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Some successful examples… in my…[Read more]

David, I agree completely – there is so much more that we can be doing to contribute to the large scale health and vitality of the environment. Avoiding monocultures, which are very hip in modern installations, utilizing plant systems to filter pollutants, etc. I am also glad that Roland brought Bill Mollison’s name into the discussion. He…[Read more]

“Paris and other big cities in europe have a huge amount of traditional art in every corner and in almost every street. For me it’s a great influence and really big bag of ideas.”

Absolutely! Paris is an amazing city to spend time in and to learn how to dwell with public art. The notion of art as an ‘after thought’ or as only a centerpiece to…[Read more]

I don’t see the issue as a skill set – who cares? I see it as an attitude towards the earth..and the beingson it. (And I DO NOT think LA’s are getting more and more power/visiblity – I see a huge decrease, since the sixties,and see it only getting worse. ) Architects have chosen to become the sculptor/artist, and do not care about the ground plane…[Read more]

I have been writing in a few posts how California LA is really different than east coast (sorry to raise the usual xenophobic hackles, on both sides…) I find the profession in California is much less environmentally conscious and act much more like decorators..I think it has to do with the year round climate, which causes plants to have a larger…[Read more]

I walk by this little plaza all the time. It’s fantastic and everyone really seems to be liking it, except the bikers. Apparently it’s blocking a bike lane or something.

http://sfgreatstreets.wordpress.com

http://sfpavementtoparks.sfplanning.org

Interesting question Emily – I am curious to hear people’s answers as I am about to move to Los Angeles. I know that there are some excellent firms in both cities, and that firms like Mia Lehrer and ah’be have won awards on the national scale for some forward thinking and comprehensive projects. I don’t know if there is less cutting-edge work or…[Read more]

Nick, that’s a fanstastic product you’ve got there. I commend you on your efforts. If there’s one thing I’ve realized during this recession, is that after I’m employed again, that I need to spend more time keeping an up to date, cutting edge, portfolio. In my past job I didn’t take many pictures or spend any time on keeping up a portfolio. And…[Read more]

yes, the value of the single creative designer gets TRASHED through charettes (GACK!!) …have thought that for years..Hate Charettes!

good grief! This is horrible..Schwartz did a terrible job – listen to Peter Calthorpe on contemporary architecture – they have commpletely abandoned the idea of connecting to the earth, to the human scale..fitting in to the neighborhood. Contempoary architects have completely abandoned the social responsibilty to public spaces, it is all…[Read more]

I think the best way to go green or to get large companies or even home owners to go greeen is to show them how they will save money, not how it will save the fluffy bunnies of the world. Green doesn’t have to conflict with prosperity or profits.

I think to call it a debate was rather interesting. Certainly they were both set for verbal battle. However, this is a really masterful example of how an intermediary can help to reframe questions and viewpoints in order to buffer the ‘us against them’ mentality that we all seem to fall into at times. It was a pleasant surprise to find that both…[Read more]

I saw that a while back. He does come off as pompous. If you’ve ever seen his work, you’ll agree that he should probably reel his attitude in a bit. Perhaps his concepts and the functionality of his structures shed a bit more light, but he has mastered the art of designing peculiar objects.

It’s a great idea. We need to be bold with efforts to recapture pedestrian space from the vehicular environment. More so, we need to eliminate impervious surfaces from those spaces and reintroduce vegetation into the landscape. A little water would be good too. People attract people, food attracts more people to spaces and comfortable micro…[Read more]

Don’t forget about using landscape to lessen impacts on public utilities, namely stormwater and sewage systems (if we can get past the greywater stigma). Landscape can reduce the total load of storm runoff caused by development while slowing it’s release into the sewer system, saving municipalities millions of dollars in treatment and maintenance…[Read more]

nrchmid, although I’m not a student, I appreciate your reply. Just to clarify, its not really the ‘work samples’ that thieves are interested in. Apparently, most resumes have enough information on you for a criminole to steal your id, get credit in your name, etc. No, were not talking ss#’s and birthdates. Rather your full name, address, schools…[Read more]

how about low-voltage or solar lighting, recycled materials (glass in concrete, broken concrete retaining walls, etc.) light colored hardscape/paving, high effecience irrigation (subsurface drip and ET Controllers) are a few thoughts

I have a book about exactly this subject, but I’m not at home and can’t remember the title or author. I like it because it breaks the subject down by climate type. I’ll get back to you on the title and author at some point.
Passively cooling a building often seems to come down to creating air movement as much as shade. You can put a shaded outdoor…[Read more]

I like…. LOVE it!

Finally! SF and other municipalities are embracing the whole concept of ‘landscape as ever changing space’. Bravo!