10 of The Best Tourist Spots for Landscape Architecture Around the World

Article by Sophie Thiel – We take a moment to recap 10 incredible landscape architecture projects that also make great tourist spots about the world.  The combination of landscape architecture and traveling gives all of us a great opportunity to view the world from a nature-centered perspective, as well as to immerse ourselves in the many different cultures and traditions of our global family. This article is the last of our “Tourist Spots for Landscape Architecture” series. (Links all at the bottom of the article). The previous articles shared collections of 10 landscape architecture projects from each of the world’s continents that also make for must-see tourist destinations. To finish the series, I have summarized the most incredible of these tourist spots:

Landscape Architecture Around the World

1. Warde – Jerusalem, Israel, by HQ Architects

The Warde project is a wonderful addition to West Asian landscape architecture. This art installation in Jerusalem is one of few felicitous projects that offer a playful and interactive environment and, at the same time, succeed in gentrifying the whole neighborhood. Ever since these eye-catching red flowers were constructed, they have invited people not only to actively engage with them, but to notice a site that was previously neglected. Through an inflation and deflation mechanism, the flowers open and close in reaction to people passing by or every time a tram arrives. Hence, the flowers provide shade during the day and provide light at night — at least as long as people stand under those giant red poppy flowers. It is safe to say that this project doesn’t exist anywhere else in the world. So go try it out for yourself!

2. C-Mine – Genk, Belgium, by HOSPER & Atelier Ruimteliijk Advies

The city of Genk in Belgium was one of the first to turn a former coal mine into a buzzing cultural hub. C-Mine is a must-see destination for both travelers and landscape architecture pilgrims. Be part of the C-mine expedition, which consists of adventurous activities through the routes formerly used by hard-working miners. Or buy a ticket to one of many events taking place at this special spot on Earth.

3. Freedom Park – Pretoria, South Africa, by Greeninc

Pretoria, one of South Africa’s three capital cities, hosts a park with a spectacular view of the metropolis that invites visitors to keep watch over the maturing democracy. Because at Freedom Park, the story of Africa – and the liberation of South Africa and its people – is told. The local landscape architecture firm Greeninc designed Freedom Park to be a place of peace and growth. “[The] garden is a tribute to African and human dignity, and a place for the renewal of the human spirit…” the website says about the meaning behind this project. A mixture of architecture, landscaping, sculpture, archives, and imagery is used to distinctively explain the history and heritage of this region. This is truly a must-see park project and one of the best examples of contemporary South African landscape architecture.

4. Kontum Indochine Café – Kontum, Vietnam, by Vo Trong Nghia Architects

Hidden in the city of Kontum in Vietnam, you will find one of the most beautiful bamboo projects of the last few years. The Kontum Indochine Café is an architectural bamboo masterpiece and part of a hotel café that offers an outstanding dining experience. The exceptional form of the bamboo columns of Indochine Café was inspired by traditional Vietnamese fishing baskets. The loose structure of the bamboo ceiling provides not only shade, but also maximizes the wind flow through the building. However, due to special characteristics, it resists even severe storms during the windy season. A shallow artificial lake sits right next to the café, reinforcing the natural open space concept. Not surprisingly, all travelers regardless of their knowledge of landscape architecture will enjoy this place.

5. Quilotoa Crater Overlook – Zumbahua, Ecuador, by Jorge Javier Andrade Benítez, Javier Mera Luna, and Daniel Moreno

Yet another exceptional tourist spot can be found in South America. The Quilotoa Crater Overlook is one of the best viewing platform projects in the world. It enables visitors to step out over an active volcano at nearly 4,000 meters above sea level in the middle of the Ecuadorian Sierra and its sensitive Andean Paramo ecosystem. One thing is for sure: The Quilotoa Crater Overlook project, also called Mirador Shalala by the indigenous people, teaches everyone the lesson of how to meet human needs without compromising a perfect natural site. Enjoy your stay at the overlooking platform and its breathtaking views.

6. Pirrama Park – Sydney, Australia, by ASPECT Studios The historic development of Pirrama Park is a prime example of a project in which residents made their will known in favor of building a public park rather than another new residential development. The community action enabled the highly promising open-space area in Sydney to become a multiple award-wining project of landscape architecture. Today, Pirrama Park is one of Sydney’s major public parks on the harbor waterfront, offering a plethora of refreshing experiences while connecting visitors with the water’s edge. I strongly invite you to take a look for yourself. Enjoy a picnic or barbecue on one of the many hot summer afternoons at this park and be inspired of the landscape planning and participation processes that led to this awesome space. 7. Vinterbad Brygge – Copenhagen, Denmark, by BIG Scandinavia is a paradise for travelers seeking landscape architecture tourism spots. At Vinterbad Brygge in Copenhagen, visitors not only enjoy breathtaking landscape architecture, but also share the special bathing tradition with the Scandinavians. Enjoy the breathtaking view of the Copenhagen skyline while swimming, or appreciate the ceramic mosaics with humorous motifs while sweating in the sauna. Thermal bathing is an essential part of northern cultures and shouldn’t be missed when visiting Scandinavia, especially not at Vinterbad Brygge.

8. Simcoe WaveDeck – in Toronto, Canada, by West8 and DTAH

The Simcoe Wavedeck at the central waterfront is another unique project, which can be found in Toronto – a city full of astonishing landscape architecture. The wooden deck structure is a one-of-a-kind project that adds a sense of interconnectedness and identity to Toronto’s new waterfront at Lake Ontario. The functional but artistic design features an informal public amphitheater-style space with impressive curves that soar more than 2.5 meters above the lake. The design was inspired by the shoreline of Ontario’s Great Lake, as well as the famous Canadian cottages. The WaveDeck is meant to give urban dwellers a feel for life at the lake – it is a place to play and live for young and old, for tourists and landscape architecture pilgrims alike.

9. Cape Royale Resort – Sentosa, Singapore, by TROP: terrains + open space Singapore is famous for hosting world-class landscape architecture. The Cape Royale Resortgarden, which creates a magically peaceful reality in the middle of the chaos and rush of the busy city of Singapore, is one of those high-end projects and one of the area’s biggest tourist attractions, with beautiful views of the sea. The creation of the hotel garden seems to magically connect water features, sculptures, differentiated paving, and original planting. When even a garden’s colors harmoniously mirror the natural surroundings of the sea, the beach, the plants, and the sky, you know there was nothing left to chance in the design. Come and enjoy a special treat at Cape Royal Resort while staying in Singapore. 10. Kirstenbosch Centenary Tree Canopy Walkway – Cape Town, South Africa, by Mark Thomas Architects Canopy walkways are booming and pop up nearly everywhere around the world. However, the Centenary Tree Canopy Walkway, also called Boomslang, is one of the most felicitous walkway projects and part of the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, which clinched the top 2015 International Garden Tourism Award, crowning it as the best botanical garden in the world. The Centenary Tree Top Walkway is a surreal, snaking bridge that creates a meandering, aerial path. By carefully hoisting the steel beams over the canopy, the designers were able to give people an amazing new way to appreciate the forest of the arboretum of Cape Town while causing minimal disturbance to the sensitive natural environment. Every tourist and person related to landscape architecture will find inspiration in this project. – Our planet is full of heterogeneity and different design styles. Hence, this final collection of projects from all over the world should encourage you to seek out landscape architecture and its regionally varied shapes everywhere you go. Don’t forget: The most precious projects are those from which we can learn and take inspiration for ourselves. Remember this in your travels around the world. See the full series below:

• 10 of The Best Tourist Spots for Landscape Architecture in Europe
• 10 Surprising Tourist Spots for Landscape Architecture in North America
• 10 of the Best Tourist Spots for Landscape Architecture in South America
• 10 of the Best Tourist Spots for Landscape Architecture in Africa
• 10 of the Best Tourist Spots for Landscape Architecture in Australia

What projects would you add to the list?

CLICK TO COMMENT

Article by Sophie Thiel

Published in Blog