Activity

Thats a really good way to go about it. I couldnt imagine having gone through my graduate program plus having a full time job. I practically lived at my graduate school. I think I will look into taking classes through Open University.

Dominic

San Jose State isn’t accepting students for spring 2010 and I don’t know about fall 2010, but they do something I like – their program allows for (emphasizes!!) that they offer their MUP programs on schedules that are designed for working professionals to be able to earn a degree p/t or in evenings.

I am hoping that I will be able to get into one…[Read more]

I feel more connected to ‘thinking with my hands’ when working conceptually or solving problems, but I would never do CD’s by hand…not anymore, it is just inefficient. I do believe that I think differently when I am drafting in the computer and that I am more creative with a pencil (even if the sketch looks like dog poop). in fact, I like to…[Read more]

I concur, but like you said Jim I think it definitely depends on who you work for both in terms of the project manager, principal in charge, firm, or client. I’ve had the opportunity to do a lot of doffierent digital graphics as an intern, but rarely, if ever can I remember breaking out a pen and meticulously ‘drafting’ a perspective, plan, or…[Read more]

Are you getting different information as to what a “bioretention pond” is here in MA?

Unfortunately, I missed the boat on Harvard their app deadline is passed (today actually)

could you elaborate a little further on Penn and A&M as it relates to urban design w/in MLA?

Nick, Landscape Arch’s who work as planners spend their entire lives worrying and working on where density belongs, so I disagree with your statement that we don’t get to choose where the projects go..Perhaps an individual project, but in working as a planner, as I said, it is your job to decide where stuff goes..I started to think about this in…[Read more]

Thanks for the feed back, I know that there are others that feel the same way I do but sometimes it is nice to hear that others feel the same way. Also good point about looking at it as a learning tool, rather than a presentation item.

To add my two cents:
In Massachusetts, the rain gardens are designed as a pre-treatment unit to treat storm-water before it is infiltrated or discharged.
Only during the growing season will the plants aid in the absorption of nitrogen, and phosphorous.

The layered soil profile within the bottom of the rain garden contributes the treatment of the…[Read more]

Zach-

Try looking at each drawing as an adventure and learning exercise and not a masterpiece. Each time I start a sketch theres always a little internal pressure. I don’t want to mess up that pretty white page. But I look at each sketch like a chance to learn one new thing about drawing and/or the thing or place I’m drawing and how to see. For…[Read more]

I’ve wondered this myself. We used to simply call them retention ponds. I’ll ask at work, but I think it is a qualitative thing rather than a quantitative one. The term bioretention pond seems to crop up more in front of the regional regulatory authority here and rain garden seems to be the term of choice at the local level. However, the regional…[Read more]

So here’s my question of everyone, I have difficulty sometimes sketching because I want to make everything literal. I took art classes in high school and that is how I drew. I know this is an insecurity thing, but sometimes I worry about how my sketches will turn out because before I start I feel like they are not going to turn out like I want…[Read more]

The point of adding this topic is to draw out some new ideas on urbanism, not necessarily to endorse any one philosophy, NU included.

For the most part Allan I agree with you. I think the planning priciples of NU are generally good ideas as ONE answer to suburban sprawl

As far as people driving to shop and dine in a nu community- I dont think…[Read more]

We are pretty cool, aren’t we. It’s nice to finally sit at the lunch table with the cool kids.

haha I love the dialog!! Without putting this train of thought into words, I have had this same type of thought. Many people that I talk to while most don’t know what a Landscape Architect does do begin to find it interesting once I begin to talk to them about it, and some of the things that I have done in school.

Hey so what do you do?
I’m an accountant.
Oh….. Thats nice. You must be getting really busy this time of the year.
Yes. I am. (silence)

Hey so what do you do?
I’m a landscape architect.
Oh wow! I heard that was one of the 50 best careers of the decade. Have you seen that new fancy public garden in our cities nearest center?
Why yes, as a matter…[Read more]

Part of my final project was actually based on New Urbanism. Before I started I was all about it, but then once I began to do more research on it, I began to realize its faults.

Don’t get me wrong its ideals and principles are great in theory, but I saw that sometimes it isn’t implemented properly, and in the end it fails. I’ve seen many examples…[Read more]