Andrew Jackson Downing
A.J. Downing (1815 -
1852) was one of the most important pre-Civil War designers and writers in America. He
began his career as a landscaper and soon founded the magazine, The
Horticulturist. Through the magazine, Downing was able to promote scientific
agriculture, a school of farming that Olmsted was also interested in.
In 1842 Downing collaborated with Alexander Jackson Davis
on the book Cottage Residences, which was a pattern book of
houses that mixed the aspects of romantic architecture with the pastoral picturesque
architecture of the English country side. These cottages were simple dwellings void of the
exotic trappings that Downing feared were not good for the soul.
Most of Downing's theories about housing were
derived from the writings of John Claudius Loudon, and Englishman who advocated the
cleansing of the soul through living in a rural, uncomplicated way. Downing was also
influenced by his democratic desire to create places that would be enjoyed by all classes
This desire lead Downing to begin to advocate
large inner city parks. Like Olmsted, Downing, saw a civilizing aspect of open spaces, and
wanted to bring one to nearby New York City. Finally, after many years, New York City set
aside land for Central Park. Downing and his partner Calvert Vaux devised preliminary
plans for the park. Unfortunately, in 1852, as the two worked on the plans, tragedy struck
as the steam boat Downing was riding on blew up, and Downing drowned.