Designed Forests: A Cultural History

“Forests cover over four billion hectares of our planet earth. In his brilliant book, Dan Handel reminds us that our forests project a powerful image of nature even though they are constructed, man-made and totally designed. Handel skillfully weaves together a riveting narrative inextricably linking forest to culture, geography, and our human condition.” Professor Brigitte Shim, Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape and Design, University of Toronto "In the process of asking questions about how forests are rationalized culturally, Handel advances the political control of reforestation, which ultimately reveals that making or conserving forests is a design project. Outside of the current environmental crisis, what this book offers is a richly illustrated account of the global movement to create, protect and plant forests, while provoking artists, designers and planners to consider their role in the affair." Rosetta Elkin, Academic Director, Master in Landscape Architecture Program, Pratt Institute “Handel’s book establishes a parallel between two forms of cognition: ‘thinking machines’ and ‘thinking forests.’ This parallel has important implications for built and natural environments, particularly in relation to developments in artificial intelligence and discoveries about tree communication.” Phu Hoang, Head of Architecture, Knowlton School, Ohio State University