Although not technically architecture, these images have some architectural qualities and make a strong visual statement about agriculture, economics and how societies function.  In gathering information for a recent post on the density of cities we stumbled on a handful of fascinating agricultural landscapes and we couldn’t help but make correlations between the two.  It brought to mind some of the literature from the late author Jane Jacobs, who made significant observations about the relationship of cities and their agricultural counterparts.  As always, we’ve attempted to crop the images at common elevations for comparison sake – it was a bit more difficult with these landscapes, they are subsequently separated into three elevation groups.  That the agricultural patterns are visualized at such different elevations says something about the nature of these farms and the economies the exist within.  The intimacy and close relationship with the land is clear in the 7,000 ft series, while the volume and industrialized methods are apparent in the 50,000 ft series.  Let us know about your faves…

Nahalal, Isreal 7,000 feet above the Earth’s surface

250 miles north of Shanghai, China 7,000 feet above the Earth’s surface.

Mexico City, Mexico, Fields contained within a crater 7,000 feet above the Earth’s surface

150 miles North of New Delhi, India, Terraced Farms 7,000 feet above the Earth’s surface

Pleasant Valley, Pennsylvania 15,000 feet above the Earth’s surface

The Netherlands 15,000 feet above the Earth’s surface

40 miles North of London 15,000 feet above the Earth’s surface

Bangkok, Thailand 15,000 feet above the Earth’s surface

The Nile River, 300 miles South of Cairo 15,000 feet above the Earth’s surface

Quincy, Washington State 50,000 feet above the Earth’s surface

The Palouse near Pullman, Washington State 50,000 feet above the Earth’s surface

250 miles south of Buenos Aires Argentina 50,000 feet above the Earth’s surface

90 miles west of Wichita, Kansas 50,000 feet above the Earth’s surface

150 miles east of Denver, Colorado 50,000 feet above the Earth’s surface

The Netherlands 50,000 feet above the Earth’s surface

180 miles west of Winnipeg, Canada 50,000 feet above the Earth’s surface

Same farm-scape at 7,000 ft. It appears as if the farmers have farmed around the thousands of tiny lakes throughout the landscape.

All images gathered via Google Earth, for the free download click here.