Author: Land8: Landscape Architects Network

Greenacre Park, by Sasaki Associates, Inc., New York City. “Cities are as good as their public spaces”, urban planner Gerhard Curdes once said. Public spaces are the response to multiple needs and wishes and are at the heart of every city. But not all public spaces are alike: The good ones improve the quality of public life; the not-so-good ones lower that quality. Among the many options are pocket parks in inner-city areas — urban open spaces on a very small scale that meet a variety of needs. They are a perfect solution for people taking a break during the workday, serving professionals, tourists, shoppers, and the neighboring population.

Greenacre Park

New York City embraced the idea of pocket parks in late 1964, when The Park Association of New York City organized to support the formation of public green spaces from small, unused lots in the city. In 1975, Hideo Sasaki, founder of Sasaki Design, created the plans for one such space, Greenacre Park. Sasaki is an internationally renowned landscape architect admired for his multidisciplinary approach to design. Through the modernist style of this park, he offers New Yorkers an intimate experience in the middle of the city.

Let’s take a closer look at the design through the lens of its users: “Gorgeous hidden gem!” (Dee C.) In response to the high cost of land in the city center, high intensity of use, and a need to secure the park after hours, Greenacre Park is a “vest-pocket” park, a style of urban public space popularized in the 1970s. It is locked at night — a matter that has aroused controversy. Nonetheless, it is a privately endowed space – and sometimes that is the only way to secure land in a highly urbanized area. With multilevel seating areas integrated with plantings and water displays, this small site (60 feet by 120 feet) also provides a home to wildlife such as birds. Greenacre Park is undoubtedly a hidden gem, increasing the value of nearby homes and commercial properties. Related Articles:

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“What a lovely, serene place to enjoy lunch!” (Nakia S.) Entering the park through a trellis made to support and display climbing shrubs, the pathway leads to the central seating area of informal groupings of tables and chairs, perfect for a coffee break or lunch. The shade produced by the overhead honey locust trees (Gleditsia triacanthos) not only provides protection from the sun, but allows a beautiful dappled light to pass through. Escaping the Busy World Seating walls and steps invite visitors to relax and escape the busy outside world for a bit. The movable furniture provides flexible use of the park’s terraces. A raised terrace on the west side provides an overview of the whole park, and is equipped with lighting and radiant heating for evening and cold weather use. “… as a small waterfall whose powerful sound drowns out the city noises.” (Blake B.) A water sculpture just outside the park lures people in. Once inside, visitors can spend hours looking at how the water trickles over the relief sculpture surface into a tunnel leading to the main fountain at the end of the park. The combination of water and park results in a pleasant temperature on hot summer days and a relaxing sound. The city starts to fade into the background. A more immediate sense of contact with water is provided by the lower seating area at the base of the water display. The whole scene is completed by multiple plants, which also reduce air pollution. The blossoms of magnolia (Magnolioideae magnoliaceae) and azalea (Rhododendron ericaceae) create an enchanting atmosphere. Check out Fiskars azalea pruning tips for care and maintenance insights. Furthermore, urns filled with seasonal bedding plants have been placed informally throughout the park. The fact that park users understand the functionality of the water elements, as shown in Blake’s short review, indicates that the designer’s intention is perceived and appreciated. The fact that size is not directly proportional to quality has been once again proved by Greenacre Park. Even if criticized by many of its users for being locked during the night, this pocket park includes spaces for relaxing or meeting friends, taking lunch breaks, and escaping the bustle of the city. Moments of Serenity in a Busy World It fulfills the purpose of providing moments of serenity in this busy world. Greenacre Park is an outstanding small urban space offering visibility, flexible seating, and climatic comfort. Designed 40 years ago, this pocket park brought out the best in its small site. How do you estimate its utility for contemporary cities?

Full Project Credits for Greenacre Park

Project: Greenacre Park Location: New York City, NY. Designers: Sasaki Associates, Inc. Completion: 1975 Size: 6,000 square feet Cost: $1.6 million 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 Ruth Coman

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Earthly Pond Service Center of International Horticultural Exposition 2014, by HHD-FUN, in Qingdao, Shandong, China. Every once in awhile, we are reminded how much of our world relies on shapes and the way they relate to one another. The Earthly Pond Service Center was created by the talented team of architects and landscape designers at HHD-FUN, demonstrating how powerful an influence geometry actually has over the field of landscape architecture. This project is located in Qingdao (China) and it was completed between 2011 and 2014, covering a site area of 23,000 square meters and a floor area of 6,539 square meters. It represents a perfect obedience to the field of geometry, and the final result is no less than spectacular, demonstrating that each and every functional space is pure mathematics.

Earthly Pond Service Center

Natural Gradients Used for the Benefit of the Aesthetic Experience In designing the Earthly Pond Service Center, the creative minds at HHD-FUN decided to make good use of the natural gradients. At the same time, it was highly important to maintain a strong connection with nature, given the inspiration for the project. Thus, it was decided that the courtyard of the Earthly Pond Service Center would connect with the surrounding lake wetlands, providing the perfect blend between landscape architecture and nature, in its most beautiful form. [contextly_sidebar id=”vgfAcOF7ryakWyjELILoMjRvpFycXVjA”] Working to Compliment the Natural Gradient of the Site The shapes chosen for the making of this project provide fluidity, especially since all the landscape heights have been decided in accordance with the natural grade levels. Those who come to the Earthly Pond Service Center have the opportunity to enjoy the results of some amazingly creative people, with the different heights providing immense possibilities for accessibility and guaranteeing a unique viewing experience. Providing a Space of Peace and Quiet When seeing the different elevations, one can easily understand how the natural gradients were used for the benefit of the aesthetic experience. The main spaces have been chosen to be lower than street level, providing a place of peace and quiet. Apart from that, visitors are brought quite close to the water landscape, being able to enjoy its beauty and take in all that it has to offer.

Preservation of Nature: Essential Part of the Project As humans, we have formed a habit of meddling with nature. The ingeniousness of the specialists at HHD-FUN is clearly revealed when looking at how important the preservation of nature was for this project. It took a lot of creativity and planning in order to design a space that would allow for the landscape to maintain its integrity and for the vegetation not to suffer. Perhaps this is what makes this project even more interesting. Apart from the uniquely chosen geometrical shapes, you get to see a project in which all the trees in the area have been preserved. Moreover, the architects have created a rooftop platform and an additional green space, guaranteeing the most amazing blend of architecture and landscape. The Grid System Gives Geometric Fluidity This project is unique, as a special diamond-shaped grid system was chosen for the final design. One aerial view of the Earthly Pond Service Center will let you see one of the wonders of the modern world. It goes far beyond pure geometry and it is incredible to see how the fluid shapes cover the functional needs of such a space. Architecture blends in with the environment in the most natural manner and the different elevations contribute to that objective even more. Integrating the features into the Landscape as a whole The geometric inspiration has led to the creation of sequential spatial systems, these being placed at different heights for an even more amazing result. The most interesting elements of this project include the rooftop platform, the plaza spaces, and the observatory deck. They are easily found at different levels and integrate perfectly into the rest of the landscape, following the morphology of the extant platform. Beautiful Shapes, Twisted and Dancing Around Someone once said that geometry is all about beautiful shapes that seem to be twisting and dancing around. This is exactly the kind of feeling you get when visiting this amazing space, with its diamond-shaped grid system and other carefully chosen elements. In the Earthly Pond Service Center, architecture seems to be powered by mathematics, especially geometry, in a higher percentage than in any other project of this kind (if there is one). That can only leave us with a question: Does the use of pure geometry give fluidity or, on the contrary, rigidity to a project?

Full Project Credits for Earthly Pond Service Center

Landscape Architecture: HHD_FUN: Project Name: Earthly Pond Service Center of International Horticultural Exposition 2014 Qingdao, Shandong Location: QingDao China Completion Date: 2011-2014 Architecture: HHD_FUN LDI: BDG Qingdao beiyang architectural design co., LTD Site area: 23000 m2 Floor area: 6539 m2 Photographer: Zhenfei Wang; DuoCai Photograph ( Aerial views) 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

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One Central Park, by ASPECT | OCULUS, in Sydney, Australia. One Central Park is an urban infill redevelopment in Sydney, Australia. Two mixed-use towers composed of residential, commercial, and retail units stand on the former Carlton and United Brewery site. The walls were designed by French artist and botanist Patrick Blanc. The award-winning planting design was done by ASPECT | OCULUS and uses 250 species of native Australian plants. The plants were carefully selected using scientific modeling techniques. To the north lies Sydney’s skyline and spectacular harbor; to the south many of the city’s sprawling suburbs. The towers, bordered by Broadway and Abercrombie streets in Chippendale, stand between Sydney’s central business district and its sprawling suburbs. Due to their unique façades, the buildings also metaphorically stand at the intersection of architecture and landscape architecture.

One Central Park

Each residence and wall incorporates a green façade that, with a total area of 1,200 square meters, is said to be the largest en-mass vertical garden in the world. The development also boasts a Skygarden, internal planting, podium gardens, and a sunken courtyard. [contextly_sidebar id=”XqgqjKWXhcUqoCFUF8cyyonPlM7ZwPo6″] Integrating Plants and Water with Built Form ASPECT Studios promotes the practice of “living architecture”, which integrates plants and water with built form. For this project, this is achieved through the use of green roofs, facades, and walls. Living architecture is increasingly being recognized in Australia as a means of responding to climate change and dealing with the scarcity of water and energy. The “heat island effect”, in which the overall temperature of an area is increased through heat storage by buildings and road surfaces, has been identified as a growing problem in Sydney. Integrating living vegetation with buildings alleviates this problem. Other key benefits of living architecture include improvement in thermal performance of buildings, regulation of stormwater impacts, water recycling, and increased urban biodiversity.

Plants Without Soil Extend the Park to the Top of the Building The whole precinct includes Chippendale Green, covering 6,400 square meters of new public space. The surrounding site integrates heritage buildings, community facilities, and public artwork. It also hosts markets and music festivals and is a popular place for visitors to cycle through, dine, meet, and relax. Jean Nouvel, one of the architects of the building, said of this project: “Landscape is architecture. Here we have created a continuity so the facades extend the park into the sky.” Treehouse Retreat Sure enough, the public park climbs the side of the buildings to form a lush canopy. The towers are wrapped with thousands of indigenous and exotic plants, giving the residences a treehouse retreat-type atmosphere. Instead of soil, the plants of the green façade are sustained by a hydroponic system in which the plants attach themselves to steel wires and planter boxes, each of which contains its own irrigation system from recycled black water. Project Defies Early Skepticism Light, carbon dioxide, water, and nutrients are all mechanically dispersed to the plants. Despite some early skepticism by members of the public, the plants have already survived two summers and have a powerful visual impact. Unique Skygarden Frames the Skyline with Plants A defining feature of the development is a cantilever, known as “The Skygarden”, that extends over 40 meters from the building at 100 meters in the air from the taller East tower. As the name suggests, the Skygarden includes a terraced garden that connects the tower with the parklands beyond, thus helping to bring nature into the city. The First of its Kind Used in Australia This feature was incorporated to alleviate concerns of the towers overshadowing the areas below. The cantilever supports a light-reflecting heliostat system, the first of its kind in Australia used in a residential context and the largest of its type used in an urban environment anywhere in the world. At night, it is illuminated by soft LED lights, another unusual feature of the building. The Heliostat in Action The heliostat redirects sunlight onto overshadowed areas that the sun’s rays don’t reach. Forty sun-tracking heliostat mirrors on the roof of the West tower’s lower level direct light up to the 320 mirrors on the cantilever, which then re-direct sunlight down to the pool and recreation area and through the atrium roof of the shopping area. Serving as an Inspiration to the Industry One Central Park stands not just at the boundary of the city center, but also at the boundary of possibility. The project was funded entirely on a commercial basis and could serve as an inspiration to the industry about the viability of similar projects.Hydroponics brings the jungle to the concrete towers, and previously shady parts of the development are lit by heliostats, thereby improving the quality of life of the residents and visitors alike. As children, many of us dream about living in treehouses. How many city slickers could resist living and working in a treehouse-like atmosphere somewhere up in the sky?

Full Project Credits for One Central Park

Project Title: One Central Park Location: Chippendale, Sydney, NSW, Australia Year: 2013 Client: Frasers Property Australia and Sekisui House Australia Area Size: 5960sqm Budget: $1.8 million Photo Credit: Simon Wood Team: ASPECT | OCULUS (Landscape architects for the design, development and documentation of The Green Facade and courtyards) Patrick Blanc (Botanist and designer of The Green Wall component) Ateliers Jean Nouvel (Principal Architects for the building) PTW Architects (Architects for the building) JAAA +Turf Design Studio (Landscape architects for the site master plan) Junglefy (Installation of the Vertical Gardens) Watpac Construction (Builders) Awards: 2014 WAN Landscape Award – Finalist (ASPECT|OCULUS) 2014 AILA NSW Awards – Design (ASPECT|OCULUS) 2014 CTBUH Best Tall Building Award – Best Tall Building Worldwide (Awarded to Ateliers Jean Nouvel) 2014 International Green Infrastructure Award (Awarded to Frasers Property Australia and Sekisui House Australia) 2014 Leading European Architects Forum (LEAF) Awards – Sustainability Award, Overall Award (Awarded to PTW Architects + Atelier Jean Nouvel) 2014 Sydney Design Awards – Landscape Design Winner (ASPECT|OCULUS/ Frasers Property) 2014 NSW Architecture Awards – Residential Architecture, Multiple Housing (Team) 2014 CTBUH Best Tall Building Award for the Asia & Australasia Region (Team) 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 Gerard de Silva

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Millenary Park by Ujirany / New Directions Landscape Architects, in Budapest, Hungary. The story of the rehabilitation of a former industrial site is not a new one. It usually involves demolition or re-use of existing structures and may require environmental remediation or restoration. The potential of these “brownfield” sites provides exciting opportunities for landscape architects, as they can design the landscape to transform spaces into habitable public assets. Former industrial sites also hold within them the memory of past technology and its place within the urban context. For this article, we shall tell this story through the powerful creation of Millenary Park in Budapest.

Millenary Park

Millenary Park is located in a dense residential area in Budapest on the site of the former Ganz Works factory. The factory was home to one of the most innovative engineering firms of the 19th century, making it an important part of Hungary’s history. [contextly_sidebar id=”ZXv3wgpbtP8j7oXMuV0SvC2fusJlivrz”] It was originally located on the outskirts of the city, amongst vineyards and forests, but as the city grew, it became surrounded by a residential suburb and thus needed to be moved. This presented the opportunity to use the site as a public asset. It was decided to coincide its development with the Hungarian millennium in 2001, marking 1,000 years since the first Christian king, St. Steven, was crowned. The Industrial Site Dilemma As with most industrial sites, the first phase of development involved deciding which elements would be demolished and which would be kept. By retaining and re-using 30 percent of the existing factory buildings, a sense of memory and cultural history was maintained. This approach also allowed for unique experiences to be created through the contrast of historical elements and materials with contemporary form and function.

6 Months to Clean up the Site Former industrial sites also call for the rehabilitation of pollutants in the soil and groundwater. In the case of Millenary Park, one meter of soil was exchanged and the groundwater was remediated by using a drainage system that extracted polluted groundwater and recharged it. It took six months to clean Millenary Park, but once this was done, the exciting development of a green park space and a cultural center could take place. Design from Concept Újirány’s concept behind the park was the notion of “creating”. This enabled them to design a public space that would celebrate the elements of the millennium in an abstract and interactive manner while providing a much needed green park space. The park was divided into two parts: the first being an interpretive space of “motivation” and the second being an interactive space for “creation”. Man-made Lake Spotted with Trees In the motivational part of the park, parts of the millennium were descended into elements and reinterpreted by taking them out of their original context. In this manner, people can examine elements freely, making them aware of their own urban environment. These elements include surprising combinations such a man-made lake spotted with trees and shrubs growing through hard urban surfaces. Shifting People’s Perceptions Other design interventions, such as shrubs that form “benches”, gave Újirány the opportunity to draw on the idea of creating through careful shifting of people’s perception and understanding of elements. However, the design does not prescribe a specific meaning; rather, it allows the visitor to be motivated to create his own interpretation. Proposing a New Strategy for Public Activity This idea was continued into the interactive part, where a playground of creativity was created by putting elements into mobile form in a manner that engages directly with the public. The playground extends its function by interacting with people of all ages, allowing them to engage actively with their environment. In this way, Újirány reacted in direct opposition to the passive public spaces of shopping malls in Budapest, proposing a new strategy for public activity. Instead of trying to dictate people’s activity and movement, Millenary Park aims to create a pathway for experience where people are given alternatives and options within a visual and interactive space. Translating Concept into Function The true genius of this project lies is the manner in which it achieves this experience while providing a functional and aesthetically pleasing public space. Újirány has also managed to design a park that consists of separate elements that organize space and give it function, yet allow for continuity that reflects the notion of design as a process. Further design success lies in the detailing of each element and material to perfectly fit its immediate context while creating links to the surrounding context both visually and physically. Creating an Active Public Space Millenary Park provides us with an intriguing example of how to take a former industrial site and place it firmly in contemporary public life in a manner that looks to the past, present, and future while at the same time creating a public space that is exciting in a psychological and physical way. It does not ask you to come and evaluate whether you like it or not, but rather invites you to mold your own experience and create your own park. Now that’s what we call active public space!

Full Project Credits for Millenary Park

Project: Millenary Park  Location: Budapest, Hungary Architects: CÉH Ltd. Design year: 2000 Year of construction: 2001 Area: 34 800 m2 Office: Újirány Group – Új Irány Kkt. Authors: Árpád Kovács, Gábor Lendvai, Johanna Muszbek, Péter Pozsár, Dominika Tihanyi, Krisztina Wallner Building contractor/executor: Harkai és Társa Kft. Award: Europa Nostra, 2002 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 Rose Buchanan

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Clos Layat Park by Base Landscape Architecture + Arcadis + Les Eclaireurs in City of Lyon, France. There are often empty abandoned spaces in our neighborhoods that are not so often destined to becoming public spaces or parks but rather often taken over by real estate developers. The new park of Clos Layat was one of those forgotten places before the city administration decided to provide the three bordering neighborhoods of 7th, 8th districts and Vénissieux with the open space their communities were lacking. The strategic decision to “put nature in the heart of the neighborhood” as the deputy representative of the city administration Alain Giordano puts it, was taken by the city leaders despite the real estate pressure in the area and is of great importance for the public space structure of Lyon. The park adds its 3 hectares to the surrounding sports terrains which make altogether 10 hectares that complete Lyon’s green belt.

Clos Layat Park

The landscape architects at BASE were in charge of the transformation of what was a vast terrain without purpose into a vital neighborhood park. Their approach to the structural design of the parks elements was based on the existing surroundings of the future park and the needs of the surrounding neighborhoods that were lacking public spaces. [contextly_sidebar id=”SrWb9YVKkiZJDEqvNwdjwd9ZhoDCGdXK”] Once part of the historical Saint Jean de Dieu Hospital, the park is now bordering its forest on the south. The team decided to establish a landscape continuity of that forest into the park creating a variety of a densely planted urban forest on the south of the park followed by a wide meadow dedicated to inviting and discovering biodiversity on the north. Their aim was not only to introduce biodiversity but also a mixture of experiences and activities in harmony with it. Entering the Clos Layat from its main entrance one doesn’t perceive right away the diverse activities and surprises the park has to offer.

The Inclusuion of the Forest One of the main elements of the Clos Layat is the forest making almost a third of the parks surface, hosting a picnic area under the shade of trees. Spaces for reintroducing species native to the Rhone region’s flora and fauna are part of the forest experience. Special observation points were designed as part of the purpose of discovery and introduction to nature. Another part the biodiversity strategy was to devise a corner of the park to planting diverse blooming species attracting pollinators like bees, butterflies, and others, located in the North West of Clos Layat. A Different Stance on the Traditional Playground One of the most important elements of a neighborhood’s park is the children’s playground and Clos Layat’s one doesn’t look anything like the traditional ones. The imagination of the designers has come up with an abstract forest representation called “the trunk forest” with nets and swings to climb and discover one’s abilities. The Inclusion of the Mist Pool They added a special touch with an exceptional feature – the mist pool – a play water fog over the bumpy surface is what transforms this playground into a magical forest interpretation for all to enjoy especially on a hot day. The Robust Amphitheater If they went nontraditional with the playground, they also did for the amphitheater as well. Yes, if you were wondering, those green steps were designed to serve as an amphitheater from where people can watch shows and do neighborhood gatherings. At the same time it is facing the playground and one of the sports terrains so people can also observe their kids playing a football game or simply enjoy lying on the grass under the sun. A few isolated trees planted on the amphitheater will provide some shade for its users on hot days without completely covering its interesting irregular shape. A 700m Running Path The sports terrains bordering the park on the west were integrated with the path network design as the BASE team wanted to integrate all existing elements into functioning as a whole. And how could a neighborhood park be without joggers, a 700 m running path was designed along the park’s edges together with a fitness area for a complete outdoor workout. Lighting Design An important feature to make a park come alive is lighting. BASEs’ partner for the project Les Eclaireurs took care of providing sustainable and creative LED lighting for the safe and entertaining night use of the park. One of the downsides of this project however is the vegetation, as it isn’t yet mature, which would really add to the atmosphere of the site. But that is also what I find amazing in landscape architecture – the fact that a project once completed never stays the same but grows with time and with its users.

Full Project Credits for Clos Layat Park

Project: Clos Layat Park Landscape Architecture: BASE Contractor: City of Lyon Team: BASE landscape designer mandatory + Arcadis (Bet vrd) + Les Eclaireurs (lighting concept) Location: Lyon, France Budget: €2.8 M Area: 3 hectares 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 Yuliya Georgieva

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Waterplein Benthemplein, by De Urbanisten, in Rotterdam, Netherlands. Rotterdam is a city that literally swims in abundance – the abundance of water. Unlike many other cities worldwide where scarcity of water is a huge problem, densely populated Rotterdam is regularly confronted with great quantities of water causing floods in many parts of the town. For years, experts were unable to come up with sustainable solutions. However, the planning bureau De Urbanisten finally put an innovative Watersquare-concept into practice; Waterplein Benthemplein was born but is this really a place that makes a virtue out of too much water? How does a so-called Water square work? WATCH: Animated video of the Watersquare Benthemplein, by studio analoog

Waterplein Benthemplein

Waterplein Benthemplein is a square that functions as an attractive meeting place for city residents. The square features three concrete basins of different depth which are used for different leisure activities in dry weather. However, during heavy rainfalls those basins are temporarily submerged in order to relieve Rotterdam’s sewage system. The water of the surrounding surfaces and rooftops are collected in the basins forming three small lakes in the middle of the square. [contextly_sidebar id=”mlUepoIKimBO8c7Pg64przuybo9Ptz2G”] At the time the city’s canal system has enough capacity to allow the run off to the nearest open water again; the stored water slowly disappears, to make room for the various users once more. Additionally this Watersquare – concept also improves the quality of open water in urban environments as it prevents unpurified water from running directly into the River Maas. Can flood control be visually appealing too? The three concrete basins of Benthemplein are painted in various shades of blue in a pattern vaguely resembling the isobars on weather maps. Open stainless-steel zigzag gutters and slim light strips are integrated into the ground of the square. They transport the water, as well as function as skater bars.

How the Filling Mechanism Works The deepest basin features an interesting filling mechanism. The water submerges the basin dramatically through a waterfall in the wall. In addition, the rhythm of waterfalls is being directed in relation to the amount of water falling from the sky. Different Weather, Different Functions Each basin has a different function in dry weather; one of them features a little island which can serve as a stage or just as a place to sit and enjoy the rare hours of sunshine. Another one is made for everybody on wheels and whoever wants to watch them doing their tricks. Planting on the Site The deepest basin is a true sports pit for playing football, volleyball and basketball. It is set up like a grand theatre to sit, see and be seen. On each entrance, De Urbanisten created more intimate places to sit and linger too. The planting scheme emphasizes the beautiful treeline that already existed. Therefore, the planners introduced grasses and wildflowers surrounding the trees framed by a concrete border at seating height to offer many informal places to relax there too. Can this water square be the solution for a worldwide problem? Waterplein Benthemplein is the first large scale square that helps Rotterdam cope with the increasing water masses. It is used as conventional play- and sports areas in good weather, but when it comes to heavy rainfalls it serves as an unconventional catch basin for surface water. Designing Multi-Layered Functional Cities With the Benthemplein Watersquare De Urbanisten followed the idea of no longer hiding the expensive rainwater storage underground. Instead, they shared the vision of Watersquare that doubles as a design element, as well as becoming part of the public space in all weathers. Cities in Brazil, Denmark and China already showed great interest in the Waterplein concept which suggests the abundant success of the project. Benthemplein square multiplied its importance for the city Rotterdam has a whole lot of leftover urban public space in need of an upgrade. Benthemplein used to be such a space – a square close to the Central Station, hidden between large-scale school buildings and a church. De Urbanisten chose Benthemplein for the very first realisation of their Watersquare because it simply was in desperate need of a makeover. One of the Best Solutions in Existence The unique concept and simple design of Waterplein Benthemplein may not be the only way to handle big quantities of rainwater in cities, but it is one of the most future oriented-leading ideas applicable to squares with a high utilisation pressure, as well as an innovative solution for the temporary storage of rainwater excess. Benthemplein by De Urbanisten gives Rotterdam the urgently needed added value in water management. Can you invent a better solution?

Full Project Credits for Waterplein Benthemplein

Project: Waterplein Benthemplein – The Watersquare of Rotterdam Location: Rotterdam (north of centre), the Netherlands Client: Rotterdam Climate Initiative, City of Rotterdam supported by the Waterboard Schieland & Krimpenerwaard Authors: DE URBANISTEN Project Architect: Florian Boer Designers: Roberto Schumacher, Jens Jorritsma, Eduardo Marín, Tim Peeters, Dirk van Peijpe Collaborators: City of Rotterdam: Engineering Bureau Project Management: City of Rotterdam: Project Management Bureau Construction Management: City of Rotterdam: Engineering Bureau Producing Firms: Wallaard, coordinating construction firm Wallaard, concrete works of the basins Wallaard, underground water management infrastructure ACO, construction stainless steel gutters and ledlights Topcourts, coloring of the basins Anouk Vogel, artwork/baptistery Municipal nursery, planting and additional trees Date of Project: Design: 2011-2012 Date of Construction: 2012- 2013 (finished on December 4th, 2013) Budget: 4 million euros including Larger underground infrastructures (pipes and water pumps) engineering, tendering and communication budgets Surface area: total: 9.500 m2 (including street and parking) effective square: 5.500 m2 offering 1.800 m3 temporal water storage Photographers: All illustrations by DE URBANISTEN. Photos by Jeroen Musch, Ossip van Duivenbode, pallesh+azarfane and De Urbanisten 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 Sophie Thiel

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LaLaport Toyosu, by Earthscape, Tokyo, Japan. Upon first arrival at LaLaport Toyosu in Tokyo, Japan, visitors are invited to embark on an oceanic adventure through a park and public plaza designed by the landscape architects at Earthscape. The former dock and port site now hosts spaces for a variety of uses. Completed in 2006, the vision of the project was to consider the entire landscape as an ocean. The goal of the project was to allow site history and context to influence aspects of design while providing public space for both passive and active use. In LaLaport Toyosu, the ground plane literally undulates, emulating the waves and motion of water. The changing topography of the site allows for a variety of uses. Some hills form visually enclosed spaces with built-in seating, while others serve as slides or ramps for children to explore. The changing ground plane in the park draws visitors in and creates a feeling of adventure and an element of surprise as they explore the park.

LaLaport Toyosu

Scattered throughout the site, the café, radio station, and museum are like coral nodes floating on the surface of the water. Other islands that break through the surface are benches and seating elements. White benches are designed to model very organic forms, such as a clump of coral. Trees, surrounded by benches and ample seating, poke through the ground plane like sticks in shallow water. All of these elements in the landscape create clusters and nodes that emulate landforms and islands. [contextly_sidebar id=”SHoVgWFCcrZxWiWc1FBH9d2xAFUSo80Q”] Day to day, hour to hour, the site is continually evolving and changing. Water landscapes are ever changing; just as the tides rise and fall, waves change with weather and wind patterns, and water temperature vary based on the season, the landscape of LaLaport Toyosu is also ever changing. The park takes on a different feel day and night, when it is active on weekends and during the work week and continually changes, much like the waterscape. Visitors are invited to freely voyage throughout the entire site, like a drop of water in the ocean. Specific circulation pathways are not defined in all areas, allowing for people to spread out and explore the entire site. Some areas see higher traffic volume and seem to have a flow to them, like the crashing waves while other spaces allow for visitors to stroll and float through the site at their leisure.

The Incorporation of Historical Feature Elements Like a message in a bottle washed up on the beach, there are many relics that remain on site as a reminder of its history. Anchors, gears, and plaques dot one area of the site and allow visitors to examine their scale. The incorporation of these historic nautical elements is a nod to the area’s industrial and shipping past. Enforcing the Human Connection With Water This whimsical and playful design allows visitors to have unique encounters and discoveries. The oceanic theme repeated throughout the elements on site enforces the human connection to water and creates an authentic and immersive experience along the waterfront. The design of the park draws from historic memories of the site and its former usage, while creating a space for the creation of new memories. At the end of the day, LaLaport Toyosu also provides an excellent viewing point and setting for an evening sunset over the ocean. A Landscape Designed to Tell The History of The Site Designers from Earthscape emulated the ocean scape throughout the ground plane, seating, planting, lighting, placement of buildings and attractions, and circulation. The entire landscape is designed to tell the history of the site and allow for an authentic and close connection to the present-day water. In what other ways can the water and ocean motif be successfully carried out through elements of landscape architecture?

Full Project Credits for LaLaport Toyosu

Project Name: Urban dock LaLaport Toyosu Landscape Architecture: EARTHSCAPE Completion: 2006 Location: 2-4-9 Toyosu Koto-ku Tokyo, Japan Developer: Mitsui Fudosan Group Ltd./Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Participants in planning: Architect – LAGUARDA.LOW ARCHITECTS, Construction – Taisei Corp. Photo Credits: Koji Okumura/Forward Stroke, Shigeki Asanuma 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 Rachel Kruse

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We take a closer look at 10 of the most common mistakes people make in planting design and how to avoid them. Landscape architecture is a comprehensive subject that requires a profound knowledge of multiple disciplines. History of landscape, city and regional planning, urban design, architecture, environmental science, planting design … Each of these subjects is substantial and none should be neglected. We all know that it’s almost impossible to be equally good at all disciplines – usually we’re best at two, maybe three. If you could choose which subject to become best at, which one would you select? How about planting design? Isn’t that the backbone of landscape architecture projects? Isn’t planting design the only mastery that distinguishes landscape architects from all the other professionals in the field of architecture? If you want to design high-quality projects by leaning upon the most considerable aspect and essence of landscaping – planting design — find out how to accomplish this by studying the 10 most common mistakes in planting design and the ways to avoid them:

1. Lack of Individual Approach We will start with the first and most crucial mistake designers tend to make – forgetting about the individual approach to each project and client. In time, professionals gain experience, which may bring not only benefits, but some obstacles as well. Subconsciously or not, having an extensive background may result in a monotonous, mechanical way of working. [contextly_sidebar id=”425027xRRPz4nfoxahGOhxzZgHLRFjea”] Strong geometry, curving, or broken lines? Which style to use in planting design depends entirely on the concept and idea you decide to express through your work. Take for example the difference between the fine, subtle planting design of Porsche Pavilion and the naturalistic planting design of Royal Bank of Canada at the London Wetland Center. There are no two identical clients or projects, so don’t forget to approach each one of them individually and consciously. How to do that? Just try not to become too proud of yourself. There is no person in the world who knows everything, so as long as you know you are not that person, educate yourself with each project. Set your bar higher and higher – this is how you will make the most of your work, hand in hand with your asset – the individual approach. 2. Ignoring the Universal Principles of Design Unity (harmony), balance, expedience, color, scale and proportion, symmetry and asymmetry, variety, rhythm, similarity and contrast, and dominance (emphasis): These are the principles of design that are well known but often disregarded, especially in planting design. However, there are world-famous names in planting design whose work can only be admired and used as inspiration by other landscape architects. Think of Paul Thompson, who stands behind the bold planting design of The Australian Garden; Thomas Rainer; or Patrick Blanc, who is famous for his marvelous vertical gardens. Do they apply the universal design principles? What do you think? So how to avoid ignoring the principles? Think of the final result. Identify your idol in planting design and study his work. Make a list of the principles and add or remove some of your own, until you find what works best for you. WATCH: Landscape & Garden Design Principles

3. Overlooking Scale and Proportions Every professional landscape architect knows that he shouldn’t use the same plant list for a small private garden as for a large public park. Always consider the dimensions of the area you are about to landscape. The difficult perception is the least bad consequence, being followed by plants’ irregular growth and adjacent construction damages, which could lead to creating a dangerous area rather than a peaceful and safe landscape. How to honor the importance of scale? Visualize. Think about how the planting design will change and grow over time right from the beginning of the design process. Check out these two examples of well-proportioned vegetation:

• Stunning Contemporary Garden Design!
• “Walk of the Town”, the Walk Everyones Talking About

4. Ignorance of Plant Characteristics Following the line on plant development in time, it’s also important to highlight the knowledge – or, in some cases – the ignorance of plant characteristics. What height will the plants you use reach, when will they bloom, what fall colors will they have, what are their fruits, will they cause allergies? All of these questions need to be answered by the designer if he wants to deliver a high-quality, healthy, and aesthetically satisfactory planting design. How to avoid the mistake of not knowing the characteristics of the plants you use? Observe. Whenever you get the chance to visit an ornamental nursery, do so. This is the place where you can examine the variety of plants in their different stages of development. Other valuable insights on planting design can be found in this interview with Nigel Dunnett 5. Using Little or No Vegetation at All Yes, there are some clients who demand large traditional turf grass lawns, but it’s been widely discussed that maintaining such lawns consumes resources and time, and planning them is far from any ecological or innovative approach. So before talking incompetently to your clients, first remind yourself why we use plants at all. Are plants good for the microclimate, are they good for wildlife and biodiversity, are they good just for visual and sensory pleasure? Think about those questions next time when you are asked to design another lawn. This is how you can avoid that mistake in the future. 6. Not Planning With Forward Thinking Not thinking big is perhaps one of the biggest flaws designers have. What will the long-term consequences of your project be like? Will sustainability take place in your design? Will you consider recycling trees or will your plant selection stimulate biodiversity? How to have future-oriented thinking? The answer is right in front of you. If you are still reading this article, this means that you keep educating yourself. And as long as you are learning constantly, you make progress. This is how you think big – and you do it in each part of your work, so make sure you avoid the mistake of not doing so. 7. Using the Same List of Vegetation for Each Project As already mentioned, experienced designers often walk straight into the trap of their own background. It is much easier indeed to pick vegetation that you know will work. But this practice can ruin your reputation sooner or later, so how to avoid it? Keep educating yourself. Planting design is a limitless field of diversity, so embrace it. There is always a more appealing, more bizarre, and more exotic plant than the one you learned about yesterday, so don’t miss it. If you need more reasons to stop using the same list of plants each time, read this interview with top plantsman Adam Woodruff. 8. Ignoring Seasons Most of the time, designers tend to imagine the vegetation at its brightest – when in bloom and covered by dense foliage. The problem is that not all the plants in your scheme flower at the same time of the year, and most have entirely different periods of vegetation. This is where your professionalism should come out. Considering how to combine plants so that the park or the garden looks astonishing in and out of season is what can make you stand out among other landscape architects who repeat the mistake of ignoring seasons. Flowers in spring, fruits in summer, fall colors in autumn, evergreens and subtle bark beauty in winter – don’t forget to include each one. How to do that? Make diagrams for each season. This is the only certain way to make an excellent plant selection, satisfying all times of the year. WATCH: Garden Plants for Each Season

9. Not Considering the Successive Maintenance of the Vegetation Being a landscape architect, a planner, or a designer doesn’t liberate you from taking into consideration how your project will be built and maintained. A good example on that subject is to group trees with shrubs surrounding their stems. In this way, when mowing the grass, there will be no possibility of damaging the trees’ stalks in the first place and, what’s more, any shrub looks better than an uncovered part of the ground.

How to avoid that mistake? Remember that you are the person who gives instructions on how to build and maintain that project, and as an author, you bear a great responsibility. So at the end of each design process, take time to consider the plants’ maintenance. 10. Not Using the Right Plants in the Right Place Picking the wrong plants is another common mistake. Plants’ requirements on climate and weather conditions can be crucial to their development. Sun and shadow, humidity and aridity can influence significantly both the plant’s condition and appearance. Although some experimenting can do no great harm, best results and the most healthy and impressionable plants grow where their requirements are satisfied to the full. How to avoid picking the wrong plants? Explore the conditions of the area. There is a proper plant selection for every situation. In the book “Planting: A New Perspective”, the famous Dutch garden designer Piet Oudolf and designer and writer Dr. Noel Kingsbury share their deep knowledge of plant ecologies, explain how to group the wide range of plants, and how plants behave in different situations. – Finally, we have discussed the 10 most common mistakes people make in planting design and how to avoid them. So what is your opinion? Is there a universal formula that could save us from all of them? And if there is, what is it?

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

Return to Homepage Feature image: Photo courtesy of Adam Woodruff

No signals, no traffic lights, no pedestrian crossings, no sidewalks, and no curbs. At first glance, that might seem like a chaotic road. But what if shared spaces are making streets safer for pedestrians, with fewer accidents and a lower speed limit?  For most of us, when we are walking in the city, the most secure place to put down our foot is on the sidewalk. However, the latest trend in designing human-scale streets is called “shared spaces”. This new kind of thinking is not anti-car, but it is a philosophy in which pedestrians are the ones who get first priority. And vehicles? Well, they act just like guests. So, without any clear right-of-way among all types of traffic users, everyone is forced to focus and to be cautious by making eye contact with pedestrians, cyclists, and other drivers. [contextly_sidebar id=”DRM9TsTXUqD7k2njtzlW4nA0lq5rxdG0″] There were concerns, of course, when shared spaces were first introduced. But after many years of experience, many countries are willing to add them to their landscape dictionary, but with different appellations. For instance, in the Netherlands, shared spaces are called Woonerfs. In the United Kingdom, they are called Home Zones. In Portland, they are called Festival Streets and in the United States, they are called complete streets. Yet, they all have the same motto: “Rather safety with uncertainty than accidents with clarity.” — Hans Monderman, a pioneer of the shared space concept in the Netherlands. We took a closer look at five places around the world that have successfully implemented shared spaces.

Shared Spaces

1. The Mariahilferstrasse in Vienna Project: Mariahilferstrasse, Auckland Design: Dutch office of Bureau B+B Date: 2014

When the road is all filled up, it’s time to get creative with a new method of public realm. This was the case with one of Vienna’s thoroughfares, the Mariahilferstrasse, a shopping street that had turned into a crucial traffic artery before being redesigned by the Dutch office of Bureau B+B and becoming Europe’s longest shared space. At 1.8 kilometers long, the street has been split into three zones. A pedestrian zone was constructed in the heart of the street (the center) and the two outer zones have been planned with the approach of shared space by removing all traffic signs, using a single level surface of sidewalk pavement, and installing street furniture. Surprisingly, this shared space is now witnessing a significant reduction in traffic along with an improvement in pedestrian safety. Adding to that, noise and pollution are no longer an issue in this street. 2. Exhibition road in London Project: Exhibition Road Client: The Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea, Transport for London & Westminster County Council Design: Dixon Jones Start of work: 2009 Total cost: £2.3M Size: 26,000 m2 Exhibition Road was a busy London boulevard in South Kensington, providing access to cultural and educational institutions. With more than 11 million visitors a year, the street was frequently choked with lines of parked vehicles. The solution? Dixon Jones transformed the road into a shared space by repaving the street with a pattern that “disturbs linear movement across the street and emphasizes the diagonal routes pedestrians follow as they cross between the museums on either side,” Dixon Jones said. This is a remarkable example of a simple motif of stamped stone that has succeeded in uniting the road as one carpet and accentuating the visual perspective of the road. 3. New Road in Brighton Project: New Road, Brighton, UK Client: Brighton & Hove City Council Design: Gehl Architects Completed: July 2007 Cost: £1.75m New Road was built in 2007, and since that moment, this road had seen an undeniable reduction in traffic volumes and speeds. It is considered as one of the very first shared spaces in the United Kingdom. With various users circulating, the design of the road was essential in determining the direction of movement. So every little detail counted: color, texture, and slabs. Indeed, Gehl Architects chose a granite paving with different shades of gray. Street furniture is all in a flamed surface and, to top it all, an unusual long timber bench was installed. This street has become the fourth most popular place for people to spend time in the city, just behind the beach. 4. Bell Street Park in Seattle Project: Bell Street Park Client: Seattle Parks and Recreation Design: SvR + Hewitt Date: 2009- 2014 Cost: $2.5 million SvR and Hewitt designed Bell Street Park as a shared space, connecting four blocks of business, residential, and leisure space. With an advantage of natural landscaping and a direct view to the waterfront, this shared space has encouraged pedestrians to feel more comfortable in the street and move in it the way they like. Motorists can drop off passengers, and cyclists can ride, too, all in a common space. Furthermore, the street becomes a public plaza for community events such as music and dancing, or simply a playground. 5. O’Connell Street in Auckland Project: O’Connell Street Client: Auckland Council and Auckland Transport Cost: $2.25 million Due to a public consultation that took place in 2012, O’Connell Street has been transformed into a shared space. What makes this shared space’s beauty is the designed approach of concrete slabs and areas that were especially made for outdoor dining, events, and walking while allowing access for vehicles, all in a same leveling of the granite surface. To remind people of the historical context of the place, stone seats were installed and carved with information about the street. And for the final perfect touch, some locally grown Nikau palm trees were planted to reinforce the sustainable side of the project. – Obviously, this new vision of a socially and environmentally sustainable public realm is not without its critics, as the “make eye contact” rule doesn’t work for people with disabilities, especially the blind ones who find streets without curbs very difficult to cross and feel more comfortable in traditional streets with pavements and curbs than in shared spaces. That is why designers have to take the needs of disabled people into account and acclimatize comfort zones for them. Now that you have a complete vision about shared spaces, would you be encouraging this kind of public realm?

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 Naila Salhi Return to Homepage

Project Warde helps to revive an otherwise dead urban space, by HQ Architects, Jerusalem, Israel. With cities growing faster than ever, more and more neglected urban spaces are cropping up all around the world. Dealing with the increase in these neglected spaces poses a serious problem for virtually every major city, but could art be the answer to this urban problem? A new installation, titled Warde, was implemented in Jerusalem’s Valero Square in order to help address the lack of pedestrian engagement with the site. HQ Architects, based in Tel Aviv, is responsible for the installation, which is part of a greater plan to enhance the neglected urban spaces in Jerusalem’s city center.

Reviving a Dead Urban Space

Valero Square is located squarely in the center of Jerusalem’s downtown, at a busy tram line station and next to a major open-air market. With such a prime location, the site should have been a vibrant community area, bustling with life, but the reality couldn’t have been more different. [contextly_sidebar id=”xbLLrm4msy271U7FXEAtWMPq5AtvclxH”] Unfortunately, the square had fallen into a state of neglect. Largely due to a serious lack of people-oriented programming, over time the site had simply become a wasted space. While thousands moved through the square on a daily basis, virtually no one stopped to spend time in the square. People would instead simply pass by without so much as a second thought. While the city had made a few attempts to improve the space, ultimately all that resulted was an incoherent and fragmented space that failed to provide any meaningful use for or connection with people. That was, until the implementation of the Warde installation.

Valero Square Reblooms The installation is a cluster of rather unusual street furnishings — giant red “flowers” resembling poppies, which open to 30 feet wide, on top of 30-foot-tall “stems.” The flowers themselves can be filled with air. This inflation and deflation cause the bloom to open and close. You Can’t Miss it The new installation is difficult to overlook, but what is truly amazing is the way that these flowers interact with their surroundings. The flowers open and close in reaction to passersby, inciting curiosity and playfully inviting people to interact with the space. Standing under one of the flowers will cause it to open and stay open until you choose to leave, providing shade and relief from the hot summer sun. The Transition from Day to Night At nighttime, the installation functions as lighting, providing a spotlight while open and a warm, soft light while closed. The installation is also programmed to react to public transit, springing to life as the trams arrive and depart from the square, warning travelers not to miss their tram. Casting Light on Neglected Spaces Warde, with its eye-catching flowers, draws users who would normally just pass by into the space. But that’s not all. The installation goes even further, drawing public attention to what had become a neglected, wasted urban space. Even the flower choice for the installation, whether intentional or not, seems to allude to the neglect of the site, as poppies often thrive in neglected and disturbed environments. Altering Behaviour and Perceptions Temporary art installations such as Warde are being used more and more as a way to re-engage communities with neglected spaces. These installations alter behavior and perceptions, as spaces that were once just background noise suddenly become highlights. This type of art also forces people to take a much closer look at their cities and to notice those neglected urban spaces all around them. In the case of Valero Square, the installation has created a more playful, interactive environment, which has invited people to not only actively engage with it, but to notice a site that was previously neglected. Has Warde Revived Valero Square? Art installations can be powerful in changing the attitudes and behavior of people in cities. In the case of Valero Square, a space that was once devoid of life is now animated by an art installation that captures the imagination, and which has awoken many to their urban surroundings. However, this type of interactive installation is not free from problems. Over time, the novelty can wear off and the behavior of passersby can return to normal, resulting in a loss of public interest in the space all over again. While it’s too early to say if Valero Square has been revived by the installation, it has certainly managed to generate increased public interest in the future of the space. Hopefully, Warde will continue to generate interest in the future of the square, as well as draw public attention to the many other neglected sites in the city. In any case, Warde is an excellent example of how urban art installations can be a great tool for engaging communities with neglected spaces, as well for getting people to stop and really take notice of their surroundings. – Do art installations such as Warde revive neglected urban spaces, or it is merely a temporary, “Band-Aid” solution to a larger problem? Tell us what you think in the comments below. WATCH: Can Art Revive a Dead Urban Space?

Full Project Credits

Project Name: Warde Location: Valero Square, Jerusalem, Israel Designers: HQ Architects Date of Construction: 2014 Client: Jerusalem Municipality Project Team: Erez Ella, Matan Sapir, Ruth Kedar, Netta Bichovsky, Guy Balter Executed by: Guy Ella Music in the movie: Riff Cohen Search 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 Michelle Biggs

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300 Ivy Street, by Fletcher Studio, in San Francisco, California. Public space plays a really important role in residential areas. People spend most of their leisure time inside dwellings with family or outside in public spaces visiting with neighbors. How do we create attractive public spaces surrounding a dwelling to increase social communication between neighbors and at the same time improve the pedestrian experience? The following project will give us an excellent answer. 300 Ivy Street is a new five-story mixed-use dwelling area in San Francisco. The project was built on an existing surface parking lot that was part of the now-demolished San Francisco Central Freeway. Designers concentrated on a balance between private and public space in order to build a peaceful dwelling area and vibrant neighborhood.

300 Ivy Street

The project includes 63 different dwelling units and 5,000 square feet of retail space. The buildings are separated by a T-shaped courtyard. The bay and recess forms are used for the facades of the dwellings next to the street side to establish a similar style to the surrounding districts. In order to prevent disturbances from the street, the borders of the ground floor are pulled a few feet back from the property line and the first living floor has been lifted off of street level. At the same time, the sidewalk for pedestrians has been widened to also buffer the dwellings from the public space. [contextly_sidebar id=”IduvMN4LBLaZkCFDmUq9sFJU7MWfEtNv”] The one important thing, for landscape architects, to note about this project is that Fletcher Studio designed most everything outside: the furniture, the fencing, the bollards, bike racks, metal work, the basalt patterned (milled) paving, etc. helping them to create a visually unified design. The corner of the building between Gough and Ivy streets is used as a cafe, which helps to orientate visitors and bring lively environment to the district. The entrance is set on Ivy Street, which is a more peaceful area than Gough Street. The entry gate contains several steel frames with glass. This open view creates an interaction between pedestrians and residents. By using planters, the courtyard extends to the street and becomes a part of the street landscape. From the entrance, a ramp leads residents to the door of dwellings.

Creating an Outdoor Living Room One side of the ramp is a small plaza with a wood table and bench, which offers a perfect place for residents to communicate with neighbors. Next to the plaza is a bike storage area, which is covered with wood doors. The wood features create an outdoor living room, providing a space for residents to relax as they arrive in the plaza after a busy day. The Roof Garden On the top of the north building is a roof garden that offers different leisure activities. An outdoor kitchen with some wood furniture gives residents an opportunity to cook together. A wood patio supplies a peaceful place for residents to relax or enjoy the cityscape. Between the outdoor kitchen and the wood patio, a lot of perennial herbs are planned. This provides a nice community space for residents for different uses. The Inclusion of Private Terraces On the west side of the courtyard are private terraces. Plants such as bamboo are used in the middle of the yard in order to offer privacy to residents who live in both the north and south sections of the housing development. Creating a Buffer Zone Between Private and Public Spaces By using a stoops-planter pattern, the entrances to the houses are established on Grove Street and Ivy Street. This kind of landscape gives a buffer zone between private and public space. At the same time, it provides a vibrant and interesting streetscape for pedestrians. Clever Design Means an Enhanced Lifestyle In this project, plenty of planters are used in order to soften the hardscape and split private and public space. At the same time, the planters also help to improve the quality of the streetscape. Small shrubs or perennial herbs were chosen for the project so that a slender environment is built to match the small spaces of the district. The customized outdoor furniture in the project is also a key to improving the experience of residents and increase neighborhood enjoyment.

Full Project Credits

Project: 300 Ivy Street Location:  300 ivy Street San Francisco CA Developer: Ivy Grove Partners LLC Architect: David Baker Architects Landscape Architect: Fletcher Studio Completed: January 2014 Client: Ivy Grove Partners, LLC Photographer: Bruce Damonte Site Size: 22,837 sf 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 Jun Yang

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