Activity

Jordan:

Yeah, Planting questions in D are always weird and subjective. To be honest, I can not really answer what type of planting is appropriate at the base on sculpture without knowing what type of sculpture it is, and what preferred visual sppearance, maintenance strategies are……lol. I always ended up choosing groundcover or perennials.…[Read more]

Thanks for the link Adam! I always didn’t spend much time planting and treated as less important items for D.
Surprisingly, there was no plant type / species questions for when I took D last time. Usually, there are 3-5
planting questions at least. I guess I have to take more time on this matter and educate myself.

I think you are rigjht about…[Read more]

Based upon the instructors comments during class as both her and the TAs walk around class and answer questions I would have to say that there are quite a few people that are struggling with the concepts (more than half the class). In last vignette we had to grade a proposed parking lot and then place the elevation of the storm drain’s rim, and…[Read more]

…. also, some people have a natural high aptitude in it and some people do not. It sounds like you (Zack) probably have a natural aptitude. The thing that concerns me is that you don’t mention that others in your class are struggling through the class. I took two different grading and drainage courses at two very different schools and worked as…[Read more]

Its hard to say exactly what is so difficult about it, for some it may be the perception of the test. I think people talk it up a little, but grading can get tedious with real work experience-then the implicit and explicit direction for the LARE. Like Jason said I too (luckily) passed the first time but I do a ton of grading at work and it is in…[Read more]

It seems like the Pass/Fail rates especially on this section is one of the points Landscape Architecture Licensing Boards use in an attempt to legitimize the profession. in order to get that rate low, there can be “tricks” used to catch and fail some test takers (example @ the end of this comment). Not to pass judgement, understanding/evaluating a…[Read more]

Ken Smith came in 2007 I believe.

Just checked out Around the World in 80 Clicks: A Digital Map of History’s Greatest Journeys on the infrastructurist, ridiculously cool…

http://www.infrastructurist.com/
http://www.energybulletin.net/
http://dirt.asla.org/

wow, very cool. transmaterial and designingfortomorrow are very cool. no idea those were even out there. thanks zack!

I was also surprised about the plant selection questions. I feel that plant selection in my office is the one thing that separates me from the Architects and a big reason why I love the field, but there is not a good way to test on it. So we are left with weird and subjective plant selection questions. I have passed a local nursery association…[Read more]

Hi again. Hope tha applications are coming along for everyone applying. So would anyone be willing to share how they are physically presenting their portfolio? Book, binder, etc. I am wondering what the best format is and open to ideas.

Thanks!

Here are a few of my favorite sites to visit on at least a semi regular basis:

http://www.worldlandscapearchitect.com
http://www.pps.org
http://www.nanoarchitecture.net
http://transmaterial.net/
http://www.designingfortomorrow.org/

any topics for tomorrow morning? it would be interesting to see what designers, landscape architects and firms have been doing to market themselves in this new economic limbo.

Ya, as far as materials and construction I would suggest searching online for how to build things. Even though I have had good experience in field observation, I went online and read how contractors built a deck or built a wall. It’s so much easier to understand when you see progress photos of what they are actually building. It helps understand…[Read more]

Sorry I didn’t check this until after I left. I enjoyed my trip down this past weekend and I really enjoyed the atmosphere. The program is top notch and is really ahead of the game. The one complaint I have is that Baton Rouge is not an attractive city to me. The campus is beautiful but I can see myself getting bored easily. I plan on checking out…[Read more]

The firm I work for, Stelle Architects has had great success master planing for a large high end residential community in Tonglu, Zhejiang Province, P.R. China. and would be interested.
See following links
1. http://www.world-architects.com/stelle-china/
2. http://stelleco.com/wip.php?title=LEGEND%20PARK

If you would like to discuss further…[Read more]

Thanks Jordan for your suggestions. I guess I need to dig deeper to understand how installation, connections, and construction techniques work in different context. Textbook or reading can inform me basics, but it seems that LARE D requires more advanced knowledges specific to all different kind of construction. I will do my best!
What I hate most…[Read more]

Worksheets in Vectorworks so that the quantities update themselves.

I have to agree with Jason that in a few years, or when you get out of school into the reality of design, you’ll find it much more complicated. Rough grading and fine grading are two different animals, add in ADA issues and existing conditions that you have to tie into and it’s a complex web at times. Ask your prof to get into vertical curves…[Read more]