Author: Land8: Landscape Architects Network

In this article, we discuss some easy DIY home landscape ideas to help you turn your private outdoor space into your own private sanctuary.  If you are looking for a way to spruce up your space, there are some fun and easy DIY projects that you can pull off to add a warm and inviting atmosphere to your surroundings. You may want to do these projects for your own enjoyment or you may want to make your property more attractive to potential buyers. Either way, you will be pleased with the results and the great news is it won’t cost a fortune or take forever to accomplish. Here are a few DIY yard improvement ideas that you will love.

DIY Home Landscaping Ideas

1. Use Mulch Or Rocks To Keep The Weeds Out Of Flower Beds And Borders

Using mulch or rocks is a great way to ensure that you don’t get overrun by weeds after you plant your newly acquired end of the season sale plants. Compare prices to find the best deal. Keep in mind the benefits of one versus the other and decide if you think mulch would be more flattering, or if you want to go more contemporary with the rock.

2. Plant Fruit Trees

A great idea for landscaping and bringing in nature in a creative way is to strategically plant fruit trees. Fruit trees can add a special something to a boring yard. Not only do they add texture and dimension, but they also are easy to grow and are useful for providing yummy treats for the family. In the spring they will also have delicious smelling flowers that will accent your yard.

3. Search For Plants At The End-Of-The-Season

If you are trying to save a few bucks and love to find a great deal, then you should consider checking out for the discount plants. You can come across some great deals that you can plant right away and enjoy. These are usually larger because they have had the whole season to get bigger so they will fill spots in your yard more fully than if you were to buy them at the beginning of the season. It is a win-win situation. You get a bigger plant for a better price. Big Box home improvement stores like Lowe’s and smaller retailers such as B&Q will have a great selection at low prices. You can also use coupons and promo codes from Mamma.com to get an even better deal.

4. Roses

When in doubt, go with roses. They are usually inexpensive and look wonderful no matter where you plant them. Just be sure that you know if they will require a surface to climb on or if they are the standard bush variety. Roses always add an air of sophistication and charm to any landscape. These are just a few ideas to help get you pointed in the right direction. Try any of these ideas to help make your yard more interesting and refined. Everyone will love the upgrade and your wallet will thank you.

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Recommended Reading:

• Becoming an Urban Planner: A Guide to Careers in Planning and Urban Design by Michael Bayer
• Sustainable Urbanism: Urban Design With Nature by Douglas Farrs

Article by Joel Cortez Featured image:  By Brigita B. – via Unsplash, licensed under CC 0.0, source.

Article by Kamil Rawski – Malgrat de Mar by Territori24, in Malgrat de Mar, Spain, showing how collaboration with local residents can become the easy way to revitalize the neighborhood. The Barri del Castell neighbourhood is located in Malgrat de Mar – a seaside town in the province of Barcelona. It belongs to the Maresme region and approximately 18,500 people live there. The place where the project is located was built on former farmland and became an area of unplanned urban growth. The neighborhood’s needs have changed over past 25 years, which has been noted by the town council. Elements that distinguish Barri del Castell from the rest of the town are its origins, the economic and social status, and of course its topography. The district is situated near the town centre, between the steep slopes of the Castell hill to the southeast and the Sant Genis river to the northeast. These physical barriers interrupt the town’s urban fabric. Social inequalities are the result of the arrival of immigrants who settled on this area during the 50s, 60s and 70s.

Both ends of the neighborhood have been earmarked within the town’s general urban planning as two sectors for urban improvement. It’s because they were the most neglected places. Despite the regeneration of the urban fabric and buildings, and the reduction in social inequalities, Barri del Castell still needed a solution to become a more integrated part of the town.

Revitalize a Neighborhood

Aim of the Intervention

In 2009, Territori24 began to research within the framework of the acces_SOS project into urban public space and its accessibility for all sectors of the population. They organized a workshop with local residents and established that the streets of Barri del Castell can become places where social ties could be rebuilt. Thanks to collaboration with local residents, the designers had the opportunity to detect the flaws and needs of the neighborhood. The result was to focus on problems of accessibility and quality of public space. The street had to become an urban square by designing urban elements, road signage, and an arrangement of handrails, benches, and trees and to free the road of excessive traffic.

Idea of Project The main aim of the project is to transform four streets: Segre, Montnegre, Tordera and Montseny (for now; the last one still waits to be completed) into pedestrian-friendly spaces. Designers want to improve the conditions of accessibility and the quality of the public space by creating a zone where pedestrian mobility is complemented with vehicle mobility.

To achieve these goals Territori24 proposed:

Improving the area’s physical conditions of accessibility, for which it is important to reduce the road space for vehicle use and incorporate handrails; and ensuring that the street’s circulation rules are easily understood by clearly marking the areas for vehicle and pedestrian use, by way of a specific signage system in white non‐slip paint. The parallel white lines mark the areas for pedestrian use and the yellow lines indicate private driveways and areas where parking is prohibited.

Due to times of economic crisis, these interventions could not be expensive. Territory 24 had to find the way to reduce costs. Together with a La petita dimensió group, they developed the concept to design the street that gives a new reading of space by using only necessary elements or replacing them with paint. For example, to force cars to slow their speed, they were routed through a winding road by using the pedestrian crossing stripes in different lengths, emphasizing the unique platform.

Street Art and Design

A graphic set was designed, based on patterns of leaves, and constitutes a distinguishing element for the streets. They are painted onto the surfaces and form a white carpet of leaves that recalls the shadows of trees. To achieve consistent and continuous space, they designed a russet asphalt floor which makes no clear distinction between the street’s different uses; pedestrian circulation, vehicular circulation, parking, etc. They also provided a single‐level asymmetrical street and an off‐centre thoroughfare for vehicles located 1.5m from one side and 3.5m from the other, as well as the stopping points that encourage relations between neighbors.

Participative sessions with local residents revealed the need to maintain some parking spaces, so designers decided to make three of them in each street. Their placement responds – according to a study – with entrances to existing homes and possible future entrance ways. The project also incorporates small concrete squares into the streets Tordera and Montnegre as rest places and elements of the small square as meeting places. Vegetation and Equipment To make space more enjoyable, vegetation and urban furnishings have been introduced to the project. The streets are planted with evergreens, which aren’t used as shading elements because of their location. Designers also planned concrete circular seats along the length of the street, as well as wastepaper baskets. These are used instead of traditional bollards to deter excessive traffic. Given the steep gradient (between 14% and 20%) designers thought about sections of handrails, attached to the façades, to facilitate walking up the streets. This design is good example of how creativity and dedication can reduce costs. Local residents have actively collaborated in defining the problems and the solutions. The project includes no superfluous elements and combines elements with functions like bollards as seats or paintings as boundaries. Certainly, participating with local residents in this project was one of the things which caused it to succeed. Do you think that this project would be successful without collaborating with local residents?

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Full Project Credits For Malgrat de Mar:

Project Name: Malgrat de Mar Author: Territori24 architecture and urbanism, SLP | acces_sos Project promoter: SEEP – Province of Barcelona Promoter of work: City of Malgrat de Mar Construction Company: Excavations Bermúdez / Faus Construcciones y Servicios, SA Graphic design: La petita dimensió Painting: Foundation Vilar Project Year: 2012 Work Year: 2013/2016 Location: Malgrat de Mar, Spain Site Area: 3.213,64 m2 Budget: € 429,225.91 Recommended Reading:

• Becoming an Urban Planner: A Guide to Careers in Planning and Urban Design by Michael Bayer
• Sustainable Urbanism: Urban Design With Nature by Douglas Farrs
• eBooks by Landscape Architects Network

Article by Tahío Avila

Article by Moreira Filho – We take a look at 10 of the best books for understanding green roofs, one of the hottest topics in the world of landscape architecture.  Designing a Green Roof System may be a big challenge for many professionals. For some it can work like a difficult level montage in their minds. For these reasons, landscape architects, researchers and writers have developed and written about methods to help professionals in developing projects and executing Green Roof Systems, and have made them available in books. These systems have lots of phases, and the professional must become inspired and understand all the steps required in their construction, unifying design with implementation. We selected some of these books with different sorts of subjects related to Green Roof Systems, containing examples and useful information to help your work. (Click on any of the titles or images for more details about getting the book)

10 Books for Understanding Green Roofs

1. Green Roof Ecosystems – Ecological Studies – 2015th Edition, by Richard K. Sutton

With 447 pages, this book provides each detail of how we can succeed in our designs, explaining step-by-step what you must know. It details and reviews relevant points such as cultural, biotic, and abiotic aspects of how to connect green roofs to their surroundings and neighborhoods. Further, there are lots of schemes we must know about substrates, fixing plants, and an understanding of structure, function, and impacts. The book is illustrative, practical, and useful. The editor is a professor in the Department of Agriculture and Agronomy at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln. He is focused on ornamental horticulture, landscape ecology, and the design program in Landscape Architecture.

2. Green Roof Plants: A Resource and Planting Guide. Hardcover – Illustrated, September 1, 2006, by Edmund Snodgrass

Full of images and cultural information, we can find in its 220 pages a concise and easy-to-use guide about plants that we can use in green roof projects. It’s useful not only for landscape architects, engineers and environmentalists, but also for general gardeners and people interested in a good quality of life. Most of the species are fairly common all over the world and easy to find, but not all of them, unfortunately. Anyway, it describes more than 200 species with important information about heat tolerance, hardiness, bloom color, seeds, height, moisture needs and foliage characteristics. The author, Edmund Snodgrass, is an experienced professional who speaks and lectures about green roof systems and plants around the world.

3. Small Green Roofs: Low-Tech Options for Greener Living. Paperback – April 27, 2011 . By Nigel Dunnett, Dusty Gedge, Edmund C. Snodgrass and John Little.

It’s probably the first book in English that focuses on small-scale green roofs. For those who think it is impossible to create a green roof in a small space, here is research that totally proves the contrary in 256 pages. The authors bring this concept to the domestic level, since that roof is a very small one. This book stresses the ideas of water conservation, energy savings and flood management, stimulating everyone to have a green garden roof wherever is possible, even in a small area. It doesn’t have so many details about step-by-step construction although it’s possible to find installation instructions within it, but it carries lots of good examples of how to do things and of course, a bunch of inspirational images. The authors have a huge amount of experience and graduate degrees in landscape architecture, design and horticulture, as they are professionals in those areas. 4. Green Roofs: A Guide to their Design and Installation. Paperback – April 1, 2012 by Angela Youngman Energy-efficient buildings are the main subject presented in this book. It takes small- and large-scale available green roof projects, from the conception of the design, passing through installation and maintenance. What does make it different? It introduces problems that can be encountered in each step, advises about vegetation and how to deal with it and offers descriptions about projects all over the world. This is not a do-it-yourself book. It is a study about the process of each phase in a project of a Green Roof System.

5. Green Roof Construction – Essential guide. By Landscape Architects Network and Zinco

This is an essential and complete guide about Green Roof System construction. It covers all the themes we can find in all the books and what we need to know about this futuristic use of a roof, but with a difference aspect: it focuses on the use of technology; roof and vegetation tech. Another interesting aspect is a chapter describing the diversified systems of technology like Floraset®, for example, which guarantees less maintenance and thermic conditions to vegetation once it lets them get in touch with a necessary quantity of water only. Remember all Landscape Architects Network VIP subscribers get to download the Green Roof Construction eBook for FREE. Sign up HERE!

6. Living Architecture: Green Roofs and Walls, by Christine Goodwin and Graeme Hopkins

The Australian landscape architect Graeme Hopkins and the artist and architect Christine Goodwin divided the book into comprehensive chapters that explore green roof and wall system constructions. They study international cases and contexts bringing them to Australian local cases, showing explained illustrations of the landscapes, gardens and projects. It has 300 pages, published by CSIRO Publishing.

7. Green Walls Green Roofs: Designing Sustainable Architecture, by Gina Tsarounas The focus now is how to incorporate a sustainable architecture into a green roof or green wall system. This book has technical comments about the advantages and disadvantages those green systems can provide. It presents projects from Singapore to North America, for the understanding of the readers about how professionals around the world deal with green roofs and walls systems. It was written by Gina Tsarounas in 224 pages and was published by Images Publishing Dist Ac in September, 2014.

Keep on Studying

A good way to become the best professional in landscape architecture is by being in touch with new technologies and making a continual study scheme. Now you have a little support to encourage you in that crazy and cool idea of design and implementation of a green roof falling over a green wall. How are you dealing with your landscape architecture studies? How much do you know about Green Roof Construction? Tell us what books you are consulting while you are working or studying about this subject. Article by Moreira Filho

We take a look at modern landscape ideas and tips. Looking at how they can impact the landscape designs around us to ake better places. In search of larger space and a breath of fresh air, people expand their living spaces outdoors with the use of patios. Patios have been a place of relaxation and entertainment for many families. This is the reason why its design should be carefully planned. If you need help in designing the landscape of your patio, you can take inspiration from the projects of Louie Santaguida, a real estate developer. You can also check out these tips for designing landscape:

List Your Needs and Preferences

You need to determine the purpose of the patio. Will it be a place for your morning cup of coffee or for a nice evening dinner? Do you have children who would want to play in this area? Your landscape design should meet the needs and preferences of your family. The patio will not serve its purpose if it’s not designed properly. For example, if you want it to be a place for picnics, you might want to provide a space for a barbecue grill.

Study the Sun and Wind Patterns

You should know the hottest and the windiest point of your house. If your patio is made for taking a cup of tea in the afternoon, you might not want to place your patio on the west because it would be very hot. You should also put your patio in the area where the wind is freely passing through and not near the road where you’ll inhale smoke instead of fresh air.

Determine the Size and Shape of the Patio

You need to know how big your patio will be. Do you have enough space to put a dining table there? Or will it only fit a small coffee table and lounge chairs? Knowing the area of the patio can help you design its landscape and determine the appropriate furniture for it. You’ll be able to make the most out of your space if you plan ahead carefully.

Look for Landscape Inspirations

There are many landscape inspirations online that can give you an idea of how to design your own. Just remember that these inspirations or ideas should only be ideas and not the exact plan. You should create your own by mixing ideas from different sources and adding your own touch.

Take One Step at a Time

Creating a beautiful patio takes time. After landscaping, you might have to wait for the shrubs and flowers to grow. You would also need to maintain the grass around it. Patience and creativity are really the keys to success in designing a patio. Though making a plan is important, you have to be spontaneous and be open to changes along the way. Aside from the landscape, outdoor furniture is also an important part of the patio. Make sure that you buy furniture that is durable and can withstand the elements, rain or shine. Recommended Reading:

• Becoming an Urban Planner: A Guide to Careers in Planning and Urban Design by Michael Bayer
• Sustainable Urbanism: Urban Design With Nature by Douglas Farrs

Article by Veselina Dzhingarova Featured image:  By Daderot – I took this photograph., Public Domain, source.

We take a look at modern landscape design. Looking at how they inspire us and bring us to new horizons in landscape architects. From museums and parks to art installations and memorials, the best landscape architects in the world have proven that it is entirely possible to combine art and environmental custodianship. With climate change and all the environmental concerns the world is facing today, these modern landscape designs show us that we need not sacrifice beauty when we decide to go green.

Modern Landscape Designs

Below are 5 of the most modern landscape designs that you can check out:

1. National 9/11 Memorial, New York, USA

After the horrors of 9/11, the world was never the same again. And what better way to honour the lives of those who were lost than with this beautifully designed 9/11 Memorial? Set where the original Twin Towers were, this is one of the most eco-friendly plazas in the world. It has two enormous (about an acre each) waterfalls and reflecting pools, surrounded by 400 trees.

2. Pink Balls, Quebec, Canada

Every summer since 2011, the 1-kilometre stretch of St. Catherine Street East in Montreal’s Gay Village is transformed into a pedestrian-friendly mall. Quebec’s most renowned landscape architect, Claude Cormier, then sets up his world-famous art installation, ‘Pink Balls’. A colourful art display that’s basically made up of 170,000 pink balls strung through the trees lining the avenue, this modern landscape design has made the neighbourhood even more magical. Aside from the display, this neighbourhood is also home to restaurant terraces, a 40-hectare parkland, and some of the best Montreal Condos, including Octave – your new dream home at the heart of the village.

3. Cheonggyecheon River Project, Seoul, South Korea

Before it was restored, the Cheonggyecheon River was a covered wastewater canal that was highly polluted and hardly beautiful. The 11-kilometre redevelopment project not only removed all traces of the river’s past, but it also beautified Seoul and allowed the people to rediscover the beauty of nature in the middle of a bustling city.

4. Tree Museum, Rapperswil-Jona, Switzerland

A museum dedicated to trees? Why not? Just outside of Lake Zurich, you’ll find the masterpiece of Swiss landscape architect Enzo Anea, and it’s definitely unlike any other museum you’ve been to before. Sprawled over 2.5 acres and containing about 2,000 species of trees, this ‘museum’ showcases trees from all over the world and is beautifully punctuated with stone columns and other works of art. Some of the trees are more than a century old, simply leaving you breathless. Combining the elements of botany, landscape, art, and architecture in one place, this museum is the perfect ode to one of nature’s timeless masterpieces: the tree.

5. California Academy of Sciences, California, USA

Located right at the heart of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park, the California Academy of Sciences is remarkable not just because it’s a world-class planetarium, aquarium, and natural history museum in one. Designed by Renzo Piano, this massive building has a ‘dynamic green roof’ at the top, dotted by several skylights that give light to the all the plants, animals, and humans below. Recommended Reading:

• Becoming an Urban Planner: A Guide to Careers in Planning and Urban Design by Michael Bayer
• Sustainable Urbanism: Urban Design With Nature by Douglas Farrs

Article by Veselina Dzhingarova Featured image:  By Saschaporsche – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, source.

By Mai Nguyen – Westhaven Promenade Auckland, by ASPECT Studios, Architectus and Landlab, in Westhaven, Auckland, New Zealand. The publicly accessible waterfront of Westhaven Promenade, completed in 2015 by the collaborative team of ASPECT Studios with Architectus and Landlab, is an important part of the development of Auckland’s public realm. The project provides 1.5 kilometers of shared pedestrian and cycle promenades connecting the marina and the city. It is hoped that the project will stimulate additional economic growth in the area. With its sensible design using human scale, appropriate materials, and thoughtful space arrangement, the project promises to be a noticeable contribution to the development of the Westhaven Marina waterfront.

Westhaven Promenade

A Sensible Combination of Material, Color, and Shape

The promenade features about 600 meters of timber boardwalk and 900 meters of concrete path. The timber deck was made from spotted gum hardwood, one of Australia’s premium native hardwoods, noted for its high natural durability and strength. Since timber usually creates a warm feeling, it provides a friendly atmosphere for users. The light gray color (quite close to the color of beach sand) helps blend this manmade structure with its natural surroundings. The light color also helps to visually “soften” the promenade.

Although the promenade consists of segmental parts aligning with the shoreline, it evokes a feeling of strength, stableness, and harmony. Indeed, the appropriate combination of materials, color, and shapes creates an attractive atmosphere for users without relying on inordinate inserts. Another plus to this design is the use of lighting that not only enhances the strong shape of the design, but also enriches the night landscape experience. By using lighting only on one side of the walkway, the illumination creates a comfortable atmosphere for visitors. The shimmer of the lights’ reflection on the water is undeniably romantic. A strong awareness of site conditions is always useful in the progress of enhancing a landscape design.

Proper Scale for Better Atmosphere

Another noticeable aspect in the design of the Westhaven Promenade is the consistent use of 5-meter width. This dimension is just wide enough for a shared path for pedestrians and cyclers; it ensures the necessary safety while managing to avoid having too much empty space. In other words, the general atmosphere created for this shoreline path is “busy enough” to encourage people to come and enjoy the marine views.

It is not too abandoned or too suffocated. In landscape design — and especially in the designing of a promenade — it is important to provide an appropriate width for the walkway in order to provide an encouraging atmosphere. In the case of the Westhaven Promenade, the space is wide enough for small groups of two or three people to walk safely with one or two cyclers. Therefore, even in an inactive period, the space is not too empty, but inviting and attractive. The sensible design and arrangement of public amenities also plays a factor in the project’s success. Timber seating has been placed at locations that offer attractive views. The seats and timber kick-rails ensure safety and suggest pausing points for the best enjoyment of marine views. Moreover, the designers purposely integrated Maori Whakatauki and Waka stories within the precast concrete terrace steps . This enhances the cultural connection of the local site and the harbor landmarks. The precast concrete steps embrace the natural topography and create some visually amicable scenery. The color of the concrete also matches the general color of the promenade and other elements of the design.

Responsive to SLR

Another interesting fact about the design of the Westhaven Promenade is the raise of the 300mm decking structure to accommodate anticipated tide events, sea level rise, and storm surges for the 30- to 50-year lifespan of the promenade . Sea level rise has always been a “hot” issue, especially in marine regions. By taking into account this feature, the design will allow users to experience the chronological evolution of the landscape.

In other words, throughout time and changes in sea level, the landscape experiences of this design will also be enriched by the transformation of nature. Instead of trying to confront or stubbornly ignore an unavoidable phenomenon such as sea level rise, the designers have embraced it and harmonized it with other components of the overall design. To sum up, the Westhaven Promenade in Auckland is an exemplary reference illustrating the impact of a landscape design on urban development. With a comprehensive understanding about the site — including tangible and intangible elements — the team has created a responsive design that not only connects the existing the city with the water and the people with nature, but also encourages further development of the surroundings. The three aspects mentioned above are not the only elements contributing to the success of this project. But they can be seen as the main framework orienting the style and evolution of the design. Indeed, appropriate forms, scale, and awareness of the natural impact are crucial foundations for any landscape development project. What are other fundamental elements for an urban-scale landscape project?

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Full Project Credits For Westhaven Promenade Auckland:

Project Name: Westhaven Promenade Location: Westhaven, Auckland, New Zealand Client: Waterfront Auckland Landscape Architect: ASPECT Studios, Architectus and LandLAB in association Project Team: ASPECT Studios, Architectus and LandLAB in association (Collaborative design team) JAWA Structures (Structural and Civil Engineering) e3BW (Lighting design) Traffic Planning Consultants (Traffic / Transport Engineering) Rewi Thompson Architects (Cultural Advisor) MPM (Project Management) Photography: Jonny Davis Year: 2015 Budget: NZ $7 million (stage 1) Length: 1.5km Recommended Reading:

• Becoming an Urban Planner: A Guide to Careers in Planning and Urban Design by Michael Bayer
• Sustainable Urbanism: Urban Design With Nature by Douglas Farrs
• eBooks by Landscape Architects Network

Article by Mai Nguyen

Article by Aybige Tek – We take two great landscape designs and pit them up against one another to see how they compare side by side. Which one do you think is better? What is a great way to learn some topics? How about we start comparing some of the world’s best landscape and urban projects? We learn a lot of new information when we compare similar projects or products. Let us take two riverside projects for example, both from France. These two projects both have rivers next to them. Now we can compare them according to a couple of qualities each development project requires, such as functionality, aesthetics, planting, and materiality.

Berges de Seine Paris vs Rhone River Bank Lyon

Functionality

Berges De Seine is a world heritage project. The site covers a lot of functions for residents and visitors of the city, such as walking, sitting, chilling, playing, performing, drinking, talking, renting bicycles, etc. These activities are done at game tables and floors with games printed on them, at certain sunny terraces, on floating gardens, at beer bars, at athletic tracks, on gigantic steps, at kid’s playgrounds, and at rock climbing areas.

The views from the project frame the surrounding French architecture and urban historical architecture. The project provides bike rentals, the use of which decreases air pollution and creates opportunities for eco_friendly transportation, which therefore makes the city more sustainable for the future. One can easily define this project as functioning as a “total encouragement” for biodiversity. The Rhone River Banks development also links the parks of the city and forms a flowing, continuous running and cycling road path. Walking, sitting, relaxing on grass, biking, and running functions take place in this project. Sport activities by this river in Lyon is done by users instead of seeing cars and traffic, so now the health of the people is promoted. The carpark area has been turned into a sustainable project for the city, with exercise and mobile transportations. Car-free developments, access management, inclusive design, livable communities, and 5km of pedestrian facilities have been achieved throughout this riverbank development. Some of the activies held here are; concerts, parades, screenings, fireworks, and even the passing of the Tour de France. You can click on this link for details. Two parks that are linked are the Tête d’Or to the North and the Gerland Park to the South. The Rhone River Banks project succeeds at connecting different zones in the city.

Aesthetics

Berges De Seine People that visit this area can have views of historic architecture, bridges, and monuments. There is a flow of its urban spaces which is soothing for the user. Benches, bars, gardens, and playgrounds with floor designs for people and kids to play games create a visually-pleasing project. This urban development was so successful that one director has worked on a 5-minute movie about this project and director Georges Le Piouffle mentioned this. “We had to reconstitute a realistic vegetative scenery as envisioned by the landscape architect. Specific trees had to be used, not only for their aesthetic quality but for their scents, colors and shade,” said D.Pesic. ”

Of couse all the plants were not available. But we were able to use the existing plants to reconstitute what the landscape architect had outlined by tweaking the leaves, the trunks and textures for example.” You can check this link for more information on this aesthetic film here. The Rhone River Banks 5km-long flowing project with views of nine bridges creates a natural look with symmetry, too. The riverside has two levels. The upper level is maintained for runners and the lower level for pedestrians, creating a movement of aesthetics. Movement also creates beauty because it shows the project that has been completed is working and full of life. The colorful umbrellas and tents at concerts are also manmade beauty proving the good life along the river of Lyon.

Planting

The Berges De Seine planting is completed with native plants, including shrubs, grasses, vines and willow trees, green bushes, and daisies. The coup de grace at this park is an 1800-square-meter floating garden with five separate islands connected by bridges. There are small islands that were designed by landscape artists to grow semi-aquatic plants and grasses on them. There is a plan for Paris which is called “Biodiversity Plan for Paris”. Throughout this program, kids and adults are educated with workshops and observations of wildlife plants and animals to how everything interacts with each other. This plan includes the banks of Seine River.

There are also some steel/metal platforms with plants planted on them that reach to the riverside for people to observe. All these give Parisians or any visitors access to 2,000 species of wild plants and fungi, plus 174 bird species, as well as more than 30 fish species in the city according to this link. All planting has been done by professionals in Berges de Seine to help future plans of Paris’s health and its neighbor cities’ sustainability. The Rhone River Banks trees and flowering meadows bring flying animals such as butterflies, bees, and wildlife birds. Ornamental planting is used in its landscape design with grass and flowers. These create a pleasing sight for people who want to freshen up at the riverside. Trees follow the natural geometry (curve) of the river. The plants are hair grass, local tree species, etc. Riparian trees (trees by the river’s edge) are in line while viewed from the bike path along the side. Willows, poplars, and alders give shadows to the project in landscape design. Colorful flowers create variety and cheer along the riverside. Recreational grass is suitable for people to sit and relax. There is a rocky area for texture in the project and also a water mirror is designed, enhancing the natural atmosphere.

Materials

Berges De Seine. Wood-framed architectural elements and seats with wood palettes are used in the landscape. Rattan furniture can be seen at Faust Terrace. People sit at wood decks & enter into cloth tepee tents. Used container boxes function as architectural units along the project site. Due to the use of recycled materials, this project is sustainable.

The Rhone River Banks High steel and wood are the materials for urban furniture at this site. The bicycle lane is concrete material. There is a wooden pontoon for pedestrians. The custom-built architecture uses wood and steel. The retaining walls that separate two levels at some parts of this project is stone. The battle of the Berges De Seine and Rhone River Banks landscape urban development projects is even, because they both are really serving the sustainable future of France. Their designs and feelings that are caused by each project may differ, however they both succeed in cutting car transportation a little bit more and making people run, walk or bike! Both projects are creating biodiversity and ecological awareness. So what other projects would you like us to put in a battle for your next readings? Let us know in the comments below please.

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Recommended Reading:

• Royal Horticultural Society Small Garden Handbook: Making the Most of Your Outdoor Space by Firefly Books
• Small Space Garden Ideas by DK

Article by Aybige Tek

Article by Joanna Łaska – La Rosa Reserve Stream Daylighting Project, by Boffa Miskell, in Auckland, New Zealand. Auckland’s La Rosa Reserve Stream Daylighting project by Boffa Miskell is an outstanding example of design work that can bring us closer to nature. It embodies the very nature of ecology and sustainability, and is one of these projects that grasps ecological, cultural, and community values and brings them all together to create a space for people to enjoy and learn from.

Daylighting Project

1. Hard Work Always Pays Off

The La Rosa Stream project didn’t just jump from the design page to reality. It required a lot of hard work from the designers and contractors who met challenges involving design, consent, and construction. The project required the removal of 5,000 cubic meters of natural clay. The next step involved bringing up 200 meters of watercourse that had previously flowed through underground 100mm- to 1,350mm-diameter pipes – that meant that the contractors had to remove 180 meters of underground pipes. Bringing the water up was just a small part of the whole project: Once the water was up, it had to be given a natural look.

That meant that Boffa Miskell had to think of a surrounding design depicting the one in the natural environment. Because of that, when all of the pipes were removed, stream gullies had to be shaped and lined with geotextile and quarried stone to prevent erosion. Even though the original bottom of the stream was mostly mud and sand, Boffa Miskell came up with an alternative solution for the bedding in the daylight stream. The designers opted for stone landscaping to give the stream and its surroundings a more natural look. Not only does this solution look better, it also prevents the water from scouring out of the clay still present in the layers underneath the stream.

2. Details Make the Difference

The La Rosa project is an exquisite example of thoughtful landscape planning and superb detailing. Everything about this project seems to be carefully thought out: Every single stone placement seems to be planned, and that is what makes this design a role model for all landscape architects – for those who are less experienced and for those who have already made hundreds of projects in their career.

The thoughtful planning can be easily seen in the subtle elevation of boulders adjacent to the new bridges. This intervention makes users more aware of the ambient sound of falling water. The care and detail is also clear to see in the well-designed plantings and walkways that also help people to enjoy the space. A few trees had to be removed from the area, providing not only more usable space for visitors, but also providing logs that were then placed along the banks of the stream to imitate the natural habitat for micro- and macro-organisms that will provide food for the eels and fish living in the stream.

3. The Most Liveable City in the World

La Rosa is the first-ever dedicated stream daylighting project in Auckland. It is part of the city mayor’s 100 projects to make Auckland “the most liveable city in the world”. It was designed to not only restore the natural stream, but also to reuse and embody the energy in that place. The project is mostly made of natural and reused elements. However, the project also has another purpose: to bring the Auckland community together.

The project contractors have involved the community in helping to create this wonderful place. Food-growing enthusiasts have been offered a spot to locate rain barrels, so that watering of their own planted orchards can be made easy and ecological. Also, the community of La Rosa has thought about creating a permanent space for their monthly get-togethers. La Rosa Stream is a genesis of a positive change within the community of Auckland that demonstrates how easily projects can and should bring people together.

4. Learning from Nature

Despite the construction of the project being an expensive exercise, the hard work and investment will definitely pay off in the long term, as having a natural stream rather than a huge amount of underground pipes that need upgrading and maintenance is always a financial benefit. However, the project’s success is not just being calculated in numbers, but in the development of knowledge in hydrology and ecology.

Nearby schools are already enjoying the benefits of learning opportunities from the park. Local schools and community centers have been widely involved in water monitoring, planting, and creating permanent art pieces. Many people who visit the La Rosa Stream Daylight Project are visibly thrilled to see the new life being given to the streams in their reserve. The natural look of the once artificial and underground-bound stream has become a peaceful asylum from their busy everyday lives, and has also helped to restore the natural lifecycle that had once been lost. It is easy to see from La Rosa’s example that it is possible to make a natural oasis in the heart of the city. Can you think of a space in your town or city that could be transformed into a natural park?

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Full Project Credits For La Rosa Reserve Stream Daylighting Project:

Project Name: La Rosa Reserve Stream Daylighting Design: Boffa Miskell Location: Auckland, New Zealand Date of Completion: 2012 Recommended Reading:

• Becoming an Urban Planner: A Guide to Careers in Planning and Urban Design by Michael Bayer
• Sustainable Urbanism: Urban Design With Nature by Douglas Farrs
• eBooks by Landscape Architects Network

Article by Joanna Łaska

Frank Bourque – In this article, we look at 4 awesome examples of how people achieved excellence in urban design. Landscape architects are broad thinkers, leaving us amazed with each project they design. The idea behind landscape architecture is to promote the natural ecosystem and the resourcefulness of people — opposed to serious global issues including climate change, water shortages, and the prevention of hunger. Therefore, designing outdoor public areas, landmarks, and structures is not a job that just anyone can do. Thanks to landscape architecture, our environment is safer, healthier, and more sustainable. With form and function as the focal points of every landscape design project, roads, parks, highways, neighborhoods, urban plazas, gardens, and even zoos have been completely redesigned, achieving the best use of land resources. Today, we are sharing four great landscape architecture projects that make an important contribution to how our cities look and function.

1. The Navy Yard Central, in Philadelphia

Just because Philadelphia is a growing industrial and business city doesn’t mean that landscape architecture doesn’t exist there. The Navy Yard is a practical space that preserves the historical aspects of the surroundings and blends within them in a great way. Visually, the Navy Yard looks like a clockwork, or like many engines working simultaneously, which is the idea behind the project to create a workplace environment that showcases productiveness and serves as a resting point for every worker.

Designed by James Corner Field Operations, a team of innovative landscape architects, the Navy Yard is known to be part of one of the most vibrant corporate neighborhoods in Philadelphia. There is a wide social track that organizes the site’s circulation and frames the unique and immersive interior park, which features flowering meadows, hammocks, and an outdoor amphitheater. There are outdoor fitness stations and bocce courts, as well, and when you are tired of playing or walking, you can rest your head on the comfortable sunbeds.

2. Gardens By The Bay, in Singapore

Singapore is definitely proud to have the Gardens By The Bay as one of its iconic achievements in architecture. On top of that, these gardens definitely represent the progressive culture and constant development that Singapore is known for. Known as “the forest in the clouds”, there are 18 super trees, ranging in height from 25 to 50 meters, with two of the trees connected by a 128-meter-long aerial walkway. Designed by UK landscape architects (Grant Associates), the Gardens By The Bay is a popular tourist destination. In fact, it welcomed 1 million visitors in only the past two months. This is a mind-blowing fact that shows just how much the community appreciates landscape architecture.

The Gardens by the Bay represents one of the largest gardens in the world of its kind, connecting Bay South, Bay East, and Bay Central, at 101 hectares in total. Combining nature with technology, environmental management, and imagination, the gardens feature a rich variety of horticultural species. The glorious views of the Singapore Marina from up high and the wonderful tropical flowers in each of the gardens create a stunning atmosphere — one you must see to believe. And while Bay South Garden is the largest of the three gardens and inspired by an orchid, the others do not fail to deliver what they are known for – glorious waterfront views and a floral beauty that wins everyone’s heart.

3. MariahilferStrasse, in Vienna, Austria

This street is among the longest stretches of shared space in Europe. Located in Vienna, Austria, the MariahilferStrasse is a project that stretches from the Westbanhof to the Museum Quarter as a pedestrian-friendly section in the heart of the city. At the same time, this street divides the site into three zones. The central zone is the most popular, offering lots of activities for everyone, while the neighboring zones serve as quieter spaces created for taking a rest after a hard day’s work or a guided tour of the city. There are shops, restaurants, and cafeterias everywhere, complimenting the urban scenery.

The best thing about MariahilferStrasse is that if you are late for a meeting in downtown Vienna, you can ditch the car, bus, or taxi and rely on your feet or pedal your way through the 1.6-kilometer pedestrian area. MariahilferStrasse definitely has made locals love their city even more and helped tourists to come back home with better photos and a sense of urban belonging. MariahilferStrasse is also a shopping mecca. So if you are an urban shopping addict, be prepared to spend some money when walking along this street.

4. The Goods Line, in Sydney, Australia

The Goods Line is proof that Sydney has become a more connected, sustainable, and innovative city — by implementing cycling paths and green public spaces in most of its neighborhoods. Also, it’s an idea initiated by the NSW Government and realized by the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority. Once an unused rail corridor running from Railroad Square to Darling Harbour, this space had a tremendous potential to be repurposed into something more urban-friendly and beautiful. This project is something that every local loves and every tourist puts on his to-do list. The Goods Line is a park where you can rest, be creative, and bond with the community.

You can take a stroll through the Goods Line and use it as a walkway from Sydney Central Station to Darling Harbour, but you can also experience the nostalgic history this space has to offer or capture a photo of the great architecture. The Powerhouse Museum is also nearby and worth visiting. Surrounded by trees, nature, and functional urban architecture, the pedestrian walkway includes bike paths, table tennis tables, outdoor workspaces, playgrounds, and an extra-large communal table for gatherings.

Urban Designers of Tomorrow

Landscape architects are also known as the urban designers of tomorrow, shaping the future of each city in a functional and sustainable way. This evolving profession has made us widen our perspective and embrace landscape design as something revolutionary. Which project from above do you love the most? Let us know in the comments!

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Recommended Reading:

• Royal Horticultural Society Small Garden Handbook: Making the Most of Your Outdoor Space by Firefly Books
• Small Space Garden Ideas by DK

Article by Frank Bourque

Article by Emily Sinclair – We take a look at the all important landscape architecture CV, looking at 10 things you should definitely include if you are serious about getting a position in your chosen company.  So you have started the job hunting process, you have prepared a portfolio, created a list of dream jobs and have begun approaching firms, you are well on your way to a successful career as a landscape architect. Then you get a request for a CV. Where do you start?

CV vs Resume

The first step is to realize that a CV and a resume are two different documents with different purposes. A resume is a brief outline of your experience and abilities. A CV is a more in-depth, and at times lengthy, account of your background and achievements as they relate to your prospective job. When building your landscape architecture CV, remember that you are in a design profession. The graphic layout of your CV is extremely important, as when applying to a design profession your CV will be reviewed by someone with an eye for design. Make sure that the design of your CV is uncluttered and easy to follow.

Landscape Architecture CV

Below we have compiled a list of ten must-have points to include on your CV. 10. Contact Information This does sound like a no-brainer, yet people overlook it. This is important; without your name and phone number the prospective employer will have no way to contact you. It is also a good idea to include your email and website/blog if you have one. Keep in mind though – email addresses should be professional-sounding. If you do not already have an email that is simple and respectable then consider starting a new account before printing your landscape architecture CV for distribution.

9. Cultural Experiences

Whether you have travelled for school, for fun, or for work, consider how your experiences abroad have taught you about not only landscape architecture projects but also adaptability and sensitivity to changing environments. Include the duration of the trip, the nature of your travels and what you completed during and as a result of your experiences.

8. Scholarly Grants, Scholarships, and Awards

Scholarships can do so much more than help take the edge off of tuition. Think about what this says about your character, even without seeing your application; a prospective employer can assume that some character trait you possess was seen as exemplary by the people executing the award. They will also see someone who is interested in putting in some extra work to achieve their goals. Include the year you were awarded, the amount of the scholarship, and the name of the sponsor.

 7. Related Extracurricular Activities

This is where many students can shine, all the volunteer work and extra hours helping teachers or community members can be boasted here. Include any work on student council, participating in local events or volunteering in the arts community. Anything that demonstrates your willingness to further your professional development outside of school can be mentioned here. Include dates of involvement and a short one-sentence summary on what the position entailed.

6. Papers, Books, and Other Publications

Having your work in a gallery or publication means someone appreciated and enjoyed your work. This says a lot about what you can potentially produce, even if the prospective employer has not seen the exhibition or book. It’s worth noting in this section if the exhibit or work was invited or juried. If the publication or exhibition is solely yours, make sure to note that, and any reviews or citations that the work/s have accumulated.

5. Professional Licenses or Certifications

Any course work you have completed which commenced with a certificate can be listed here. This could be as simple as your Professional Landscape Certification and the states, provinces, or countries where you hold it. While important, most newly graduated students will not yet have their professional license. However, you may also add other supplementary certifications such as arborist certification, LEED certification, or any other relevant certification you have completed.

4. Memberships

Paying fees to a professional or association membership body shows a willingness to support your local community; include how long you been a fee-paying member of any landscape association such as ASLA, CSLA, or your local professional association. You can even become of VIP Club member of Landscape Architects Network by signing up here!

 3. Academic Background and Giving Lectures

Do not forget to include your academic achievements! Educational background should include your degrees, the dates they were acquired and the schools you attended. If you have had the opportunity to lecture or teach under the umbrella of landscape architecture or related professions then make sure to include those experiences as well. When listing these, consider adding whether it was by invite or if it was a recurring position.

2. Description of Thesis or Dissertations

If you have had the chance to complete or are currently working on a research topic, include them here. List the title, the committee members, and a short abstract of the research.

1. References

Include at least two references at the end of your landscape architecture CV. Include their credentials and contact information. Before listing your references though, be sure to touch base with them and make them aware when and to whom you will be distributing your CV.

Additional Tips on Preparing Your Landscape Architecture CV

Hopefully, this list has helped you begin your landscape architecture CV. If you are still cautious about what to include, look into resources through your school; many universities have programs in place to help students through this process. Consider showing your CV to your faculty advisor as they may have notes they have collected from writing their own CV, or reviewing many others over the years. Recommended Reading:

• Portfolio Design (Fourth Edition) by Harold Linton
• Burn Your Portfolio: Stuff they don’t teach you in design school, but shouldby Michael Janda

Article by Emily Sinclair Featured image: Credit: Dustin Lee, licensed under CC 0.0, via Unsplash

We take a closer look and examine 5 key principles to think about when designing a beautiful garden.  Are you in the middle of designing your garden? You could be making a big mistake, so think carefully about what you do next. A lot of people will think of ways to make their garden beautiful, but they soon realize it doesn’t look as nice as they thought it would once they’re done. This is because they don’t have a clue about the key principles you must stick to. We’re going to look at some to give you an idea of what you should be focusing on at the planning stage, so put down your tools and let’s get started.

Key Principles in Garden Design

Choosing Your Focal Points

If you lived way up north in Calgary you would go outside a lot, because it has lots of sunny days compared to other Canadian cities. Still, you’re going to spend most of your time indoors no matter where you live. People understand what focal points are when they’re designing their garden, but they put them in the wrong place. If you’re going to be indoors a lot you want to see them when you look out of your windows.

Don’t Destroy Anything

Designing a garden isn’t difficult, but you still need to use a little common sense. You wouldn’t plant lots of flowers around an ornamental feature if you would have to walk over the top of them to reach it. It’s also important to realize you might need a clear path to move large power tools to a particular place in the future. Always leave enough room for everything when you’re still sitting with your notepad sketching things out.

Attracting Lots Of Wildlife

Do you know the easiest way to attract wildlife into your garden? You can put out food and they’ll pay you a visit when they’re hungry. There is also another harder way to accomplish your goal, which will require a bit more research. Things like the flowers you grow will bring in the birds and bees. You want wildlife in your garden because it will make it look a lot nicer when things are flying around.

Sometimes More Is Less

You’ve already heard less is sometimes better than more, so don’t think you need to go to the extreme when you’re planning out your garden. Even something as simple as your garden path can be used as a good example. If you want to shake things up you could have a slight curve in it. Taking things to the extreme would be having so many curves nobody would actually walk on it for longer than two seconds.

Remember To Study The Weather

You hear a lot about solar orientation in regards to building homes, but the same is true when designing gardens. If you were building an outdoor seating area you wouldn’t want it to be lying in the shade when you’re most likely to be sitting outside. It would be good to know if the wind was going to drive the rain into your outdoor kitchen. Try to think about all the elements and how they’ll affect you.

It’s Never Worth Rushing Things

If you don’t design your garden correctly it might turn into a disaster. At the very least you’re going to be disappointed when all is said and done. Follow everything we’ve talked about today and you’ll be fine. You need to take your time when planning out your garden, because it’s never worth rushing things and knowing you could have done better.

Recommended Reading:

• Becoming an Urban Planner: A Guide to Careers in Planning and Urban Design by Michael Bayer
• Sustainable Urbanism: Urban Design With Nature by Douglas Farrs

Article by Lenard Johnson Featured image:  By I, Laurascudder, CC BY-SA 3.0, source

Article by Emily Sinclair – Play Landscape be-MINE, by Carve and Omgeving (design) and Krinkels (contractor) in the town of Beringen, Belgium. Many of our society’s past practices have created scars in our landscape, such as post-industrial sites which are unusable due to contamination and dangerous conditions. Lately, these sites have become grounds for renewal; projects which revitalize and reinvent the site from a wasteland to a landmark – usually while keeping the historical context. One such site is the Play Landscape be-MINE, by Carve and Omgeving (design) and Krinkels (contractor) in the town of Beringen, Belgium. The Play Landscape began with a competition set out by be-MINE, a tourism and recreation organization in Beringen. The town put forth the challenge to reimagine the rubble heap (or ‘terril’) created from the waste of old mining practices and redevelop the landscape in a way which adds an element of play, while still educating visitors on the history of the site. The winning entry, chosen in 2015, was the Play Landscape be-MINE, by Carve and Omgeving with Krinkels contractors.

Play Landscape be-MINE

When we explore the details of the project, we begin to see why it was deemed the most fitting, as it is pointedly making references to the previous land use and history of the town while encouraging people to scrabble and play along the way, up and down the side of the hill.

Moving Through the Play Landscape

The Play Landscape has three main parts to the design, which are revealed as you move through the landscape and up the rubble hill. The first part, the Pole Forest, is created using the sturdy poles which used to hold up the maze of mining shafts. The poles are set upright into the hill, pulling the gaze upwards, towards the top of the mountain. This set up cleverly relates back to the movements up and down the mining shafts; the miners always thinking about heading up, back towards the light. In between the poles, the hammocks, nets and beams create the adventure play course.

The Prismatic play surface is next in the ascent. It is laid over the hill, prismatic-shaped play surfaces rise up and down between the pole forest. Ropes and climbing handholds dot the surface so that visitors can choose to take control of their ascent if they’d rather not take the flat pathway which runs up the hill. The challenge is heightened by the route becoming narrower at the top of the hill and more scattered at the base. Adding to the experience are several tunnels and a long slide, all geared towards challenging people – especially children – physically and mentally, as the course gets harder as they move up the hill. As adventurers reach the top of the mountain they are rewarded with the sight of the coal square. Sixty meters up, nestled into the mountain, the square is unseen before the summit has been achieved. Its sunken nature allows a reprieve from the harsh winds present at that altitude. Other character of the sunken square is the disappearance of the surrounding landscape, creating a true oasis, more than a rest stop on the top of a mountain. The view outward is not the point of this platform; instead, the visitors are invited to browse the interpretive panels and immerse themselves in the mining history.

Recreation and Tourism

Pathways from the nearby Spurs Park bring people to the base of the mountain, connecting the adventure mountain to other recreational paths in the area. As part of the masterplan for Beringen, connecting the mountain and making it accessible to skiers, wheelchairs, strollers, bikes, and other methods of mobility was extremely important. Opening the mountain to all sorts of users allows for a greater draw from the surrounding areas and incorporates the design into the community with ease.

The history of the site is very important in this design, the timbers of the pole forest being brought right out of the shafts which produced the terril, the colours of the mountain, the pathway materials. All of these choices were made with the intent of bringing the history of the mountain to the front of the discussion. Throughout the entire mountain there are rest places combined with information panels, connecting visitors with all the past history of the site.

Old Materials, New Purpose

The Play Landscape is one of many projects the town of Beringen and be-MINE plan to finish, all revolving around Beringen’s post-mining landscapes and encouraging more recreational activities while also bringing in tourism to the town. What is most admirable about their efforts to reinvigorate the town is that they are not turning their backs on the mining practices and – most importantly – the hard work of their past citizens which built the town to what it has become.

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Full Project Credits For Play Landscape be-MINE :

Project Name: Play Landscape be-MINE Design team Omgeving: Luc Wallays, Maarten Moers, Peter Swyngedauw, Ada Barbu, Tom Beyaert Design team Carve: Elger Blitz, Mark van de Eng, Jasper van de Schaaf, Hannah Schubert, Johannes Müller, Clément Gay Date of design: January 2015 Date of completion: September 2016 Masterplan Avonturenberg: Antea Group Main contractor: Krinkels Sub contractors: Van Vliet BV, IJreka BV Size: 10.060 m2 (of which 5200m2 rope forest, 1200m2 prismatic play surface, 1200m2 coal square) Websites: www.omgeving.be, www.carve.nl Photography: Benoit Meeus, Carve (Marleen Beek, Hannah Schubert) Location: Beringen, Belgium Client: be-MINE Recommended Reading:

• Becoming an Urban Planner: A Guide to Careers in Planning and Urban Design by Michael Bayer
• Sustainable Urbanism: Urban Design With Nature by Douglas Farrs
• eBooks by Landscape Architects Network

Article by Emily Sinclair