Activity

More often they’re sited to take advantage of a view or are at the edge of a center of activity…and that doesn’t mean south facing.  In Christopher Alexander’s “The Timeless Way of Building”, he goes on about the importance of south facing outdoor spaces.  That’s all well and good in northern latitudes, but in hot climates, you often want s…[Read more]

“Benches are artifacts the purpose of which is to punctuate architectural photographs.” – William H. Whyte, The Social Life of Small Urban Spaces
In the same classic book, Whyte gives ratios for amount of sittable space vs square feet of plaza (1 ft. per 30 sq.ft) and provides some guidelines for placement and orientation of sitting spaces.  In…[Read more]

I agree, with practice your speed increases. Take the time to prepare, a few months, not a few weeks or days. Be ok with failing the first time. Its an experience, and an intimidating one. Take classed offered by Jerry Hastings and/or Ray Freeman. Start a study group. Check out LARE Google for support. You arent preparing in a vacuum…I head into…[Read more]

I don’t doubt that the LARE has been a painful and frustrating process for some, though you shouldn’t let this horror story thread discourage you. Lots of people have passed C and E, including many on the first try. If you’ve studied well and prepared yourself for the rigors of licensure and the intricacies of LARE-land you should not need to…[Read more]

landplanner, I am agin ya.. woody allen had to bring his own bench to some great spot under the brookyn Bridge – New York has a population of 9 million and they couldnt’ get a bench in the right spot? My experience is there are never enough benches..Never. And seat walls don’t count – they are for bums, as thomas said..I hate those ‘lounge…[Read more]

We conduct only a 2 day at requested locations or a 7 day in San Francisco or Las Vegas.  We have found that a 2 day program is a very good introductory workshop and 7 day is like a full course meal.  A 3 day session seems to be either too long or too short comparing to a 2 or 7 day session. Thanks for your feedback.

Thanks for your valuable comment. Just for your information, I do post a lot of useful hand graphics information under BeLoose Graphic Workshop group so interested members can access to our group and learn a lot from it.   Regarding the workshop discount, I may consider offering some kind of scholarships and will announce it shortly. 
Las Vegas ma…[Read more]

I’d love to take a Mike Lin course.  I know you offer several different types of courses, but is this one only 7 day course?  As a contract employee I can’t really afford to take a full 5 days of work off unpaid.  Are you offering any 3 day segments within this or anything?

Well, this has been a re-assuring, confidence building read as I prepare to take Sections C and E next week…

Refreshing design dialogue here. Good to see again. My own dimes worth….
Like most of us posting here, we probably pride ourselves on having a well-honed sense of design, biased from whatever sources, inspirations or personal prejudices, but an appreciation of design nevertheless and in whatever form or expression,.
On this particular topic, I…[Read more]

Mike:
 
I am not going to tell you how to operate your business, but I feel a need to point a few things out here:
 

• You seem to be getting a lot of frequent flyer miles from Land8Lounge by posting as often as you do here. Other companies with services or products related to the profession of landscape architecture, for the most part, do n…

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I didn’t have to fight for a seat, there was hardly anybody soaking up the rays. I found a nice bench all to myself

The system works! Another successful design

 
I suggest you request a redline review.  This will help better understand the grading & exam process CLARB is evaluating.  Many candidates fail due to simple mistakes and oversights.  These oversights will cost you and your employer more than money should they occur. 
If you are working with projects that have grading issues, ask your boss i…[Read more]

How can we possibly consider “all possible solutions” in the time allotted?  A big part of my difficulty w/  Section E is that I am not a “speed grader.”  Nor should any of us be.

No, I am a member as well and offer the biggest discount to Land8 members to help out the budget of interested people.

You might like a book I’m currently reading called Urban Microclimate: Designing the Spaces Between Building by Evyatar Erell, David Pearlmutter and Terry Williamson.

I’m curios, do you pay Land8Lounge for advertising in the forums?

I read this article yesterday, and I came to the conclusion that he was talking about the sometimes ridiculous reasons starchitects give for choosing design features. The architect picks a feature of the local landscape then tells a nice story about how it inspired him/her to make a building that looks like an ameoba or something. This is…[Read more]

Maybe somebody should do a Woody Allen memorial bench in his favorite spot under the Brooklyn Bridge but they should dedicate it while he’s still with us, so he can enjoy it…
A good bench is a great thing. A bad bench (poorly designed/poorly sited) is an insult to humanity…
Seat walls are good for grungy teenagers and hobos…
Nice benches, in…[Read more]

Honestly, Thomas – most people in the midwest don’t sit outside in the winter. You must be one of those crazy nature lovers! ha! Most of the benches are clearly designed for summer use. I wonder if your observation is true for sunnier winter spots? CO, NM, even western SD is waaay sunnier than Chicago….the midwest is usually so overcast that a…[Read more]