Article by Ophelia Yuting Ji – We dive in and explore the attributes that make Copenhagen in Denmark the number one bike-friendly city. Many cities claim that they are bicycle-friendly, but often times what they actually mean is they have more bicycle lanes than the average. However, a bicycle-friendly city is not merely about that. It requires high-quality bicycle lanes and facilities, convenient renting locations and services, and high safety of riding bicycles on the streets, which can create a great atmosphere of healthy life modes and pull the relationship between citizens closer. Being advanced in all these aspects, Copenhagen is no doubt one of the most outstanding models. According to the data from Cycling Embassy of Denmark, over 255,000 people in Copenhagen commute by bike every day; this is more than half the population. The more surprising part is the number of bikes is almost 5 times greater than cars there, which is something hard to imagine in any American city. The passion for riding bikes and the habit of “everyday biking” for the Danish are so amazing that they certainly deserve more attention from us. Here are three highlights we can learn from Copenhagen’s case:
Based on the report “Facts about Cycling in Denmark” by the Cycling Embassy of Denmark, there are a total of 454 km of coherent and first-level quality cycle lanes in the city. You basically can get to every corner of the city on a bicycle without worrying about running into dead ends or broken roads. Separate lanes for cars and bikes have given drivers and bike riders enough freedom and safety. Additionally, on some of the busiest streets, double lanes will be provided for bike riders to ease their tension on traffic. New bike bridges and cycle superhighways continuously emerge, such as the elevated bike bridge Cykelslangen, (See Landscape Architects Network’s former article about Cycle Snake: Can Copenhagen Become the Best Cycling City in the World? ) completed in 2014, connecting the highway and the harbor, and the first cycle superhighway, completed in 2012, connecting greater central Copenhagen with the surrounding suburban towns.
Can Copenhagen be the best cycling city in the world? Credit: DISSING+WEITLING
According to the Icebike.org’s research “Bike City Copenhagen: This Is The Ultimate Bicycle-Friendly City”, 4 out of 5 people living in Copenhagen have access to a bike in Copenhagen and 17% families with children have a cargo bike. As the cargo bikes are generally much more expensive than the regular ones, customized parking facilities are designed to protect them from being stolen. The facility looks like a cute pink car from the outside, but inside it is spacious to store eight cargo bikes nicely. That is not the whole picture yet. As Mikael Coville – Anderson told us, there are many bike counters in the city which can provide real-time data to track patterns of bike riders, and in the meantime, they show the “civic pride” of Copenhagen’s passion towards bike riding. In such way, citizens are encouraged to use bikes more often. Even during the freezing winter time, riders’ passion would never decrease, as on those snowy days, sweepers would continuously work to clean the street up for cyclists’ safety, regardless of any circumstance. 3. Connecting Bike Riding with Social Life Besides these basic facilities on roads, creating a bike-friendly environment and atmosphere is significant as well. An excellent example of using bike riding to build social connections is the project “Cycling Without Age”. Since many of the elderly do not have the physical ability to ride bikes anymore, this movement encourages young volunteers to ride the rickshaws to give the elderly another chance of feeling the fresh air and enjoying beautiful sceneries on the bike. Simply by registering on their website and starting to ride bicycles, an intimate relationship between young and old people is built up in this city. Undoubtedly, all these strategies would not be successful without the strong support from the government. As it says in the blog; “Gladsaxe focused on cycling – and saved millions” by Copenhagenize Design Group, the city has till now spent €24 million in traffic calming and cycle infrastructure. But all these investments have paid off from cyclists’ health savings. That being said, for the authorities, what could be more amazing than gaining valuable social and economic benefits by simply encouraging citizens to put away their cars for a little time? And for us individuals, instead of spending extra time in gyms to keep fit, why not just pick up our bikes for a little leisure on the way to work or study?
Article by Ophelia Yuting Ji Featured image: By Leif Jørgensen – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, source.
Article by Eni Çeka – A project review of the Villa in Monte Argentario, by Lazzarini Pickering, Tuscany, Italy. An inspirational display of stunning design and Italian charm. “I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach…” – Henry David Thoreau Who wouldn’t want to live in a residence where the interior melts into the gardens of the outside world, diving into a voyage of spiritual discovery? This 32-hectare private estate in the Tuscan countryside is an exquisite example of the Italian landscape style. The intense dialogue of the villa with the natural surroundings makes this house truly unique. The landscape reflects beauty, tranquility and relaxation while allowing the villa to become one with nature.
Photo credit: @Clive-Nichols
This dreamy villa is located in the peninsula of Monte Argentario, about 150km south of Florence in the region of Tuscany. “La Bella Toscana”, as Italians call it, is recognized throughout the centuries for impressive gardens; from the Medici gardens to small villas within the rolling Tuscan hills, the landscapes tell the story of their past.
Photo credit: @Lazzarini Pickering Architetti
Photo credit: @Lazzarini Pickering Architetti
The term Tuscan villa implies the presence of an elaborated design. The Italian Renaissance garden broke down the wall between the garden, the house and the landscape outside. This villa in Monte Argentario develops the same design concept further, allowing the interior to flow into the garden. The landscape design is also influenced by the giardino all’italiana, meaning that the visitor has to search hard to find extensive flower beds forming part of the garden of a Tuscan villa. Instead the categories of vegetation preferred are forests, orchards, olive groves, shrubs and herbs.
Photo credit: @Lazzarini Pickering Architetti
Photo credit: @Lazzarini Pickering Architetti
The project is the outcome of a fruitful exchange of ideas grown over the years between a longtime client and the architects. The main volume of this villa in Monte Argentario is set around a tower from the eighteenth century, the internal adjustments of which have been completely revised. The new volumes that host guests form an open-air courtyard delineated by horizontal and vertical wings. Here the atmosphere is emphasized by the warm color of rusted steel matched with the shades of gray of the stone walls. The old building covered by a thick mantle of ivy juxtaposes with the new prismatic structure of rusted steel and glass.
Photo credit: @Clive-Nichols
Photo credit: @Clive-Nichols
Photo credit: @Lazzarini Pickering Architetti
Photo credit: @Lazzarini Pickering Architetti
Photo credit: @Clive Nichols
Photo credit: @Lazzarini Pickering Architetti
Photo credit: @Lazzarini Pickering Architetti
Project: Villa in Monte Argentario Location: Tuscany, Italy Architects: Lazzarini Pickering Date of construction: 2002-2007 Photographs: Clive Nichols, Lazzarini Pickering Architetti
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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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Recommended Reading:
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.
Malgrat de Mar. Photo credit: Adrià Goula
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.
Malgrat de Mar. Photo credit: Adrià Goula
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.
Malgrat de Mar. Photo credit: Adrià Goula
Malgrat de Mar. Photo credit: Adrià Goula
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.
Malgrat de Mar. Photo credit: Adrià Goula
Malgrat de Mar. Photo credit: Adrià Goula
Malgrat de Mar. Photo credit: Adrià Goula
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:
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)
Green Roof Ecosystems – Ecological Studies – 2015th Edition, by Richard K. Sutton. Get it HERE!
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.
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.
Small Green Roofs: Low-Tech Options for Greener Living. Paperback – April 27, 2011 . By Nigel Dunnett, Dusty Gedge, Edmund C. Snodgrass and John Little. Get it HERE!
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.
Get Green Roof Construction: The Essential Guide, by signing up to our VIP Club HERE!
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!
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.
Green Walls Green Roofs: Designing Sustainable Architecture, by Gina Tsarounas. Get it HERE!
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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
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.
Below are 5 of the most modern landscape designs that you can check out:
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.
9/11 Memorial site design with Peter Walker; credit: Scott Renwick
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.
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.
“Korea-Seoul-Cheonggyecheon-2008-01″ by stari4ek – originally posted to Flickr as fest2-01. Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 via Commons
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.
Tree Museum. Credit: Enea GmbH
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:
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. Photo credit: Jonny Davis
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.
Westhaven Promenade. Photo credit: Jonny Davis
Westhaven Promenade. Photo credit: Jonny Davis
Westhaven Promenade. Photo credit: Jonny Davis
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.
Westhaven Promenade. Photo credit: Jonny Davis
Westhaven Promenade. Photo credit: Jonny Davis
Westhaven Promenade. Photo credit: Jonny Davis
Westhaven Promenade. Photo credit: Jonny Davis
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.
Westhaven Promenade. Photo credit: Jonny Davis
Westhaven Promenade. Photo credit: Jonny Davis
Westhaven Promenade. Photo credit: Jonny Davis
Westhaven Promenade. Photo credit: Jonny Davis
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:
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.
The Lyon River Bank. Credit: IN SITU Architectes Paysagistes.
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.
Berges de Seine. Photo credit: Maxime Dufour
© FRANKLIN AZZI ARCHITECTURE
Residents enjoying an art installation – The Lyon River Bank. Credit: IN SITU Architectes Paysagistes.
The Lyon River Bank. Credit: IN SITU Architectes Paysagistes.
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. ”
© FRANKLIN AZZI ARCHITECTURE
The Lyon River Bank. Credit: IN SITU Architectes Paysagistes.
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.
The Lyon River Bank. Credit: IN SITU Architectes Paysagistes.
Berges de Seine. Photo credit: Maxime Dufour
The Lyon River Bank. Credit: IN SITU Architectes Paysagistes.
Berges de Seine. Photo credit: Maxime Dufour
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.
Berges de Seine. Photo credit: Maxime Dufour
The Lyon River Bank. Credit: IN SITU Architectes Paysagistes.
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.
La Rosa Reserve Stream Daylighting. Photo credit: Boffa Miskell
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.
La Rosa Reserve Stream Daylighting. Photo credit: Boffa Miskell
La Rosa Reserve Stream Daylighting. Photo credit: Boffa Miskell
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.
La Rosa Reserve Stream Daylighting. Photo credit: Boffa Miskell
La Rosa Reserve Stream Daylighting. Photo credit: Boffa Miskell
La Rosa Reserve Stream Daylighting. Photo credit: Boffa Miskell
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.
La Rosa Reserve Stream Daylighting. Photo credit: Boffa Miskell
La Rosa Reserve Stream Daylighting. Photo credit: Boffa Miskell
La Rosa Reserve Stream Daylighting. Photo credit: Boffa Miskell
La Rosa Reserve Stream Daylighting. Photo credit: Boffa Miskell
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.
La Rosa Reserve Stream Daylighting. Photo credit: Boffa Miskell
La Rosa Reserve Stream Daylighting. Photo credit: Boffa Miskell
Project Name: La Rosa Reserve Stream Daylighting Design: Boffa Miskell Location: Auckland, New Zealand Date of Completion: 2012 Recommended Reading:
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.
The Goods Line. Image courtesy of ASPECT Studios
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.
Philadelphia Navy Yards – Central Green. Credit: © Halkin Mason Photography
Philadelphia Navy Yards – Central Green. Credit: © Halkin Mason Photography
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.
Gardens by the Bay. Image courtesy of Grant Associates
Gardens by the bay; credit: Photo collection from Robert Such, Darren Chin, Craig Sheppard
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.
Mariahilferstrasse. Credit: Bureau B+B
Mariahilferstrasse. Credit: Bureau B+B
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.
The Goods Line. Photo credit: Florian Groehn
The Goods Line. Photo credit: Florian Groehn
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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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?
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.
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.
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.
Get some traveling done and be a person of the world. Image: Webb Bridge, Docklands, Melbourne, Australia,; credit: shutterstock.com
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.
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.
Getting involved in activities such as this one can really help your cause. Image: 72 Hours Urban Action is an international rapid architecture event, check it out HERE! and get involved credit: Mor Arkadir
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.
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.
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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!
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.
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.
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.
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:
Article by Emily Sinclair Featured image: Credit: Dustin Lee, licensed under CC 0.0, via Unsplash