Author: Land8: Landscape Architects Network

Rocafort House, by Ramon Esteve Studio, in Rocafort,Valencia, Spain. The Rocafort House is a residential building located in Lorquí, Murcia, in eastern Spain. The area, some 12 kilometers from Valencia, is a haven of summer homes and irrigated crops. Rocafort House was designed by Ramon Esteve Studio, a group of architects and designers working toward one goal: creating – in their words — “places where you want to live”. I once read a quote from Mies Van der Rohe that said: “Less is more”. That is very evident in this house. Ramon Esteve Studio strives for elegance without going overboard. Using clean lines, the designers make a connection between elements we might not think would mesh. But they do, and nature and structure become one without colliding into one another.

Rocafort House

Simplicity meets perfection as the designers use nature as a construction element. Lines extend throughout the volume of the house, creating a minimalist look that feels bigger. The designers are able to do this by taking the space and detailing every inch, not missing a beat. “The concept was born from the trapezoidal shape of the plot, located in a residential area. The vegetation is a dense element of edge. That is the reason why the house is proposed like a volume where focusing views become especially important,” according to Ramon Esteve Studio.

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Disconnecting You From Your Daily Life

Visitors to the home can contemplate light and nature from the outside through the inside. This is done by leaving the trees in front of the house and actually creating a threshold that invites you to visit the space. This threshold gives the sensation of being able to disconnect from the daily world and make a connection with nature. This house balances its structure with the natural surroundings. Without this, the project could not work properly. It is important to develop a good atmosphere within shape, form, and light. Special detailing on the walls allows light to create a different sensation in each of the rooms inside the house. This gives character to the massive volume, allowing each space to be different from the others through the use of simple details involving natural illumination. It is well thought out; every aspect of this house is very calculated, in a good way.

Mixing Architecture and Landscape

Ramon Esteve Studio knows the value of mixing elements in architecture and landscape. They have used white for the house structure, wood for the detailing on the walls so that light can filter through, green from the vegetation, and blue from the swimming pool.

Finding the Balance

In observing the integration of these elements, the concept of the house becomes clearer. It is relaxing space, through the liberation from the world outside and the feeling of tranquility created using space, form, light, and nature. Connecting everything gives new meaning to living within space and nature. Finding this balance is part of the experimentation or — better yet — the exploration of creativity. Continue Reading to Page 2 >>>

Watford Parade, by BDP, in Watford, Hertfordshire, England. Landscape architects are unique artists, in the sense that they take their creativity to a whole new level, using nature as their most important source of inspiration. Watford Parade is both a successful and ambitious project of landscape architecture, demonstrating that landscape design can be perceived as a form of art. The project was commissioned by the Watford Borough Council and the Hertfordshire County Council, being completed in 2014. With a construction cost of £4.3 million and a site of approximately 15000 m2, the project was successfully brought to light by the talented team from BDP.

Watford Parade

The true power of landscape architecture lies in taking an area that has lost its charm and bring it back, in a manner that is more powerful than ever. The Parade was a key element of Watford and this project managed to transform what had become a forgotten area into a key civic space. It was through the talent and hard work of the people at BDP that The Parade became a place for outdoor events, attracting visitors both during the day and night. For this project, BDP organized a complex, interdisciplinary team, with landscape architects, urban designers and numerous other specialists becoming involved. The project was part of a bigger idea, meant to rejuvenate the entire town of Watford and make it attractive all over again. The site of the project was located in the center of the town, being found at a close distance from some of the most important tourist attractions, including the Town Hall, the Colosseum Theatre or the West Herts College.

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Challenges Overcome Through Creativity and Perseverance

In deciding how the project would play out, the team at BDP considered that The Parade would have to become a link between the center of the town and the cultural quarter. However, making such a big change could not come without a set of challenges. The design team had to overcome some preconceived ideas about how the project would turn out in the end. Apart from that, there were some issues related to the movement in the area, especially since the area was going to be used by pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles at the same time.

Getting the Public Involved

As this was a project for the people of Watford, the creative brains from BDP got them involved in the whole proceedings. They already knew that the local residents desired the area to become more attractive. Apart from discussing the project extensively with key stakeholders, the team at BDP actually got the public involved in the design process (over 500 members). Moreover, they developed an online consultation tool – this was actually a WordPress site and it kept the public up-to-date with the works.

Strong Principles Make up For a Strong Project

The project was based from the start on the idea of being family friendly. Apart from that, the landscape architects at BDP (together with the rest of the team), expressed an intense desire to connect the cultural quarter with the town center. It was important that The Parade became an area that was both diverse and distinctive, attracting not only local residents but also visitors. Another principle of the project was to improve the movement of both cyclists and pedestrians in the area. It was the intention of the BDP team to create a space that could be used for different events as well, becoming a landmark for the town’s culture and heritage.

Historical Pond, Focal Point of Attention

The large historic pond had been a part of The Parade for over 100 years, being considered an element of identity by the local residents. However, at the start of the project, it was found to be in a poor condition. The quality of the water was disappointing and the filtration system was outdated. It was time for the pond to regain its status, becoming once more a focal point of attention in the center of Watford.

In re-designing the pond, the landscape architects intended to activate its edges. They also improved the quality of the water, increasing its overall ecological value. The talented BDP team worked in cooperation with the local library, researching the ways in which the pond was used in the past. Together, they discovered that the pond had a sloped entrance, which was once used for the washing of the cattle. Based on this idea, they create a stepped access to the water, allowing for the direct interaction with the newly-created environment. The pond also received its very first bridge, which increased the attraction for both local residents and tourists. The local wildlife was treated by expert ecologists and the pond was completely drained before entering the renovation phase. The improvement regarded the shape and the size of the pond, as well as the replacement of the filtrating system. The vegetation of the pond was improved and an outdoor dining area was created on the edges of the water. The fish were returned to the newly-designed pond, as well as the local ducks and fowl.

Elegant Event Space For 2000 People

The new event space is perhaps one of the most attractive elements of the park. With a capacity of over 2000 people, it is perfect for large events, having integrated power and lighting. Apart from that, it stands out with its black and white paving, not to mention the raised grass seating areas. There is also a smaller and informal event space to be discovered, being located under mature trees and on a raised timber deck. The event spaces will accommodate some exciting programs in the upcoming part of the year.

Lighting Elements of Superior Quality and Design

The street lighting was upgraded for this project, with the lighting scheme being designed in order to draw visitors in the evening or at night. The illuminated bridge crossing gives out a romantic atmosphere, while the lit fountains and the strip lighting accenting seating complete the picture. The attention of the visitors is captured by the 12 meter high feature columns, equipped with no less than 24 projectors. These projectors are meant to throw a beautiful light over the event space, making it even more attractive.

In conclusion, it is great to see the amazing transformation of an urban area and how it has become once more a point of attraction. The Watford Parade can be compared to the mighty Phoenix bird, arising from its ashes. Can you name other projects to have gone through such amazing transformations?

Full Project Credits for Rocafort House

Project name: Watford Parade Location: Watford, Hertfordshire, England Landscape architects: BDP Client: Watford Borough Council and Hertfordshire County Council Construction cost: £4.3 million Completed: 2014 Show on Google Maps

Recommended Reading

• Landscape Architecture: An Introduction by Robert Holden
• Landscape Architecture, Fifth Edition: A Manual of Environmental Planning and Design by Barry Starke

Article by Alexandra Antipa

Return to Homepage

Your infographic guide on the 10 best houseplants to improve indoor air quality. According to studies by NASA, certain houseplants filter out harmful compounds in our homes – all linked to acute conditions and chronic disease. Based on NASA’S results, we have explored the top 10 house plants that are the most effective for removing air pollutants.

Best Houseplants to Improve Indoor Air Quality

10 best houseplants to improve indoor air quality [Infographic] by the team at Barratt Homes. 3 More Top Articles on LAN:

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Recommended Reading:

• The Complete Houseplant Survival Manual: Essential Know-How for Keeping (Not Killing) More Than 160 Indoor Plants by Barbara Pleasant
• The Indestructible Houseplant: 200 Beautiful, Easy-Care Plants that Everyone Can Grow by Tovah Martin

Article by Megan Criss Return to Homepage Featured image: License: CC0 Public Domain / FAQ. Image source.

Seljord and the Legends, by Feste Landscape, Seljord, Norway. As a landscape architect, creating a space that allows others to experience the culture of a landscape can be difficult. In trying to portray a culture through design, things can get a little hokey or dull. Allowing those unfamiliar with that culture to understand and enjoy the site is also a challenge. This project, however, is seemingly effortless in its portrayal of stories into tangible creation. Feste Landscape’s thought-provoking project, Seljord and the Legends, shows how important cultural heritage is to experiencing a landscape in its entirety. The project is comprised of four art installations at different locations around Seljord Lake, close to the centre of Seljord, Norway. A walking path around the lake connects each piece, which includes “The Sauna” at Vebekkdalen, “The Fishing Point” at Telnesøyan, “The Lookout” at Grindekleiv, and “The Viewing Tower” at Bjørgeøyan. The installations work within a common framework and were designed with the intention of having visitors walk the path, coming across modern architectural pieces at natural stopping points.

Seljord and the Legends

Each piece of art — created in simple geometric shapes of wood — has created a different way to view the lake. “The Viewing Tower”, for example, is a 15-meter-high tower with several open levels, creating viewing platforms that look out over the lake and valley. Pieces such as “The Viewing Tower” are more bold and striking in their abrupt materialization — a lone tower out of the landscape — while others, such as “The Fishing Point” (a flat wooden bridge between two boulders), blend and flow with the landscape. Each is unique, but has a common purpose: Each piece of contemporary art has been placed on sites associated with local tales and legend. 3 More Top Articles on LAN:

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Transforming Legend into Reality Seljord has a deeply ingrained storytelling tradition, with tales of the sea serpent that lives in Seljord Lake dating back to 1750. Stories such as this have been passed down through generations orally, a tradition that continues to this day. For most people within Seljord, these stories are intertwined with the identity and soul of the town. However, with local tales being only partly written down, it makes it difficult to convey such invisible aspects of the cultural landscape into something that can be experienced not only by locals, but also by visitors unfamiliar with the legends. The Border Between Known Reality and Unknown Life The aim of this project was to allow visitors to experience the town’s landscape, legends, history, and art all at the same time along a pathway that acts as a storytelling mobile service. Feste wanted to create a physical border between the land and the water, which was done through the use of the raised wooden walkway. This also represents the border between known reality and unknown life under the surface of the lake, once again hinting at the legend of the sea serpent. Each of the art installations emerges from the site, adding something unique and mysterious and thus allowing for a new experience of both the tales and the landscape. Page one Continue Reading to Page 2 >>>

Harmony and Diversity at the 2015 Expo in Milan, by Teamlab, in Milan, Italy. Various mediums can influence the way we see landscape architecture, change how we think about design, and impact how we can give a supreme experience for users of the site or project. Teamlab, a collaborative group of artists based out of Tokyo, makes installations that incorporate the crafts of professions from all across the board. Their group consists of people with backgrounds in architecture, mathematics, art, engineering, animation, and graphic design, just to name a few. They have set their focus on the marriage between science and art, using public installations as the medium through which users may experience the design. 20 Million Visitors on Their Way Teamlab is set to showcase its new projects at the 2015 Expo in Milan. The Expo is hosted annually from May 1 until Oct. 31, more than 140 countries participate, and upward of 20 million visitors are expected to attend over the course of the six months. This year’s expo revolves around regional foods and each individual country’s ideas about encouraging a more sustainable future. WATCH: Discover Expo Milano 2015

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Walk Through Rice Fields, Indoors! The Teamlab group’s 2015 installations fall under the category “harmonious diversity”, and are located in the Japan Pavilion at the Expo. The installations take up two large rooms and are set up so that users must wade through them like they would if they were wading through rice fields in Japan. The installation named “harmony”, from afar, looks like a beautiful mesh of colors taking the form of the agricultural palettes of Japan. Look more closely, and you will see that the images are being projected, in harmony, onto individual screens situated atop what is symbolic of a rice stalk. The screens all sit at various heights, so users can feel the motion of the installation and how it symbolizes Japanese agriculture.

The Lighting Changes as You Move Through the Space The rooms where these showcases are open for public interaction are lit only by the projections onto each of the screens that people wade through. The lighting changes as you move through the space, getting darker and lighter, broader and more miniscule. From a distance, you can observe the larger scope of the project, such as the fields and large pools of water, but take time to look around and you will see small details — fish and insects swimming and crawling their way from screen to screen. Continue Reading >>>

Nadia Amoroso, Director of Nadia Amoroso Studio and adjunct Professor in Practice, at University of Guelph shares with us her insights on ArcGIS Online and GeoPlanner for ArcGIS Online for Urban Design and Planning. In the past decade, planning and design professions have been enriched by a wealth of readily available site data. GIS (Global Information Systems) programs and applications provide layers of information on everything from site hydrology to population density, but urban designers, planners and landscape architects may shy away from utilizing GIS data, perceiving the applications as being too complex. GIS tasks are often passed onto a tech specialist, causing a slowdown in workflow, a lack of integration between departments and a less than perfect understanding of the data by the design team. In recent years, ESRI, a global leader in the mapping and GIS sector, has provided easy to use, design focused GIS applications that can be used by everyone working in a planning or landscape architecture company. One of these intuitive mapping and GIS applications offered by ESRI is ArcGIS Online.

ArcGIS Online

ArcGIS Online is a web-based GIS and mapping application, extending the reach of GIS to anyone in an organization. Designers and planners of all levels can easily create maps or site inventory and analysis diagrams, and then share them with anyone in the firm. Since the application is web-based, map-drawings can be viewed on mobile devices, making them easy to access in meetings or on job sites. A Software Solution ArcGIS Online can be considered as part of the Esri’s software solutions in support of the Geodesign framework. Geodesign is a term that refers to utilizing nature’s or the site’s data as part of the design process, along with the integration of GIS software to gather, evaluate, create, design, visualize and assess designs using this evidence-base support.

Browsing through Esri’s Gallery of Data To create a drawing, the designer can browse through Esri’s extensive Gallery of data or open data sources, and then import that data into ArcGIS Online to begin the project. Once imported, the graphic representational style of the map can simply be changed to generate specific drawing types. The designer can even change the base map “look” to customize the presentation of the map-drawing. The example below is a figure-ground map created in ArcGIS Online. The figure-ground is a type of drawing used in urban planning and design to visually convey the urban fabric. Typically all built form (buildings) is represented by black, and open space (including streets and waterways) is either represented by white or left void. In the following drawing, larger areas have been shaded to graphically convey the street network/urban block configuration. This map-drawing was created by importing Manhattan parcel data; information found on ESRI’s Gallery page. With black color applied to the parcel data layer, the figure-ground drawing was instantly created. The color, overall graphic style and transparency levels were all intuitively discovered, the interface being easily understandable by a first time user. Assisting Informed Urban Design The power of the drawing lies in the data contained within the parcel shapes. The attributes include number of floors, floor/area ratio, square footage, building usage, property value, lot size, and much more. This attribute data gives the designer instant information, facilitating informed urban design and planning decisions. The second image utilizes the same parcel data in a different way. In this instance, the map-drawing conveys the number of floors in a building based on intensity of color (shown here through the orange-yellow range), but maps and legends can be customized by color and classification to show a wealth of diverse information. The possibilities for displaying information are limited only by the imagination of the designer. Making it an integral Part of the Process ArcGIS Online can be easily integrated into the design workflow at any stage. For example, the urban designer can search and gather initial site data and visualize his/ her primary or secondary geo-data via ArcGIS Online. The designer can visualize and map conditions, systems and elements such as mobility networks, walkability, density, soils, and any other general site and urban information as part of the site inventory stage. Designers can then perform various site analyses with ArcGIS Online such as view sheds, buffer zones and hot spots. ArcGIS Online offers the non-GIS user, including architects, landscape architects and urban designers the opportunity to use GIS applications throughout the initial stages of a design, enabling the presentation of well researched digital map-drawings. GeoPlanner GeoPlanner is another of Esri’s web-based applications, and part of Esri’s software solutions in support of the Geodesign framework, offering specific features geared for complete land-based planning and design projects. GeoPlanner for ArcGIS facilitates smooth workflows in support of environmental design. City planners and designers create, sketch, design, evaluate, and compare scenarios using customizable dashboards. Bring Confidence to Design They can create various schemes and apply customized indictors to assess outcomes and come up with optimum design solutions. Because GeoPlanner is underpinned with GIS data, the designer is able to provide an objective basis for the design. The data, combined with powerful analysis, leads to solid decision-making, resulting in a design that can be shared confidently with all the stakeholders on a project. Creating Evidence-Based Designs GeoPlanner, like ArcGIS Online, is quite intuitive, extending GIS and Geodesign capabilities to everyone, and both applications are great tools to help the non-GIS user, designer and planner utilize the power of GIS in their work. Now everyone in a design and planning organization can integrate GIS data into the design workflow, share information with one another, and produce evidence-based designs. WATCH: How to Create Figure Ground Drawings, Quickly and Easily

Books by Nadia Amoroso:

• The Exposed City: Mapping the Urban Invisibles
• Representing Landscapes: A Visual Collection of Landscape Architectural Drawings
• Digital Landscape Architecture Now
• Representing Landscapes: Digital

Article by Nadia Amoroso, PhD, ASLA Return to Homepage

Spaces that are good for children are good for everyone, here are 11 things to remember when designing for children. Have you ever asked yourself, who is actually the greatest fan of your work as a landscape architect? Is it the one who spends long hours of playing games, enjoying the pleasure of being outside and closer to nature? Even though subconsciously, children are the ones who feel the most sincere happiness and delight when visiting a park, or an open-air playground. Children admire landscape architects’ work the most, even if they don’t really realize it. This is one of our most major responsibilities as landscape architects – how to design for children, in order to provide them with a safe, healthy and entertaining environment at the same time? In this article, we will discuss 11 crucial things to remember when designing for children. Beginning with the clarification on why children need to play outside, we will continue with the rules to follow when designing for them. Please Take a quick moment to answer our poll, so that we can provide you with the best content: [wpsqt name=”Content” type=”poll”]

Designing for Children

1. Why do children need to play outdoors? As we already mentioned, the starting point of creating a successful design for children, is to understand and then answer the question above – why do children need to play outside? Playing outside improves children’s immune systems, increases their physical activity, stimulates their imagination and creativity, and above all – makes them feel alive, as they use all their senses while playing. The list of benefits also includes developing critical thinking and problem-solving skills, as well as developing respect for nature and the other living things. Numerous research works have been conducted by psychologists to support those statements. Check out this interview on the subject of engaging children in nature with Richard Louv, a journalist and author of eight books, including The Nature Principle: Reconnecting with Life in a Virtual Age. WATCH: Engaging children in Nature: interviews with Richard Louv

2. Safety Comes First After taking into account the first step, the design process begins with fixing the place of the children’s area. A safe playground requires remoteness form busy roads, both, automobile and pedestrians, and dangerous water sources. This doesn’t necessarily mean high fences or hedge-rows. Safety always comes first, when it comes to children, but a landscape architect is also a designer. A sunken garden is a valuable example of how a space can be defined through its topography, rather than a trivial fence. Take a look at that project in Tel Aviv, displaying an unusual, yet remarkable design solution

3. Age-appropriate design The next aspect which requires your attention is the age-appropriate design. To provide a more enjoyable and safer play area, separate play zones for different age groups need to be planned. Children at different ages differ in size and abilities. Play areas for 6 – 23 month-aged children for example should offer activities like crawling, standing and walking. 5-12-year-old children, on the other hand, will require enough space for running or playing with a ball. Well-designed playgrounds can help children create physical, emotional, social and intellectual development. It is up to you to give them that opportunity. WATCH: Playground Safety – Age-Appropriate Equipment

4. Accessible Playgrounds Playground accessibility is another vital thing to remember when designing for children. Good landscape architects should provide playground equipment which welcomes all children of all abilities. Better landscape architects will go further – for they will design playground components that address physical disabilities, sensory and vision disorders, and autism. Nowadays we witness the development of healing, sensory and therapeutic gardens, which can offer a great design solution to experts interested in designing for specific groups of people and children. Here is an excellent example of a play area, designed far beyond accessibility: WATCH: Bremerton Beyond Accessible Playground

5. Careful Selection of Pavement Besides being accessible, playgrounds’ surfaces should also be safe. To let children play undisturbedly, and without fear of fall injuries, landscape architects should always consider the pavement they use for play areas. It is unacceptable to use concrete or asphalt surfaces because they don’t have any shock absorbing properties. Turf or grass is not a good option, either, as their shock absorbing qualities are minimal. Safe surfacing can be provided by shock absorbing rubber flooring, which is also easy to install, durable, and at good price. WATCH: Playground Safety

Tactile paving shouldn’t be neglected, either. It is also known as safety paving because it is used for footpaths, stairs and train station platforms to assist pedestrians who are blind or visually impaired. Pebbles or mulch are not a good choice because they can be easily lifted by children who may try to swallow them or do some other harm. 6. Shade Picking out appropriate vegetation is also of a great importance for the much-needed shadow in hot summer days. The designer has to give full consideration to the planting design in terms of the distribution of shadow from the trees. Trees should be arranged in a way which allows them to cast a shadow on the play area in the hours of strong sun. To provide shadow, tree species should be covered densely with leaves. Acer spp., Platanus x acerifolia, Liriodendron tulipifera, Fraxinus spp. form wide crowns and are suitable for that purpose. 7. Wind Isolation Trees are substantial not only for summer seasons but for the cold ones too. To design a safe playground, wind isolation should also be taken into account. This is the place where conifers can take key part. A combination of conifers with various heights can make for a better result, because it will be harder for the wind to overcome it. The variety of species will additionally form a more sustainable and ecological environment for children. 8. Water: potable and non-potable Continuing with the hardscape, it’s time to mark the water features used in or around play areas. Kids can be quite unruly and naughty while playing outside, and they often fall and hurt themselves unintentionally. Sanitary and hygiene needs are one of the reasons why drinking water fountains should be installed near play zones. As to the non-potable water features, attention should be paid if children can get into direct contact with the water from them. Although guidelines for water safety in public fountains vary from country to country and city to city, landscape architects have to follow them, regardless of the location.

Remember that even if the public fountain you designed wasn’t supposed to be used as a children swimming pool, kids are always magnetically attracted to water. The fountain may unnoticeably turn into a substitute to a swimming pool. So make sure the water is treated correctly. 9. Vegetation Having explored the hardscape in playgrounds, now we will focus on plants. The vegetation list here won’t be comprised of the species to use, but the ones which shouldn’t be included under any circumstances. Remember to study profoundly the characteristics of each plant you choose for a play zone. Poisonous plants, plants with poisonous parts, thorny shrubs, allergy causing plants, bee attracting plants can’t be used. Carpinus betulus, Cotinus coggygria, Cornus mas, Spiraea vanhouttei are good examples of plants proper for playgrounds. Seek for phytoncide active plants and avoid non-edible fruit ones. 10. Parents’ Supervision Although as landscape architects we are responsible for the play areas we design, the greatest responsibility for children’s well-being and health lies to their parents. One more substantial thing to remember is to provide a place for parents to supervise their children. The adults’ zone should be close enough to be easy to supervise, but far enough from the children, as they need to play undisturbedly. Here is an example of safely designed playground with an excellent solution for parents’ location: 11. Inspired Learning Finally, the best landscape architects know that the perfect play area is the one that is safe, fun, and inspires learning. First years of childhood are crucial to children’s personal development. Stimulating physical activity through varied equipment, or sensory skills through playing with sounds, lights and textures are among the ways to incite children to learn. Diverse materials, textures, colors and shapes predispose children to explore them. If we, as designers, manage to habituate them to be curious, to respect nature and other living things, then we know we did our job as it should be. How to inspire learning? Find inspiration at “A Toddlers Playground“. “Adults are only kids grown up, anyway,” Walt Disney Inspiration can be found everywhere and still, a great source of inspiration for designers lies in the satisfaction of their work. Healthy and happy children playing in the playground by your design is perhaps your most valuable award you could ever receive. And remember, there was a time when you were a child too. So what could possibly stop you from designing a marvelous playgrounds now? Recommended Reading: 

• Playground Design (Architecture in Focus) by Michelle Galindo
• The Science of Play: How to Build Playgrounds That Enhance Children’s Development by Susan G. Solomon

Article by Velislava Valcheva. Return to Homepage

Riverside Lünen, by WBP Landschaftsarchitekten, Lünen, Germany. Lünen is a town in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, along the Lippe River, which runs east to west, starting from Paderborn until it finally enters the Rhine River at Wesel. This has provided Lünen with a steeply graded green space along the Lippe, in the central part of the city. Riverside Lünen is a redesign project of that green space by WBP Landschaftsarchitekten. The five-meter height difference between the park and the river provided a challenge for connecting the two spaces. The designers did so by creating a new distinctive path that adapts very well to the natural contours, including stairs that can function as a small amphitheater facing the river. They really did a splendid job in creating an open-river park for people, using a simple touch to allow people to enjoy the beautiful surroundings and a different experience than just passing by the river in the middle of the crowded city.

Riverside Lünen

Less Land to Modify Means More to Sustain Keeping it simple and sustainable, this project does not alter the natural landform. The distinctive paths and the amphitheater are built following the existing contours, adapting to the environment rather than the other way around. The landscape architects did a beautiful job of letting the environment shape the site. They designed the hardscape, which adapts really well to the existing contours and environment. Doing so both saved money and answered questions about sustainability.

Pedestrian Comfort WBP Landschaftsarchitekten paid a great deal of attention to making the pathway comfortable for pedestrians. The path is built alongside the riverbanks, following the contours and giving a proper steepness level for pedestrians and bicyclists to pass through easily. The width of the path also gives enough space for people to walk and cycle safely and comfortably. The commitment of WBP Landschaftsarchitekten in bringing a user-friendly design for the site is the key to turning these riverbanks into a lively environment for the city’s people. Top Related Articles:

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Exciting Changing Views of the River The riverbanks offered many potential views. The designers had the idea to frame and divide the panoramic river into several unique views to keep visitors’ experience fresh. Using softscapes ranging from bushes to tall trees as borders, they created a sequence of views that give visitors different visual experiences as they walk through the site. The use of softscapes instead of a solid harsdscape as a border also helps the environment maintain its natural feel. This clever work in capturing the beautiful panorama of the riverbanks will make every person enjoy their long afternoon walk without being bored by just a monotone view. Amphitheater to Relax and Chill by the Riverbanks The stairs that lead from the upper level down to the river also can function as a small amphitheater that can be used to take a break, chill for awhile and enjoy the beautiful view of the river. The design is sweet and simple, without much in the way of curves or ornamentation. The use of soft-toned material for the amphitheater was obviously the right option — it looks really good and perfectly blends with the natural environment. Imagine taking a short escape from the city to relax at this beautiful place and enjoy the sunset by the river. Riverside Lünen as a Connecting Park Riverside Lünen is located along the riverbank, stretching between two main roads to the east and west. Because of that, this park now takes on an important role as a green corridor and an alternative route from the main road in the east to the western part of the city. The design of this park reconsidered its function as a connecting space, and it works really well. The paths are built in a straight way to allow people to travel faster when in a hurry. The designers also kept the paths relatively flat by building them following the natural contour line, making it less of an effort to walk or cycle. They also planted some new deciduous trees alongside the paths to give extra shading on hot sunny days. WBP Landschaftsarchitekten really deserves to take all the credit for making Riverside Lünen such a great work. They successfully turned these riverbanks into a beautiful and lively riverside park without much disturbing the natural environment, by adapting to the surroundings and letting the site shape itself. This environmentally sensitive design is also sustainable. So are you still thinking sustainability is just a buzzword? Think again!

Full Project Credits for Riverside Lünen:

Project Name: Riverside Lünen Location: 44532 Lünen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany Budget: 850,000 euro Designer: WBP Landschaftsarchitekten Size: 21,000 square meters Date of Construction: August 2013-February 2015 Client: Municipality of Lünen Image credits: Claudia Dreyße, Dortmund Show on Google Maps

Recommended Reading:

• Landscape Architecture: An Introduction by Robert Holden
• Landscape Architecture, Fifth Edition: A Manual of Environmental Planning and Design by Barry Starke

Article by Harkyo Hutri Baskoro

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Top 10 Autodesk Revit Basics in Easy to Follow Youtube tutorials to help get you off to the best start. Jumping into new software can often be intimidating. Autodesk Revit certainly has its challenges for landscape architects, but it is ultimately highly rewarding and can significantly increase productivity. Revit is still relatively unused, especially in small offices. However, it is slowly becoming more and more popular. It can provide much more information than an AutioCAD drawing, with the luxury of having plans, sections, and visualizations all located in one file. In the near future, we may see more of a transition from AutoCAD to Revit as the popularity of BIM increases. BIM is undoubtedly the future for landscape architecture, and Autodesk Revit is one of the leading forms of BIM that every landscape architect should understand. Unfortunately, it is not specifically tailored to landscape architecture, but design intentions can still be perfectly achieved and communicated. These Top 10 basics will make the first few Revit sessions much more manageable for any beginner.

Autodesk Revit Basics

10. Edit Type — Floors For landscape architects, the floor tool is the most common tool. We use floors to produce numerous features, such as paving and planters. It is very simple to outline a floor, but it is the information that must be added that is imperative. This can be found when selecting “edit type” under properties. Detailed floor information is added in the layer palette; this can consist of the depth of sub-base and what materials are used. Once this has all been modeled in Revit, construction details can be quickly drafted. WATCH: Advanced Revit Architecture 2012 Tutorial – Parking Garage Ramps Using Floors

9. Creating a Topography It is common for landscape architects to receive site data from a dwg file. This site data will often contain spot coordinates with Z values or Z positions. These are essentially points with elevations. These files can be imported into your Revit project and instantly developed into a 3D topography or “toposurface”. It is important that the dwg file should be competently drawn. The spot levels with Z positions should have their own specific layers, so when using Revit it makes it easier to select what layers are actually needed in order to create a toposurface. WATCH: Autodesk Revit Architecture: Creating a Toposurface

8. Understanding Families and Profiles Families are a fundamental part of Revit. The majority of elements in your Revit project are families. A profile is a 2D form that can be created and loaded into your project. These profiles are developed into 3D forms using various tools, such as sweep and extrusion (see below). Common families made from profiles include kerbs and railings. In essence, families are the components in your model (doors, benches, steps), whereas profiles are the 2D forms that create the families, via tools such as sweep. It is important to create an extensive library of profiles that can be brought into your project for future use. WATCH: Revit: How to create a Profile and Wall Sweep

7. Sweep/Create Form The sweep tool is a useful way to wrap around elements. It is important to understand that a profile is what is used to sweep your path. You can either pick an existing path or draw your own. WATCH: 02 Sweep

6. Extrusion Extrusion is relatively similar to the push/pull tool in Sketchup, yet it is often used to create a family that will be imported into your Revit project. It is important to keep an eye on your properties palette and for you to know which level you are using. WATCH: Revit Tutorials: Revit Forms – Extrusion Tool

5. Rendering WATCH: Autodesk Revit Architecture – How To Make A Render

Many students only use Photoshop to create a perspective that will often appear skewed. Revit eliminates this problem, because the visualization is created directly from your 3D model. To start, simply select the camera tool on the top of the screen. Once you have selected the location of your 3D view using the camera tool, select “render”, which is under the view tab. Lighting, site background, and the overall quality of your perspective can all be altered. It is a fast and accurate way to graphically communicate your designs. 4. Revolve The useful thing about revolve is that if you use it, you do not need to revolve your form 360 degrees. This can be edited in the properties palette. You can always go back and change the profile if needed. See these AutoCAD tutorials:

• 4 AutoCAD Commands to Draw Paving Patterns on Curving Paths
• How to Show Topography in your Plan Drawing in AutoCAD
• How to Place Large Quantities of Trees in a Master Plan Instantly with AutoCAD

WATCH: Revit Tutorials: Revit Forms – Revolve Tool

3. Swept Blend Swept blend is an ideal tool for landscape architects, as it can be used to create kerbs. The swept blend tool is really designed for a sweep that starts and finishes in different shapes. However, when creating a kerb around a sloping floor, the sweep blend is much more effective, as the path may twist and turn. Revit will function much more effectively with this command. WATCH: 04 Swept Blend

2. Visibility Graphics Categories such as floors and walls can be switched on or off. It is important to note that the visibility is only adjusted in the view you are on (such as the 3D view or site view). If you are having difficulty finding an element that is not visible, a useful tool is “reveal hidden elements” — shown as a lightbulb symbol in the view control bar at the bottom of your screen. WATCH: Autodesk Revit: Visibility and Graphics (Essential Skill)

1. Trim/Extend to Corner When building floors, it get tedious to use the modify arrow to modify your lines to the desired shape. The trim/extend tool significantly speeds up the process. It works slightly differently than the trim and extend commands in AutoCAD, but is just as effective. WATCH: Revit 2015 Trim/ Extend Multiple Elements

– Understanding the basics of Revit is a great start for any student or professional intending to improve their BIM skills. But it must be asked, should landscape architects work on a program that isn’t specifically tailored to landscape? Revit fundamentally works on flat surfaces and, although a terrain can be achieved, landscape architects may find Revit more difficult than architects who work with more flat surfaces. Ideally, Revit will develop into an even more sophisticated program than it is today, allowing landscape architects to use it just as efficiently. Recommended Reading:

• Autodesk Revit Architecture 2015: No Experience Required: Autodesk Official Press by Eric Wing
• Autodesk Revit Architecture 2014: No Experience Required Autodesk Official Press by Eric Wing

Article by Stephen O’Gorman Return to Homepage Featured image: YouTube print screen. Source. 

Winter Bay Culture Park, by Thorbjörn Andersson with Sweco Architects, in Liljeholmen, Stockholm. We all know world-famous Alfred Nobel, the Swedish chemist, engineer, innovator, and inventor of dynamite and Nobel Prize. Perhaps you wonder, what relation can there be between Alfred Nobel and a landscaping project? In this article, we take a closer look at Winter Bay – the place where Alfred Nobel established his factory and research lab, in which he invented an enormous revolution for armaments and explosive manufacturing, dynamite. How is Nobel related to the project we are about to discuss and how did the history of his life and work affect the design solution of Winter Bay Culture Park? To answer these questions, we’ll take a journey looking back on the past, then we’ll get to the present and finally, we will glance to the future of Winter Bay.

Winter Bay Culture Park

History of Winter Bay: Why did Nobel choose that place for his factory? Winter Bay is at the Mälaren lake in southern Stockholm. It is located in a valley surrounded by the Gröndal and Aspudden suburbs. In 1865, Nobel bought the whole area of Winter Bay. Being surrounded by high cliffs as protection in case of accidents, it turned out that the place is very suitable for Alfred’s dangerous work and is much safer than the previous highly populated area in Stockholm. Other Articles Featuring Thorbjörn Andersson:

• Sjövikstorget Square: Traditional Techniques in Modern Landscape Architecture
• How Umeå Campus Park is Closing the Gap Between Work and Nature
• Discover the Ancient Secrets of the Physic Garden

In time, Alfred developed the whole place as he constructed a local railroad, a harbour, testing tunnels for exploring dynamite and houses for his workers. The manufacturing of dynamite didn’t stop until 1921, but Nobel’s factory continued to work until the 1980s.

Winter Bay Culture Park Nowadays Down the years, Winter Bay has gone through major changes, transforming from a vital industrial zone to a public recreational area. Since 1974 Stockholm city owns the area of Winter Bay. The site is renovated due to the major reconstruction which provided the park with sculptures, walking paths, small gardens, restaurants and a café. The landscape architect, standing behind the transformation, is Thorbjorn Andersson, mostly known for his work in the planning and design of public spaces in Stockholm. The Mindful Designer Holding up to the concept of creating a natural, subtle and unostentatious design, the author of the project has reached the harmony between the rich history of the place and its new present function. “Given the richness of the site’s qualities and heritage, it was important to restrain design activities to a minimum,” as Thorbjorn Andersson says on his website. What Can You Find in Winter Bay Culture Park? The main factory is now an art gallery, and the area around it is a big lawn, terraced into several levels, lightly curving and blending with the landscape.The park today is an attractive spot for promenades and leisure, offering viewing platforms along the lake and green lawns to relax and contemplate the intrinsic beauty of the place. There are several places in the area, where visitors can enjoy swimming among the cliffs and pebbled shores. In Winter Bay park, you can also find boating and canoeing services. If you need food after all those activities, you can snack or dine in the garden cafe, and listen to live music. Most of all, if you seek for a day off, far away from the vanity of the city, this is the perfect place for you. Environmental Pollution One last line, which is important to consider, is if there is a certain health risk in the park as a result of the industrial past of the site. Severe soil contamination in the area with high levels of Lead and Arsenic has been detected due to the industrial activities in Winter Bay since the 1860s. In 2011, Winter Bay was ranked by the City of Stockholm as the ninth most polluted area in the city. Vegetation Will Save the Day The activities of the nuclear technology company which was previously residing in the area are likely to have caused unusual high levels of uranium in the cove’s bottom sediment. Fortunately, the actual levels of radioactivity are considered low enough so that there is no health risk to be considered. Here is the place to highlight that what adds the greatest value to the park, is that through the used vegetation, the area will be reclaimed, resulting in a healthy and unpolluted environment. Winter Bay in the Future As an end to our journey through time, we may conclude that the project of Winter Bay Culture Park is an excellent example of the artistry of landscape architecture. Design isn’t always about being cutting edge and mind-blowing. Sometimes it is about history and its honoring in the future, just like it is in this case. So what is your opinion? Is this the best possible solution? And if not, what do you think it should be like?

Full Project Credits for Winter Bay Culture Park:

Project name: Vinterviken Culture Park (Winter Bay Culture Park) Location: Liljeholmen, Stockholm Client: City of Stockholm Designer: Thorbjörn Andersson with Sweco Architects Project team: Clotte Frank, Anders Lidström, Johan Paju Area: 20 000m2 and a connecting 2 km promenade Year completed: 1999

Recommended Reading:

• Landscape Architecture: An Introduction by Robert Holden
• Landscape Architecture, Fifth Edition: A Manual of Environmental Planning and Design by Barry Starke

Article by Velislava Valcheva

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21st Street, by SvR Design Company and Cannon, in the City of Paso Robles, California. Sustainability, ecological balance, climate, social interactions, community involvement, health and economic benefits, and aesthetics are the challenges an architect struggles with when deliberating the design of a project. It’s like a brainstorming exercise to incorporate all of these multidisciplinary yet integral aspects into a single project. When successful, this process can produce a project such as the 21st Street Complete and Green Street Project. In 2011, the City was awarded a $1 million grant and hired Cannon, a full-service, local engineering and landscape architecture firm, to take the concept plan through design development and prepare construction documents. SvR was retained to work with Cannon and provide technical guidance and review for each design submittal, to ensure appropriate implementation of green infrastructure strategies. It is located in the heart of the City of Paso Robles in San Luis Obispo County, California. The project’s name itself implies the use of “green elements” in its infrastructure. The sensitivity in the use of green elements and eco-friendly design is why it won the 2014 Green Innovation Award.

21st Street, the City of Paso Robles, California

In the past, 21st Street experienced frequent and severe flooding, poor pavement conditions, discharge of sedimentation into the Salinas River, and inadequate facilities for bicycle and pedestrian traffic. To improve this, the city of the City of Paso Robles, in partnership with the Central Coast Low Impact Development Initiative and SvR Design Company, developed a conceptual design for a green/complete street. The city obtained an Urban Greening Grant in the amount of $993,000 and, with additional funding from the city, transformed the conceptual design into a reality. Related Articles: 

• Innovations in Urban Hydrology at Holalokka, Norway
• What’s the Problem with Urban Agriculture?
• 9 Ways to Incorporate Edible Planting into the Urban Landscape

Management of Stormwater Runoff The design of stormwater management is exemplary: The contaminated runoff from the impervious surfaces was addressed separately from the overflow from Mountain Springs Creek to control the quality and quantity of the runoff. The Engineered Median Channel High-volume, high-velocity water flow from the creek to the landscaped channel in the median of the street imitates the flow of the creek watershed while at the same time recharging groundwater through underlying infiltration trenches and engineered mixes of soil. Due to this, from the last nine rain events, approximately 250,000 gallons of water has recharged into the groundwater basin — equal to the amount of potable water for a four-person family for an entire year. The Pervious Pavers Impervious pavers were replaced with pervious pavers over a pedestrian area of 26,000 square feet to seep up stormwater. The designers intentionally didn’t install underdrains, leaving the water to percolate into the depressed bio-retention areas at the edge of the street. These areas can treat more than 500,000 gallons of water for every rainfall greater than 0.5 inches. Through Infiltration, pollutants are removed. If the water flows through to the Salinas River through the open channel, water pollution caused by sedimentation can be reduced. Complete Streets Complete Streets are designed to ensure safe and comfortable access for users of all ages and abilities. Following the policy’s aims, three-quarters of a mile of new marked bike lanes, ADA pathways, and a railroad crossing. Crosswalks and widened walkways were added to improve mobility. But I think little attention was paid to the access of physically challenged people who require curb ramps with tactile surfaces indicating changes in level. To protect the bio-retention areas from unwanted subsurface water, other design elements such as deepened curbs, impermeable liners, and trench dams were installed. These measures will also help keep the asphalt road dry, prolonging its lifespan. Sense of Place It was really great to know that despite submissions from national firms, the city selected local firms, allowing those companies to develop their skills in these new concepts. Also, local and recycled materials were used, creating economic benefits for local residents. Moreover, from the conceptual level to the final phase of the design, many workshops were held to raise awareness among city residents. Their input and feedback played a key role in the street’s construction — which is a great way to foster emotional attachment to a place. Native Trees, Plants Trees and plants were not only used to enhance aesthetic appeal but to serve different functions. For bio-retention areas, drought-tolerant native plants were added to alleviate soil erosion. Eighty-one large native trees were also planted to increase shade and reduce the amount of heat radiated from the pavement. Although numerous new trees were added, existing trees weren’t forgotten. The Spanish meaning of the City of Paso Robles is “the pass of the oaks”. To celebrate that legacy, an ordinance was passed to preserve the existing oak trees, which is undoubtedly an acclaimed design decision. Street Amenities For wider use of local materials, contemplative seating areas were constructed, including Gabion basket retaining walls using local Adelaida stone and recycled concrete. Biking racks and high-efficiency decorative streetlights were added to enhance aesthetic appeal. Interpretive signs were also included to explain the landscape process. Truly, the innovative and ecofriendly features of stormwater control and management have set an example for landscape projects. Apart from that, the strong initiatives taken by the city for the betterment of its residents surely teach us a lot about the impacts of well-thought-out design in our lives!

Full Project Credits for 21st Street:

Project Name: 21st Street Designers: SvR Design Company and Cannon Location: The City of Paso Robles, California Budget: $2.5 million Date of Construction: 2010-2011 Awards: 2014 Green Innovation Award Client: The City of Paso Robles Show on Google Maps

Recommended Reading:

• Landscape Architecture: An Introduction by Robert Holden
• Landscape Architecture, Fifth Edition: A Manual of Environmental Planning and Design by Barry Starke

Article by Farah Afza

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