Author: BimDjSoftech

The Hive by Grant Associates, in Worcester, UK. In the world of landscape architecture, sustainability has become a standard that most designers aspire to. It’s a practice that is even more important in today’s growing world than ever before and can be found in almost every press release for every major new project. And what better symbol to use for a sustainable project than that of a beehive, something that sustainable practices will hopefully help to preserve for future generations. Located in Worcester, UK, The Hive, a “BREEAM Outstanding” project, is home to the first joint university and public library – a venture between the City of Worcester and its University. The project was 10 years in the making and the result is a destination that invites learning both inside and out.

The Building and the Architects Involved At the centerpiece is the building itself, a sustainable masterpiece that’s name was chosen as a way to represent purposeful activity, and does just that by making use of renewable energy and recycling facilities throughout. Worcester City Council hired Bath based architects, Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios to design the building itself. They won the international Bentley Be Inspired Innovation in Generative Design and were shortlisted for Best Designed Project and for Local Government Team in the Public-Private Finance awards for their design.

What was the mission for Grant Associates?

The Worcester City Council also hired Grant Associates, a British Landscape Architecture consultancy, to design the outside of the building, with instructions “to create a high quality landscape environment that would become a distinctive and exciting visitor attraction – a place which would capture a sense of history and place whilst reflecting on the contemporary themes of sustainability and technological innovation.”

What was the inspiration for the project? For inspiration, the team looked to the local ecosystems that can be found in and around Worcester, that of the River Severn, the Malvern Hills, and the Elgar Trail. These areas also inspired the storytelling for the project which is, “Nature uplifts the spirits,” “Healthy water for sustained life,” and “Knowledge and Heritage.” These design stories led to the actual design, which emerged to include a series of islands and belvederes, or vantage points designed to incorporate views, that overlook the Water Meadow and the Causeway. Related Articles:

• Lotus Lake Park Sets Precedent for Sustainable Urban Design in China
• Contemporary Landscape Architecture in China: Beautiful or Dangerous?
• Awesome Plaza Shows You Why China Are World Leaders in Landscape Architecture

The Inclusion of the Water Meadow The Water Meadow is the focal point of the landscape and is used for educational purposes to teach visitors about the importance of clean water. It is low maintenance but functional in that it is able to handle seasonal flooding from the river. Plantings here include cowslips, orchids, fritillary’s and flag irises, all of which were grown from locally harvested seeds. How is The Hive benefiting from natural systems? The water meadow also serves as a filtration system for rainwater and surface runoff, which demonstrates to visitors the capabilities of natural systems without the use of chemicals for cleaning water, one example of this is that the water has to flow through reed bed swales before infiltrating back into the ground, thus leaving it cleaner. In the middle of the water meadow, two habitat isles can be found. One can be accessed via bridge directly from the children’s library and serves as a retreat where children can read and experience nature at the same time. The second isle is a wildlife haven that includes the rare Black Poplar Trees to provide secluded nesting spots. Finally, The Causeway is simply the pedestrian route that circles in and around the Library and History Centre. They include terraces for sitting and outdoor rooms along with bridges that connect to adjoining sites and invite visitors to reflect on the therapeutic qualities of nature. Peter Chmiel, director, Grant Associates said, “The landscape of The Hive Worcester Library and History Centre aims to be a leading example of sustainable design, including SUDS drainage, water attenuation, productive urban gardens, locally sourced materials and plant species, and careful landscape management to enhance species diversity and ecological richness.” WATCH: The Hive Worcester by Grant Associates HD In the end, the project seems to have exceeded the original expectations of the City. It took just one year from its July 2012 opening for the building to host over a million people, and those numbers have continued to grow, proving that the building lives up to its name in that it is truly fostering a sense of community, much like the tiny bumblebee. Recommended Reading:

• Urban Design  by Alex Krieger
• The Urban Design Handbook: Techniques and Working Methods (Second Edition) by Urban Design Associates

Article by Erin Tharp Return to Homepage

Street Design: The Secret to Great Cities and Towns, by Victor Dover and John Massengale. Published by Wiley, 2014. 401 pages. At the heart of every successful city design is successful street design. And by that, it is not meant that the city is home to a variety of interstates and highways moving people to and fro. It means that the city is home to livable streets that people want to experience, not just drive on. The book Street Design: The Secret to Great Cities and Towns, by Victor Dover and John Massengale, along with a number of guest essayists, seeks to reveal the secrets behind what makes a great street and thus a great city.

Street Design: The Secret to Great Cities and Towns

The book is an easy read filled with beautiful pictures and examples of successful street design. The authors’ approach to writing it was simple: They made a list of their favorite streets, then broke them down to figure out why they enjoyed them so much. After making their list, they set out on a journey of discovery to see if these streets still held the charm they had when the authors first visited them. They measured and photographed what they saw, all the while keeping a close watch on the people to see how they interacted with the street and with each other. The Dreaded Automobile The first problem they noticed in almost every place was that the dreaded automobile had taken over. Surprising? Not really. In today’s overcrowded world, where everyone seeks instant gratification, the car tends to be the mode of transportation of choice. And city planners know this, so, unfortunately, pedestrians and cyclists have taken a back seat. That is, until now with the Complete Streets movement, which proposes that pedestrians, cyclists, and cars all have an equal right to use the roads. The 11 Street Types The authors make a good argument for this movement by first discussing Historic Streets in chapter two, where they point out that today’s street classification system – “arterial, collector, and local – is insufficient to produce walkable towns, cities, and neighborhoods.” Instead, they suggest 11 street types, including promenades and ramblas, garden streets, and parkways. They go on to back up their argument with case studies and commentary to show how these streets could fit into the cities of today. Chapter Three In chapter three — Street Systems and Networks — they expound on this idea further by giving examples of how these types of streets are useful and how they are connected to the bigger picture through grids, patterns, and networks. They use the streets of Savannah, Georgia, and Charleston, South Carolina, as successful examples of this idea, and include guest essays and color pictures of specific streets from around the world. Chapter Four Chapter four goes on to discuss Retrofitted Streets, which have either been made more walkable or were once walkable, then changed to accommodate the automobile. Typically, the second has happened due to urban sprawl — people moving from the cities into the suburbs — and to the destruction of Main Street in favor of strip malls and parking lots. Again, the authors give excellent examples of successful retrofits and include even more beautiful photographs to get their point across. Again, the authors give excellent examples of successful retrofits and include even more beautiful photographs to get their point across. Chapter Five Finally, Dover and Massengale introduce New Streets in chapter five, in which their main examples include two planned communities, Battery Park City in New York City and Seaside, Florida, both of which ignored conventional planning techniques to create walkable areas that favor pedestrians over cars. Chapter Six Chapter six, the Conclusion, gives an excellent summation of why the authors felt that now was the time to write this book. They write: “Once upon a time, making streets where people wanted to be was easier than it is today, because humans didn’t have to compete with their own machines for a piece of the space. Now, the time has come to fight back against the pride of place we gave the car.” At only 401 pages, it is definitely a book that should be on every planner’s bookshelf. This is an extremely readable and entertaining book, and it is filled with insights that are truly needed in the world today. In the end, no one could say it better than His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales, who in the foreword writes: “Great streets define great cities; great cities establish harmony with Nature, continually improve societies and stimulate economic progress in a genuinely sustainable way. There is a real urgency to apply these principles in street design. The rewards will be worth every bit of effort.”

Pick up your copy of Street Design: The Secret to Great Cities and Towns

Review by Erin Tharp Return to Homepage

A deeper look at the possibilities of using SketchUp for ipad. SketchUp is known for being the most user-friendly 3D modeling software on the market. Add that to its compatibility with CAD and other drafting software, and there really is no reason why offices shouldn’t use it. And now, with two new SketchUp Apps for Apple iPad, the accessibility of the program has grown.

SketchUp for ipad

The first app, called “SketchUp Mobile Viewer,” was developed by Trimble Navigation Limited. It allows users to explore and share millions of free 3D models in the 3D Warehouse from their iPads.

Easy to Use! The app is fairly easy to use and operates much like the actual program, in that you are able to zoom in and out of models and use the camera menu to adjust any of the standard camera views. The app also allows you to preview each model before choosing whether to download it to your device. Once the models are downloaded, they can be viewed seamlessly while offline. The app is recommended for iPads that have a minimum of 1024Mb of RAM, which means 3^rd Generation or newer or iPad Mini 2^nd Generation or newer. The app also requires users to have a Google ID. Related Articles:

• Top 10 Hints & Tips For SketchUp
• 3D Modeling Software for Landscape Architects
• Computer Aided Software for Landscape Architects: The Essential Guide

The Downside The only downside seems to be that in order to view one of your own projects created with actual SketchUp, you must first download it to the 3D Warehouse, which many design professionals might not want to do if it’s a project designed for a particular client. The app will not let you build a model, so while the $9.99 pricetag might seem like a great deal compared to the one for SketchUp Pro, it’s really more of a viewer than a modeling app. Disaster: There’s an app for that! Most users that purchased it weren’t happy, and reviews on Apple’s iTunes store received two stars at most. Some quotes were, “Not very flexible or usable for professionals,” “Should have waited longer until it developed more,” and “Wish there were zero stars.” One user went so far as to question why Apple even allows the app to stay in its store. Bonus Video: Guide To Sketchup Viewer The second app is called “Shortcuts for GoogleSketchUp” and was developed by Nikolay Smorgun and is essentially a digital cheat sheet for SketchUp shortcuts. Users are asked to choose their platform, either Mac or Windows, and from there choose from the “Main Menu,” “Tools,” and “Canvas.”  From there, it’s simply a list of commands and the keyboard shortcuts associated with the commands. For example, the Pan command is “Shift+scroll MMB.” Extras or advertisements? In addition to the SketchUp shortcuts, the app also contains links to Google News, the local weather, and the Bloomberg web page.

Is this a five star SketchUp for ipad app. ?

On the iTunes app store, one user wrote, “This app will save you countless hours with learning the shortcut keys alone. I’ve spent 20 minutes (off and on) this app and have already noticed an increase in my design time efficiency. In the words of Colin Chapman, ‘Simplify, and add lightness.’ This app clearly exemplifies that quote. It’s fast because it’s simple. All of the necessary information is close at hand. Thanks!” The user also gave the app the highest rating, five stars. Bonus Video: View Your 3D SketchUp Designs on the iPad in 3 Simple Steps The best thing about this app is its price — it’s free, with no in-app purchases required. It is also compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch and is optimized for the iPhone 5. So, in the end, it appears that there really is only one Google SketchUp, and that’s the program for actual computers. The good thing is that Google will let you download a trial program of SketchUp Pro to try for free for 30 days. After that, users can purchase a lifetime license for $590. There are also discounts available for students and educators, and a free version — SketchUp Make — that is not intended for commercial use, but still can be used to create 3D models and gives users access to the 3D Warehouse. Recommended Reading:

• SketchUp 2014 For Dummies (For Dummies (Computer/Tech) by Aidan Chopra
• SketchUp 2014 for Architectural Visualization by Thomas Bleicher

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Pavilion at the Ljubljanica Embankment, BB Arhitekti, Ljubljana, Slovenia For hundreds of years, European cities relied on the rivers they were built around for transportation and for sending and receiving goods. In the modern world, these rivers have become novelties or tourist attractions, and locals have become out of touch with the grand bodies of water that helped form their cities. Such was the case for the Ljubljanica River in Slovenia until the city dreamed up a way to reconnect the people to the river.

Urban Waterfront Regeneration to Fulfill  Jože Plečnik’s Dream

The riverbank had not been touched since the 1930s, when the architect Jože Plečnik defined the river with his monumental buildings, open squares, canals, embankments, and riverside parks. Plečnik envisioned the river as the center of the city and sought to transform Ljubljana into a cultural center. But by the 21st century, his vision had died. The river lacked modern infrastructure, and the car had become the primary means of transportation, tarnishing the allure of his walkable city. Those changes, combined with a decline in businesses due to urban sprawl, left the city in desperate need of help.

20 Million Euro Investment in Urban Waterfront Regeneration

So city officials stepped in with a plan to rebuild the city. In 2004, Ljubljana City Council decided to invest more than 20 million euros to rebuild the riverbank, with the hope that the city would experience an economic and social revival. One of the interventions included a steel pavilion that was mounted at the Petkovškovo embankment as a temporary public space meant to reconnect the city’s street level — and pedestrians — to the river. The new public space was also meant to serve as a social experiment to test the responses of people to such a space and to the river.

What has been the outcome of the experiment? Shortly after its 2007 installation, visitors began to flock to the space and, as it grew in popularity, other public projects began to pop up along the riverbank. The river slowly began to be reconnected with the people, and the city began to experience a new burst of life. Related articles:

• Top 10 Reused Industrial Landscapes
• Community Turn Abandoned Industrial Site into Public Park
• Industrial Site Transforms into Beautiful Landscape

Award Winning  Design The pavilion is multifunctional: When it is not being used to host cultural events, visitors take it over as a quiet lunch spot or as a place to just sit and enjoy the view. Because of its popularity, the pavilion, along with other riverside projects, won the “European Prize for Urban Public Space in 2012” and was included in the 2013 book “Archipendium 2014”, by Nils Peters. As the riverbank increased in popularity, city officials sought to rearrange the Petkovšek embankment to better accommodate more development. The pavilion was disassembled and moved to where it now sits, near a new pedestrian bridge on Lipičeva Street, where it is still a favorite spot to just sit and enjoy the beauty of the river. In its new location, it also provides a much needed outdoor space for patients and visitors of the nearby hospitals, and continues to attract a crowd. The Temporary Made Permanent The pavilion is a montage construction, composed of six curved steel beams, and includes benches, a fence, a platform, and a roof where climbing plants — Virginia Creeper, (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) known for its brilliant fall color — are allowed to grow to provide shade for those below. Since it was always intended to be temporary and able to be moved, the shape of the pavilion can be adjusted to fit the topography of the site it occupies. Urban Waterfront Regeneration Realised Now, more than 80 years since Plečnik envisioned a city built to rival Athens, the historic city of Ljubljana is joining the ranks of other European cities for its innovation and landscape architecture. And thanks to projects such as the pavilion, the people are once again connected to their river. beautiful and functional space. Recommended Reading:

• Urban Design by Alex Krieger
• Digital Drawing for Landscape Architecture by Bradley Cantrell

Article by Erin Tharp Return to Homepage

An Exclusive review of Yanweizhou Park by Turenscape, in Jinhua City, Zhejiang Province, China. In the Chinese culture, water is one of the five elements – the other four being metal, wood, fire, and earth – but water is one that is held especially close. One theory is that due to China’s mountainous topography, Chinese cities were built in the valleys close to the many rivers that flow through the land. For this reason, the Chinese people came to view the rivers as the heart and lifeblood of their culture. So, it comes as no surprise that the latest Turenscape project, Yanweizhou Park, is built around not one, but three rivers.

Location of Yanweizhou Park

Yanweizhou Park is located in Jinhua City where the Yiwu River, Wuyi River and Wujiang River converge. At more than 250,000 square meters and carrying a price tag of more than RMB 300m, this a truly a magnificent addition to both the social and ecological Chinese landscape.

Designed by Professor Yu Kongjian and his team from Turenscape, Kongjian had a special attachment to the park as it was built in the city and near the river where he grew up, and because of this he sought to design a space that was ecologically sensitive to the land, and one that could rehabilitate his beloved river that had been overtaken by infrastructure.

What Professor Yu Kongjian has to say about Yanweizhou Park

“My mother river, the Baishaxi Stream (a major tributary of the Wujiang River), is not a simple stream but an ecological infrastructure. It provides essential supplies, it carries of lives, culture, aesthetics, and enlightenments for people throughout the watershed. It is a social infrastructure, an experienced network, and a carrier for the endless memoires. All of these have inspired me the solution to rehabilitate her: Rebuilding society, as rebuilding ecology, should start with the rehabilitation and construction of these essential ecological infrastructures,” he wrote for Turenscape shortly after completion of the park.

The Centerpiece of the Park  The centerpiece of the park would have to be the sightseeing footbridge, or Bayong Bridge, which extends in a South-North direction for 764 meters. The bridge starts at nearby Jinlongwan Park and crosses over the Wuyi River and Yanweizhou Park, then over the Yiwu River before ending in nearby Wuzhou Park. The bridge not only connects the three parks, but also the people of the city that are separated by the rivers. According to Kongjian, locals refer to the bridge as “the most poetic pedestrian bridge,” and with an average of 40,000 visitors each day since opening in May of 2014, it would seem that many agree with this description. The Wetland and Terraced Styled Levees This park is more than just a place for the people, it also a park built for the environment. Two other features are the Yanzhou Ecosystem Wetland, which preserved existing wetlands, and terraced style levees, which allow the space to account for flooding and allows the park to be submerged during storms. See these other projects from Turenscape:

• Turenscape Design Outstanding River Park
• Shipyard Site Transforms into Stunning Ecological Park
• Fantastic River Park Unveils the Value of the Natural Landscape

Konglian writes on the Turenscape website, “The project serves not only as an ecological infrastructure but also a social infrastructure that promotes a harmonious lifestyle to the local communities.” Increasing Signs of a Shift in Landscape Architecture  Projects, such as this one, that not only preserve existing ecology but also seek to rehabilitate ecology that has been taken away are becoming more and more common in the world of landscape architecture. This really should come as no surprise since landscape architects main role is to serve as the stewards of the environment. Unfortunately, in an ever-growing world where space is quickly becoming limited, the preservation of ecologically vital areas is not always at the forefront, but Yanweizhou Park is proof that it is possible to bridge the gap between the social and ecological needs of the people and still create a beautiful and functional space. Recommended Reading:

• Urban Design by Alex Krieger
• Digital Drawing for Landscape Architecture by Bradley Cantrell

Article by Erin Tharp Return to Homepage

Digital Drawing for Landscape Architecture: Contemporary Techniques and Tools for Digital Representation in Site Design second edition – Bradley Cantrell and Wes Michaels, published by John Wiley & Sons, 2005. Paperback, 317pgs. In today’s technological society computer programs and design seem to go hand in hand, but in a profession that once revered the art of hand drawing, or analog design, new technology can be hard to embrace, much less learn. Authors Bradley Cantrell and Wes Michaels, both working landscape architects, realize this and in Digital Drawing for Landscape Architects attempt to bring readers up to date with some of the latest and greatest computer-aided drafting software.

Digital Drawing for Landscape Architecture

The book relies on examples for each of the traditional design drawings – diagrams, plans, section/elevations, and perspectives – to familiarize readers with each representation technique, but don’t think this book is a user’s manual. The authors assume that readers already have a basic understanding of basic representation concepts and computing principles and simply attempt to bridge the gap between traditional analog style drafting and the new digital software. In the preface, the authors describe their work as, “a book about the moment, bridging analog and digital techniques. Digital landscape representation relies heavily on the past, and we attempt to tie past and present together.” Why Break Away from Hand Drawing? But why is there such a need to break away from the traditional form of hand rendering? The answer is easy, digital rendering is faster, more efficient, and more flexible than traditional rendering techniques, and in a world where time is of the utmost importance, digital rendering has become the new relevant method in most offices.

Digital Drawing for Landscape Architecture Focus

There are five parts to the book and in part one, Concepts, chapter two sets up the premise of the book through an excellent comparison of analog and digital rendering. Chapter three goes on to give a basic overview of digital concepts, which might make it the most informative chapter in the book as it goes through and explains and defines the basic concepts that are associated with almost every digital program, which are helpful to even the most seasoned designer. After discussing workflows in part two, which includes base imagery and scaling in chapter six, the book moves into the more intricate, and sometimes, mundane details of a design, including managing large files and even printing issues.

Part three moves on to discuss design diagrams, and focuses on the program Adobe Illustrator. Starting with how to set up an Illustrator drawing, the chapters progress to discuss linework, pattern brushes, blending tools, live paint and symbols, and even more complicated techniques like how to create one of those amazing exploded axonometric diagrams. The next program discussed in detail is Photoshop, and in part four, readers will learn how to create beautifully rendered plan and section drawings by using simple techniques like layers, and the paint bucket tool, and then moves on to more complicated techniques that include creating texture from an existing photo and making a seamless pattern by using the offset filter. Get your copy HERE! In the last section, part five, things start getting more involved and all of the programs are finally used in conjunction with each other. This is also when three-dimensional modeling software is introduced to aid in the creation of perspective drawings. The authors emphasize, “It is important to devote time to the composition of a perspective drawing. Many factors contribute to an interesting and meaningful perspective illustration, including composition and view location. When used properly, they are powerful tools to convey complex landscape images.” If you love this book, check out these other book reviews:

• Drawing for Landscape Architecture
• Detail in Contemporary Landscape Architecture
• Visual Communications For Landscape Architecture

At slightly over 300 pages, this is the second edition of this ASLA award-winning book and it includes over 50 new examples with updated graphics to highlight the newest applications. When it was first published in 2012, the book was awarded an ASLA Award of Excellence based on its ability to “provide context for how we use digital media as designers and landscape architects,” so check it out and start the process of becoming an expert in digital rendering.

Pick up your copy of Digital Drawing for Landscape Architecture

Review by Erin Tharp Return to Homepage

10 Outstanding Landscape Architecture Projects of 2014. Every year, the world becomes home to new, innovative projects in landscape architecture. And every year, the designers behind these projects eagerly await recognition for their hard work. Looking at new technology, public attitudes toward the space, and awards received, the following list is a showcase of some of the best of 2014.

Landscape Architecture Projects of 2014

10. Segment 5, Hudson River Park, A Resourceful and Resilient Space for a Park-Starved Neighborhood, New York, NY – Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates Segment 5 is quickly becoming the most popular spot in the former “parkless” New York City neighborhood of Chelsea. This was no mistake: Designers worked closely with neighborhood residents to develop a plan that met their needs, as well as those of the state and the city. The site boasts a three-acre lawn, where pickup sports and outdoor yoga classes are a common occurrence, and participants are sheltered from the West Side Highway by the dramatic landform bowl. WATCH: Hudson River Park: A New York Treasure 9. Sherbourne Common, Toronto, Ontario — Phillips Farevaag Smalleberg As a winner of the 2013 ASLA Honor Award for Design, this space has been around for more than a year. However, it continued to make headlines throughout 2014. Sherbourne Common, a formerly neglected brownfield site on Toronto’s waterfront, combines a storm water treatment facility with landscape, architecture, engineering, and public art to provide an outdoor living room for the new residents of the East Bayfront community. WATCH: Grand Opening of Sherbourne Common North 8. Hunter’s Point South Waterfront Park, Queens, NY – Thomas Balsley Associates and Weiss/Manfredi This site is surrounded by water on three sides and offers a spectacular view of the Manhattan skyline across the East River. Two hundred years ago, the site was a series of wetlands, but eventually was overtaken by industry. Designers were asked to combine these two aspects by using landscape architecture, architecture, and engineering to create a space that would use sustainability to blur the lines between infrastructure and landscape.

7. Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve, Grand Teton National Park, WY – Hershberger Design As the first project within the National Parks to achieve LEED Platinum standard, this project doesn’t scream manmade sustainability. Rather, designers sought to give the design a light touch that appears to be completely natural and untransformed. Hershberger looked to the stunning and awe-inspiring qualities of the park, and took away all evidence of man to return it to its native condition to create a truly unique experience for visitors. 6. The Park at Lakeshore East: Chicago, IL – The Office of James Burnett Nicknamed the “village in the heart of the city,” by local developers, this is a park that was built for the people of Chicago and has attributes to attract people from all walks of life. The space lies at the center of a redevelopment that will include residential, commercial and retail space, as well as, an elementary school. It aims to fill the needs of all these different spaces, and it does this while also becoming a centerpiece in the world famous Chicago park system, and a rival for the historic Millennium Park. Related Articles:

• Top 10 World Class Landscape Architecture Projects of 2013
• 30 Landscape Architecture Firms To Keep Your Eye On!
• 10 Great Places to Study Landscape Architecture in Europe

5. Low Maintenance Eco-Campus: Vanke Research Center, Shenzhen, China – Z + T Studio, Landscape Architecture In a country known for its growing urbanization, the design team for this project wanted to show that sustainability and low maintenance were still possibilities in the urban landscape. Three issues were addressed in the design to achieve sustainability: Storm water management, low-maintenance construction, and planting material all combine here to create an educational and experimental space that is being used to address the numerous environmental concerns of the nation. 4. The Landscape of Memory: Poppy Plaza, Calgary, Alberta — Marc Boutin Architectural Collaborative, was the primary designer and lead for the commemorative aspects of the public space, as well as the hard landscaping: weathering steel and balau wood decking.  Stantec, the associated firm, was responsible for the soft landscaping. The park was built to commemorate citizens who served in World War I to protect the freedom and security of the Canadian people. The river walk is the second phase of the Landscape of Memory and is designed to move visitors from the upper roadway down to the riverbank. Wood and “folded” steel components are interspersed with illuminated trees to provide a sense of nature. And to truly generate contemplation, the project draws upon the emotive qualities of the river to evoke remembrance by visitors. 3. Slow Down: Liupanshui Minghu Wetland Park, Liupanshui, Guizhou Province, China – Turenscape This project used regenerative design techniques to address water pollution, flood and storm water inundation, recovery of the River Shuichenghe, and creation of public space to transform a deteriorated urban site into a nationally celebrated wetland park. The site is a major part of the city’s ecological infrastructure and is using much needed ecological services to cleanse water, recover lost habitat, and provide a gathering space where people can have access to much needed quality public space. 2. Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Campus, Seattle, WA – Gustafson Guthrie Nichol As the recipient of the 2014 ASLA Award of Excellence, this project took a contaminated 12-acre parking lot in the heart of Seattle and transformed it into an ecologically and socially sustainable site where employees can interact while also regenerating the surrounding community. This project falls under the foundation’s principles of having a global mission with local roots and to “help all people lead healthy, productive lives.” 1. National Arboretum, Canberra, Australia – Taylor Cullity Lethlean in collaboration with Tonkin Zulaikha Greer and David Lancashire This project combines 100 forests of endangered tree species from around the world on a 250-hectare formerly fire-ravaged site to bring attention to issues of sustainability, biodiversity, and public environmental concern. As the recipient of the 2014 World Architecture Festival’s Landscape of the Year Award, this project proves that landscape architecture is about more than just aesthetics. The 100 forests not only provide a unique experience, but also serve as seed banks from which endangered species are being preserved and propagated, all while allowing visitors to explore and learn the significance that trees, gardens, and plants have on the contemporary world. Each of these projects, while different in style and significance, stand to show that landscape architects are truly the stewards of the built environment. By creating projects that not only attract the public, but also serve as educational opportunities, landscape architects are afforded with the opportunity to truly change the world, one site at a time. Recommended Reading:

• Urban Design by Alex Krieger
• Digital Drawing for Landscape Architecture by Bradley Cantrell

Article by Erin Tharp Return to Homepage

11^th Street Bridge Park, OMA + OLIN design, Washington, D.C. In metropolitan areas, land comes at a premium and outdated infrastructure can be abundant, so when Washington, D.C., was seeking a plot of land on which to install a new civic space, the city decided to host a competition to transform an aged-out freeway bridge over the Anacostia River. At the end of the seven-month competition, the unanimously winning team for the 11th Street Bridge Park was OMA + OLIN design. “The 11th Street Bridge project is a special precinct in the structure of the city,” said competition juror Harry G. Robinson III, FAIA, professor of urban design and dean emeritus at Howard University. “It is at once both a crossing and a place. In its purest role, it is a hyphen that connects and celebrates the physical and cultural histories of two historic and vibrant Anacostia shoreline communities, while establishing a civic expression of democracy.”

The Street Bridge Park

Before they built, they talked! Before the competition ever started, the city held more than 400 meetings with nearby community residents, business owners, and government leaders to collect programming requests. The meetings revealed a need for an environmental education center, performance spaces, historic public art, inclusive play spaces, urban agriculture, and kayak and canoe launches. The design team was able to successfully incorporate all of these into its iconic design. They also set their own goals: to improve the health of the public, spur economic development, make the river viable to the people again, and connect the communities on either side of the river. “The OMA + OLIN concept is simply brilliant in the way they captured ideas we heard from residents on both sides of the river and from across the city,” said 11th Street Bridge Park Director Scott Kratz. “These thoughtful designers – some of the best architects and landscape architects in the world – have taken community-driven ideas and created a compelling new space that will connect two historically divided parts of the city while adding a new shape to the capital’s iconic monuments.” A Connection Between Historical Sides The design calls for the connection of two historically different sides of the river that will be accomplished through a series of programmed spaces and active areas, including two sloped ramps that will allow visitors to have the best views of landmarks on both sides. At the end of each ramp, a waterfall will flow downward to remind visitors of the river below. These falls serve an environmental purpose, as well: The eastern waterfall is part of an active filtration system that works in combination with the new wetland areas being built on land to clean the river. A second environmental feature will be an environmental education center where children from both sides of the river can come to learn about river ecology and wildlife by experiencing it up close. The designers thought long and hard about how to get people to visit the new space, so they included amenities such as a covered cafe to provide refreshments and an open plaza for markets, festivals, and theatrical performances. The shape of the bridge, though, is what makes it iconic. A giant “X” will be instantly recognizable as the river’s newest landmark. Hallie Boyce, OLIN’s partner and design lead on the project, commented, “The 11th Street Bridge Park project is an incredible opportunity to contribute to the civic fabric of Washington, D.C., through the design of an iconic, multi-functional landscape which promotes the health of the river and its adjacent communities, acting as a model both nationally and globally.” The Most Talked About Entry Not only was the OMA + OLIN design the unanimous choice by the competition jury, it also received the highest marks from the competition’s “Design Oversight Committee”, which was comprised of community stakeholders. It also received the most votes in a public poll of more than 1,100 people, showing that it will be a welcome addition to these communities. Related Articles:

• RheinRing Bridge is a Work of Art!
• Top 10 Bridges
• Top 10 Pedestrian Bridges

Funding The Bridge The project is a joint venture between the D.C. government and the not-for-profit Building Bridges Across the River. The government has committed to giving $14.5 million of the $25 million estimated cost of construction. An additional $15 million will be needed to provide funding for operating the site. When completed, the 11th Street Bridge project will serve as a place for these communities to come and improve their health and their lives. It will do this by encouraging physical activity and providing access to nutritious food, interaction with nature, and education, all of which have been proven again and again to improve health and welfare. Recommended Reading:

• Site Engineering for Landscape Architects by Steven Strom
• The Artful Garden: Creative Inspiration for Landscape Design  by James van Sweden

Article by Erin Tharp Return to Homepage

The Park at Lakeshore East, Chicago, IL, by The Office of James Burnett. Chicago’s Park at Lakeshore East is making a name for itself as a rival to the city’s famous Millennium Park. Since being dedicated in 2005, The Park at Lakeshore East is now not only a part of the Chicago Park District, but has also been nicknamed the “village in the heart of the city” by local developers. The 5.3-acre park was designed by The Office of James Burnett of Houston, Texas. The firm, founded in 1989, has amassed a vast profile and says that “Landscape design is their passion – it is who they are, not just what they do – and that passion is reflected in the spaces they create.” The firm was hired early in the project to aid the master plan architects, and also helped to produce the open space guidelines that would later be used in the design and development of the park.

A Prime Location for Now and the Future Located in the middle of the 28-acre Lakeshore East master-planned community in Chicago’s inner loop, the Park at Lakeshore East has become the front yard to the thousands of residents who live and work there. The development overlooks the confluence of the Chicago River and Lake Michigan and, according to landscape architect and park designer James Burnett, the park is “nature’s bounty in our midst. The Park at Lakeshore East is more than just a stunning design — it’s a six-acre oasis in the midst of downtown, home to over 100 different species of plants and trees, four of which are newcomers to Illinois. … These plantings will withstand the elements for hundreds of years. They’ll be loved for generations to come.”

Sail Boat Inspired Park Design

At first glance, the central feature would be the two sweeping promenades, designed to mirror the sails of the boats that can be seen in the nearby harbor. These promenades serve as the primary circulation across the site. Fountain basins, seating areas, and ornamental gardens can be found alongside each, promoting leisurely strolls and quiet reflection.

During planning, designers discovered that the grade change on the site was 25 feet, due to Chicago’s three-tiered transit system. Designers turned this into an advantage and used the topography to create a more intimate and enclosed space. The Grand Stair was built to conquer the topography, bring people into the park as an extension of Field Street’s axis, offer a commanding view of the park, and serve as a gathering space for events. But this park offers more than just a place to walk or relax. Educational opportunities abound here for those who are willing to learn. Simply download a copy of the Park’s Botanical Guide, which lists the common and botanical names of the plants, as well as a map and short description of the plants so that the horticultural journey can continue on out into the surrounding city. WATCH: The Park at Lakeshore East…a Personal Vision Children are welcome here, too, and park planners provided them with a gated play area that includes interactive water features and colorful play structures constructed out of recycled tires. Parents are provided with a shaded sitting area from which they can comfortably observe their children play and enjoy the free Wi-Fi. Or they might choose to cool off by running through the spray fountain with their kids. For parents of furry babies, there’s a safe place to play, too. The dog park was designed to provide entertainment for both pets and owners, with varying topography, berms, pathways, a designated off-leash area, and, of course, a special water feature where the pups can get a drink of fresh, cool water. Related  Articles:

• Historical Landscape Gets Modern Day Makeover
• 15 Great Examples of Historical Landscape Architecture
• 30 Landscape Architecture Firms To Keep Your Eye On!

At night, the park still beckons, as a series of lighted water gardens and fountains put on a breathtaking display of shimmering reflections on the water throughout the park. There are also special lighting features used to illuminate the stairs and pathways, making the park beautiful from the towers above, as well. WATCH: The Park at Lakeshore East with James Burnett When the $4 billion redevelopment is complete, the park will be the centerpiece for 4,950 residential units, 1,500 hotel rooms, 2.2 million gross square feet of commercial space, 770,000 square feet of retail space, and an elementary school. Among the awards the park has won are Best Open Space and Best New Park in Chicago from Chicago Magazine, the Builders Choice Design & Planning Award from Builder Magazine, and the Honor Award in Design from the Texas Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects, all in 2006. Recommended Reading:

• Urban Green: Innovative Parks for Resurgent Cities by Peter Harnik
• Urban Parks and Open Space by Alexander Garvin

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Ben-Gurion University University Entrance Square & Art Gallery, by Chyutin Architects, Beer-Sheva, Israel. Ben-Gurion University, in the Israeli city of Beer-Sheva, is home to the new meditative Deichmann Square that is bringing hope for the future back to a city that is constantly on the verge of losing it. The 3,500 square-meter space incorporates hardscapes and plantings almost seamlessly, while also shining a light on future development, not only on campus, but also in Israel. Located in the western part of the BGU campus, the square is adjacent to existing buildings and the future Negev Gallery, and is meant to serve as a link between the community and the art and social sciences studied in the buildings. This connection is emphasized by a pedestrian path that leads to a city square and then on to the entrance gate of the university, welcoming those from the outside to come in and find solace.

Chyutin Architects Ltd., founded by Bracha and Michael Chyutin in 1978, is the Israeli firm behind the new modern square, and they are known for their design work on academic campuses and cultural institutions, both of which this latest project encompasses. According to their website, they design with the belief that “every architect is a gardener in his garden,” which shows their need to grow and cultivate the country they live and work in. They combine Western, Jewish and Israeli aspects into each of their designs to create spaces that are both modern and traditional additions to the landscape around them.

Deichmann Square a Place for University Students

This can be found in the Deichmann square where concrete and vegetation weave together as if in an homage to the Israeli landscape, where large cities lie amongst rolling hills and mountains. They write that their team strives to adhere “to the homeland’s landscapes: to its inanimate matter, to its vegetation, and to its color that is revealed by the blazing sun.”

Dramatic Lighting and its Impact on the Space In the case of the Deichmann square, the colors are revealed at night, when up-lighting reveals the blazing stalks of plants and the intricacies of the concrete, making the square an inviting space both during the day and also at night. Planting with Limitations Plantings are broken into long, linear strips by the grey concrete, perhaps symbolic of the tenacity of the Israeli people to survive in harsh conditions and a broken city. While this bright green vegetation stands out and appears to be prominent, the use of plantings is in fact limited since the intention is for students, faculty and the city’s population to use the square as a place to meet and congregate. Large open areas and concrete benches encourage this congregation even more, and further enforce the hope for a peaceful city that would allow for such safe congregation. Related Articles:

• 10 Great Places to Study Landscape Architecture in the USA
• 10 Great Places to Study Landscape Architecture in Europe
• X-Section Interview- University Magazine for Landscape Architecture

The design team describes the space as being “designed as a carpet of integrated strips of concrete paving, vegetation and lighting with concrete benches and trees scattered randomly.” The plantings include lawn, Equisetopsida, and seasonal plantings, all planted in linear rows. Connecting The Building to The Urban Environment  Finally, the square serves as the connection between the adjacent buildings by extending out to touch each façade, and it also connects the buildings with the urban environment that can be found outside the campus through the pedestrian path. Similarities abound between them, all are rectilinear in form and the use of bare concrete serves as a reminder of the commonalities between the buildings, the city and the square. Notable Achievements The project was completed in 2008 and in 2009 it won the ‘Ot-Hitzuv,’ The Israeli Design Award and was included in the 2010 book written by Chyutin Architects titled, From Vision to Reality, Architecture of Ben-Gurion University 1990-2006. Recommended Reading:

• Landscape Architecture: An Introduction by Robert Holden
• Detail in Contemporary Landscape Architecture by Virginia McLeod

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Haute Deûle River Banks by Atelier de Paysages Bruel-Delmar. The French landscape often provokes images of chateaus, rolling hills of lavender, cities comprised of ornate and delicate buildings and, of course vineyards, but these images are not often of industry. But this may soon change with the revitalization of the Haute Deûle River Banks and the old textile mill that had been left to deteriorate until now. Atelier de Paysages Bruel-Delmar – a team of city planners & landscape architects, were commissioned by SORELI for the cities of Lille and Lomme and the urban community LMCU to design all the public spaces and the lift bridge, and their design takes into account the history of the site while integrating modern day technology and design aesthetics to create a functional and welcoming space.

Are they mixing business with pleasure? The team describes the project as, “a sustainable district surrounding the old textile mill today transformed in a consortium of high technologies of communication leans on the memory traces in order to apply itself in these inhabited places identity, and at the same time, to revitalize this expression of federating water in the new development.”

The Impact of Water in the Industrial Landscape

  The water takes center stage here and the designers describe its presence as “undeniable, as much in the district history as in its present-day configuration, despite a loss of recognition.”

The loss of recognition comes from the modern technologies that were put in place to clean up the canal that once was a symbol of strength for the area due to its role in inland water shipping that forged the identity of the Bois Blanc district. The old canals and irrigation ditches were transformed into rainwater collection areas for all of the district’s surfaces. A convivial water station square and water garden were added, which play the storage and phytoremediation roles, and according to designers “evolves with rain rhythms and becomes an emblematic place for this work on water.” The Central Focus of the Site The focal point of the site, due to its size, central location and its avocation of a prosperous industrial past, is the old textile mill, Le Blan-Lafont (now the “Euratechnologies” building). “It brings this built ensemble together with the public spaces that border it, the large lawn and the water garden in the south, the old dance hall and Bretagne square in the north. Interactivity and complementarities are created between the building dedicated to high-tech companies and the public spaces, open to a broader public,” according to designers. And leading the public here from the neighboring Lille and Lomme neighborhoods is the north-south circulation axis that runs alongside the Great Lawn and the water garden. Related Articles:

• Top 10 Reused Industrial Landscapes
• From Rubble to the Ritz – Revitalizing Abandoned Sites
• Industrial Site Transforms into Beautiful Landscape

The final element in the design that links the area to the surrounding water is the lift bridge that crosses the bras de Canteleu. The bridge, according to the design team, was placed to “ensure the link with the island of Bois Blanc and allows the waterway to rediscover the central role that it must play in the district organization. The extension of rue du Pont à Fourchon fits in with the urban history and respects the strip parceling and the existing walls.” Award Winning Landscape Architecture  In 2009 this project was awarded with the Ecological District Label on the theme of ‘Water’. It also won the French 2010 Prize for Urban Development. It received in 2013 the National Eco-district Label delivered by the Ministry of ecology. The redevelopment of the riverbanks provides for the requalification of public spaces of the Lomme Marsh and allows for new business and new technology, at the same time it doesn’t deprive this quarter of the charm found in the proportions of the streets that are bordered with old worker houses. Designers describe this as a garden street that “expresses the territorial dimension of the valley of the Deûle and offers a linear park typology to serve the district heart while respecting its working-class built typology.” Recommended Reading:

• Principles of Ecological Landscape Design by Travis Beck
• Design with Nature by Ian L. McHarg

Article written by Erin Tharp Return to Homepage

Studying for the L.A.R.E. by LAN writer Erin Tharp who has recently passed the L.A.R.E.  For future landscape architects, seeking initial licensure can seem like a daunting task, but by adhering to the following advise, at least the Landscape Architecture Registration Exam (L.A.R.E.) won’t seem so scary. But, before the studying begins, be sure to start a council record with the Council of Landscape Architectural Registration Boards (CLARB) and check with the state administering the exam, most have graduation and work requirements before one is allowed to sit for the L.A.R.E. So, you’ve met all of the requirements and now you’re ready to take the test, or are you? The L.A.R.E. consists of four computerized sections, and according to CLARB’s website is “designed to determine whether applicants for landscape architectural licensure possess sufficient knowledge, skills and abilities to provide landscape architectural services without endangering the health, safety and welfare of the public.”

The Main Sections of the L.A.R.E.

  Section one is titled “Project and Construction Management,” two is “Inventory and Analysis,” three is “Design,” and section four is “Grading, Drainage and Construction Documentation.” While all of these may sound like topics covered in your degree program, more than likely they weren’t. And forget the pretty pictures, since the test is computerized you are not being tested on your design aesthetics, you are being tested on health, safety, and welfare. So, how do you study? First off, CLARB sells practice exams for each test, buy these, they will prove integral to your studying. The questions on the practice tests will probably not show up on the actual exams, but they will give you a clue about what to study and will also show you the format of the exams. When taking the practice exams, look for key words, such as watershed, and then learn everything you can about watersheds and what a landscape architect would need to know about a watershed as applied to health, safety, and welfare of the public. The Book List

can find most of what you’re looking for in CLARB’s list of recommended reading material. The list contains 13 books, some of which you probably had to buy for school. Hopefully you held on to them because it is imperative that you take this list seriously and read them, not necessarily every word of all of them, but at least flip through them and read the diagrams. By using these books to find the answers to the practice exam questions you’ll find yourself becoming familiar with more in-depth knowledge than you probably studied in school. Next, download the L.A.R.E. Orientation Guide, this short PDF will give you detailed information about each section and help you to understand the content of the exam. It also contains the lumber span tables and the materials lists that you will need to familiarize yourself with for sections three and four. Also found on the CLARB website is a link to the American Society of Landscape Architects’ (ASLA) website where you can find practice vignettes. If for one second you think that you don’t need these because you work in a design office and lay out parking lots and do grading plans every day, think again. CLARB is not testing you on your ability to lay out or grade a site, they are testing you on your ability to lay out and grade a site while keeping health, safety, and welfare in mind. Are you beginning to see a pattern here? So, get the vignettes from ASLA and ask around your office, more than likely you’ll find some old ones laying around, and in the end, the more practice vignettes you can become comfortable doing, the better you will do on the exam. Finally, look for crash courses that are offered around the country. Most classes will set you back a couple of hundred dollars, and while you probably feel like you’ve spent enough money at this point already, the classes are great. In addition to having a professional available to answer all your questions, you’ll also probably go home with more vignettes. So, how much time should you study? Exams are offered three times each year with four months between them, and I recommend studying for each exam for at least three months and for at least three hours each day. If you’re in a hurry to get licensed, you can take all four sections during a single exam period, or you can spread them out, but either way, be prepared to dedicate some serious time to your studies. WATCH: L.A.R.E. Demonstration In the end, you’re probably more prepared than you think you are, so just follow the advice above and try to stay calm. The path to licensure can seem to be never-ending, but when you see the word “Passed” on your record, you’ll realize that all of the hard work and money spent was completely worth it. Good luck! Recommended Reading for Studying the L.A.R.E. 

• Construction Contracts by Jimmie Hinze
• Basic Elements of Landscape Architectural Design by Norman K. Booth
• Landscape Architectural Graphic Standards by Leonard J. Hopper

Article written by Erin Tharp Return to Homepage Featured image: Studying: Public Domain by Gnarlycraig