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A
Pioneer of American Landscape Architecture
32 Years Designing BBG, 35 Defending CP, NYC, 40 Providing Vision to AP&CA Find More Life, Work Inside |
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Harold
Caparn
Harold Caparn opened his landscape architecture office at Yonkers, NY, in 1898. Besides commissions for private estates he won a competition to design two Yonkers city parks. Working as a one-man firm, he gave personal attention to his clients, drawing plans, selecting plant material and overseeing the implementation of the plan to his exacting requirements. After four successful years in Yonkers, he moved his office in 1902 to 156 Fifth Avenue in Manhattan. He was already engaged in designing The Bronx Zoo. Caparn worked
from late 1899 through 1904 as the landscape architect of the
New York Zoological Park-The Bronx Zoo-the largest metropolitan
zoo in the United States. He designed the Entrance Concourse and
central Court, working alongside Heins and LaFarge, the architects
of the animal buildings. He laid out open-air animal areas and
walkways giving access along the Bronx River and to the outdoor
animal exhibits. The Bronx Zoo is now a designated New York City
Landmark.  Photos: L: Water Gardens, BBG; Entrance, Bronx Zoo. R: Tully home, entrance; Astor Court, Bronx Zoo. Book Cover: Caparn's design of the Cranford Rose Garden for the Brooklyn Botanic Garden |
The
Authoritative Book on the Work
Because of the quality of his landscape designs and his published articles, in 1905 he was elected a Fellow of the American Society of Landscape Architects (FASLA). Caparn designed the estate and business landscapes for many clients from 1900 through the mid-1930s who were well-to-do and leaders in business, such as William Tully, Counsel for the Metropolitan Life Insurance Co., whose home and estate was on the north shore of Long Island. Caparn designed a rose garden for Tully that became the model for the rose garden of the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. Caparn also designed the grounds and entrance for the Tully estate.
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