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There is nothing there of concequence. Its pretty much one of those great weird intersections DC is known for. It is pretty much just open space with a few street trees. Here’s an image of the memorial area with the Dept. of Ed. Behind.

thanks, Ryan..What is up with the central tree – is it existing, I wonder? Are they going to plant a 5″dbh oak and pretend it looks like that? Still don’t like the ‘curtains’ ..thanks for the links.

A little more on the subject with a close-up…
http://www.usatoday.com/travel/destinations/2010-03-25-eisenhower-memorial-gehry_N.htm

This link:
http://www.worldarchitecturenews.com/index.php?fuseaction=wanappln.projectview&upload_id=13729
states that EDAW was part of the design team as well.

The screens are supposed to be mostly transparent from up close, and the building to the rear is 100′ away. They are a patterned mesh. But if they are so transparent at 100′, how are you supposed to see what they are when you are IN the memorial?

sorry, I am always the slowest person in the room to get the irony! turf can be good for minimalism..But yes, the less turf the better..generally.

glad you like AE Bye! No-one of the 14 LA’s I work with, is familiar with his work! thank you.

I agree Chad, it definitely to me stands out conceptually that the memorial should use and respond to the building fascade rather than pretend it doesn’t exist..
When the jury calls me for my opinion, I will be sure to credit you with that thought..I am waiting by the phone today.
🙂

The tree in the middle reminds me of the famous Eisenhower Tree at Augusta National’s 17th fairway (I think its the 17th). Watch the Masters weekend after next and you’ll see what I mean. I can completely accept that this may have been intentional. I must agree with Trace that the model was uninspiring. Looked like my toy blocks all over the floor…[Read more]

I have been suggesting the ASLA needs to do more to educate the public on what we do and our value to society for 28 years, and they still have not stepped up to take any leadership here. The AIA does a great job and perhaps the ASLA could take a couple of hints from them. In the meanwhile we need to be actively involved in professional…[Read more]

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]