Andrew Spiering's Blog (118)

Book Review: Natural Architecture

NATURAL ARCHITECTURE

by Alessandro Rocca

Princeton Architectural Press, New York

Where does landscape architecture stop and landscape art begin? The artists and architects in Natural Architecture have transformed the act of building into an art form capable of sparking new relationships with nature, landscape, and the environment. Natural Architecture presents sixty-six site-specific… Continue

Added by Andrew Spiering on March 24, 2009 at 2:30pm — 2 Comments

Mistakes in the Landscape: Part I

LESSON LEARNED: A Tree Well Detail

I remember when I saw Michael Jordan miss a dunk in game 3 of the semi-finals against the New York Knicks. I was shocked and so was everyone else watching. They did not seem to know what to say. We were used to seeing a high-flying, gravity-defying, basketball god plastered on magazine covers, posters, and cereal boxes. It was an eye-opening experience that taught me a valuable lesson. Even the best players make… Continue

Added by Andrew Spiering on March 18, 2009 at 12:30pm — 3 Comments

Book Review: The Colors of Nature, Subtropical Gardens Gardens by Raymond Jungles

The Colors of Nature: Subtropical Gardens by Raymond Jungles

By Raymond Jungles

Monacelli Press

PURCHASE From the Land8 Bookstore

One might think that a person with the last name of “Jungles” would be destined either to be a wilderness explorer and nature-lover or a master landscape designer who creates… Continue

Added by Andrew Spiering on February 16, 2009 at 2:30am — 3 Comments

Landscape Online Interview

Technology editor for Landscape Online, Ashley Calabria, featured an interview with us in Part 2 of her series entitled, "Generation Speed." Read it here.…

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Added by Andrew Spiering on January 16, 2009 at 5:21pm — 1 Comment

Nemetschek North America Releases Spanish-language Vectorworks 2009

via Nemetschek

Columbia, Maryland (December 22, 2008) - Nemetschek North America today announced the release of their Spanish-language version of Vectorworks(r) 2009 design software, including: Designer, Architect, Landmark, Fundamentals, and Renderworks. The Vectorworks 2009 product line features a robust new engine that gives users superior 2D and 3D capabilities, at speeds that… Continue

Added by Andrew Spiering on December 28, 2008 at 10:00pm — No Comments

Saving 12 Marvels

Modernist landscapes with boomerang curves, reservoirs inspired by Joan Miro paintings, animated fountains, soaring roof gardens, geometric earthworks, futuristic fair grounds, and sunken and expansive plazas all became celebrated design elements during the nation’s massive post-World War II development. These experimental and innovative expressions became a catalyst for inserting Modern design sensibilities into newly minted public and private… Continue

Added by Andrew Spiering on December 13, 2008 at 9:00am — No Comments

Green Power Towers

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The Daewoo Consortium and the municipality of Gwanggyo announced the MVRDV concept design for a dense city centre winner of the developer’s competition for the future new town of Gwanggyo, located 35km south of the Korean capital Seoul. The plan consists of a series of overgrown hill shaped buildings with great programmatic diversity, aiming for high urban density and… Continue

Added by Andrew Spiering on December 12, 2008 at 9:30am — 10 Comments

2500 Members in the Lounge!

This week we passed another milestone of 2500 members! We’re seeing new members come from all over the world and with varying levels of experience. Thank you for your support and sharing your terrific work and creativity. It continues to motivate and inspire… Continue

Added by Andrew Spiering on December 4, 2008 at 9:00pm — No Comments

Check us out in November issue of LAM!

Land8Lounge was featured in the November 2008 issue of Landscape Architecture Magazine. Landscape Architecture magazine is the magazine of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) and has a paid, professional subscription circulation of over 23, 000.

Thank you, Adam, for writing such an excellent article. Although... you did refer to us as gregarious!

Read the article,… Continue

Added by Andrew Spiering on November 18, 2008 at 7:43pm — 2 Comments

An Interview with POK - The Thailand Connection

POK, Principal of T.R.O.P: Terrains + Open Spaces, is an ex-Hargreaves employee and a graduate of Harvard Graduate School of Design. In this interview we talk about his experiences working at Hargraeves and for Bill Bentley, drawing cartoons at GSD, his favorite color, and why dreams need to be incorporated into the design process.

POK's… Continue

Added by Andrew Spiering on November 16, 2008 at 11:00pm — 6 Comments

Album Contest: We have a Winner!

The winner of the Album Contest and a 1-year subscription to sitephocus is Brandon Reed! With 26 out of a total of 110 votes, the hand-rendering master stood out as the clear victor over the other 10 nominees. He was up against impressive competition, including the likes of Thomas Schaller, LIUTKUS, and Jeffrey Gordon Smith - the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th place finishers. Thank you to all who participated in the Album Contest and congratulations Brandon!… Continue

Added by Andrew Spiering on November 3, 2008 at 11:33pm — 1 Comment

A Tribute to Chrisy Hardy - Talented, Passionate, Adventurous

“I am an avid skier, runner, hiker and mountain biker who likes to be a landscape architect on the side. My reason for living is to exist outside on the slope, the trail or at the park.”

Chrisy Hardy passed away peacefully on Sunday, September 21, 2008, in Denver, Colorado. Chrisy was born and raised in Santa Fe, New Mexico and moved to Colorado where she received a Bachelors of Science in… Continue

Added by Andrew Spiering on October 27, 2008 at 8:30am — 6 Comments

Get your Sketch on...

In late 2007, Andrew O'Neil asked himself, “What if there were better ways for landscape designers and architects who struggle artistically to produce great graphics digitally?” Out of this question Graphic sketchbook was born. O'Neil has created an awesome resource for graphic gurus and beginners alike. Graphic Sketchbook is the largest community on the internet dedicated… Continue

Added by Andrew Spiering on October 21, 2008 at 12:30pm — 1 Comment

Economic Slowdown Impacts Landscape Architects, Survey Shows

Local, State Governments Most Effective in Championing Sustainable Solutions

Source: AecCafe.com

Washington, DC - October 6, 2008 - Less than half of landscape architecture offices responding were busier than usual last quarter, and only a quarter of firms plan to hire in the short term as the economic turmoil begins to be felt across the profession, according… Continue

Added by Andrew Spiering on October 17, 2008 at 11:54am — No Comments

Government Minister Calls for Improvement in Planning and Design of Britain's Towns and Cities

Great Britain - 9 October 2008 - Government Minister Iain Wright MP today called for an improvement in the planning and design of Britain’s towns and cites and stressed the importance of good quality public space.

The Parliamentary Under Secretary of State in the Department for Communities and Local Government said good design influenced people’s opportunities and aspirations but that it currently remained “an exception rather than the norm.”

Speaking at the… Continue

Added by Andrew Spiering on October 17, 2008 at 10:22am — No Comments

Congratulations to Dean Hill, ASLA

Landscape and Green Expert, Dean Hill, ASLA, Certified Green Professional (CGP), To Be Featured In Fall Issues of National Publications.

Indianapolis , IN, (September 8, 2008)- Indianapolis based landscape and residential green guru, Dean Hill, will be featured in upcoming issues of 5 national magazines. Beginning in October, Dean will be featured in Landscape Architecture, Martha Stewart Living, Innovative Home,… Continue

Added by Andrew Spiering on October 2, 2008 at 11:30am — 1 Comment

Schedule of Events: LI Conference - Housing Land Use, & Community

9 October 2008 - Day 1 Programme highlights

Hungry City - How Food Shapes Our Lives - Carolyn Steel, Director, Cullum and Nightingale Architects

Cities cover just 2% of the world’s surface but consume 75% of the world’s resources. One third of the world’s grain harvest is fed to livestock, and meat production is set to double buy 2050. Carolyn Steel, lecturer and author of Hungry City looks at the crucial relationship between food and cities and asks what is… Continue

Added by Andrew Spiering on October 2, 2008 at 7:30am — No Comments

Vectorworks Landmark Updates the 2009 Plant Database with Monrovia Plants

Columbia, Maryland (October 1, 2008)- Nemetschek North America is pleased to announce that it has partnered with Monrovia, the leading grower of premium ornamental plants, to enhance the plant database in Vectorworks® Landmark 2009. This long-awaited addition has more than doubled the number of plants in the Vectorworks plant database as well as improved the geographic coverage of plants in regions such as Florida and California.

"We are excited to offer this new comprehensive plant… Continue

Added by Andrew Spiering on October 1, 2008 at 8:00am — No Comments

Nemetschek North America Releases Vectorworks 2009

After attending the Vectorworks Press Event in Baltimore, Maryland two weeks ago,I am now a fan of Vectorworks.

Vectorworks is awesome! I am completely blown away by how flexible, versatile, and intuitive the software is to use and how smart it would be to buy. The Vectorworks 2009 product line features a robust new engine that gives users superior 2D and 3D capabilities, at speeds that are up… Continue

Added by Andrew Spiering on September 30, 2008 at 6:00pm — No Comments

Opening Day: California Academy of Sciences

After 10 years and $500 million in the making, the California Academy of Sciences will open its doors tomorrow. This, "masterpiece in sustainable architecture, blends seamlessly into the park's natural setting, and is filled with hundreds of innovative exhibits and thousands of extraordinary plants and animals." If you…