith Parker, Maynard L., 1900-1976 person
associatedWith Thurlow, E. G. (Edwin Gilbert), 1909-1997. person
associatedWith United States corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Farm Security Administration. corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Federal Works Agency. Division of Defense Housing. corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
California
Subject
Campus planning
Landscape architects
Landscape architects
Landscape architecture
Landscape architecture
Parks
Public spaces
Regional planning
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1910-11-28

Death 2000-05-14

Americans

Information

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