Author: Land8: Landscape Architects Network

Article by Moreira Filho We take a closer look at Lumion design software and how it can benefit your design. Lumion is a useful software tool to improve your work in rendering designs and video presentations. Would you like to put some movement into your work? This may be the solution. Check out some of the pros and cons of this remarkable software. Software Is Supposed to Make Life Easier There was a time when mock-ups were used to show professionals and clients how a project or design would work. But in the software age, it has become easy to show the same work by creating drawings on the computer. Software such as that developed by companies like VRay has become very popular. Now Lumion has started a new way to show movement in those models and drawings. WATCH >>> Lumion 6.0 Launch Trailer

Do you remember when you used to spend hours trying to render your work? Although you got high resolution using your software, the work wasn’t so nice, right? Lumion makes creating a video rendering of your design easy. In just a few clicks, you can bring your design to life. It is really fast and easy to use. You can model structures, landscape, water effects, and ground, and choose materials, adding elements such as people, cars, fitments, and animals. And you can make all of them move if you want to. All without spending hours at your computer.   …It’s the perfect way to show your clients or other professionals how your idea can work…   The effects are so real that you might think some scenes were really filmed. It’s the perfect way to show your clients or other professionals how your idea can work. Seeing emotion in the eyes of your clients or co-workers watching your productions is satisfying — better than that static model in the past – and you might want to shout out “Yes!” — but only to yourself, OK? Tools: Enjoy the Way You Do Your Job Lumion works in a different way than other software: You might feel like you are playing instead of working because of the ease of handling. WATCH >>> The Architectural Visualization Industry is changed by Lumion. Find out why!

Fusion of reality, effects, scale, and design are present in Lumion tools such as PureGlass, in which you can have reflections in glass whenever you want. SpeedRay is another element you can use for reflective objects. With HiperLight, you can improve the conditions of illumination of objects and environments you need to emphasize. OmniShadow is a way to bring real shadows to an object, according to the sun’s position. In some versions, you can also find wet asphalt effects that you can use for any kind of hardscape (concrete, bricks, etc.). Other tools allow you to draw lakes, mountains, landforms, pools, decks, streets, roads, etc. Other effects include 2 point perspective, watercolor, handheld camera, autumn generation effect, and sky drop.   …You must have your project prepared in some of the available software above and then import it into Lumion…   Lots of software and model formats are available — Revit, AutoCad, Sketchup, ArchiCad, Design Express, JPEG, TGA, BMP, and MP4 are some examples. Don’t forget about resolutions and pixels. This is an important thing to say, especially if you’ve never worked with Lumion before: You must have your project prepared in some of the available software above and then import it into Lumion. Pros and Cons: Almost Perfect As everything in the world, Lumion software has some pros and cons. Pros:

• Extremely easy to learn and use.
• Easy connection to other software such as Revit and Sketchup.
• It’s truly fast. As said before, rendering time is exquisite. The economy of time frees you for doing other work — or even taking that marvelous mug of coffee you normally don’t have time to enjoy.
• The archive of elements (trees, people, objects, materials, etc.) is extensive. If it’s not enough, you can buy more — but you’ll probably be satisfied with the archives. You can also import them from Sketchup. All of them are animated or can be animated.
• You don’t need a big group of architects, technicians, professionals, video programmers, etc. to help you in the work. You can do it yourself on just one nice computer.
• Artistic filters give reality to your work.
• It’s perfect for seeing how your landscape design will behave in the future. Unlike static mock-up or even electronic models, you can realize people and a big bunch of objects moving practically in a real experience, helping you to discover any design failures.
• Professionals such as constructors and gardeners will understand perfectly what they are going to do in the site. You can also use the software to show your ideas to the community or neighbors where the project will be applied.
• You can build big land areas, complete landscapes, or even a full city
• There is the possibility to have sounds in the video.

Cons:

• You may think it is expensive in comparison to other software. But the price is proportional to the advantages.
• Although Lumion is a very smart software, sometimes its quality is not perfect. This will depend on your computer’s configurations.
• You can sometimes have trouble with scale rendering. You can import your design in the original software’s scale, but the objects from Lumion might be in a different scale.
• You will need an expensive computer if you want to have good final product. You need a very nice video card or a decent game graphic card to get a good performance in rendering; otherwise, you’ll not reach all the benefits of using Lumion, especially in regard to resolution.
• “Undo” functions are limited; not all the tools can be undone.

WATCH >>> Lumion 5.3 Preview

A Good Way to Express Your Ideas If you choose Lumion, it’s better if you take a free version before you buy it, to see how it works and discover whether it’s something you want to use regularly. It’s a tool that can bring confidence to your work and improve the way you show your designs. However, the most important thing is the understanding of what you want to express to your interlocutor. Sometimes, they are not capable of visualizing the project. If you can make this process easier, the execution of your project will be better, too. So, why not try it? Have you ever tried Lumion? Tell us about your experience. Leave a Comment Recommended Reading: 

• Mastering Lumion 3D by Ciro Cardoso
• Learning Lumion 3D – Training DVD by Infinite Skills

Article by Moreira Filho Featured Image: Printscreen, source

Article by Joanna Łaska Baga Square, by Comas-Pont Arquitectes, Barcelona, Spain. To the unwitting eye, the square at Barcelona’s Baga looks just like any other city square. But there is much more to it than we might expect: Baga Square’s seamless features have something lying underneath them. Literally. The retrofit project’s main aim was to combine a strongly demanded parking space with an unusual recreational space. Would you ever expect a car park to become the neighborhood’s favorite recreational area? That’s exactly what Spanish design firm Comas-Pont Arquitectes slp have achieved.

Baga Square

Once a forgotten and undeveloped space, Baga’s new underground parking lot has quickly become one of the area’s most popular places to visit. The design excellently adapts to its surroundings and a rather problematic topography. The surroundings of the square are multileveled, ascending from the square’s level grounds, on which lie historical and residential buildings, all surrounded by picturesque, hilly agricultural fields. With this new public space, both pedestrian and car traffic have been given a more dynamic flow and, as a bonus, an additional relaxation and recreational space has been created. The underground car park has 24 parking spaces. Another 15 occasional parking spaces dot the grounds of the square.

Taking a Different Look The problem of the square’s low-lying location with regards to its surroundings has been overcome in an unconventional way. Instead of trying to even out the big difference in the levels of the square and its surroundings, those differences have been taken advantage of and turned into the neighborhood’s center of recreation by some well thought-through tricks in the design process. The square has been looked on as an integral part of its surroundings and has been turned into a recreational “room” with “walls” defined by the difference of levels among the nearby dwellings. Baga Square can be entered by pedestrians in two different ways, one of which (the main entrance at Passeig Bastareny) is adapted to the needs of people who have disabilities. The ramp in the main entrance is situated between the square and the building next to it, so that the dwelling terraces are placed five meters from the main public and recreational spaces. The second entrance to the square has taken on the form of stone stairs descending from the foot of a historical church. These big stone stairs enhance the connection between the church and square. Less is More The space of the square has been organized in such a way as to make the circulation of the pedestrian and car traffic as dynamic as possible. That’s why there are no unnecessarily small architectural elements in the square. The only architectural element incorporated into the square is a unique wooden pergola located on the side of the square. This element strongly integrates the underground car park access and the linear, built-into-the-pergola bench facing the south face of St. Esteve Church. The pergola also shifts vision between the square and the existing homes and, at the same time, preserves Baga inhabitants’ privacy. Materials to Match with the Surroundings The minimalism of the whole design has also been kept in mind when it comes to the choice of materials used in the project. All materials exist naturally in the environment and the surroundings of Baga Square. The main materials used are stone and wood. The stone makes up the most of the square, as it is the material of the pavement made from irregular cobblestones. This material perfectly resists car and pedestrian traffic and also makes recreation much easier, as many activities (such as cycling, roller-skating, or even dancing) can easily be performed there. The coldness of the stone has been broken by the use of wooden elements in the pergola, fences, and seating located on the grounds. Lighting and Planting: Minimalism at its Best Two sculptural Cor-ten steel lampposts are the main lighting points at the square, integrating aesthetically with the open space. These big lampposts light up a lot of the square, but they could also easily light up the church facade. The pergola also contains some in-built lights, some of which are pointed at the pavement to mark the path for the cars leaving and entering the parking lot. With these lighting sources, the visuals of the square have been enhanced in a natural and subtle way. Although the square itself hasn’t been adorned in any way with plantings, it is not at any point “plantless”. The terraces marking the level differences between the square grounds and its surroundings have been planted with native varieties, which will thrive with minimal maintenance. The picturesque fields and mountains in the distance add to the feeling of being surrounded by nature, balancing the stone ground of the square and the green of the natural surroundings of Baga. What do you think of the new church square, is it an effective design? Let us know in the comments! Go to comments

Full Project Credits For Baga Square:

Project Name: Urbanitzation of new Church’s square & underground park (Baga Square) Architects: Comas-Pont Arquitectes slp (Jordi Comas & Anna Pont) Completion Date: 2012 Location: Carrer Jaume I / Passeig de Balsareny. Bagà (Barcelona) Client: Diputació de Barcelona Project Date: 2009 Finish Built Date: 2012 Photographer: Jordi Comas Construction Area: 900 m² 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 Kaila Johnson Caulfield Campus Green, by Taylor Cullity Lethlean (T.C.L), in Monash University, Victoria, Australia. Universities are intellectual powerhouses that promote and foster educational and research excellence. Monash University in Caulfield, Australia, is no exception. But it is exceptional when it comes to how it offers up learning to people. The university has extended its learning environment to the outdoors — and to those who are not necessarily paying students of the institution. Caulfield Campus Green, designed by Taylor Cullity Lethlean (T.C.L), proves that education can be immersive — woven right into the fabric of the local environment — and welcoming to anyone who wants to learn.

The design takes the typical central campus hub, or “campo” as it is often referred to, and stretches it beyond simply a space for gathering and event hosting by educating its visitors through engagement and eco-revelatory design. The simple intricacies in the design are what tie the theory of immersive design to the actual design itself, creating a very successful and engaging space for people to enjoy.

Monash University

Monash University is a relatively young university, having only been incorporated in 1990. However, it has various locations worldwide, including in Malaysia and South Africa. Its main campus is located in Caulfield, Australia, which is where the Caulfield Campus Green is located.

Being such an international institution, Monash University opted to take an approach at its main campus in Australia that would attract people to the site and encourage them to engage within it, with the hopes of fostering personal development both internally — within oneself, and externally — in the academic environment. The university focuses on four pillars of excellence, including “Optimism, Culture, Collaboration, and Still Learning” (Monash University website), all of which are encapsulated within the Caulfield Campus Green. Design as Education There’s more to good design than what is often seen upon first glance. People can appreciate functional space; however, this Campus Green stretches beyond the physically functional and flirts with the mind, enticing people who occupy the space to learn, engage, and discuss the goings-on in the world. Taking the words of the designers, “the design builds upon the distinctively intimate feel of the campus to encourage a ‘fertile ground’ for the exchange of ideas, socialization, imagination, reflection, and reverie; a setting for the cultivation of the mind and body” (T.C.L website). When looking at the specific features of the design, it is easy to see how this has been a success. Designed with the idea that the grounds would become blueprints from ideas created on and within the campus, the surface doubles as a sports court and outdoor plaza area. Various words incorporated into the blueprints stand out with their blue color against the surrounding turf and concrete pathways. They include such words as “memories”, “thoughts”, “skills”, and “challenges”. It is obvious that the intent is to inspire thought and knowledge building by using inspirational verbiage. Site users can then take these inspirational thoughts over to the decked area, shaded by Jacaranda trees, which features brightly colored furniture that can be freely moved around so that people can congregate as they wish to discuss, engage, and easily view the adjacent sunken, grassy area that is commonly used as an event space.

An Application of Eco-Revelatory Design (ERD)

Eco-revelatory design (ERD) is a term used within the landscape architecture profession that means the design attempts to enhance the local ecosystem while exposing the natural processes to users, in turn educating them. T.C.L used this principle when designing its space, with a water feature that further acts as a stormwater retention and treatment system. Rather than simply building stormwater retention features in a strictly functional and perhaps hidden way, this design exposes it. Ponds flank the turf field and walkway, and within the ponds are a number of pods, beginning with ones with no vegetation, and moving along until the last pod in the pattern is full of native wetland vegetation.

This patterned feature not only creates continuity within the site and guides people along the linear concrete walkway, it also uses ERD to reveal the processes of stormwater retention, harvesting, and treatment, as the visitor can see the clarity of the water increase as it moves through the sections. All one needs to do is look at the feature, and they can simply and easily understand what is occurring naturally. An All-Encompassing Design Whether the user is a student, a passerby, or a tourist, any person can enter this space and learn about a number of topics within it; registration isn’t necessary and the cost is free! Caulfield Campus Green at Monash University serves its functional purpose of a gathering and entry space, but pushes it further to reveal processes, entice the mind, and build upon the university’s motto, Ancora Imparo (“I am still learning”). It is a vibrant design that speaks volumes for the small and friendly It is a vibrant design that speaks volumes for the small and friendly campus, and demonstrates that landscape architecture can be used as a key tool in exposing processes and engaging all people. Where else have you seen ERD used, and do you think one of the main focuses of landscape architecture as a profession is, or should be, to educate people about ecological processes and functions? Let us know in the comments below! Go to comments

Full Project Credits For Caulfield Campus Green:

Project Name: Caulfield Campus Green Landscape Architects: Taylor Cullity Lethlean (T.C.L) Location: 900 Dandenong Road, Caulfield East, Victoria Budget: $6 million Date of Construction: October 2015 Size: 1 hectare Client: Monash University Photographers: Andrew Lloyd and John Gollings Design and Consultant Team: Landscape Architects: TCL (Taylor Cullity Lethlean), Perry Lethlean, Elly Russell, Jim McGuinness, Jake Lindsay, Anne-Marie Pisani, Sokchhay Ke

Engineering (Structural & Civil): Kersulting Engineering (Services): IrwinConsult, Water Sensitive Urban Design, DesignFlow Lighting: Electrolight Artists: Agatha Gothe-Snape Horticulture: Paul Thompson, Cost Planner, WT Partnership, Arborist, Glenn Waters Irrigation: LIS Turf: Sportsturf, DDA Consultant, Philip Chun, Way-finding, Buro North Industrial Design: Adherettes Engineering (Traffic): Cardno Architecture (Soundshell): Mesne with Monash Department of Architecture and the University of Kassel, Germany Construction Team: Construction: 2Construct 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 Kaila Johnson

Article by Sophie Thiel Chattanooga Renaissance Park, by Hargreaves Associates, Chattanooga, Tennessee. Abandoned and closed industrial sites are classified as special design projects for landscape architects. These sites often involve specific hazards, such as contaminated soil, which landscape planners have to deal with in a creative way. Renaissance Park in Chattanooga, Tennessee, was one such troubled site. For nearly a century, it threatened to contaminate the surroundings and the city’s waste water system. However, the planning bureau Hargreaves Associates redesigned the area in detail, turning the hazardous site into an outstanding park that now even partly manages the city’s stormwater runoff.

Chattanooga Renaissance Park

Completed in 2006, Renaissance Park has been a catalyst for reinvestment in Chattanooga’s growing Northshore neighborhood ever since. The park is an environmentally focused brownfield redevelopment project that successfully demonstrates how a once-polluted area can be restored to a natural park setting within an urban-driven landscape.   “More than 9,000 feet of walkways provide sufficient space for exercise and relaxation”   Renaissance Park was designed with elevated piers over wetlands and riparian banks that offer opportunities for viewing wildlife. More than 9,000 feet of walkways provide sufficient space for exercise and relaxation.

Are you fascinated by brownfield redevelopments of Landscape Architecture? Then have a look at these two articles by Caitlin Lockhart and Lisa Tierney who listed the best ex-industrial public parks:

• Top 10 Ex-Industrial Sites Turned Into Stunning Landscapes
• Top 10 Reused Industrial Landscapes

What’s the Dangerous Past Behind Renaissance Park? The 23.5-acre park that now invites residents and tourists to take a stroll was once an appliance manufacturing and enamelling facility. This former industrial use left deep marks on the site. After the city of Chattanooga bought the site from the GE Roper Corp. in 2004 as part of the 21st Century Waterfront Plan , an investigation of the area unveiled a massive contamination of the soil. It turned out that enamel frit waste cells left in the water table by the previous owners threatened to leach a range of toxic contaminants into the surrounding site and water systems of Chattanooga, according to a case study investigation by Hargreaves Associates in 2014. Special Circumstances Require Special Measures Hargreaves Associates conducted a digital topographic analysis of the site to generate three-dimensional models of the likely extent of the contaminated soil. The idea was born to relocate the contaminated material onsite rather than to export it to landfills outside the city, which would have been expensive. The case study investigation of 2014 explains that the analysis made at the beginning allowed the team to redesign the area and properly size the site’s new iconic landforms, under which contaminated soils were to be encapsulated.

No sooner said than done: The buried waste was removed from the critical parts of the site onto areas above the 100-year flood elevation. There, it was stabilized chemically and geotechnically, then sealed safely within the park’s iconic landforms, which offer opportunities for recreation, creative play, and views of the Chattanooga skyline. To prevent further groundwater contamination, the wetland was fully lined with a betonite geosynthetic clay liner.   …the landscape planners creatively increased floodplain storage by creating a wetland system…     Furthermore, the project team took advantage of the deep cavity that emerged through the excavation of contaminated soil. Instead of trying to fill it up, the landscape planners creatively increased floodplain storage by creating a wetland system. This wetland now collects and cleans urban runoff generated onsite, as well as runoff brought onto the site, before releasing it into the Tennessee River. How Does a Former Industrial Site Take an Active Role as a Water Treatment Park? An area that was full of contaminated material is now cleaning water? Actually, that does sound strange. However, the case study investigation proves this to be possible at Renaissance Park: Through a self-regulating gate, the runoff flows into the wetland, where it is slowed by rock-filled, steel mesh basket gabions. Those gabions also direct the flow of water, causing it to meander through the wetland plant cells that are planted behind every gabion. Those plant cells are wire-mesh structures planted mostly with native aquatic vegetation, such as Typha latifolia, Scripus atrovirens, Sagittaria latifolia, Hibiscus moscheutos, and more. Pollutants are reduced by filtration and the biological action of microbes on the plant roots within these vegetated cells. Is the Constructed Wetland Also Aesthetically Appealing? The designers included a terraced, 490-seat amphitheater that arises from the wetland bank, which provides a backdrop for this gathering space. Some of the slopes next to the amphitheater are planted with a natural-looking flower meadow; other places where the lawn is mowed invite visitors to have a picnic or to rest for a while and enjoy the forest scenery on the other side of the floodplain storage. Hence, the constructed wetland serves as both a beautiful viewing and relaxation point and as a fully functioning urban-runoff cleaning system. How Was the Site’s and City’s Past Incorporated? Throughout the park, there are various opportunities not only to get in touch with the natural scenery, but also with the past of both Chattanooga and the former manufacturing and enamelling facility. Informative signs mark the city’s cultural history and illustrate the stormwater-treatment process. The Landscape Performance Series website points out: “The signs highlight the site’s heritage as a location of strategic river crossing during the Civil War, ‘Camp Contraband’ encampment for refugee slaves and coloured Civil War regiments, and showing a point of disembarkation for the Trail of Tears.” If the signs aren’t enough for inquisitive park users, they are also prompted to take a cell phone audio tour to learn about the environmental and cultural features of Renaissance Park. What is the Drop of Bitterness at Renaissance Park? Sadly, even the best solutions are limited somehow. Renaissance Park has a continuing problem with E. coli bacteria. Due to aging sewage and septic water systems still in use within the watershed of the park, an infestation of E. coli is possible at any time. Visitors are informed not to come in contact with the tempting water scenery in the wetland. This dramatically reduces the natural experience at Renaissance Park for visitors who would love to put their feet in the water on a hot day or the children who would enjoy playing in the shallow waters. However, Hargreaves Associates pointed out that the intent was to draw attention to the catchment issue primarily and then to treat as much water as possible in the wetland in order to improve the river water quality. What Can We Learn from the Design of Renaissance Park? Renaissance Park serves Chattanoogans in multiple ways. It seems like nothing of the design was left to chance by Hargreaves Associates. Park visitors are taught about the historical use of the site and also about some of the most troubling parts of Chattanooga’s history. Additionally, the landscape architects managed to seal all of the toxic contaminants and redesigned the excavation bottom as a constructed watershed that treats water runoff and prevents pollutants from getting into the Tennessee River. However, the possible intoxication with E. coli bacteria has a restrictive impact on the perceptual experience of the park. In the future, it would be desirable if the city of Chattanooga would work on a solution for this problem. In the end, Renaissance Park successfully proves that a once-polluted area can be turned into an environmentally focused park that treats urban water runoff and is able to handle a 100-year flood. How would you handle such a troubled project site? Would you make the same decisions as Hargreaves Associates?

Full Project Credits For Chattanooga Renaissance Park:

Project Name: Renaissance Park Location: Chattanooga, Tennessee Budget: $8 million Date of Construction: 2004 – 2006 Size: 23.5 Acres Awards: 2007 Environmental Stewardship Award Client: City of Chattanooga 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 Sophie Thiel

Article by Eleonora Fiorin Cockfight Coliseum Garden by 2.8 x arquitectos, in Lima, Perù, turns into a meditation garden. If you visit the city of Lima, you might be surprised to discover a number of cockfighting arenas. The sport is still legal, popular and rife with Peruvian tradition. But one of those folkloric spaces has met an unexpected and original destiny, being transformed from a memory of death to a place for life, becoming a green and quiet public space for a meditation garden. 2.8 x architects found that bold solution when they were asked to renew the disused construction that once was part of a private house. The emotional attachment of the owner led him to be willing to transform the former arena into a spiritual place — a memorial — and to make it available to the neighborhood. The place would maintain its strong vibes, but the negative feelings would be overturned. How could architects, maintaining the same forms as before, create such a different quality of space?

Cockfight Coliseum Garden

A Meditation Garden

The space declares its own purpose: meditation. Its nature (small and constrained) and its special disposition (underground) make it a sort of parenthesis from the rest of the world, a place in which to stay in peace with yourself while still admiring the vastness of the world above. The freedom given to the view by the structure makes you feel, at the same time, both apart from and in the center of the landscape.   …the garden shows itself to be a place of freedom instead of stillness…   This sensation of liberty is concretely supported by a great freedom of movement: There is an unusually large number of different-sized steps and ramps and, surprisingly, a stepladder that leads you quickly from one terrace to another. You have a lot of different ways to reach the center of the composition and to move through it. Once again, the garden shows itself to be a place of freedom instead of stillness.

Tracing History The coliseum was designed by considering the ancient structure as a trace on the ground. The architects maintained the same form, tracing artificial terracing on the top of remaining concrete stands and respecting as much as possible the original number and disposition of levels. The ancient trace is also maintained through pathways on the ground, so that the walls are not continuous. This gives the design a sense of permeability, replacing the enclosure and constraints of an arena. We can say that the architects transformed a “law-scape” into a “landscape”: Curved lines give the garden a vast breadth and induce your eyes to follow them, flowing with their course into the surrounding scene.   …rebuilt using parts of ancient materials found on the site…   Materials were also chosen to create a sense of continuity with the environment and the ancient aspect of the neighborhood. “Talamolle” was used for the main central path, concrete for others, and gray terrazzo for steps and ramps. Observing the overall structure, we can also find some scattered iron elements, especially in the upper part, cleverly painted in green, such as railings and stepladders. Walls, which are the main mineral element and also the main topic of the design, are rebuilt using parts of ancient materials found on the site. Choosing the Plants Plants were chosen with attention, too, using creeping greens on perimeter walls and high-trunk deciduous trees on terraces in order to create, with the passing of time, a green curtain to protect the site, to maintain privacy and quiet in the neighborhood, and, at the same time, to mark a continuity with the surrounding green hills. The architects’ foresight led them to place small evergreen shrubs and potted plants in the center, to valorize and not to choke it. A Design Governed by Simplicity The design is characterized by simplicity, not only because of the repeating of the resolute and simple circular form, but also through the use of poor elements (stone and vegetation) and few colors (gray and green) that fit together into an unicum that has the force of a small design product. The choice was winning: few features to point out and stress a vivid meaning and sensation. The Subtle but Effective Prescene of Water The presence of the water is curiously managed, confined into one decentralized point. The architects did not put it as a basic element, but on its way it is stressed as fundamental for the balance of the composition: It strongly contributes to the atmosphere, giving climate benefits and regaling us with its relaxing sound. Lighting Design In the evening, all those elements are sensibly lighted by the illumination system that creates a sort of mystic atmosphere, enhancing water and, in particular, walls. The chosen light is warm and is punctually projected into round surfaces from below, the way light would flow out from the ground, whereas in the center, light stripes stress the artificial drawing on the ground.   “Where once was the sandy ring for the cockfights, you will find a stone path that takes the shape of the yin and yang symbols”   If all those aspect are still not enough to support a landscape that resonate with peace, just look at the central flooring. Where once was the sandy ring for the cockfights, you will find a stone path that takes the shape of the yin and yang symbols. That image also abstracts the dualism between the soil in which the place sits and the sky, living green plants and mineral stones, dry elements and living water, that are there recalled into a focused, small, emotional place. Some spaces are there to be impressive and suggestive; this one in particular maintains its power in the way it has moved from its first life to its new one, thanks to the ability of 2.8 x arquitects. What do you think of this landscape transformation? Let us know in the comments below! Go to comments

Full Project Credits For The Cockfight Coliseum Garden:

Project Name: Cockfight Coliseum Garden, “Coliseo de gallos” Architects: 2.8 I NIKOLAS BRICEÑO arquitecto Type: Landscape + Planning › Private Garden Location: Lima, Perù Status: Built Year: 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 Eleonora Fiorin Return to Homepage

Article by Paul McAtomney We take a closer look at 10 awesome projects from the USA.  For years, the United States of America has remained fertile ground for landscape architecture as not only a profession and academic discipline, but also as a modus operandi of design that engages urbanism, environmentalism, and culture. The replacement of the traditional city with expansive urbanism has lead landscape architects to encompass a myriad of landscape typologies, with the American post-industrial era providing fecund grounds for such projects. We take a look at 10 contemporary projects that are excellent examples of landscape architecture in America.

10 Awesome Projects From The USA

1. Navy Yard Central Green, By Field Operations, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

One of the latest additions from stalwart firm Field Operations, The Navy Yard Central Green is a 5-acre park in the locus of the 1200-acre Philadelphia Navy Yard Corporate Centre. The organisational logic of the Central Green is structured through circular geometries within which various active and passive programming is delineated and nested, with a “Social Track” framing the immersive interior park spaces.

2. Ford Motor Assembly Plant, by Copley Wolff Design Group, in Somerville, Massachusetts

The 50-acre urban hub of Assembly Row is located just outside of Boston. Since 1958, the Ford Motor Assembly Plant has sat dormant as a post-industrial edifice and infrastructure. As part of the redevelopment of this mixed-use district, Copley Wolff Design Group conceived a streetscape design, two pocket parks, and a six-acre waterfront park, restoring riverfront access and injecting life back into a latent landscape.

3. Beekman Plazas, by Field Operations and Piet Oudolf, in Manhattan, New York City

Again from Field Operations, Beekman Plazas (West Plaza and William Street Plaza) occupy the public realm at the base of Frank Gehry’s Forest City Ratner residential tower. The urban condition these plazas are situated in is one of edges and thresholds due to the surrounding high rise buildings. The design response is a conformation of diagonal geometries creating both intimate and open spaces. Raised planters further define spatial conditions in the plazas, complete with a planting palette from Piet Oudolf.

4. ASLA headquarters, by Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates, Inc. and Conservation Design Forum, in Washington, D.C.

The green roof blanketing the headquarters of the American Society of Landscape Architects in the heart of Washington D.C. was conceived for both research purposes and to engage the public imagination, in turn educating audiences about the green roof agenda and sustainability writ large. Designed by MVVA in 2006, the 3000 square foot roof provides an active space for visitors as well as numerous environmental and social benefits.

5. Cumberland Park, by Hargreaves Associates, in Nashville, Tennessee

Taking inspiration from the geology of Tennessee, Hargreaves Associates transformed a portion of the former derelict waterfront of the Cumberland River’s east bank in Nashville, Tennessee. The 6.5-acre park is part of a large-scale transformation for downtown Nashville and is a hit with young families and children. Cumberland Park’s ecological function in the landscape also plays a huge part in the design scheme, incorporating floodplain preservation and storage, brownfield remediation, and stormwater harvesting.

6. West Harlem Piers Park, by W-Architecture and Landscape Architecture, LLC, in West Harlem, New York City

As part a first step in the renewal of Harlem’s industrial waterfront, West Harlem Pier Park relinks water and community through the creation of a dynamic edge condition. Analogous to the land/water interface exhibited in the natural world, the design is conceived as a cove on a beach, and, as on a beach, depositional processes accrete matter along its shoreline.

These scattered elements—granite benches, lawn segments, and planters—provide the spatial organisation for the park. Waterfront parks, by nature, are an inherently thin typology, but for the first time in 40 years, the designers were able to construct new piers into the Hudson River, giving the park a 40% increase in area.

7. The Park at Lakeshore East, by The Office of James Burnett, in Chicago, Illinois

The Park at Lakeshore East is a 5.3-acre green space set within a 28-acre development in Chicago’s central business district. Landscape architecture firm The Office of James Burnett had to contend with a 25-foot difference in grade from the southern to northern sides of the park. A limestone staircase facilitates the change of level and commands views beyond the site, and is part of an axial arrangement linking north to south. Sweeping promenades provide east-west circulation and slice the park into a series of programmed and unprogrammed interstitial spaces.

8. Lakewood Cemetery Garden Mausoleum Landscape, by Halvorson Design Partnership, in Minneapolis, Minnesota

At 142 years old, Lakewood is the purest surviving example of the quintessential “Lawn Plan” cemetery. In 2002, Halvorson Design Partnership took on the challenge of integrating a large new mausoleum in the historic garden landscape as part of a comprehensive Landscape Master Plan. By reusing existing cemetery space, carefully defining building development, and establishing spatial experience between interior and exterior spaces, the design creates a poetic and revered landmark setting for respectful reflection.

9. Annenberg Center for Information, Science, and Technology, by The Office of James Burnett, in Pasadena, California

The Annenberg Center for Information, Science, and Technology is a contemporary collaborative research centre pushing sustainability initiatives, with proof, due to its LEED Gold certification. The Office of James Burnett sought to reflect this environmental ethic in the building’s surrounding landscape. They did so by heavily focusing on water conservation benefits and departing from common ornamental plant palettes. The landscape design is organised through a series of spaces that reflect the adjacent glass building façade onto the ground plane through the colour spectrum of plants and materials.

10. Levinson Plaza, Mission Park, by Mikyoung Kim Design, in Boston, Massachusetts

Mikyoung Kim conceived Levinson Plaza as an “urban grove”, acting as the locus of a multicultural and mixed-income residential development. The original site was a raised plaza that restricted universal access. Changes in grade from the designers now facilitate equitable access to all residents. Flanking a congested four-lane avenue, the design mitigates urban conditions, both visual and audible, through a planting strategy that screens traffic and simultaneously organises the interior of the plaza into a series of garden rooms nested with program.

These ten examples offer but a glimpse into the sheer number of built works in America. With urbanisation relentlessly making its mark across large horizontal territories, landscape architecture will continue to expand its operational purview and play a pivotal role in shaping the built environment. What pieces of landscape architectural work would you have liked to see from the USA? Let us know in the comments below! 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 Return to Homepage

Article by Irina Papuc An easy guide on how landscape architects can go about hiring software engineers. If there’s one thing we know about landscape architects, it’s that their brains are always ticking over with new ideas, not just about spatial design or urban rejuvenation schemes but ways to work better, live better and be better and in today’s tech savvy world this can often lead to an idea that needs software development such as an app. or computer program. So, You’ve come up with a great app idea. Maybe the latest plant identification app. or perhaps you’ve developed an idea for software which makes it easy for landscape architects to find potential jobs or perhaps clients, depending on where you’re coming from.

You’ve thought through all of its features, you know there’s people who would love it, and you know how you’re going to market it. There’s only one tiny, tiny issue: you don’t know how to develop it. When we picture an app, we often focus on what it’s going to look like rather than how we’re actually going to make it. Unfortunately, that second part is really important: if you don’t get a good developer, your app isn’t going anywhere. Now, you may completely understand this, but if you’re a non-coder like us, you’re still stuck on a big question: where are you supposed to find a solid developer? To make your job a bit easier, we’ve pulled together our top tips for hiring freelance software engineers so that the landscape architect that is you can unleash the entrepreneur inside and bring some of those brilliant ideas to fruition.

Hiring Software Engineers

1. Sketch it out Before you go looking for a developer, make sure you have a good idea of what your app or website is going to look like. This may seem obvious, but we’ve seen plenty of people hand over assignments to developers that read something like, “Game with levels; get the ball into the goal; multiplayer.” Don’t be that person. You should have a fairly detailed plan regarding the different components of your project, and how they’re all going to fit together.

As a landscape architect, you probably know Photoshop, in which case use it to help you visualize your idea and illustrate it to others. You don’t need to work everything out ahead of time: there might be some parts that you can’t be quite sure about until other parts have been built, and your developer might have some helpful suggestions for making things more user-friendly. 2. Ask the pros Now, let’s not beat around the bush. Finding a good developer can be a pain, but that’s why there are so many websites that will do it for you. Using these websites as opposed to looking for one on your own is analogous to using an electric guitar tuner instead of trying to tune your guitar with your eyes and ears closed. It’s really best to give yourself that extra help. Let an expert connect you to someone who has the skills you need. There are plenty of great sites from which to choose, but our favorite is Toptal. The site can get you up and running quickly with expert developers: All of their programmers undergo a super intense verification process (out of thousands of applicants a month, only about 3% pass). Toptal hand-matches you to a developer who meets your needs and can start work immediately, and you get a two-week trial to make sure you’re 100% satisfied with your match. If not, you don’t pay. 3. Do your homework No one’s asking you to be a developer, but you should, at least, know the basics as they relate to your project. If you’re building an iOS app, you don’t need to know about Android or Windows, but you do need to know about some common bugs, what languages your developer should know, and what’s involved in converting the app to other platforms. 4. For Long Projects: Talent If you’re hiring your developer for an extended project, you want to prioritize talent over skills. This doesn’t mean that you should take a super-talented developer who has no idea what you want them to do. Rather, if you’re picking between a good developer with all of the skills you need and a great developer with some of the skills you need, take the second option. A great developer can pick up new skills fast, but it’s going to take a lot more time for a good developer to become a great one. 5. Input = Output This is a sad, sad truth in the world of business. If you pay less, you tend to get less; if you pay more, your odds of getting a good finished project are way higher. It may seem tempting to hire the developer who’s willing to work for the least money – who isn’t looking for a deal? You’re already spending money on a million other things, and you’re thinking about what you’re going to have to spend for advertising, to get your brilliant idea out there. This is bad logic. Do not take shortcuts on your developers. If you end up with an inferior project because you hired a cheap developer, it’s going to set you back weeks, which will end up costing you, even more, money. Don’t be fooled: cheap developers will end up being pretty expensive mistakes. 6. Dig Deep As with any new employee, you want to take a look at their past work to determine whether they know what they’re doing, and how they add their personal flair. Ask them to show you some of their previous projects, and be sure to get in touch with former clients. You want to hear from former clients how satisfied they were not only with the finished product but also how much they enjoyed working with your candidate. You should also make sure you develop a good sense of their problem solving and communication capabilities. All this background checking might seem like a lot of work. It is. This is another reason why using a hiring site with its own verification process is great: it takes over this extra work for you.

Hiring Software Engineers to Revolutionize Landscape Architecture

The best people to revolutionize landscape architecture are landscape architects, we understand the problems and therefore the opportunities first hand. Don’t be another person with a great idea that leads to nothing, take your idea a step further and connect with the right people to enable it. Article by Irina Papuc Return to Homepage

Article by Sophie Thiel We take a closer look at landscape architecture in Asia that also makes for great tourist destinations.  In our third article about landscape architecture tourist destinations, we take a closer look at projects in Asia. As the world’s biggest continent, Asia seems to also be the most diverse part of the Earth. It spreads from icy Siberia in the north to tropical Indonesia in the south, and reaches from Saudi Arabia in the west to Japan in the east. So it doesn’t come as a surprise that there are thousands of must-see places spread all over Asia.  Yet not many of those are the outcome of modern landscape architecture, since the profession has only recently enjoyed growing popularity. Nevertheless, you will find some of the world’s greatest landscape architecture in the following list of Top 10 Asian landscape architecture spots. This list expands upon two previous LAN articles, by Michelle Biggs and Sophie Thiel:

• 4 Incredible, Must-See Tourism Projects in Landscape Architecture
• 10 of The Best Tourist Spots for Landscape Architecture in Europe

Landscape Architecture in Asia

10. Cape Royale Resort – Sentosa, Singapore, by TROP: terrains + open space

Are you tired of lousy hotel gardens? Or do you want to simply enjoy a special treat while staying in Singapore? Check out the Cape Royale Resort garden, which creates a magically peaceful reality in the middle of the chaos and rush of the busy city of Singapore. This resort is one of the area’s biggest tourist attractions, with beautiful views of the sea. The creation of the hotel garden seems to magically connect water features, sculptures, differentiated paving, and original planting.

There are countless pools where you can swim, walk, and sunbathe on cozy lounge chairs in shallow water areas. Those who do not like to be in the main garden can find their own serene spot under the shade of native trees. When even a garden’s colors harmoniously mirror the natural surroundings of the sea, the beach, the plants, and the sky, you know there was nothing left to chance in the design. Come and enjoy high-end landscape architecture at Cape Royal Resort. Wadi Al Azeiba Park – Muscat, Sultanate of Oman, by Atelier Jacqueline Osty & associés “Oman is the obvious choice for those seeking out the modern face of Arabia while wanting still to sense its ancient soul,” says the travel website lonelyplanet.com.  Indeed, this relatively unknown country holds an abundance of natural beauty and towns that retain their traditional charms. One of those towns is Muscat – the capital – home to a successful park called Wadi Al Azeiba.  The word “wadi” describes a gateway for water during storms in the rainy season. The city of Muscat redefined its formerly abandoned wadi and embedded it into a new park. The slightly terraced ground contains the catch basin — a naturally planted area with loads of walkways — beneath the lawn and palm tree part that reaches out to the surrounding neighborhoods. This modern park serves as the capital’s new green alleyway that is central to many hubs of activity and is one more reason to visit the beautiful city of Muscat. 8. Free the Bears Store — Kuang Si Falls, Laos, by Atelier COLE in collaboration with Building Trust The organization “Free the Bears” works tirelessly to combat the illegal trade in bears and provides a safe sanctuary for rescued bears in the Tat Kuang Si Rescue Centre. The new merchandise store will enable this international organization to sell items in order to receive much-needed donations that will allow them to continue their ongoing efforts to protect bears in Laos and beyond. The simple structure of the bamboo canopy was built in conjunction with the local community and celebrates this versatile material, showing that traditional can be modern. Visitors to the rescue center are now not only able to enjoy seeing one of Laos’ most endangered species and be educated about the life and threats of this precious species, but also are able to admire the bamboo canopy of the new merchandise store. 7. SCG Headquarters – Bangkok, Thailand, by Landscape Architects of Bangkok (LAB) Thailand is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Southeast Asia for Europeans and Australians. Travelers who want to enjoy outstanding, harmonious, modern landscape architecture should not miss CSG Headquarters while staying in the capital. The well-developed landscape design has helped to bind together the disparate companies’ buildings and has managed to create a harmonic and attractive stage on which to enjoy the environment through a mixed language of architecture and nature. The LAB bureau designed subtle ground-level changes that communicate the diversity of meaningful layers on site. Additionally, they used curved geometry in a simple three-dimensional design pattern – accompanied by the site furniture and emphasized by materials — to organize the open space. The resulting lines as a physical element have a uniquely powerful invigorating effect on the landscape. See for yourself what influence such lines can have on your movement pattern, and enjoy the landscape views of one of the most powerful Thai companies. 6. Quzhou Luming Park – Quzhou, China, by Turenscape Everyone in the world of landscape architecture should have heard about this Chinese hope-giving park by now. The popularity of Quzhou Luming Park remains undiminished since the first part was opened in 2015. Designed by the famous Turenscape bureau, this park will showcase three design concepts: minimal intervention to preserve the unique red sandstone hills, a productive urban farming landscape on the fertile floodplain soil, and water resilience in order to respect the natural water flow in the floodplain. If you plan a trip to China, you should definitely visit Quzhou and get inspired by its Luming Park. (Read about another Turenscape success story that just won the first prize in an international competition. The promising Russian project — called The resilient ribbon —  was featured in a LAN article by Eleni Tsirintani.) 5. Warde – Jerusalem, Israel, by HQ Architects Culturally, it is difficult to clearly assign Israel to a continent. However, it belongs to Asia geographically, adding lots of wonderful landscape architecture projects to this continent.  The art installation Warde is one of those projects, and offers a playful, interactive environment. Ever since these eye-catching red flowers were constructed, they have invited people not only to actively engage with them, but to notice a site that was previously neglected. The flowers open and close in reaction to people passing by or every time a tram arrives. Through this inflation and deflation mechanism, the flowers provide shade during day and spend light at night — at least as long as people stand under those giant red flowers resembling poppies. Go try it out yourself! You can learn more about Israel’s top landscape architecture in LAN articles written by Win Phyo, Yulia Georgieva, and Erin Tharp:

• Kiryat Sefer Park, Tel Aviv
• How Did Tel Aviv Port Become the Best Design in Europe? 
• Elegant Square Sets the Stage for University Students

4. Lalaport Toyosu – Tokyo, Japan, by Earthscape Tokyo is a city that never sleeps and never ceases to amaze both its inhabitants and its visitors. It’s a metropolis that successfully combines loads of thousand-year-old cultural heritage with the latest trends. Lalaport Toyosu is a shopping and art center located on a man-made island in Tokyo Bay. The site offers not only a mall with more than 500 shops, museums, and a radio station, but also various open spaces. Landscape architecture lovers will be amazed by the spectacular oceanic adventure offered through a park and public plaza.

The entire landscape of Lalaport Toyoso was designed as an ocean — the plaza’s ground plane emulates waves, there are benches formed as corals, and seating elements that imitate islands, which break through the wavy surface. Additionally, there are many relics that remain on site as a reminder of its history, and many different fountains and water basins allow children to play. 3. The Blue Island – Matsu, Taiwan, by Island Chen Every year, masses of tourists are drawn to the beaches of Taiwan at night to witness the spectacle of bioluminescent algae. The small town of Matsu is now home to the art installation The Blue Island by industrial designer Island Chen. This glass box is the prototype of a bio-digital installation of a visible ecosystem that recreates the natural habitat of the toxic bioluminescent algae. The aim of the project is to act as an educational tool, helping people to understand that the aesthetically pleasing algae have detrimental effects on marine environments. While on your next trip to East Asia, take the chance to not only enjoy the beautifully glowing waters at night, but also to educate yourself and support the installation as a much safer and viable option for eco-tourism. 2. Cheonggyecheon River Project – Seoul, South Korea, by SeoAhn Total Landscape There is not much new to say about the famous ChonGae Canal Redevelopment Project. In few words: It may be the best restored river in the world. Before becoming a major public gathering place for the people of Seoul, the Cheonggyecheon River was a highly polluted, covered wastewater canal surrounded by elevated and at-grade infrastructure dividing the city. The redevelopment of more than 11 kilometers pf the river has not only allowed people to rediscover the qualities of the river, but also to reinvent the way people relate to it. Every landscape architect should see this project once and be inspired by its beautiful success story. Unsurprisingly, the Cheonggyecheon River is listed in the Top 5 nature sights of Seoul on Tripadvisor and was also featured in our article 10 Cities That Are Reinventing The Relationship With Their Rivers, by Yuliya Georgieva. Kontum Indochine Café – Kontum, Vietnam, by Vo Trong Nghia Architects Another bamboo project? Yes, but one of the most beautiful ones existing. This architectural bamboo masterpiece is part of a hotel café that wanted to offer an outstanding dining experience. The exceptional form of the bamboo columns of Indochine Café was inspired by traditional Vietnamese fishing baskets. The loose structure of the bamboo ceiling provides not only shade, but also maximizes the wind flow through the building. However, due to special characteristics, it resists even severe storms during the windy season. A shallow artificial lake sits right next to the café, reinforcing the natural open space concept that has been established. The combination of light, bamboo, and water has resulted in an amazing creation not to be missed on your next journey to Vietnam. As you can see, Asia is a continent full of heterogeneity and different design styles. Of course, there are many more projects worth seeing, and it was hard to choose only 10. However, the most precious projects are those from which we can learn and take along inspiration for ourselves. This list should remind you that wherever you go, you should seek out such landscape architecture. Keep your eyes open and have fun on your trip to Asia. Which projects do you want to visit immediately? What designs do you think are you missing from this list? Let us know in the comment section below! 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

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Article by Carlos Cortés Open-sided shelter, by Ron Shenkin Studio, in Pardesiya, Israel.  Graveyards and cemeteries are places where we bury and say one last goodbye to our family and friends. This open-sided shelter by Ron Shenkin Studio is a spacious structure placed next to a cemetery where people converge and dedicate eulogies and words to the deceased, prior to and during the ceremonies. What is the Purpose of the Funeral Landscape? By nature, these are places where strong emotions emerge. The design for this pavilion embraces those emotions and “paints” the site with simple but effective symbolism. From a tribute in the form of raised orchards to a reminder that man comes from dust and to dust returns, we take a look at every aspect of this project that is inclusive with its landscape surroundings.

Elements and Symbolism The cemetery sits in a space that was once surrounded by orchards and trees, many of which were cut down for the construction of new buildings. The main structure of the shelter is open on both sides, providing spaciousness and light, but also giving people the sense of being sheltered. The roof slab that Ron Shenkin presents in a video as a flying bird symbolizes the expansion of urbanization, and is supported by 15 white iron pillars in the shape of trees, as a reminder of the vegetation that once surrounded the area. WATCH >>> Ron Shenkin – Studio for architecture & design

Those pillars tower over the people who gather at the shelter, which can hold either small or big groups while still offering the same feeling of embrace. In this woods of iron perfectly scaled with the roof, there is one living oak tree that remains inside, emerging through the roof from an opening created especially for that purpose.

Other oak trees are displayed in the background of the building and to the sides of the entrances and exits. Another detail of the building that holds a lot of meaning within the context is described by Shenkin: “On the northern side of the building, there is a line of concrete, beginning in the ground on the west side and climbing up through the window. Ascending to the roof, ceilings, and walls and making its final decent back to the ground — like a man who comes from dust and to dust returns.” Functionality The sense of closeness within this spacious building is a constant. Visitors have two options for access: the smaller entrance for the closest family and a second, larger entrance for the rest of the mourners. A shaded area outside the structure also provides space for those who want to remain at a distance. There are also two exits to the cemetery, one via a flight of stairs and the other easily accessible from inside the building. The building is lit with luminous white lights from inside to out, creating an atmosphere of peace and neutrality even in the darkness of the night. Colors and Materials Here the role of colors and materials is to bring spaciousness, but also cohesion to the whole. The monochromatic shades of gray over the iron and concrete provide a clean and neutral look while being respectful to the meaning of the place. Both the different sized and shaped panels of the canopy and the metal “tree” structures were assembled on site. The concrete for the walls and roof was poured in one day. What’s the Guiding idea of the Landscape? For places such like this, it is important to notice their cultural meaning and transformation over time. LAN Content Director Ashley Penn greatly expands on this theme in “The Landscape of Death and Green Burial – How Our Beliefs Design Cemeteries” . Landscapes are often designed to create experiences that pair best with the activities done in a specific place, adding new meaning to a space. In this case, the pavilion aims to respect the feelings of the mourners, but also provide a sense of brightness and comfort. Interpreting Nature Nature is present both symbolically and literally in the woods of iron and in the oak tree that remains. We can be delighted by a design that reaches a clean and minimalistic interpretation of nature. It also works as a statement that dead or disappearing nature should be remembered. This project is distinguished by its clean design and the meaning of its elements, something very important for buildings that are meant to reflect the feelings of their users. Working as a solid and cohesive whole, the dialogue between symbols and nature is perfectly executed. The architects studied the history of the area and included in their design a timely question on nature and man, creating not just an object, but a luminous landscape that projects a peaceful image and a concept friendly to the mourners, the site, and the surroundings. What other death-scapes have you found beautiful? Let us know in the comments below! Go to comments

Full Project Credits For the Open-sided shelter, by Ron Shenkin Studio:

Project Name: Open-sided shelter Architects: Ron Shenkin Studio Location: Pardesiya, Israel Contractor: A.D. Haled Area: 3,465 square feet Budget: $500,000 to $1 million Project Year: 2015 Photographs: Shai Epstein Learn more about Ron Shenkin Studio: Website: www.ron-shenkin.com 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 Carlos Cortés Return to Homepage

Article by Lidija Šuster Neue Meile, by Bauchplan, in Böblingen, Germany. Taking a closer look at how they use LED Technology What happens when a street is not just a physical connection between two landmarks? What if the street becomes an attraction itself rather than simple route for pedestrians? The landscape architects of Bauchplan gave us the perfect answer – linking the railway station and center of old town of Böblingen, in a way that’s more than usual. Transforming the car-friendly space into a pedestrian’s area was surely not an easy task. The landscape architects were faced with many obstacles in putting together safety, a specific location, attractiveness and comfort, and making the space both functional and beautiful at the same time.

LED Technology

Using lighting in a different way than ordinary helps to those characteristics become conjoined, and here innovative LED lighting plays a major role. Imagine giant-sized light rings that are hovering above the ground, magically glowing when it’s night and catching your eye during the day. Sounds magnificent, don’t you think? Thanks to the manufacturer Bergmeister Leuchten and light planners at Lumen3 Lighting Design, as well as the contribution by OSRAM of the innovative LED technology, the landscape architects of Bauchplan were able to bring to life this very unique space.

Transforming the Bahnhofstraße into Neue Meile When you think about lights in a certain area, what comes up in your mind? For sure you can think about security. And that is very important thing that people need in public spaces – a feeling of safety. If you provide them with that feeling, people will visit that space more often and actually enjoy staying there. When arranging a safe place, landscape architects are privileged to do that with unleashed imagination. Transforming the „Bahnhofstraße“ into an outstanding pedestrian zone was quite a challenge – railway stations are, in many cities, not considered to be spaces of public events or civic attractiveness. The main goal of this project was to make an unique and striking atmosphere. Cooperation of Technology, Imagination and Sustainability The magic happens when the sun goes down – there are 24 illuminated floating rings, each 2.5 meters in diameter, welcoming the pedestrians. The most important characteristic of these rings is that this illumination supports economic sustainability by reducing urban light emissions. Meaning, an LED street light can produce the same amount of luminescence as a traditional light, but requires only half of the power consumption. Why Use LED Lights? Also, in comparison with conventional lighting, LED lights have a two to four times longer life span. Another good thing here, for some people anyway, is that freakish-looking and spooky nocturnal insects are less attracted to LED lighting – they find more appealing the ultraviolet energy emitted by conventional lights. This is not only good for timid people, but also for the maintenance of precious wildlife. That means that insects will stay comfortably located in their natural habitat instead of being attracted to artificial lights. Their predators will also benefit, and the natural balance will be less harmed. The Day and Night Experiences During the day those rounded installations are casting interesting shadows on the surface below them, but the night-time impact of this kind of illumination is guaranteed. Any space that is illuminated at night is more inviting and friendlier. Here it is also the case – when lights are on, the feeling of safety and warmth is on, too. The glimmering, semi-transparent rings (with fourteen LED spots each) are specially designed to illuminate without glare, each of them creating a rounded pool of interesting light with a different intensity. Also, they can change to any color, which makes them suitable for different atmospheres needed for special occasions or events. Their unusual appearance could look like some miniature UFOs that are mystically hovering above the street, but everything is left to people’s imagination and spatial perception. Enrichment with Elements on the Ground Of course, the complete atmosphere is achieved with elements on the ground. Natural stone pavement spreads all over the street with a pixel-like appearance. The numerous rectangular granite stones provide an interesting floor in various hues of cream and grey, reminding one of some hand-made tapestry attached to the ground. Water – A Vital Landscape Element Further, there is another vital landscape element that is always advisable to be included in design – and you’ve probably guessed it – water. Water has always been present in all kinds of spaces. So we have it here in Neue Meile, and it’s successfully implemented in the overall design in the form of a dry-deck fountain. These types of fountains are very attractive and catchy for the eye, due to their ability to bring rhythm and movement to the space. They are special because they have a hidden structure, which means that we see water splashing up from the ground, but that the equipment needed for making the splashes is under ground. Neue Meile fountain has thirty jets – three rows with ten jets each. Also, the fountain acoustically affects the space and, if not totally, at least partially shuts down the annoying sound of traffic. Circles, Cubes and Rectangles Considering that the objects in the air are all circular elements, down on the earth there are cubes and rectangles – and with that use of different shapes is accomplished diversity and contrast in the space. Tree grids and drainage covers are cube-shaped and follow specifically designed drainage channels. Street furniture includes bike counters, post-benches, outdoor sofas and freely rotating single seats. These are made of steel substructures with thermo-wood slats out of local ash timber. All of this furniture is natural-coloured – varieties of soft-brown – which follow the natural colour of wood. Long benches provide enough space for sitting, and the rotating single seats can be interpreted as equipment for kids to play on. Thanks to the good location and now rich pedestrian traffic, this space is becoming more and more popular. Its extraordinary features make it outstanding and recognizable, and that is especially highlighted with natural materials and the innovative lighting technology. What do you think, is this kind of LED technology a new way to improve the look of our streets? Let us know in the comment section below! Go to comments

Full Project Credits For „neue Meile“ Böblingen:

Project Name: „neue Meile“ Böblingen Location: Böblingen, Germany Landscape Architect Group: Bauchplan Lighting Design: Lumen³ Lighting Design Technology: Electronic Control Gear, Led, Led Modules Luminaire Manufacturer: Bergmeister-leuchten Gmbh Builder: City Of Böblingen Application Area: Traffic Systems Sub-application: Street Date Of Construction: 2013 – 2015 Size: 25,000 Sqft – 100,000 Sqft Client: City of Böblingen, amt für tiefbau u. grünflächen (department for civil engineering and open spaces) Size: incl. side streets approx. 18.000 m2 Cost: 8,5 mio Euro Photo Credits: Bauchplan ).( and C. Franke Award: 1st prize cooperative workshop Learn more about Bauchplan: Website: www.bauchplan.de Facebook: www.facebook.com/bauchplan Twitter: www.twitter.com/bauchplan LinkedIN: www.linkedin.com/in/bauchplan XING: www.xing.com/companies/bauchplan Youtube: www.youtube.com/channel Google+: www.plus.google.com/u/0/+BauchplanNetwork 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 Lidija Šuster Return to Homepage

Article by Samantha Young Many of us love gardening and don’t need an excuse to do it, but for those of you who do, here are 15 reasons why gardening is good for you. Gardening may seem like a chore for some but with a multitude of benefits, a little pruning can go a long way. From banishing stress to burning calories and saving you money, here are 15 reasons why you should be gardening. 1. Beats Depression In a study, individuals who showed common symptoms of depression were instructed to garden for six hours per week. Not only was a measurable improvement shown after three months, these benefits continued months after the program ended. 2. It’s Great Exercise A form of low impact exercise, gardening isn’t only good for the joints, it also burns anywhere up to 300 calories per hour. 3. Reduces Risk of Heart Disease Thirty minutes of moderate exercise in the backyard, two to three times per week, can significantly prevent high blood pressure. This is exceptional news for your heart and can help you avoid life-threatening complications in the future.

4. Develops a Strong Posture All that digging, mowing and bending develops all the major muscles in the back and legs. These stretching movements encourage flexibility which can decrease the risk of osteoporosis. 5. Strengthens the Immune System As you spend more time in the outdoors, you’re more likely to take in Vitamin D from the sun’s rays. This has been proven to boost your immune system whilst promoting the uptake of calcium. 6. Relieves Stress Studies have shown a better response in those individuals who gardened compared to those who read indoors after completing a stressful task. Aside from encouraging happy feelings, it lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol. 7. Encourages Mindfulness Immersing yourself in nature whilst carrying out simple tasks is an easy way to become more present. This sense of lasting calm can be taken into the everyday stresses of life. 8. Improves Brain Health A study covering a period of 16 years showed that those who gardened regularly in the 60s and 70s had a 36% and 47% lower risk of dementia than non-gardeners respectively. 9. Develops Attention Span Too much dependence on technology can cause a myriad of issues from irritability to attention span problems. You can reverse this “attention fatigue” with the repetitive tasks of gardening which require effortless attention in natural surroundings. 10. Avoid Nasty Chemicals If you grow your own food can enjoy fresh fruit and vegetables free from harmful fertilizers and pesticides. 11. Persuades You to Observe a Better Diet Having instant access to your own produce also provides an easy supply of your five-a-day. 12. Saves You Money Aside from the nutritional benefits, creating your own self-contained vegetable patch is a quick way to save money. 13. Promotes Wildlife Wildlife fanatics can admire an array of colorful bird species by planting some easy-to-maintain species, including Mahonia and Crocus. 14. Improves Relationships Research has shown that those who spend a considerable amount of time out in the natural world have a better ability to empathize with others. Not only can this improve relationships with others, it may also develop a sense of awareness for the environment. 15. Makes You Thankful Tending to your own plot of land can encourage feelings of gratitude and a sense of awe as you admire creation and the beauty of nature. Visit your local garden center and dedicate a little time to sprucing up your back yard. Very soon you could be enjoying one or more of these many benefits. 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 Samantha Young Return to Homepage Featured image: By J.-H. Janßen – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, www.commons.wikimedia.org