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You know that was said facetiously right? Yes – A.E. Bye – minimalist but wonderfully sensual. Those poor plants in the square pots….They might as well have put in astroturf and plastic plants. At least it would have been more honest to their aesthetic!

I am trying to think how this should be done, specifically the museum space..I finally remembered A.E. Bye – I think he is about the best ‘modernist’ LA I know.. Turf is good for minimalism, true, Tanya, but I like Ed Bye’s ability to make it still feel like mother earth, like a growing, live landscape, yet be incredibly simple..

Hard to see what exactly is going on. Looks ‘uninspired’ I want to say, a word I would be shocked to use to describe any Gehry..but so often architects are simply unable to translate their vision to the land..It is amazing..Hate the ‘curtains’ …big billboards. what is blue thing in the middle – a fountain with anything interesting happening? I…[Read more]

This is an interesting thread. LD or LA? We can have that discussion all day. What really matters is what puts the most food on the table unless you do designs as a hobby. Many postings stated it’s Licensure but that’s only part right. It’s also how your State recognizes Landscape Architects. I’m licensed in Virginia and Colorado. My Virginia…[Read more]

Can you STAND the bare dirt under the stools in the lawns? DId they think no one would ever site on the stools? Hey, everyone knows you can’t be a minimalist with any plant other than turf. aaagh!

You know what they say about architects….landscape architect wannabees who couldn’t hack the botany. hahaha.

You know, this discussion gives me an idea for an article in Contour. I’m thinking I might answer your question there with a whole “Landscape Architects Guide to Egomaniacalism” tongue-in-cheek checklist. ( I need material, and I don’t want to go to DC now as the tourists are back, the MLK memorial is a mud-hole, and it’s cherry blossom season)

Thanks!

We need more big egos in LA, but more importantly we need more big doers in my opinion. Several ‘High End’ firms we see in LA Mag weekely are doing the object thing, but I think they’re going in the wrong direction–thats why arch like sanaa just go ahead and skip the landscape.

I think the profession is quickly evolving. There was a time or a…[Read more]

Ha! you’re nominated, Jason, if you want to be an arrogant starlarchitect..! hee hee! and yes, the deYoung is pretty wonderful, as is the American Indian in D.C…good points..!
so how does one go about boosting one’s arrogance credentials?
🙂

The SANAA buildings, I laughed at that same photo with the three twigs sticking out of lawn. If you look more at their work, the buildings all look about 1/3 done. I know its minimalist, but that is ridiculous.

You’re right with the Getty…an artist designed the main garden at Getty with a horticulturist, and Olin did the rest of the grounds.…[Read more]

I agree, Jason..I just don’t understand how architects can continously ignore the ground plane, the world around their building as being opportunities for amazing landscape designs that live up to their buildings..The construction aspects of these super-stylistic buildings, like IM Pei in Wash DC that you mentioned, is absolutely correct..
But…[Read more]

I can thing of plenty of musuems, art or otherwise, that fit the role of the iconic building, that still function as museums. Many of the “famous” (really, infamous) modern museums try to be that art, while the collection or the works suffer. Pei’s East Gallery of the National Gallery is falling apart, and taxpayer dollars are required to reclad…[Read more]

Here’s what I learn…
Theoritically, in GENERAL, landscape architecture has 3 main aspect:
1. Landscape planning… Person: Landscape planner or landscape architect
– This considered as the one who got the idea and concept. Many people call this as landscape architect…
2. Landscape design… Person: Landscape designer or drafter…
– This…[Read more]

One must remember that both the architects and the museums are often seeking to create a building that is an iconic work of art in its own right. Problem is, designing to create an icon is far different than designing a successful building that becomes an icon. This is not a specific critique of these architects or their buildings. I have my…[Read more]

Methinks an unemployed architect could teach them something more relevant first. They won the Pritzker for that stuff? It’a awful! And not much of a portfolio, either. When are museums going to learn that this “signature” building stuff only leads to failure and massive expense? Roof leaks, poor lighting for the works (um, sunlight degrades color,…[Read more]

here’s a better link

http://www.arcspace.com/architects/sejima nishizawa/ century museum/century museum.html

wow, not even attempting the “lettuce” approach…

Honestly, i feel there is no such thing as a demeaning job, an honest job for an honest pay is always a good thing, i have worked in a lot of sectors (public, private, non-profit) of multiple industries and what i see is a lack of respect for blue collar jobs and a lack of maturity in the ppl with blue collar jobs. This attitude contributed to the…[Read more]

‘And don’t let this format limit your sense of freedom to speak your mind. The only rule is civility. Keep posting. Stirring the pot is always helpful.’

Agreed.

Craig,
You and I are in complete agreement. I think that is why I was more surprised than feeling abused. And don’t let this format limit your sense of freedom to speak your mind. The only rule is civility. Keep posting. Stirring the pot is always helpful.