Author: Land8: Landscape Architects Network

Article by Erisa Nesimi – Total reading time 5 minutes We take a close look at 10 of the Best Urban Projects in the World. I’ve always been fond of observing and studying the quality of spaces and how these spaces are brought together into one large entity: the city. In his book “Rebel Cities,” David Harvey says, “In making the city, the man makes himself” and “what kind of city we want cannot be divorced from the question of what kind of people we want to be.” So instead of raising the question of what are some of the best urban projects in the world, I’m asking, what did the cities in this article want to be? In urban projects, it is interesting to note that there are always several circumstances to be considered. There is never a tabula rasa, which makes the process so much more interesting.

Best Urban Projects in the World

1. A Design Built on the Past — Offenbacher Hafen Reconstructed from a polluted industrial port, this ecologically sensitive riverfront in Frankfurt is an example to follow. Former industrial sites are often considered the black holes of our cities — places where nobody goes. This project incorporates the city’s history and brings character into the newly developed area. It represents the reinvention of a lost connection with the city.

2. Strong Connection to the Natural Landscape — Landgrab City Urban Farm Various urban designs include landscape as part of their projects, but this case in Shenzhen, Hong Kong takes the usage of landscape to a whole other level. A community urban farm in the middle of a metropolis challenges the way we perceive our cities. The fact that the farm is also in proportion to the number of inhabitants of the city acts as a reminder of the amount of land needed to feed them, and also helps to revive the agriculture. 3. Economically Viable — Tel Aviv Port We have to always remember that cost is rather important. Designs need to meet the economic possibilities in order to be built. Israel’s Tel Aviv Port, being extremely simple, meets not only the users’ demands, but also the economic ones. The wood paving, the connectivity to other parts of the city, the lighting elements for nighttime use, and the feeling of infinite space create a simple place for everyone. 4. Where Space Becomes a Place — Klyde Warren Park The great philosopher Heidegger once said that “the places make it possible for a space to exist, and the distinguished character of the places is gathering and being together.” Klyde Warren Park in Dallas, Texas is a great example of this. An urban park constructed over an existing freeway, it has immediately been welcomed by the people because it offers a variety of activities and amenities, such as a children’s park with water features, the reading room, the restaurant, and the event lawn. 5. The Element of Surprise — Madrid Rio project Urban designs that have the power to amaze me each time I see them are particularly attractive. A great design has the power to surprise you again and again. This is the case with the Madrid Rio design, a huge project in terms of scale, but very contextual in each and every minor part of it. Pedestrian bridges, parks, pine trees, hierarchy of spaces, and a variety of altitudes are just some of the diverse experiences this design offers. And while the scale is rather big, the designers have thought of particular details that make these spaces wonderful no matter how many times you’ve visited them. 6. Mix and Match — A’beckett Urban Square Great thinkers such as Jane Jacobs have always stated that in order to have great neighborhoods, there has to be a mixture of spaces, atmospheres, and cultures. A‘beckett Urban Square in Melbourne, Australia provides just that. Transforming a vacant site into a vibrant spot, this urban design has brought stamina to the neighborhood. A variety of facilities and activities brings together a diversity of people who interact with one another. The fact that most of the urban furniture is demountable creates opportunities for flexibility and makes the space even more user-friendly. 7. Focus on the People, Not Cars – Place La République Paris has recently become the leading city in promoting user-friendly spaces. In this project, we will have a look at how one of the most key and special places in the city was transformed into a wonderful space. With very few interventions and with strong attention to detail, this space is now a people’s place — a great square that offers Parisians and tourists increased opportunities for activity and enjoying life. 8. Environmentally Conscious — ChonGae Canal Urban freeways have been shown to be a failed experiment of urban planning. Placing these structures in our cities has not helped in reducing vehicular traffic, but has created environmental degradation and a threat to residents. So, what can be done? Landscape comes to the rescue. The ChonGae Canal in central Seoul, Korea is an excellent example. One of my favorite urban projects, it entirely transformed an urban highway into a vibrant pedestrian area. Not only did it create a space for the people, but it brought back the beauty and values of the existing water canal. 9. Equitable and Inclusive — Mariahilferstrasse,Vienna Mariahilferstrasse has been shown to be one of the best examples of how an urban design can be inclusive. From a space that left no room for pedestrians, it became a place that includes both vehicles and people in a common area of shared space. The users of the area contributed to the design process by giving and sharing ideas. Adding to the comprehensive character this design has, a website was introduced regarding the development: www.dialog-mariahilferstrasse.at. Both Vienna residents and tourists I’ve met refer to it as the spirit of Vienna — a wonderful place to be, full of vibrancy and people coming from a mixture of cultures. 10. Smart Cities: What About Happiness? – Brighton, United Kingdom “Smart city” has become a buzzword nowadays, but Gehl Architects show us how the most important thing is creating happy cities. What are happy cities, you might wonder? They are cities where people want to live, cities that offer possibilities for happiness to each of their residents. This project in Brighton has created a shared space that satisfies the needs and desires of all people living in and using this space. As my colleague Taylor Stapleton also stated in her article, studies conducted by the City Council and Gehl Architects showed that “86 percent of the citizens of Brighton would like to see more areas like this within the city.” While these 10 projects are great examples of urban landscape architecture, we have to bear in mind the fact that no one solution fits all. Context is extremely important and must always be considered. Urban projects are developed for a particular place; thus, they should meet the necessities coming from their particular background. Human-centered design should be the new buzzword. Go to comments

Recommended Reading

• Natural Swimming Pools: Inspiration For Harmony With Nature by Michael Littlewood
• You Can Draw in 30 Days: The Fun, Easy Way to Learn to Draw in One Month or Less by Mark Kistler

Article by Erisa Nesimi

Article by Farah Afza Jurekh – Total reading time 4 minutes. Sugar House S-Line Streetcar and Greenway, by CRSA, in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. Designing has never been an easy job. Architects put their creative ideas to work to bring out the best from a space. But this just cannot be the representation of their thoughts only. A design can only be successful when it is not a whimsical depiction of architects’ ideas, imposed on users. That is why, before jumping into the design phase, it is important to do extensive studies, research and analyses. Architects can’t impose their decisions on people, the users, and the community. People will never accept any design which does not respect the site context, its background, microclimatic conditions, historical importance of the site and its context, the behavioral pattern of the neighborhood people, the land use pattern of the neighborhood and the users’ opinions regarding the transformation of that site.

Sugar House S-Line Streetcar and Greenway

Well, S line corridor is an excellent example of one such project designed by CRSA, in Salt Lake City, Utah, which has transformed an abandoned rail corridor into a greenway through rigorous research and analysis on the corridor and the community living around the site to retain its sense of place. As a result, the master plan is the result of a synthesis of ideas generated by the community and the design team. WATCH >>> Streetcar Greenway: The Complete Tour

Objectives and Vision of the Master Plan The main vision was ‘to connect people to places’ via multiple modes. The objective of the master plan was to design an area which offers a destination to the users, utilizing nature, play, connections and art to make that destination special. The S Line Corridor functions as an urban thoroughfare and public open space, helping people make connections, reducing barriers, promoting healthy lifestyles, and protecting and creating built, natural, social, and cultural resources.

Since the 3-mile S Line Corridor passes through neighborhoods of different land uses, varying from commercial, industrial, to residential zones, the design team needed to segregate each zone because of the diversities in cultural, physical, and social aspects. Starting from the Canyons and ending at the Great Salt Lake, each block has a specific landscape theme and these are represented as alpine, mountain brush, narrow canyon, river bend, foothill, and valley. Alpine Corridor Running from east to west, this section of the corridor was designed to reflect water falling from the valley. The granite boulders put down by artists contribute to the visual characteristics of the Canyons. The European aspen (Populus tremula) was chosen over the native aspen (Populus tremuloides) as it can withstand warmer temperatures. At a higher level, a meadow-like space is formed with different species of grasses to mimic the picturesque views of the valley and the mountainside. The history of the corridor has been predominantly rail. Reflection of History In order to reflect the history of this place and to attach people emotionally to it, a sculpture, using rails, was constructed and the names of the companies associated with South Salt Lake and Sugarhouse were inscribed in the nearby concrete pavers. Rain Gardens and the Control of Storm Water As the corridor descends, the central portion is designed with gravels and boulders to form rain gardens. Rain gardens collect rainwater hitting the hard surfaces and control storm water runoff. Through infiltration, the grey water is treated organically, improving its quality before it re-enters the ecosystem. Mountain Brush This section is bejeweled with the use of different native species like Sedum telephium ‘AutumnJoy’. The plants, when in full bloom, attract pollinators and can give an outstanding view to the public. Meanwhile, paperbark maple (Acer griseum) was also planted, with the intent to provide shade to users. The species which are adaptive to this microclimate are chosen meticulously. Apart from that, metal trellises with climbers are used along the edge in order to add even more green to this zone. Trails and Rails The rain gardens are further adorned with rails to contribute to the existence of rail lines along that trail. As the trail expands, two lanes are separated with the use of different types of grasses. The second lane is designed with trimmed turf grasses while the others feature longer grasses. The second lane is designed to hold different playful and leisurely activities of the community. Interactive artworks are placed at each section of the landscaped zones since they will encourage more people to transform the corridor into public place. Sustainable Green Eco Tones As the name suggests, throughout the whole design process, the term ‘green’ was implemented successfully. The choice of native species over other species to attract native inhabitants and the design of the rain garden for rainwater harvesting are the approaches which make the project sustainable. Equity Another success of the design team is their programming of the trail and its nodes to allow use by a wider range of user groups – intergenerational stakeholders who will use multiple non-motorized modes and multiple speeds within those modes. Whether it is a person strolling through to enjoy the landscaping and nature or a commuter in the way to their job, the trail will recognize and embrace this diversity. Universal accessibility was not overlooked, either; tactile surfaces with curbs are also provided to ensure the safety of the physically challenged users. Overall, the line corridor once again teaches us the importance of respecting the historical background of the site, highlighting the physical, social and cultural features of the area, and listening to the opinions of the end users, for landscape architects. The achievement of CRSA through this project is surely laudable and praiseworthy. Go to comments

Full Project Credits For the Sugar House S-Line Streetcar and Greenway:

Project Name: Sugar House S-Line Streetcar and Greenway Location: Salt Lake City, Utah Designers: CRSA Date of Construction: 2014 Length: 3 miles long Client: Salt Lake City Photo Credits: Robert Holman 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 Farah Afza Jurekh

Article by Radenka Kolarov – Total reading time 5 minutes. We already saw that China definitely has amazing projects in the article by Lidija Šuster. There is also one small but no less important project right in the center of the city of Chengdu. This Campus houses the office buildings and research facility of the company, Symantec, which has created leading technology innovations. SWA team is one of the world’s design leaders in landscape architecture, and their projects have garnered over 800 awards. That certainly tells a lot. TEECOM’s role was to design a converging network as a common platform for all systems and this brilliant data center design helps to reduce power and cooling demands. In the following article, I will do my best to present to you, this really special campus design.

It is important to emphasize that this design reinvigorated a formerly inactive area and links the components of the building program inside the campus. It represents a small oasis in the urban environment and focuses on sustainability as a guiding idea. The topic of ‘sustainability’ has been of great importance in recent years as well as today.

Symantec Chengdu Campus

Modern Design – Old Design Have you ever actually thought how interesting and different Chinese gardens, and alltogether its landscape design, are? At first sight, we can see that this campus doesn’t have much in common with historically famous Chinese gardens, but when you look at it closer, you will realize that all of those elements are perfectly inherent and integrated.

Let me show you some parallels that will easily give you an idea of exactly what I’m thinking about. In days of yore, the main objective of the ancient Chinese gardens was to establish a sense of isolation and privacy on small holdings. This principle is also respected in this project by putting it on only one hectare. The pictures belie the scale of the site, as it is much smaller than it appears. This is one of the reasons why this campus is so exciting and magical. The main design is based on the scheme which creates a “brocade” by weaving together the building, vegetation and paths. When all these things permeate each other, it forms an oasis amid the dense, urban location. This garden’s vegetation is very beautiful and unique; it is based on a woodland community of different types of conifers which are young trees, and deciduous trees characteristic of Southwest China, such as bamboos, trees, and shrubs, which have very light leaves and give nice contrast within the composition. It provides us the feeling of finding ourselves in some kind of natural environment, with very little human impact, far away from the city. Everything is perfectly connected, even the stones that are the essential material in creating the gardens and its design, look like they have been there forever. Instead of some small lake or perhaps a stream, which were very characteristic for the gardens in the past, this campus has water mirrors between the paths and vegetation. The depth of only a few inches is enough for these water mirrors to provide us an outstanding view and an experience of relaxation within our personal space. Functionality and Terrific Ambience It is known that green oases in urban environments have purposes like reducing the summer temperatures, cleaning the air, reducing harmful pollutions created by traffic, and perhaps in some cases mitigating the blowing of the wind. The above-mentioned characteristics are exactly the ones that Symantec Chengdu campus provides. Also, the esthetic experience of a space like this can and will give us a complete feeling of relaxation and resting, or maybe a sense of feeling better after merely walking by various trees. Besides the really strong graphic quality of the ground plane, this campus has highly integrated programming on the rooftop space with an extensive site-wide storm water discharge garden, all with the purpose of draining the extensive amount of runoff that comes from the stormwater and irrigation systems. It connects the buildings and site, and creates functional and environmentally sensitive urban outdoor space. Yet, it looks like a space for itself, cut from a small hill, or monticule, and wreathed with paths made of wood. Those paths are very characteristic, especially for this campus, because of their curvilinear position which enables walking in both directions and the pastel color, which adds even more to the harmonious ambiance. If I would have an opportunity to walk through this campus every day, I’m sure that I would never miss that part! Would you? For sure, it also breaks the monotony of its environment and, as seen through the building’s windows surrounding the campus, it represents the main point of view, the focus, from any angle, of one very practical and lavishly planned place. And Suddenly When Night Comes… …our campus gets even more charming and magical. In a very simple but interesting way, soft LED lights are installed inside the wooden paths. In contrast with the conifers and small bushes, this LED lightning solution creates an atmosphere and ambience of pleasant relaxation during the nighttime. Symantec Chengdu campus is a project by the SWA land architecture team in the city of Chengdu. By its local position, it represents a mini-oasis in a very urban and developed city. It is made of natural Chinese elements that were also used in the gardens of China’s past. That is exactly the main reason why this campus is so good; functional and beautiful at the same time. With the very modest influence of new materials and the wise choice of new technologies, alltogether this represents a very clever and promising campus design. Would you like to have a campus like this, perhaps in your city? Let us know in the comment section below! Go to comments

Full Project Credits For the Symantec Chengdu Campus:

Project Name: Symantec Chengdu Campus Location: Chengdu, China Area: 1 hectare Completion: January 2009 Landscape Architects: SWA Photos: Tom Fox 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 Radenka Kolarov

Article by Domenico Pistone – Total reading time 5 minutes. Terra Nova Rural Park, by Hapa Collaborative, City of Richmond, British Columbia, Canada Dams, intertidal coasts, residual mud, and a 27-hectare agricultural landscape located on the northwest tip of Richmond Island make up the canvas on which Hapa Collaborative has scattered its colors and forms. Terra Nova Rural Park is a splendid example of participatory planning among Hapa landscape architects, city administrators, consultants, specialists, and citizens. It is a new and innovative way to design that embodies the ultimate sense of the project: the sharing of space and ideas. The designers’ intention was to create a symbiosis of man and nature, without upheaval or force. The design succeeds in reconnecting visitors with the out-of-doors, at a time when more and more people live out of contact with nature – a situation that Richard Louv, journalist and author of nine books about the contact between man and nature, discusses in his book “Last Child in the Woods”. He defines this disorder as a “nature deficit.”

Terra Nova Rural Park

Innovation in Every Aspect Hapa and Lynne Werker adopted a public design process that included Big Kids Group — a team of consultants that led the designers through the preliminary process of investigation and analysis of the site — and Little Kids Group — consisting of students at two local schools who offered their ideas and talents to the design process. The project provided an opportunity to use design and public art to preserve and reinterpret the rich history of the region’s pioneers and settlers. The design focused on the main aspects of their lives, such as fishing and farming, to preserve the identity of the place and its people.

While looking to the past, the designers also turned to the future, creating many of the park’s games and structures through sustainable design practices rather than using “off the shelf” products. Homestead and Paddock The park is divided into two zones. The “Homestead” — the site of a former farmhouse — includes a custom-designed, 10-meter-tall treehouse with four platforms, a central rope ladder, and a 6-meter-tall stainless steel spiral slide designed for kids ages 8 and older. The Homestead also includes the Log Jam (a climbable timber structure), an aerial rope walkway, and The Spinnery for kids ages 5 and up. There is also a farm-inspired water and sand play area and a timber swing for the youngest ones (ages 2 and up). The “Paddock“, which was once home to horses and stables, now includes tandem 35-meter-long zip lines (ages 8-plus), three-meter-high big swings (8-plus), a pivot swing (5-plus), a twisting stainless steel hillside slide (5-plus), a meadow maze (2-plus), and a rolling hill to hop, skip, and bound down (2-plus). The trademark structures of the park — the treehouse, the log jam, the aerial walkway, the slides, the hill fort, the zip lines, and the big swings – were built using cedar native to British Columbia. This type of wood — a warm and cozy material — is carved locally and serves to affirm the identity of the place and make nature tangible to the children. The symbolic element of the place is the treehouse, a tangled web of maple trunks around circular platforms that are structured along a scale, like a nest that protects eggs waiting to hatch. The nest leads into a spiral chute for when these lucky children are ready to fly. Walking in Nature Has Never Been Easier Even the paths that cross Terra Nova Rural Park are respectful of nature and the orography of the terrain. They connect the designed and pre-existing spaces in a simple and effective way. Wooden walkways that border and follow the surface of the water foster contact with native trees, flowers, and other plants. Rectilinear walkways allow visitors to pass through the educational farms and accompany children to the play areas. The playground itself, which extends into large open fields for sports and games, is also designed to educate people to respect and conserve the site. The park serves as a path of self-improvement and education for children and adults who pass through the non-profit farms, the community gardening, the pet therapy areas, and the natural pathways. Putting Children First Hapa Collaborative has surprised us by including many actors in the creation of this splendid spectacle that portrays nature. The Richmond community is fortunate to have a wonderful example of landscape architecture within its boundaries. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a Lutheran theologian and leader of the German resistance to the Nazis, once stated that “the morality of a society is measured on what it does for its children.” If Bonhoeffer was right, then Terra Nova Park denotes Hapa’s and the community’s beliefs about the importance of educating children. I think the world has an increasing need for spaces like this. Do you? Go to comments

Full Project Credits For Terra Nova Rural Park:

Project Name: Terra Nova Rural Park Landscape Architecture: Hapa Collaborative Location: West end of River Road at the north end of West Dyke Trail, Richmond, British Columbia, Canada Client: City of Richmond Design Year: 2011 Completed: 2014 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 Domenico Pistone

Article by Joanna Łaska – Total reading time 4 minutes. Palma de Vecchio Pop-up Square by Studio Fink, Bergamo, Italy How would you describe contemporary art? Controversial? Loud? Cheap? Expensive? Insensitive? No matter what art means to us and how we’d describe it, we always think of museums and art galleries when speaking of it. But what would happen if art could be taken outside to surround us within urban spaces? What if art is now starting to take a huge part in urban design and it is much more easily accessible than we would actually expect? Studio Fink is here once again to prove to us that modern art not only can become a part of urban design but also to show us how easily it can be blended with traditional forms of art. Peter Fink, a founder and designer at Studio Fink, has collaborated with countless cities and architectural institutions before – every time aiming at the same goal – to animate cities and to highlight the role of art and artistic creativity in cityscapes. His colourful designs have brought life and colour to cities all around the world, including Italy’s picturesque city of Bergamo.

Art to be Lived In the temporary transformation of the outdoor space of the Modern Art gallery in Bergamo – a city with a long medieval history, where Renaissance art still can be seen in its streets – has become the home of a 100-Day Pop-Up Square full of art splendour and extravaganza to accompany the first large retrospective exhibition of Palma il Vecchio paintings. The creators of the square have opted for a strong contrast between the gallery’s setting and the general atmosphere of the city itself, in order to create a comfortable and memorable external room and a place encouraging social interaction, conversation, and contemplation before and after seeing the exhibition. In the blank and unassuming concrete courtyard in front of the gallery, a colourful, lively, and bright 100-Day Pop-Up Square has been created to give Renaissance art a new meaning and use. Peter Fink himself started to think about the motto of the show, which in the end turned out to be: “An exhibition not only to be seen, but to be lived”. The Art of Conversation Vivid, contrasting colours have been chosen to act as exclamation marks, highlighting the importance of the art being exhibited. The Art itself has taken the form of drapery depictions, taken from Palma il Vecchio’s paintings and fixed to geometrical flower beds. The paintings chosen have been shown as enlarged pieces of certain paintings – mostly the faces – as seen in the favourite subjects of the so-called “Holy Conversations”. In fact, “Holy Conversations”, depicting their mythological and allegorical subjects as conversations in extraordinary landscapes, have become the hidden theme of the whole square. People visiting the square have had the perfect occasion to encounter art from a never-before-seen point of view. The historical and subtle art has been given a new life and meaning thanks to its fantastic surroundings, giving the visitors an exciting topic to talk about. The conversations and human interactions have been made easier by the placement of several tables and chairs in the square. And for this, the colour white was chosen in order to make a harmonic connection with the plantings used in the square. Plants used to decorate and to soften the whole interior were designed and selected by StudioGPT’s Lucia Nusiner who opted for white and yellow spring flowers and grasses. Involvement of Museums all Around the World For one hundred days, this extraordinary place was made possible thanks to the gigantic support of the greatest museums all around the world, including the National Gallery in London, the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum in Madrid, the Hermitage in St. Petersburg, the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna, the Gemäldegalerie in Dresden, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Staatliche Museen in Berlin, and major Italian museums including the Uffizi in Florence, the Galleria Borghese in Rome, and the Gallerie dell’Accademia in Venice. Art Made Easy Peter Fink, who hopes that his design of the pop-up square will encourage people to explore through their own conversations how Palma il Vecchio’s art develops poems of glances, stories, nostalgia, discoveries, and glimpses through the conversational landscapes of his paintings, also hopes that this project will change the way we consider traditional art. His creation at the Galleria d’Arte Moderna e Contemporanea in Bergamo is an excellent example of art being made accessible and comprehensible for its audiences around the world. The 100-Day Pop-Up Square also shows the countless possibilities of modern technology, leaving us no choice but to get creative and imaginative in our projects, creating pieces of true art for all to enjoy. What do you think of the Palma de Vecchio Pop-up Square? Go to comments

Full Project Credits For the Palma de Vecchio Pop-up Square:

Project Name: Palma de Vecchio Pop-up Square Location: Bergamo Italy Date: 2015 Client: GAMeC Lead Design: Studio Fink Peter Fink + Richard Marfiak Planting: StudioGPT Lucia Nusiner Lighting: Maurizio Quargnale Photography Credits: Leonardo Tagliabue 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 Joanna Łaska

Article by Sophie Thiel In our fifth article about landscape architecture tourist destinations, we take a closer look at landscape architecture in South America. In South America, there are only a few countries where landscape architecture as a profession is well established. Indeed, landscape architecture in the European sense is much less prevalent in South America. Brazil, which was influenced early by Roberto Burle Marx and Rosa Kliass, seems to be one of the rare exceptions. However, those cities or regions that have a more profound understanding of landscape and garden design are still hard to find throughout the continent. The following list includes ten different examples of such rather hard-to-find landscape architecture projects of South America. Although there are many other reasons to visit the various countries of this continent, visiting new and exotic landscape design sites is often what landscape architects need, to regain inspirational power.

Landscape Architecture in South America

10. Hotel Unique and its Garden– Sao Paulo, Brazil, by Gilberto Elkis As the name suggests, this postmodern hotel building by Brazil’s foremost architect Ruy Ohtake breaks with known standards. Its exceptional design reminds one of a dazzling ocean liner standing in the middle of a residential area. Landscape architect Gilberto Elkis designed the riveting surrounding garden as an equal accompaniment to the Hotel Unique. When viewed from different perspectives – whether from the ship-like portal of a suite, from the ground floor, or from the rooftop bar and pool deck – its landscape varies dramatically. From above, the winding water channel evokes an abstract drawing, but from the ground plane, where the coursing line is barely visible, the architectural cut of the vegetation dominates the view as the trees seem like outcrops of the crescent-shaped building. If you stay in Sao Paulo, the Hotel Unique with its commanding landscape is a must-see landmark.

9. and 8. Mano de Punta del Este – Punta del Este, Uruguay, and Mano del Desierto – Atacama Desert, Chile. Both by Mario Irarrázabal The Mano de Punta del Este – shortly called “La Mano” or “Los Dedos”– is the first of three sculptures by Chilean Artist Mario Irarrázabal. He sculptured the “drowning” hand as a warning to swimmers due to the rough waves of the Brava Beach. It took the artist just six days to form the five human fingers that partially emerge from the sand, during the first annual International Meeting of Modern Sculpture in 1982. Since then the hand has become one of Uruguay’s most recognizable landmarks and is popularized by tourist photographs. If you stop at Punta del Este, plan to stay a day or two to relax on the beautiful beaches or go surfing since this resort town is known as “The Monaco of South America” according to Wikitravel. The Mano del Desierto is another large-scale sculpture by Mario Irarrázabal, located in the Atacama Desert in Chile, nearly 3000km away from the original Mano in Uruguay. This piece of art was inaugurated in 1992, 10 years after the completion of La Mano de Punta del Este. It has since become a well-known point of interest for travellers on Route 5, which forms part of the famous Pan-American-Highway. Despite having the same creator, both Manos look very different from each other due to alterations in materials and design, as well as a completely different landscape setting for each. Hence, just because you’ve seen one, doesn’t mean you don’t have to visit the other sculpture; so go and collect your pictures with the giant hands of South America! 7. Ladeira da Barroquinha – Salvador, Brazil, by Metro Arquitetos When visiting Salvador as a tourist, you will definitely notice the redesigned Ladeira da Barroquinha – literally; the slope of Barroquinha. The new design for this central street considers the tranquil flow of customers that attend the local street market, as well as the intense pedestrian flow towards the nearby bus terminal. As a tourist, I would suggest you take the time to stroll around, discover the different sized steps and plateaus and take a seat on one of the many new benches that are smartly incorporated into the slope design. The old Barroquinha Church, from which you have wonderful views of the sea and beach, is located directly in this area, too. 6. Plaza Victor J. Cuesta – Vargas Machuca, Ecuador, by DURAN&HERMIDA arquitectos asociados On this continent, a designed open space such as Plaza Victor J. Cuenca is a rarity that arises unexpectedly between a plethora of unsustainably designed cities. This medium-scale plaza forms the historical centre of Cuenca. Its contemporary urban design still prevails on the value of the plaza’s historical context as well as showcasing many harmonious details. Unlike the traditional way of creating open spaces in South America, which often results in fenced green areas, this project proposes a homogenous surface that integrates greenery and pedestrian flow. Plaza Victor J.Cuesta turned a neglected, unsafe place into a multi-functional space that is well integrated into the social and built surroundings. This project in Ecuador is one of the few top landscape architecture projects that we would love to see more of in South America, and worldwide. 5. The Sitio – Roberto Burle Marx‘ Garden – Barra de Guaratiba, Brazil One of Brazil’s most famous gardens is Roberto Burle Marx’s Private Garden called The Sitio, which is a one-hour drive west of Rio de Janeiro. The world-famous landscape architect resided at this estate from 1949 until he died in 1994. Burle Marx left an important botanical collection of tropical plants behind, in his beautifully arranged garden, along with his original farmhouse and studio where Marx’s paintings, furniture, and sculptures are displayed. An abstract wall and pool form one of the most famous parts of his garden’s context-sensitive design. Visit Burle Marx’s private home at Sitio and enjoy his artful, dynamic, landscape creation. Read about Roberto Burle Marx’s life in these two articles by Alexandra Wilmet and Julia Lucchese:

• Top 10 Most influential Landscape Architects of All Time
• 8 Amazing Facts About Burle Marx That You Didn’t Know 

4. Orquideorama – Medellin, Colombia, by Plan B Architects + JPRCR Arquitectos With the Orquideorama , the city of Medellin gained a design attraction that inspires both residents and visitors alike. Orquideorama is a large timber and steel canopy located in the Botanical Gardens of Medellin. The 50-foot-high canopy not only creates a shading extension of the surrounding forest, but the trunk structures also form various functional spaces such as a café for visitors, a feeding facility for birds, and a butterfly breeding area. Be prepared to go on an educational trip, since the Botanical Garden of Medellin is home to more than 4500 species of plants and more than 1000 species of animals. Take this opportunity to see and learn about the natural environment found only in Colombia and South America; you won’t want to leave. The Botanical Garden of Medellin is ranked number 7 of 142 things to do in Medellin, on TripAdvisor.

If you’re loving this article, don’t forget to bookmark these for later:

• 10 of The Best Tourist Spots for Landscape Architecture in Europe
• 10 of The Best Tourist Spots for Landscape Architecture in Asia
• 10 of the Best Tourist Spots for Landscape Architecture in Australia 

3. Rua Gonçalo de Carvalho – Porto Alegre, Brazil Seen from above, the Gonçalo de Carvalho street in Porto Alegre looks like a soft but thick green carpet between the adjacent buildings. When entering the street on ground level, you will be overwhelmed with the feeling of diving into a different world. The reasons for this are the countless rosewood (Tipuana tipu) tree lines that tower over the 500-meter-long, ancient cobbled street on both sides. The trees were planted in the 1930s and have grown into a shady neighbourhood canopy that creates a pleasant climate to be found whenever you might take a walk at Rua Gonçalo de Carvalho. The street became famous worldwide in 2005 when a resident initiative fought to preserve the gorgeous redwoods. Take the time for a long stroll under the leafy canopy and get inspired to create your own Gonçalo de Carvalho in the future.

2. Quilotoa Crater Overlook – Zumbahua, Ecuador, by Jorge Javier Andrade Benítez, Javier Mera Luna, and Daniel Moreno Yet another exceptional tourist spot can be found in South America. The Quilotoa Crater Overlook is a viewing platform that enables visitors to step out over an active volcano at nearly 4000 meters above sea level. To reach this place, you could go on a hiking trip on your own, or you may decide to ride comfortably on a mule and be guided by true indigenous people of the Ecuadorian Sierra through the sensitive Andean Paramo ecosystem until you reach the overlooking platform and its breath-taking views. One thing is for sure: the Quilotoa Crater Overlook project, also called Mirador Shalala by the indigenous people, teaches everyone the lesson of how to meet human needs without compromising a perfect natural site. 1. Cockfight Coliseum Garden – Lima, Perù, by 2.8 x arquitectos Have you ever relaxed or even meditated at a cockfighting arena? Guess what, this exceptional landscape architecture project in Lima will allow even beginners to meditate. The former cockfighting arena – a place of tradition but also cruelty – was transformed from a memorial of death to a place for life. Through the resolute circular form, the simple elements and the use of two calming colours (grey and green), the design of the Cockfight Coliseum Garden is, overall, characterized by peacefulness. The addition of a small waterfall evokes a thriving but also a calm and balanced feeling, which is perfectly fitting to this meditation spot. Enjoy the calm oasis when sitting on the grass and improve your meditation skills – this is the perfect place to do so in South America. Despite a handful of great landscape architecture projects, vast parts of South America are still in urgent need of professional landscape design influence. Though by no means should there be Europeanization taking place; rather a strong support of traditional materials and ideas, mixed with new approaches, would be desirable for the many, still underdeveloped, parts of South America. Always keep your eyes open and enjoy your trip to South America. What designs do you think are missing from this list? What else can landscape architects learn from the more traditional design of South America? Let us know in the comment section below! Go to comments Article by Sophie Thiel

Recommended Reading

• Natural Swimming Pools: Inspiration For Harmony With Nature by Michael Littlewood
• You Can Draw in 30 Days: The Fun, Easy Way to Learn to Draw in One Month or Less by Mark Kistler

Article by Samia Rahman Urban Spa, by students of ISAD, along with PKMN architects helps to bring life to the city, in Chihuahua, Mexico A community is the extended family of a society. And that extended family dreams of being surrounded by verdant, interactive spaces rather than a concrete jungle. Many times, landscape architects create new public places with green areas, seating, play spaces, and walking trails. But sometimes the revitalization of “dead spaces” with a simple installation can prove to be more beneficial by providing amenities in a previously boring life. These kinds of projects bring the community together to maintain the public realm. How do we bring an impossible dream to life? The students of the Instituto de Arquitectura y Diseno de Chihuahua in Mexico, along with the community and PKMN architects, did so by forming a temporary installation around a dead fountain. WATCH >>> TALLER DEL DESIERTO 2015 _ ISAD

Bring Life to the City

Bringing the Community Together In the north of Mexico, the city of Chihuahua has faced some problematic issues linked with drug trafficking, lack of urban facilities, derelict streets, and abandoned parks where mishaps are a daily phenomenon. Held each summer by the ISAD, the “Taller del Desierto” workshop anticipates breathing new life into these neglected public spaces. This year, the aim of the “Taller del Desierto” workshop was to involve citizens as much as possible in creating a community-inspired project to revitalize the center of Chihuahua. People living in a community know better than anyone about what they want in their urban space. That’s why it is good practice to allow them to participate in designing these spaces.

Students from ISAD in Chihuahua, along with Madrid-based architects PKMN and local residents, designed the Urban SPA, a temporary interactive installation at Parque Urueta in the city center. The chosen space was built in 1930 and abandoned in recent decades because of excessive misuse that gradually turned the space dead. At first, the students wanted to design the park as an imaginary future public space, trying to fulfill the residents’ expectations as a part of their workshop. Urueta Park, which has an improper pathway lacking in identity, is divided into two areas: a small woodland and a sports area without facilities. From their observations, the students also identified a dead public water fountain beside the park that, while no longer usable, was still cherished by the locals. The participatory workshop yielded many ideas, including adding benches and shaded structures for sitting, but the community strongly demanded reactivation of the fountain as the heart of the park for increasing activities. The students wanted to give a new identity to the old fountain and its neglected surroundings. They and the community members were focused on making a temporary installation around the fountain. They designed the revitalization proposal in a week, then assembled the Urban SPA using 40 scaffolding units, several dozen pallets, some remnants of shading mesh, and a few gallons of paint. After hearing the proposal, the city was interested in joining the initiative and agreed to install a water pump that has brought a new life to the fountain. Breathing New Life into an Old Space The installation is difficult to overlook, as it is built from a series of wooden surfaces that transform the unused fountain into a flourishing public space. The multipurpose bathing decks invite people to sit, sunbathe and enjoy a small garden with a ramp that provides universal accessibility. The design offers a platform to all who want to play by the sprinkling water, surrounded by nine large scaffolding towers that provide shade. The towers hold some hammocks, small viewpoints, and a resting platform that make them dynamic. The project takes advantage of its location and boosts the existing activities. The inspiration behind the work is an attraction or circus tent. Morning shadows from a neighboring giant tree flit back and forth between the park area and nearby tennis courts, as well as the enhanced activities taking place around it. The perimeter of the stands is oriented toward zumba and yoga classes in the afternoons, and bustles with shopping kiosks, corn stalls, and palettes. At night, the whole arena is used as a setting for performances and concerts. The place is not desolate for a moment, because it welcomes versatile activities with various people walking, playing, and gossiping around the water source, which creates a vivid environment for sharing daily life experiences with lots of hope and expectations. Because of the success of this amazing transformation, the university is raising funds to establish the installation permanently. Describing the project, PKMN architects say Urban SPA “is born as a unique proposal but at the same time, it’s being reconsidered as a concern for the reactivation of unused water sources in the city of Chihuahua”. They also refer to the potential use of this model in other cities. The installation is an ideal example of interactive architecture that not only rejuvenates a space, but also successfully creates an attraction for all by uniting a neighborhood. Could this type of simple idea bring all of our neighborhoods closer together? Go to comments

Full Project Credits For the Urban Spa:

Project Name: Taller Del Desierto / Urban SPA Location: Parque Urueta, Colonia Obrera, Chihuahua, México. Developer: ISAD [Instituto de Arquitectura y Diseno de Chihuahua] / www.isad.edu.mx/ Workshop Leaders: PKMN Architectures Year: 2015 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 Samia Rahman

Article by Nour Adel NICHE, by Pantoja Arquitectos is bringing back Colombian art, in the Square Jairo Varela, in the center of Cali, Colombia. Whether you are a fan of classical Colombian music or just a random passerby in the streets of Cali, Colombia, the “Niche” project is bound to appeal to your senses. It’s a work to see, hear, and absorb. Designed by Pantoja Architects, the project highlights the features of the identity of the classical Colombian musician “Niche” and his talent for composition. The project, located in Cali’s Plazoleta Jairo Varela, is an urban piece that engages viewers with the Colombian art on a whole new level and provides them with a unique spatial experience. WATCH >>> Here is a glimpse of the Columbian artwork in action

Bringing Back Colombian Art

“Niche” is an abstract artwork where the forms of trumpets and trombones are articulated to form a landmark that interrupts the public space and at the same time attracts people from different backgrounds to enter. It interacts with the public in multiple ways. Users can use it as a shed, a resting area, a social interaction space, or even as a salsa dancing floor and allow themselves to experience Colombian culture within just a few minutes. Specifications Unveiled on Dec. 25, 2015, “Niche “is a monument designed as a tribute to the artist Jairo Varela. The famous musician from Cali has been the driving force behind the group Niche, which has given an identity to the Salsa of Cali.

The designed sculpture is 10 meters high, displaying the word ‘’Niche’’ in galvanized steel painted with gold synthetic enamel. The trumpets and trombones were the main inspiration for the form, as they are considered essential musical elements in the group’s music. Whether you pass by Plazoleta Jairo Varela on your way to work in the morning or are just hanging out in the beautiful city by night, the monument is bound to catch your eye. A line of lights surrounds each letter, resembling the aesthetic of the signs of concert halls, bars, and nightclubs, making the project look extra appealing by night. To make the sculpture further interact with pedestrians, the designers have created original audio recordings of the band’s music to play inside each ‘’bell’’ at the feet of the letters. The compositions of the group are divided into three sections — rhythm, harmony, and melody — and all three are played in the bells. The monument is a time machine that takes you back to an age of simplicity, a time when good music was much more common than it is now. All people — music lovers and scholars or bystanders — are invited to move closer to the musical legacy of Jairo Varela and the group, as the sculpture celebrates the songs that are a part of the identity of the city of Cali. The audio design of the songs played in the sculpture required the actual participation and collaboration of the members of the current Grupo Niche and of its musical director, José Aguirre. The musicians recorded songs such as ‘’Cali Pachanguero’’ exclusively for the artwork, to create each musical track and remind us of the unique art of the Colombia Southwest. This also ensures that the acoustics are efficient and provides high sound quality so it does not sound like one of the ancient, squeaky, cassette tapes our grandmothers used to listen to. Integrating with the Public The artwork is an intervention in the public space that can be seen from vehicles passing through one of the main avenues of Cali. It also welcomes passersby to Plazoleta Jairo Varela, standing at the top of a shaft of pedestrian traffic that crosses the city. It is not only a work to see, hear, and penetrate, but it also serves a function where the forms act as actual urban furniture, allowing the user to sit, lie down, and dance, participating in and reflecting on the essence of the World Capital of Salsa. It is a meeting place where random people can get to know each other and maybe reminisce about the good, old, original classics of Colombian music. “Niche” as an Urban Anchor Point “Niche” does not only revive Colombian art, it also plays a major role in giving definition to the urban space. It helps pedestrians and drivers draw a mind map of the city, as it makes the whole area more memorable. This unique work of art allows residents to perceive their city with a whole new perspective. “Niche” will always serve as a reference point and landmark like no other; you will find people constantly referring to it spontaneously whenever they are describing directions to someone, just because such a distinctive sight is so difficult to forget. Would you forget if you saw a random old man bouncing under a golden trumpet in a public square? Go to comments

Full Project Credits For NICHE:

Project Name: NICHE Location: Square Jairo Varela, in the center of Cali, Colombia Artists: Fredy Pantoja, Lucia Alba Sound Engineer: Marcela Mejía Architects: Pantoja Arquitectos – Sebastian Castaño, Alex Rodriguez, Nicolas Rosales,Leonardo Fontalvo, Juan Camilo Montero, Edward Nuñez Assembly Engineer: Jhon Henry Aristizábal Graphic Designer: Jhon Vargas Manufacturing Engineer: Juan Manuel Duque Structural Engineer: Iván Vergara Electrical Engineer: Carlos Castaño Project Date: December 25^th 2015 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 Nour Adel

Article by Paul McAtomney We take a look at 5 things that happen when you become a landscape architect. Despite its increasing scope and relevance in 21st-century society, landscape architecture continues to act as a largely unseen profession. It attracts an assemblage of people to its learning; more often than not, individuals coming from diverse backgrounds, later in life. Having recently completed my undergraduate studies as one of those individuals from a diverse background, commencing work in practice, and ruminating on my experiences thus far, I realise I lacked a sound grasp of the physicality of the world as an unversed student. This is not to suggest I am now versed; far from it, in fact. However, there are numerous things I find I do in interpreting and responding to the natural and built environment on a daily basis now as a practicing landscape architect that as a student I was not so attuned to, and to the non-landscape architect might sound quite bizarre. The following commentary, I hope, will encourage people considering entering the profession, be comically recognisable to other landscape architects, or simply give interested readers a sense of how landscape architects interpret the world around them. 1. You Eat the World with Your Eyes Wandering through the urban fabric becomes an entirely different, sensual, experience, and one that offers a plethora of insight if you are willing to look and observe. The transition from student work (speculative and often large-scale) to real-world, built work provides a pleasant jolt, and quickly you find yourself becoming highly attuned to how the physical environment is put together, layer by layer, piece by piece—be it a detail of how two materials coalesce, a type of paver, a concrete finish—for example—Beekman Plazas by James Corner Field Operations (Figure 1). These and many others are the things that I feast on daily now, having had no such level of attentiveness as a student. Looking at the built environment also entails a critical sense of thinking about the raw materials wrought from the earth and where they come from—the origins of the gravel, concrete, steel, and timber that comprise the built environment. As we continue to witness the complete urbanisation of society, the general populace is in large part spatially removed from the landscapes that are exploited to yield such materials.

2. You Realise Plants Matter In university, course material on plant matter is pretty light. Through my four-year degree, I had one subject on plants, and it was heavily horticulturally-based. Rather than exhibiting a mastery of horticulture, I believe it is much more important to learn about plants endemic to your local area and how they can be applied through the lens of experience, the life cycle of plants, and the ecological function that they provide. You will rapidly discover that to gain plant knowledge, it is essentially up to you. To do so, I generally photograph any interesting groundcover, shrub, or tree that catches my eye and either attempt to use a plant finder website, ask someone at work, or simply search for local government data on plants in a particular suburb and begin a process of subtraction until I can make an identification. Doing so the latter way seems to ingrain the species into my mind as it involves more research, as does sketching the plant in question into your sketchbook, labelling it, and describing it. (Figures 2 and 3). If you think you’re not versed in verdure as much as you’d like to be, be sure to check out all 10 of the 10 Most Common Mistakes People Make in Planting Design and How to Avoid Them. Figure 3: Leaf explorations identifying new species. Image: author’s own. 3. You Survey the Land I look at hills, valleys, and slopes, and see contours. This is a great way to learn to read the landscape through natural and cultural visual clues, and a perfect example of the critical interpretation of the land that happens in the mind of a landscape architect. Perusing the built and natural world by foot, I try to sense and estimate the gradient of a given slope, and also visualise drainage patterns in the landscape (Figures 4 and 5). As the bread and butter of landscape architectural practice, being dextrous at grading and drainage is an essential skill to develop. Having the ability to visualise landforms and contours is aided a great deal by books such as Landscape Site Grading Principles: Grading With Design in Mind (Figure 6). 4. You People-Watch More than Ever People watching is a thoroughly splendid way to pass the time in public space. Of course, not only landscape architects do this, as the general populace also gravitate toward idly observing the urban spectacle of public life. However, as landscape architects, we are attuned to picking up individual or collective idiosyncrasies, as it is an inherent part of analysing space and the way people appropriate, activate, abandon, or territorialise space. Take New Road by Landscape Projects and Gehl Architects, for example (Figure 6). Jan Gehl is a huge advocate of urban quality and walkability, and describes how in spaces such as this, the edges hold a magnetic attraction for people known as the “edge effect”; perfect for people watching and a trait the Top 10 Public Squares of the World no doubt possess. 5. You Comprehend Past, Present, and Future Rarely is a site ever a blank slate, a tabula rasa. No landscape is void of historical traces and layers. Thinking critically about places and how they have come to fruition—developing an understanding of the observable conditions of the past and present—is a part of the landscape architect’s deftness in making educated guesses about future trajectories and interactions at a systemic level (Figure 7). As an individual, I have found that you develop your very own “language of landscape”, as Anne Whiston Spirn so eloquently put it, in your own unique fashion and at your own pace, with no determinant modus operandi. Here, curiosity is key. Landscape architects’ generalist tendencies are often considered our major downfall; to the contrary, I believe they are our greatest means of agency as our remit continues to broaden in scope. These are five of the most noted changes in the way I personally see and experience the world around me as a landscape architect, and truly believe it’s a very special way of seeing and knowing. If you are a fellow landscape architect reader, please comment and add to this list! Go to comments 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 Paul McAtomney

Article by Irmak Bilir The Deck (Patong Beach), by Shma Company Limited, in Phuket, Thailand Who wouldn’t want to spend their vacation in a residence that has a fascinating roof garden with a fantastic swimming pool? Our guess: No one. The Deck Condominium is a low-rise residential development designed by Shma, very near to Patong Beach. It is located in one of the most popular tourist destinations in the southern part of Thailand. Visitors are attracted by the clear, blue skies and white sand beach, as well as the many aquatic activities, which include snorkeling and speed boating. The Deck’s location allows guests to access all the amenities of this vacation resort, but it also has some special qualities of its own.

Roof Top Landscape Design

Singing the Blues Blue is the dominant color in The Deck’s architectural design. It is most prevalent on the balconies, making them compatible with the perfect view of the sky and the sea. The use of blue is inspired by the natural geography of the site, which is embraced by mountains and the unique landscape that suggests Phuket’s natural identity. This inspiration continues through to the landscape architecture, which utilizes the natural beauty of the area to create a relaxing environment for residents. In addition, the project has two big swimming pools that contribute to this blue harmony. The Perfect View from the Roof Terrace The roof terrace of The Deck includes a 28.8-meter swimming pool that is the most outstanding part of the project. The seventh-floor terrace opens up to a 180-degree view of the surrounding landscape and is carefully positioned to be oriented toward the sea and the infamous Patong Beach. In order to achieve this, the railings along the rooftop are depressed to allow for undisrupted views from the wooden deck. Glazing is used instead of the railings, so while the visitors are swimming, they can feel like they are hanging in the perfect, blue sky with a beautiful view. It must be so relaxing! The sunbeds and seating elements are embellished with small rocks, especially along the edges of the roof. The planting is designed on some raised concrete elements, and on the back side of some of the sunbeds there are smaller planting areas whose shape is inspired by the natural identity of the area. The Entrance Impressed by the rooftop terrace? Don’t let that overshadow the rich design of the Deck’s entrance. The overall landscape is designed to be encircled by various green mounds and the shade of tall trees planted along the winding walkway, resembling the natural scouring of waterways. The walkway is gradually elevated through the luscious green mounds, which roll from side to side until they finally converge on a 50.5-meter swimming pool. The pool has an organic shape that follows the building’s length and infiltrates into the private balconies of each residence, allowing residents to conveniently use the pool. Tiny fountains are disposed in the shallow part of the pool, making underwater seating possible. A big plant island graces the middle of the pool, and the same small rocks found on the rooftop are used here for drainage and decoration. The daybeds provide a comforting view of the pool and the nearby barbecue area, which caters parties in the evening. The outdoor design harmonizes with the Deck’s interior design. The exterior walkway between buildings is connected to the communal area, inviting residents to come outside and relax. The lobby and the fitness room also offer views of the garden. All in all, the Deck’s landscape design is a nice reflection of the natural identity of Phuket. With its inviting blue color scheme, fascinating swimming pools, and wonderful view, it is a residence that makes people want to stay forever. Would you like to visit? Let us know in the comments below! Go to comments

Full Project Credits For the Deck (Patong Beach):

Project Name: The Deck (Patong Beach) Location: Phuket, Thailand Landscape Architecture: Shma Company Limited Design Team: Design Director — Prapan Napawongdee Landscape Architect – Tarntip Tantprasert Horticulturist — Pornsiri Rodkul, Wimonporn Chaiyathet Construction Completion: 2015 Landscape Area: Ground Floor — 3,980 square meters

Roof Top — 970 square meters Client & Developer: Sansiri PCL Architect: Somdoon Architects Co., LTD M&E : V. Group Engineer C&S Engineering : Project Type: Residential Photograph Credit: Wison Tungthhunya 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 Irmak Bilir

Article by Irene Crowo Nielsen The Rehabilitation of the Zsolnay Factory, by Ujirany/New Directions Landscape Architects, Pécs, Hungary Imagine an abandoned factory complex dating back to 1853 in the city of Pécs, Hungary. It is situated next to a railway, contained within a wall. See the big, empty buildings with random broken windows, paint peeling off the walls, and cracks in the pavement, with pioneer willow plantation growing up from them. Not really inviting, right? This describes the post-industrial landscape of the Zsolnay Factory, a symbol of development in the modern age in a city renowned for its Zsolnay porcelain and ceramic-decorated buildings. It has suffered the same fate as so many other factory complexes: abandonment. But, unlike so many other post-industrial landscapes, the future looks bright for the Zsolnay Factory. It was saved by a major rehabilitation in connection with the European Capital of Culture 2010 project.

Rehabilitation of the Zsolnay Factory

The municipality of Pécs aimed to establish a cultural and artistic zone in the deserted, non-functioning buildings that would serve and extend the possibilities for public education and the supply of cultural tourism for the inhabitants of the city and the region. Ujirany/New Directions Landscape Architects was hired to design the landscape around the area that became the University Quarter, where the Faculty of Music and Visual Arts of the University of Pécs moved in.

So, how do you set out on this mission? How do you use landscape architecture to save an abandoned factory complex and also connecting it to a University Quarter? Southern Territory’s Landscape Design – Industrial Area The Zsolnay Factory can be divided into a southern and a northern part, where the southern part used to be the industrial area that took care of the operations of the factory. Impermeable surfaces, raw materials, and manufacturing processes can be used to describe this area. This is also the part the Ujirany/New Directions landscape architects set out to rehabilitate. The Concept: Abundance The new design holds many traces of the factory’s history. Ujirany/New Directions Landscape Architects describes the project on its website this way: “The concept of the park derives from the abundance of the site, hence as design proposal the visualization of the process of succession was envisaged to take over the industrial site. The whole park aims to give space for the everyday life of the students and will become a whole as the process of dwelling will complement the garden.” The design can again be divided into two parts: The natural landscape part, which is the larger part and referred to as the university garden, and the smaller part, the “open auditorium” referred to as the university courtyard, the students’ personal area. The University Garden – Naturally The university garden is situated between the rail tracks and the parking house. It held a lot of potential in keeping bits of its industrial past intact. However, due to technical difficulties and costs, it did not quite turn out that way. The traces of the past are still there — the pavement became a path with crushed stone from the old asphalt pavement, and the outline and levels of the old industrial waterway were transformed into an artificial grassy terrain, where students can relax between classes. The remains of a covered pergola were reduced to white columns standing regularly in space. The old loading ramp is still intact. The university garden is mostly an open, grassy area. Vines are planted by the white columns and will resemble the old pergola in a few years time. An alley of trees was planted by the paved “timeout” area. There are a few shrubs planted as a buffer toward the railway. A landscape of trees and shrubs is situated on the other side of the railway, framing the university garden perfectly. The University Courtyard – Personal The university courtyard emphasizes the various levels that have been created over the years by natural forces. The levels have been turned into terraces of differing heights. The landscape architects explain that “the composition of the courtyard was created by the abstraction of the natural environment of the university garden.” Staircases meandering through the area of the terraces span the courtyard, and there is a 1.5-meter vertical difference between the two sides of the courtyard. The main courtyard features a grassy slope and a snack bar pavilion. The design gives the students a feeling of a square where they can get together and organize events. As with the university garden, this area is also mostly grassy. There is a row of trees planted in between the mobile seating elements. There are some bigger terraces for relaxing connected to the grassy slope, and a variation of paved and grassy terraces is divided into smaller, more intimate areas by ornamental grass plantings. History Repeats Itself Gone are the big empty buildings with broken windows, cracks in the pavement, and paint peeling off the walls. Gone is the feeling of abandonment. The Zsolnay Factory has become a busy hub for “workers”, only this time in the shape of creative art students who will let the design of the park inspire them to finish the “openly left sentences” through the means of art projects. With the rehabilitation and the tracing of its past, the Zsolnay Factory has once again become a symbol of development in the modern age of the city of Pécs. The Zsolnay Factory has returned to being a lively, everyday hub, just how it was planned to be in 1853. How would you trace the past of an abandoned old factory? Go to comments

Full Project Credits For the Rehabilitation of the Zsolnay Factory:

Project Name: The Rehabilitation of the Zsolnay Factory – Southern Territory’s landscape design Location: Pécs, Hungary Budget: 11 billion HUF (this includes the whole Cultural Quarter investment of the European Culture of Capital Pécs Programme) Landscape Architecture: Ujirany / New Directions Landscape Architects (Árpád Kovács, Katalin Lukács, Gábor Szohr, Dorottya Thurnay, Dominika Tihanyi) Architects/ general planners: MCXVI Architects Design year: 2009 Date of Construction: 2011 Size: 5,300 square meters Client: Municipality of Pécs Photos: Ujirany / New Directions 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 Irene Crowo Nielsen

Article by Moreira Filho KALA – Playground and Green Space in Berlin-Friedrichshain, by Rehwaldt LA, Dresden, Berlin, Germany. There is no time to have fun. Squares are supposed to be places where fun flows naturally. Almost all the projects of squares are directed to teenagers and adults. But what about children and elders? The KALA – Playground and Green Space in Berlin-Friedrichshain project was specially designed for them by Rehwaldt LA, Dresden, and of course, everybody can go there and have fun together.

KALA – Playground and Green Space

Putting the Site into Context KALA Square is situated in Berlin, among Hildegard Jadamowitz Street, Lasdehner Street and Kadiner Street, close to Frankfurter and Karl Marx Avenues, in the midst of the Friedrichshain district, composing two mini-parks. There is an elementary school called Ludwig Hoffmann nearby. That site used to be the residence of industrial employees before the Second War. It was partially destroyed in the war and some of the damaged buildings were demolished, giving way to wastelands, and some of them were transformed into small squares. After decades of reconstruction, a plan of revitalization was adopted in 2009. Nowadays, all of the inhabitants and visitors of the surroundings can enjoy this spot.

Rescuing Values That’s what this special square in Berlin, Germany, brings into play. It’s not only a beautiful place, but also a place of acquaintanceship. The intention is to make children active, developing their citizenship and self-consciousness, help them find friends, to learn with their own hurts and joys in funny playgrounds, and get tuned in with their environment and neighborhood. Simplicity is the Key to Reach Sophistication Simplicity doesn’t mean lack of design. With a special theme, a playground becomes a big world of fun. The square is cracked into two parts. Meeresinsel; that means Island in the Sea, and Erdeninsel; meaning Isle on the Earth. A group of children quickly enter into those “worlds”. Meeresinsel Meeresinsel has penguins and polar life motifs in the design, composing a big sandy zone as if it were a big sea or ocean, rounded by broken ice sheets. It allows children play in many different ways: climbing ice sheets (made of concrete), where they can slide, too, or another one where they balance, dive, hide etc.; everything their imagination can invent. There is nothing as humorous as a child playing that he is a seal, is there? Or even following the penguins’ footsteps, or hiding and appearing from a hole in an ice sheet. A paved area in the south makes a small square where a water pump was installed, to the children’s joy. They get dirty with that messy mud of sand. Good for their growth, bad for their mother’s laundry. Erdeninsel On the other side, across Lasdehner Street, is the other part of KALA’ Square, called The Erdeninsel (Isle on the Earth). Although this area also works as a passageway, elders maybe prefer to spend time there. It’s cool and calm to take a sunbath, play cards or musical instruments, read the news or just stand, talking with friends for a while, without thinking about work or boring things. It’s right beside the elementary school and its green sensation gives a very pleasurable walk. Elders can have a sit on a bench which is not only a normal bench. Completely charming, the bench is highlighted! Its design is beautiful and exorbitant, and it has multiple functions; as a bench only, or a picnic table, resting area, stage for anything, or as a big “bridge” for the childrens’ frolicking. Made of wooden pieces of different sizes and painted in ocher shades, it stimulates the vision by its own profile of “curve lines” moving out from the junction of rectilinear blocks. Materials like concrete, sand, wood and water were applied. Blocks, sheets, meshes and ground vegetation were arranged in strategic positions, giving space for children to play, to allow for public passage, and for the rest and picnicing of elders and familes. Each thing in its own space. Modest, easy and it works. Vegetation The existent vegetation was maintained in the project, with few modifications only; the addition of some new trees and shrubs. Its effects allow some shadows in the summer and gives a green background to the landscape in a charming way. That’s because some of the trees are from Platanaceae, Altingiaceae or Fabaceae families, meaning that their leaves are green in the spring and summer and are dropped in fall and winter. Because of this point, the landscape changes with the weather and the seasons. They are tall, straight, thin, elegant; similar to some that you probably draw in your sketches. Shrubs and groundplants give, in their profiles, a visual mix of leaves and shades; almost like they were in a forest. As the backgrounding to the square, the swishes of the wind in the green elements gives a calm sensation and barricades the noises of day-to-day. But don’t expect to find lots of different colored flowers. We are talking about a greenspace, not exactly a garden! Simplicity – All that we Need KALA is inside a neighborhood constructed and reconstructed, which served as employees’ homes before the Second War and which now is inhabited by average families. It doesn’t contrast with the big box buildings in the surroundings, but you know that there is an interesting thing in there, because of the showy green open area. Family conceptions have changed through the years. Even if you do not have one or don’t live with them, going to parks and squares is still a good way to enjoy family life. As we learn with children, simple toys and playgrounds can be amazing and take us to different imaginative worlds. Elders can tell us how to improve our quality of life after years of hard work. And all these stories can take place in such well-designed squares like KALA. So, go out with your folks and follow the penguins’ footprints at KALA playground and greenspace. Do you usually enjoy having fun with your family like they do at KALA? When was the last time? Tell us; how do you spend your time in public spaces? Go to comments

Full Project Credits For the KALA – Playground and green space in Berlin-Friedrichshain:

Project Name: KALA – Playground and green space in Berlin-Friedrichshain Completion: 2011 Location: Kadiner st./Lasdehner st., Berlin-Friedrichshain Designer: Rehwaldt LA, Dresden Country: Germany Photographer: Rehwaldt LA, Bautzner Str. 133, D-01099 Dresden – Tel. ++49 / 351 / 8119690 – www.rehwaldt.de Area: 0.36 ha, Budget: 400,000 EUR Competition: 2009, 1st prize Client: Borough Administration Berlin Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg 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 Moreira Filho