Author: Land8: Landscape Architects Network

We take a closer look at the enchanting Arashiyama Bamboo Forest. The Japanese culture has a long tradition of living in harmony with their surrounding landscape. To them, nature is seen from a wider philosophical understanding and is treated with admiration and respect. Although the country is highly developed and industrial, the perception of the role of the environment has allowed for nature to become part of the city fabric. Furthermore, their connection with the land involves an understanding of natural resources and the potential benefits they can provide for the country.

Arashiyama Bamboo Forest

Arashiyama Bamboo Forest (also known as Sagano Bamboo Forest) is a perfect example of this harmonic relationship. Bamboo has a long history of Japanese myths and legends and the forest is thought to be planted to protect the temples from evil. The exotic grass is also seen as a symbol of strength, drawing from its natural attributes of strength and durability.

Arashiyama bamboo forest is located in the Arashiyama district of western Kyoto. For centuries, this area has been a popular destination for people to experience the beauty of the landscape and it is particularly breath-taking during autumn and cherry blossom season. The forest sits on the edge of the city below the mountains and its 16 square kilometres of dense bamboo contrasts dramatically with the surrounding urbanity. A Pathway in The Forest What makes this forest one of Kyoto’s most popular tourist destinations is the pathway that cuts through the dense vegetation, transporting visitors into a landscape of soaring bamboo stalks. The pathway is approximate 300m long and is accessible directly from the main street of Arashiyama. Its generous width accommodates both pedestrians and cyclists, allowing people to experience the landscape at their will. It is a serene and quiet place and even though it can get extremely busy during peak tourist season, the sense natural calm and the connection to nature is maintained. Although there is no knowledge of any clear design intent, the curvilinear pathway and its contrast to the bamboo has a sense of balanced aesthetic. The beauty of the pathway is in the simplicity: natural stone combined with a continuous railing of dried bamboo, edged by straight bamboo stalks reaching almost 50m into the air. Visitors can simply stroll along the pathway or can experience the cultural connection with the landscape through visits to a teahouse, shrine and temple along the way. Photogenic Nature Arashiyama Bamboo Forest is one of the most photographed sites in the world. The natural vegetation creates a striking scene of tall and straight bamboo stalks which contrasts to the plain and unadorned pathway. During the day thin slashes of sunlight are projected through the densely packed grove while at night footlights create an eerie yellow glow. The forest is a place of natural yet ordered beauty. Natural Music The forest is not only a place for experiential visual beauty, but creates a unique landscape experience through sound. As the wind blows against the bamboo a soft resonating tune is produced, masking out city noise and creating a natural music experience. This sound as been added to the list of “100 soundscapes of Japan” by the Ministry of Environment as a means to encourage locals to connect with nature through all their senses. Role of Bamboo Bamboo is the fastest growing plant on earth, making it a truly sustainable product. In fact, bamboo can regenerate its full mass after being cut in only 6 months – while a tree will take 30 to 50 years!. This allows Arashiyama Forest to not only function as a tourist and cultural destination, but continuous harvesting takes place for its use as a local natural resource. The bamboo is harvested for products such as cups, boxes, baskets and mats and is used as a structural material due to its extremely high tensile strength and flexibility. Community Stewardship Since 1967 bamboo forests have been recognised as important sustainable and environmental resources and there is strict legal control to preserve their gross area. The location of the forest in Arashiyama has meant that the local community has become environmental stewards, ensuring maintenance and conservation of the forest is maintained. The forest has even become part of their cultural traditions and each year in mid December a night walk is held as part of the Kyoto Arashiyama Hanatoro festival where 2500 oriental lamps are lit along the pathway as the community celebrates their landscape. Arashiyama Bamboo Forest teaches us not only about the importance of cultural harmony with the environment but forces us to acknowledge the striking beauty of the natural landscape. The simple path edged by complete natural beauty and sounds creates an experience which reminds us of our role as stewards of the planet and shows us how man and nature can occupy the same space. WATCH: Bamboo Forest Kyoto Sagano

Show on Google Maps

Recommended Reading:

• Urban Design  by Alex Krieger
• The Urban Design Handbook: Techniques and Working Methods (Second Edition) by Urban Design Associates

Article by Rose Buchanan Return to Homepage Featured image: Brian Jeffery Beggerly, source. Licensed under CC 2.0

LAN writer Michelle Biggs interviews GeoDesign expert Nadia Amoroso. Nadia Amoroso is an adjunct professor in practice at the University of Guelph, as well as the principal of Nadia Amoroso Studio in Toronto, a firm focusing on urban design and landscape architecture representations and creative cartography. She has also published several books and articles on the topics of design and data visualization, and speaks internationally on the subject. She has her PhD from the Bartlett School of Architecture, and Urban Design and Landscape Architecture degrees from the University of Toronto. Nadia’s work is focused on digital media for data visualization and design illustration. In her role as professor, Nadia works with students to help them in harnessing digital tools to become more effective as both communicators and designers. Now, Nadia is sharing with us her latest work, in the field of GeoDesign and representing landscapes in her latest book.

Interviews GeoDesign expert Nadia Amoroso

LAN: First off, thanks so much for taking the time to talk to us at Landscape Architects Network about your work. Let’s get started. Your current work focuses on GeoDesign; can you explain for our readers what GeoDesign is? Nadia: GeoDesign is simply a new way of thinking about the design process and applying the site’s or nature’s data with computer software such as a GIS (Geographic Information System) to create urban or landscape designs. GeoDesign supports the rapid implementation of new planning strategies and urban design capabilities using its technology to achieve these demands.

LAN: How is GeoDesign framework and technology different from some of the traditional methodology for design? Nadia: Using the right technology, the GeoDesign process allows designers to integrate site data to create, design, visualize, assess, compare, and evaluate urban design and landscape planning projects, using evidence-based backing.   At the same time, GeoDesign technologies can support your current workflows and improve the communication of your designs (plans) to the public and stakeholders, and essentially can help get the “buy-in” required to move plans forward, thus reducing costs by reducing delays. The right GeoDesign technology can help with workflows and overall project efficiency. Esri Inc., the global mapping and GIS company (started in 1969), is one of the forefronts of the GeoDesign technology offering a “GeoDesign Solutions Platform”. As a side note, Jack Dangermond, the founder and president of Esri Inc., has a background in landscape architecture and studied at Harvard Graduate School of Design. He understands the importance of geographic data and incorporating it into design processes to achieve optimal design solutions. LAN: Who else are you collaborating with on your work in GeoDesign? Nadia: Well, not directly with me, but there are a number of award-winning architecture and landscape architecture firms using the GeoDesign process and technology, such as Kongjian Yu of Turenscape and Doug Olson of O2 Planning and Design in Calgary. I had the pleasure of seeing their presentations on GeoDesign in the recent ALSA conference in Denver. They spoke about how the GeoDesign technology assisted them for zoning issues and help develop flood-protection plans for their sites. Also, other internationally renowned architecture, landscape architecture, and planning firms like Skidmore Owings & Merrill (SOM), HOK, and Sasaki Associates are also using the GeoDesign technology. Refer to this link on a past GeoDesign Summit Lecture by Kongjian Yu, professor and dean, College of Architecture and Landscape Architecture, Peking University, and president and principal designer of Turenscape. LAN: How can designers use GeoDesign as a tool to improve their designs? Nadia: Designers can use GeoDesign as a means to get real-time feedback of their designs based off of a set of rules, parameters, or goals/objectives. Specific software will allow the designer to dynamically change their designs and receive real-time feedback or information. The GeoDesign platform will enable designers to compare and contrast alternative design scenarios and select the best option that meet the program needs and objectives and overall idea. Using the GeoDesign platform enables designers to defend their design decisions (backed by data) and take site analysis to a whole new level of sophistication. GeoDesign is a kind of DataScaping that allows the designer to take numerical data and integrate it to shape the new city or landscape. LAN: What kind of applications of the GeoDesign technology can be applied specifically to the work of landscape architects? Nadia: There are a number of technologies. Grasshopper for Rhino allows the designers to create complex forms and creative designs based on parameters and data inputs. It utilizes parametric modeling to rapidly output different landscape designs. Esri has a specific “Geodesign Solutions Platform” targeted for the designer of the built environment. The GeoDesign platform includes a number of 2D and 3D applications combined to offer a complete suite of tools for design solutions. This includes GeoPlanner (web-based plan sketching and assessment), ArcGIS Pro (2d and 3d view analysis and modeling), and CityEngine (3d procedural modeling, CityEngine has also a cool “Complete Streets” package of streetscaping and urban design). LAN: What do you think is the future of the GeoDesign framework and technologies? What role will it play in the field of landscape architecture? Nadia: I believe GeoDesign technology will become a standard and part of best practices in landscape architecture. As there is more of a need to design resilient cities and designing for future outcomes, the GeoDesign process can help with design of future needs based on the provided data. Data-driven design becomes more apparent, and offers intelligent designs. GeoDesign technologies will become easier to use but offer more advanced analysis and outcomes. LAN: You’ve also just released a new book, “Representing Landscapes: Digital”. Can you tell us a little about what’s in the book? Nadia: The book is a visual collection of effective and visually stunning drawings and models composed digitally and done by students across the globe from various respected landscape architecture programs. The images are supplemented with critical and narrative essays on the topics of visual representation in the profession — contributed by studio professors — creating a valuable resource for students on the various techniques and styles used in communicating concepts. The book is structured by “drawing type”. For example, the diagrams, presentation plan, section-elevations, perspectives, etc, and these drawing types are defined and redefined by the respective contributor (professor), providing his/her point of view on the subject matter. I was also pleased to have James Corner of Field Operations to write the foreword and Roberto Rovira, chair of the Landscape Architecture Department at FIU, to write the afterword. Their contributions have added great value to the publication. This book is also a resource for lecturers to use in their teaching, to aid students in developing their landscape representation. LAN: As an expert in digital design and data visualization, what are the most common mistakes you see students making when trying to communicate their designs? Nadia: Sometimes students add decorative background and “non-informative diagrams” to occupy white space. I believe in creative editing and not to include everything on your panel. Think twice before adding a drawing, and ask yourself does that drawing add “value” to the understanding of your project. Also, don’t add too much text. Try to use infographics to depict key information and facts. I also suggest looking at the writings of Edward Tufte, infographic guru. LAN: Can you suggest some ways that students can more effectively communicate their ideas? Nadia: Keep it simple and clear. Do use diagrams to visually explain your design ideas and overall organization and components of your designs. Strong illustrative graphics always help to initially “buy-in” the client or reviewer, but the work should be backed by strong design. Try to develop a graphic style and various skill sets (from hand graphics to digital means), that make you stand out from the rest. I also suggest going online or flipping through landscape architecture design magazines and looking at design competition submissions. This will help give you ideas of how professionals and award-winning firms are showcasing their designs. My books Representing Landscapes and Representing Landscapes: Digital offer many visual examples and suggestions for students to follow and be inspired by. LAN: Again, thank you so much for speaking to us about your work in GeoDesign and landscape representation. – To learn more about Nadia’s work, you can visit her company’s website, or check out our her latest book, Representing Landscapes: Digital, as well as her other books: The Exposed City: Mapping the Urban Invisibles, Representing Landscapes: A Visual Collection of Landscape Architectural Drawings and Digital Landscape Architecture Now. Interview conducted by Michelle Biggs Return to Homepage Feature image: Matthew Perotto

23̊ Estate, by Shma CO, in Khao Yai, Nakornratchsima, Thailand. It goes without saying that erosion is a great problem for a landscape with both a valley and a steeply sloped area. Erosion has the potential to cause flooding and landslides. But the Shma landscape architecture firm decided to embrace erosion in designing the 23̊ Estate in Khao Yai. They successfully turned this area of potential high erosion into a simply stunning sustainable landscape. 23̊ Estate in Khao Yai is a residential complex developed by Sansiri that consists of condominiums, villas, and a hotel designed to allow people to commune with nature, surrounded by a terrain rich in foliage and lush vegetation that offers a relaxing atmosphere for leisure time. The complex is located two hours’ drive from Bangkok, making it a perfect option for urbanites to escape their stressful routine.

23̊ Estate in Khao Yai

Erosion that occurred on this site and shaped the landscape itself has become a beautiful feature in the design. First, the water features are pools that penetrate the grassy terrain, with adjacent dunes acting as pool decks. At the lowest level, a large pond was introduced to enhance the atmosphere and also act as a rainwater collection point for the plantations during the dry seasons. Secondly, by emphasizing materials and plant considerations, species were selected to tolerate drought in order to minimize the use of water.

How This Project Connects With the Wildlife A mix of species blends in with the surroundings while connecting with wildlife. By protecting and conserving the slopes as a main feature in their site, Shma designers have succeed in minimizing the potential erosion and turning this site into an amazing sustainable landscape. This goes along with Shma’s passion to seek simplicity in design strategies and approaches that carefully respond to the landscape and environment. Wonderful Views Compliment an Awesome Landscape Surrounded by green, rocky mountains, 23̊ Estate offers many wonderful views. Shma did a great job of framing the beautiful natural scenery. Using a building and trees as a frame, and a clever choice of soft-colored and simple hardscape material, they perfectly turned the natural mountain scenery into a focal point. The use of lighting also gives the perfect tone for the dusk and night scenery. See More Articles Featuring Outstanding Design from Shma:

• The Central Plaza Parkscape That Has it All
• A Greener Housing Solution Reducing The Impacts in The Neighbourhood
• Residents Get Luxurious Garden and Pool Project in Thailand

Ingenious Choice on Materials The domination of gray and white concrete combined with reddish-brown wooden material as a sweet accent perfectly blends with the green of the natural landscape itself, making the whole site look beautifully harmonized. This perfect combination of material selection with the simplicity of nature provides a relaxing atmosphere for everyone’s leisure time. Using Vegetation to Protect Slopes Shma did a good job in preventing erosion by using grass as a ground cover to protect and maintain the slopes from soil loss. The use of ground cover vegetation is an effective way to protect slopes from erosion. It can effectively reduce the intensity of surface run-off reduce the impact of rainfall force toward the ground, and strengthen soil stability by enhancing root development. The good response to this environmental challenge and how the designers dealt with it are the key to making this hilly site a sustainable landscape. In conclusion, Shma did a really wonderful job of turning this mountain-surrounded site into a simply amazing yet sustainable landscape. They have fit the design into the existing landscape by protecting the slopes by using ground cover vegetation, choosing the materials and details for their landscape design, and framing all the beautiful views.

23̊ Estate for Thai Landscape Architecture Awards

The whole concept used to develop this potentially high-erosion area into a sustainable leisure spot for a holiday escape really deserved the this year’s General Design – Residential Complex Award from the Thai Landscape Architecture Association.

Full Project Credits: Project Name: 23⁰ Estate Location:  Khao Yai, Nakornratchsima, Thailand Designer: Shma Landscape Architect Date of Construction: August 2013 to February 2015 Client: Sansiri Developer Awards: Thai Landscape Architecture Awards 2015 Nominee, General Design – Residential Complex Project Show on Google Maps

Recommended Reading:

• Urban Design  by Alex Krieger
• The Urban Design Handbook: Techniques and Working Methods (Second Edition) by Urban Design Associates

Article by Harkyo Hutri Baskoro Return to Homepage

Westergasfabriek Park, Gustafson Porter, Amsterdam Netherlands. In 1997 landscape architect Kathryn Gustafson, together with Francine Houben of Mecanoo Architects, won the competition for the master plan of Westergasfabriek, a former gas facility in Amsterdam. The council in consultation with the local community had a dream of transforming the heavily polluted site into a new recreational facility, subject to a major clean-up. Through a process of regular consultations with the stakeholders, the architects and landscape architects were able to help make that dream a reality. In the mid-2000s, the buildings were restored and a park with innovative features came into existence.

Westergasfabriek Park

A Brief History The Park occupies a strip of land between the Haarlem Canal and the main railway from Amsterdam to Rotterdam. In the mid-1800s, the site supplied Amsterdam with gas for street lamps and domestic use. It also contains old buildings constructed in a style known as Dutch renaissance. After the discovery of natural gas in the 1960s, the gas works was shut down. However, the soil remained contaminated with toxins like tar, cyanide and asbestos.

For many years, the site was used for storage. In 1981, the site was rezoned as a recreational space and in 1989 it was zoned a site of historical interest. A Vision for the Future That Celebrates the Past Kathryn Gustafson’s vision was based on the themes of man’s relationship with nature and a connection of the elements derived from the evolution of the park. Her scheme known as “Changement” offers a diversity of spatial and temporal experiences and proposes a delicate balance between society and landscape, city and nature and order and freedom. The Design Embodies a Changing Relationship With Nature The plan creates a strong structure by combining a central axis, orchards and meadows with winding paths and native plantings. Within this structure, variety is created through detailing. As one travels along the park from east to west, humankind’s changing relationship with nature is explored through different designs. The rigid formality of the traditional city park gradually gives way to freer and more open styles. The places in between reflect post-war attitudes of the landscape as a place for sports and recreation. In the north-west the focus is on pure ecology and the plants are native. Landscape Works Tansform the Site Concerns over pollution led to an innovative method of soil restoration being developed by Arup Engineers. Clean soil from elsewhere helped create a buffer from the polluted soil and the result was a new undulating terrain. The removal of polluted sludge from the central gas tank caused noxious smells which were controlled by the installation of a tent and ventilation equipment during the clean-up.

See More Articles Featuring Gustafson Porter: 

• Gustafson Porter Shake Things up With Visually Breathtaking Development of Marina One
• How Beirut’s Zeytouneh Square is Reuniting a Divided Urban Community
• Diana Memorial Fountain: “Reaching Out, Letting In”

Landform Modelling Gustafson Porter used a technique of modelling landforms in clay to create a spine of woodland that defines the territories of the buildings and canal in the south and the water gardens and event space in the north as well as a mound to protect the site from the railway line. Concrete retaining walls, stone ridges and paved surfaces provide further detail to this structure. Old and new elements exist side by side Remains of 19th-century gasholders and stelcon paving coexist side by side with brand new elements like timber boardwalks. Other new features include trails and gardens, playground, waterfall, bridge and the artificial lake that could be drained and used as a venue for outdoor events if required. An Event Field at the centre is framed by the lake and amphitheatre mound to the north. Reinforced grass facilitates transport of equipment for concerts and fairs. A Restored Building With New Meaning Today, the restored buildings house restaurants, galleries, and other commercial establishments and cater to a variety of events. A central promenade known as ‘The Axis’ runs from the town hall end in the east toward the Cite des Arts on the west. Another promenade, the ‘Path of Dreams’ connects various other parts of the site. Plants are for healing as well as aesthetics The existing large trees are enhanced by a band of new trees and woodlands running in a diagonal direction from south-west to the northeast on the newly created mound. Salix babylonica (weeping willow) and Salix alba (white willow) are planted around the remnants of the gasholders which have been sealed and filled to create a ponds and aquatic garden with floating timber walkways and terraces. The Power of Phytoremediation Willows and water loving plants like reeds are used in phytoremediation, a biological process to remove and reverse the harmful effects of pollution. Westerfabriek Park with its innovative designs, construction methods and soil remediation is an early model of brownfield reclamation and recycling of built heritage and is a good example of how existing elements may be usefully incorporated into the new design. Westergasfabriek Park is not just a popular recreational site. It is an educational and sensory experience that brings together the past, present and future, as well as humanity and nature. Full Project Credits: Landscape Architecture: Gustafson Porter Client: Westergasfabriek Park Westerpark District Council + City of Amsterdam Location: Amsterdam, The Netherlands Size: 11.5 ha Status: Completed 2004 Architect: Francine Houben, Mecanoo Engineer: Arup, Tauw Structural Engineer: Pieters Bouwtechniek Contractor: Marcus bv Project Manager: Northcroft Belgium sa Management: Tauw Consultants: (Specification writer) Bugel Hajima Budget: 31 million Euro Awards: 2010 EU Prize for Cultural Heritage / Europa Nostra Award / Winner in Category 1: Conservation Winner 2007 Landscape Institute Award Design over 5ha Golden Pyramid Netherlands National Architectural Award, 2004 Client Projectbureau Westergasfabriek, Westerpark District Council & City of Amsterdam Show on Google Maps

Recommended Reading:

• Urban Design  by Alex Krieger
• The Urban Design Handbook: Techniques and Working Methods (Second Edition) by Urban Design Associates

Article by Gerard De Silva Return to Homepage

A useful AutoCAD tutorial from our resident AutoCAD expert UrbanLISP to help you with drawing paving patterns on curving paths. You can hatch objects in AutoCAD with default paving patterns. Considering the amount of paving materials available, it’s fair to say these hatches are a bit limited for landscape architects. It’s possible to create custom hatch patterns, but one problem will remain; hatch patterns are continuous patterns. That’s fine when you’re drawing, for instance, a herringbone pattern, a pattern that doesn’t change when it’s on a curving path. Stretcher bond and running bond can both follow gentle curving paths. In this case, the pattern is build up out of one size element that alternates every strip with half a stone. If you want to have a more playful look you can use a wild stretcher bond or a wild running bond pattern with random size elements. The patterns are buildup out of linear entities so you can trim out and extend the pattern where you want. You can find these AutoCAD commands in the UrbanLISP app store. As long as they are stamped with the social download stamp you can download them for free and try them out. WATCH the Full Tutorial Here:

Recommended Reading:

• Digital Drawing for Landscape Architecture by Bradley Cantrell
• Detail in Contemporary Landscape Architecture by Virginia McLeod

Article and video tutorial by Rob Koningen

You can see more of Rob’s work at UrbanLISP

Return to Homepage

Gardens by the Bay, by Grant Associates in Marina Bay, Singapore. With the goal of creating a park that can function as an educational and recreational experience while showing the best of horticulture and garden artistry, Grant Associates designed the Gardens by the Bay park in Singapore. In doing so, the designers faced a lot of big challenges, the most complicated of which was the climate. Nevertheless, Gardens by the Bay is now one of the most beautiful tropical gardens in the word. What distinguishes this park from other landscape projects is its conceptualization. Because of its area (54 hectares on its first phase), Grant Associates had to rethink some landscape concepts — such as circulation and pathways — while promoting new concepts, such as aerial walkways and the orchid as a main design idea.

Gardens by the Bay

Based on these intentions, the Gardens by the Bay master plan is an interactive combination of pedestrian pathways, bicycle circulations, closed green areas denominated as Cooled Conservatories, and a series of public spaces. The most relevant areas are the Cool Dry Conservatory (discovery terraces), the Cool Moist Conservatory (cloudy mountain), the Languid Lake, the Lion Grove and Supertrees, and the Flower Market/Exhibition Hall.

Well Thought Out Circulation  A park as big as Gardens by the Bay needs a well-thought-out circulation design in order to function as a real green public space. To do so, Grant Associates established two different types of pedestrian and bicycle circulation: a panoramic route and a functional path. Both circulations perform an excellent role in the park. For example, the panoramic route goes through all the areas of the park and, finally, leads you to the bay — to the sea — as a final milestone. WATCH: Designing Gardens by the Bay | Singapore | Grant Associates

18 Supertrees for a Super Tropical Project In the words of Architect Andrew Grant, director of Grant Associates, one of the most important aspects of the project was to break the flatness of the site. To do this, 18 supertrees were created. Their design is based on the geometry of orchids, a flower that is very common in Singapore.

25 and 50 Meters Tall These vertical structures are between 25 and 50 meters tall and, at night, they become a spectacle of light. Because of all this, the supertrees function not only as a vertical garden full of flowering climbers, epiphytes, and ferns, but also as a vertical green sculpture. So, what do these Supertrees do? Together with this, Grant Associates thought about the correct function of each supertree. One of the most interesting proposals for the supertrees were the aerial walkways — floating wooden bridges that connect all the trees with each other. Finally, their geometry allows the supertrees to function as a pipe to purge hot air from the conservatories, while at the same time their structure increases the flow of fresh air among them at ground level. 2 Magnificent Cooled Conservatories The closed areas of Gardens by the Bay are as important as the open areas. Two of the most fascinating cooled conservatories in the world are present in Gardens by the Bay. According to Grant Associates, the main intention was to generate closed horticultural spaces by building a simple structure: a grid shell that is as light as possible.

Related Articles: 

• 10 Practices Showing That “Sustainability” is More Than Just a Buzzword!
• 5 Landscape Architecture Buzz Terms, Explained!
• Exceptional Ecological Park Reconnects Children With Nature

An Incredible Design, Needs Incredible Features The Cool Dry Conservatory (discovery terraces and dry Mediterranean climate) and the Cool Moist Conservatory (cloudy mountain) function as artificial environments in order to create an extraordinary collection of plants that would never otherwise be able to grow in Singapore. Some of the Main Sustainable Features To achieve this goal, both structures based their design on sustainable concepts, such as rainwater collection and reuse, use of structural beams to produce 50 percent shade, and fans located under walkways to produce air movement.

Gardens by the Bay

So, what first started as an international competition and was later developed by a multidisciplinary team including Wilkinson Eyre (architects), Atelier Ten (environmental design consultants), and Atelier One (structural engineers) ended as a cutting-edge landscape project. Because of all of its characteristics, this project is a winner of 16 awards, including The Landscape Institute Awards 2013 for Climate Change Adaptation and World Building of the Year 2012.

Full Project Credits: Project: Gardens by the Bay Location: Marina Bay, Singapore Designers: Grant Associates Area: 54 hectares on its first phase (a total of 101 hectares) Client: National Parks Board Completed Date: June 2012 Architects: Wilkinson Eyre Architects Engineers: Atelier One, Atelier Ten Quantity Surveyors: Davis Langdon And Seah Collaborators: Thomas Matthews Location: Singapore Project Value: £500 Million

Show on Google Maps

Recommended Reading:

• Urban Design  by Alex Krieger
• The Urban Design Handbook: Techniques and Working Methods (Second Edition) by Urban Design Associates

Article by Luis Eduardo Guísar Benítez

Return to Homepage

Pirrama Park, by ASPECT Studios, in Pirrama Rd, Pyrmont, Sydney, Australia. Very often, when people come across the word combination of “residential development” they unavoidably associate it with something invasive, unnatural, or even disrespectful. Although in many cases such responses are reasonable, the truth is that every coin has two sides. Or, in other words, we live in a century where sleeping under the stars can be romantic for a night, but it can’t be a constant way of living. Yes, people need residential buildings and neighborhoods in which to live.

Pirrama Park

But let’s refer that matter to one of the most densely populated suburbs in Australia. An inner-city suburb with a density of 11,618 square kilometers would certainly prefer a public park instead of another new residential area. And so was the case in Sydney. A community action saved a former industrial site in Pyrmont from the hands of residential developers and became the cause for a multiple award-winning project on Sydney’s harbor waterfront, designed by ASPECT Studios in collaboration with Hill Thalis Architects and CAB Consulting.

Today, Pirrama Park is one of Sydney’s major public parks on the harbor waterfront, offering a variety of refreshing experiences while bringing visitors close to the water’s edge. How does a former industrial site became an open public waterfront, which has so far won 13 awards? As already mentioned, the area of Pirrama Park has its past — the area was used as a Water Police site, an unattractive, alienated, and detached post-industrial concrete slab. Although designers had to deal with a flat, featureless terrain, they came up with an innovative approach. Instead of working around the flatness of the place, they decided to highlight it. In this way, the design of Pirrama Park not only differentiates it from the other topographically varied harbor parks, but also keeps a part of its history. From History and Nature to Design One more historical reference relates to the name of the park — Pirrama is the original name of Pyrmont Peninsula, given by the first Australians who lived in this area. It also means “rocking stone” and, as you can see, the overall design of the park is comprised of broken lines combined with irregular geometry, which altogether paraphrase the natural shapes of rocks.

Related Articles: 

• 10 Practices Showing That “Sustainability” is More Than Just a Buzzword!
• 5 Landscape Architecture Buzz Terms, Explained!
• Exceptional Ecological Park Reconnects Children With Nature

In this way, the design concept reinterprets two underlying themes — nature and history. The park design resembles the natural shorelines and, at the same time, the geometry refers to the industrial past of the site in a subtle, delicate way.

What Makes Pirrama Park Special? Having discussed the designers’ initial inspiration, let’s continue with further details about how their ideas developed. In order to make Pirrama Park an exceptional place, the landscape architects had to provide exceptional experiences for visitors. The solution was found in the water; namely, in the playful experience of tidal water movement on the foreshore. The elements, sunk and revealed by monthly and annual tidal cycles, include terraced platforms, maritime remnants, outboard walks, and a sheltered bay. One more curious zone in the park is the so-called inter-tidal zone. It covers the platforms adjacent to the bay, where tidal cycles can once again be experienced through the daily rhythms of collecting, flooding, and receding water. The zone has become a lively place for social gathering, where small watercrafts bob about, children have fun while playing with water, and parents rest under the shadows. Re-establishing a Social Bond Another thing that makes the park so special is the fact that it has revitalized the relationship between the city and the harbor in the best possible way – by delivering a plethora of facilities, including playgrounds, a café, a waterfront promenade, park rooms for recreation, multiple new avenues, and picturesque grasslands. But that’s not all. A new public square was formed, surrounded by the sandstone cliff on Pirrama Road and the new architectural elements in the park — the canopy, the three pavilions, and the belvedere. The square has become an attraction for the local people due to its specific sunny, cheerful character, which, above all, reunites the community.

The Added Value of Pirrama Park

One final but significant feature that adds value to the design is its sustainability. The sustainable measures include timber decking from recycled materials, storm water management, solar panels, and energy-efficient lighting. Was the Community Action the Right Decision? With so many virtues and qualities, Pirrama Park has already proven to the local citizens that their community action was certainly not a mistake. A public park that guards its history — and its nature — could bring nothing but benefits to both the present and the future population of Sydney.

Full Project Credits: Team: ASPECT Studios Project Title: Pirrama Park Location: Pirrama Rd, Pyrmont, Sydney, Australia Client: City of Sydney Council Photographers: Florian Groehn, Adrian Boddy Budget: AUS$26 million Scope: Master planning, concept design, design development, documentation Area: 1.8 ha Completion date: 2010 Collaborators: Hill Thalis Architecture + Urban Projects, CAB Consulting Construction Team: Ford Civil Awards: 2012 AILA National Awards – Design 2010 AILA NSW Awards – “The Medal” 2010 AIA National Awards – Walter Burley Griffin Award for Urban Design 2010 Kidsafe National Playspace Design Awards – Public Playspaces, District Parks 2010 AILA National Awards – Planning 2010 MBA Award for “Excellence in Construction” for Public Buildings & Best Use of Concrete 2010 AIA Architecture Award for Urban Design 2009 CCAA Public Domain Awards – Winner Best Overall Project 2009 CCAA Public Domain Awards – Winner of Precincts 2009 CCAA Public Domain Awards – State Winner NSW 2009 Parks & Leisure Australia NSW Awards of Excellence (Winner of Play Space) 2007 AILA NSW Awards – Excellence Award for Planning 2006 Park and Leisure Australia Awards – Innovation in Community Engagement (Highly Commended)

Show on Google Maps

Recommended Reading:

• Urban Design  by Alex Krieger
• The Urban Design Handbook: Techniques and Working Methods (Second Edition) by Urban Design Associates

Article by Velislava Valcheva

Return to Homepage

8 Apps for Landscape Architects and designers to make your life easier.  Smartphone apps have changed our lives, making it easy to find inspiration, share information, and make calculations on the fly. Here’s a collection of apps that are especially useful to landscape architects and designers. Download them and leave behind that pile of calculators, notebooks, colored pencils, and sketchpads.

Apps for Landscape Architects and designers:

iScape and iScape Light

iScape is an app that lets you share your vision with others. Take a photo of a property and add new landscaping elements right over the photo. It’s a perfect tool for communicating with clients and workers. This one app alone could help your new iPhone earn its keep. The full app sells for $9.99, and for professional use you’ll need to purchase photos of specific plants and landscape elements as well. But you can download iScape Light for free to test drive the app on your phone. This app is available for both Android and iOS. WATCH: iScape App Howto

Landscaper’s Companion

This app, which is available for iOS at a cost of just $4.99, is perfect for landscapers, designers, architects, and gardeners. Landscaper’s Companion holds a database with detailed information on more than 26,000 plants, accompanied by more than 21,000 photos. Whether you need to identify an existing plant or find the perfect one to fill a space, the Landscaper’s Companion will become the first tool you reach for. WATCH: Landscaper’s Companion Demo

App. Related Articles: 

• 10 Most Interesting Free Android Drawing Apps
• 10 Great Apps for Landscape Architects – Part 1
• 10 Great Apps for Landscape Architects – Part 2

Evernote

Thousands of apps hit the market every year, but only a rare few become essential business tools. Evernote is the kind of app that leaves you wondering how on earth we all functioned before. Evernote will sync all your notes, lists, data, contacts, and information across all your devices, with versions for Mac, Windows, iOS, and Android. Grab and hold information on the go, and keep everything organized in one place. The app is free to download, so you can try it on your devices. You’ll pay for upgrades as you use more data. WATCH: Evernote App Review

Dropbox

Dropbox is another tool that has become almost universal in the business world. Since it’s so common, most of your clients will already have an account, making it easy to share large files like designs and spreadsheets. You can also use it to back up your data and to make sure your files are always accessible, no matter which device you’re using. The trial version is free, but you will need to pay per user for the pro version. WATCH: Dropbox – Full Tutorial

Behance and Behance Creative Portfolio

This online portfolio offers creatives — including architects — a place to showcase their work. Behance offers several apps. Creative Portfolio is probably the most useful for landscapers, as it lets you showcase your work to anyone, anywhere, even when you don’t have an Internet connection. This free app turns your phone into a portable portfolio and can be used as both a selling tool and a means of communicating your vision to clients.

Dirr’s Tree and Shrub Finder

If you’re a fan of Dirr’s “Manual of Woody Landscape Plants,” or “the big brown book” as it’s more popularly known in the industry, you’ll love this app. For $14.00, this app will turn your iPhone into a complete resource guide for finding information on thousands of trees, shrubs, vines, and ground covers. It’s not yet available for Android, but with a powerful 4g network on the latest iPhone, you can have access to a wealth of tree and shrub knowledge, right at your fingertips.

Photosynth

This remarkable little tool lets you merge several images into one file, to create a panorama or a “synth.” (See the website for a discussion of the differences.) It’s perfect for creating a 360 degree view of a space so you can sit “in the space” and ponder your ideas. Use the web-based app or download the iOS or Windows version for your phone. WATCH: How to use Photosynth app

Vert Conversion App

Vert converts pretty much anything. Whether you need to convert feet to meters, Celcius to Fahrenheit, or euros to dollars, this is the tool. Vert also converts angles, energy consumption, illuminance, and so much more. Vert is free for iOS or upgrade to the pro version for $1.99. WATCH: VERT – Unit and Currency Converter

Work smarter, not harder, by keeping up with the latest technology. This collection of apps can turn your smartphone or tablet into your design assistant overnight.

Recommended Reading:

• Landscape Architecture Now! by Philip Jodidio
• Street Design: The Secret to Great Cities and Towns by John Massengale

Article by Jane Miller Jane Miller is an avid writer, traveler, foodie and a certified coffee addict. She really wanted to have a cat but her nomadic lifestyle won’t allow it. You can follow her at @AuthJane or email her at authorjanesc@gmail.com.

Return to Homepage

Lucky Coin by 100architects, in Hong Kong, China.  Is it possible on a limited urban site to create a multifunctional space, which provides not only various activities, but also represents a symbol of local culture? Lucky Coin, designed by 100Architects -studio, which focuses on street architecture and urban interventions, gives some intriguing answers. Hong Kong is one of the most densely populated areas in the world. A massive increase in population and a limited urban territory require the land use to be planned especially carefully. The Lucky Coin is located on the south coast of Kowloon, from which the dramatic sky line of Hong Kong Island can be appreciated. The site is situated close to the Hong Kong Cultural Centre, the Hong Kong Space Museum and the Hong Kong Museum of Arts.

Lucky Coin by 100architects

The Lucky Coin includes 10 platforms, which serve different functions and activities. The platforms are mainly constructed of colored concrete, wood, and rubber. Additionally some other elements such as sand, grass, and trees also help to establish the individual identities of the platforms.

Food and Beverage Scenario The Food and Beverage Scenario, which is the only double-layer platform in the project, offers snacks and drinks. Standing on the upper layer the entire site of Lucky Coin can be seen. The only wall of the Food and Beverage Scenario stands in the center of the area. The surface of the wall is an immense screen that faces towards the grandstand, which lies opposite of the Food and Beverage Scenario. Sitting on the grandstand people can enjoy an open air style performance during events, or just relax and enjoy the sunshine. Hammocks Overlooking Hong Kong Next to one side of the grandstand is a plaza filled with many pink round tree-benches and the Hammocks Area, where people can lie down and gaze out to sea. The Hammocks Area also overlooks the amazing city scape of Hong Kong Island. On the other side of the grandstand are two platforms for children. One of them is surfaced in rubber and has a wooden decked pavilion. See Wat Else 100architects Have Been up to:

• Shanghai Red Carpet Park Lets People Reflect on Their Everyday Lives
• Urban Artwork Transforms Everyday City Space into a Lively Plaza

Completing the Circe of the “coin” The rubber surface offers a friendly playground for children, while the wood pavilion supplies shade for the parents to rest in while looking after their children. On another platform there is a sand playground with an oval wooden deck. Around the Food and Beverage Scenario are the tables and sitting area, which connect both the sand playground and hammocks to complete the circle of the “coin”. From Movement to Relaxation The design utilizes an axis between the Food and Beverage Scenario and the Grandstand to divide the “coin” from from the middle defining the various parts for different activities. The area designed including playgrounds focuses on movement while the section designed with round tree-benches and hammocks concentrate on relaxation. As a Landmark All the materials used in the project are painted with bright colors so as to present an intense image to emphasize the identity of the venue. The concrete platforms are mainly light yellow while the wooden deck and rubber surfacing are various shades of red to match the light yellow. The colors and the contrasting dimensions of the platforms create a dramatic scene, which provides a new attractive urban space for the city of Hong Kong. As Cultural Symbol The shape of the various spaces are defined according to the ancient Chinese coin, which was first used around 210 BC by Qin Shi Huang, who was the first Chinese emperor. This kind of coin was widely used in China for over two thousand years The form of the coin was strongly associated with the ancient Chinese philosophy (the dome-like heaven embraces the vast earth).

Lucky Coin by 100architects

It was believed that the sky above was an enormous circle and the land was a square inside the circle. The design of these spaces at the Lucky Coin in Hong Kong utilizes the forms of the ancient coin to define a new meaning and function while still exhibiting the traditional culture. Recommended Reading:

• Land and Environmental Art by  Jeffrey Kastner
• Natural: Simple Land Art Through the Seasons  by Marc Pouyet

Article by Jun Yang Return to Homepage

We take a look at 6 famous green architects that have left a green mark on our built enviornment.  The principles of sustainable architecture have been around forever. The Roman aqueducts were innovative in distributing renewable water throughout the city and ancient Greeks positioned their structures to capture the sun’s rays for heat. Frank Lloyd Wright is the most widely recognized sustainable architect, shaping the way architects design green today. He designed structures to blend in with their surroundings in organic ways.

Famous Green Architects

Here are six famous green architects from our time that are following in his footsteps. 1. Jean Nouvel This French architect has won several major awards for architectural design, such as the Pritzker Architecture Prize in 2008 and the Aga Khan Award for Architecture. Jean Nouvel designed the Arab World Institute in Paris, the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis, and the Torre Agbar in Barcelona. One of the best examples of his work in sustainability is the Dentsu Building in Tokyo. Some of the sustainable projects he has worked on recently include the tallest vertical garden in Sydney, a nature-filled National Art Museum in China, and coal gasometers transformed into urban living in Vienna.

2. William McDonough This American architect has more awards than he can count. They include the EPA Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award, the Presidential Award for Sustainable Development, and the National Design Award. William McDonough designed the Ford Rouge truck plant in Michigan that has an innovative air-delivery system to reduce duct work, as well as the Adam Joseph Lewis Center for Environmental Studies that produces 30 percent of its own energy at Oberlin College. Additionally, McDonough is a co-founder of the Make It Right Foundation. WATCH: William McDonough: Cradle to cradle design

3. Ken Yeang This Malaysian architect focused his career on designing sustainable structures that were one with nature. He created the “bioclimatic skyscraper” that has shaped the way that architects designs skyscrapers around the world. Essentially, he uses the surrounding environment and vegetation to drive design instead of competing with it. Ken Yeang also believes that structures must have beauty or they face rejection. In addition to his architectural designs, Yeang has published books on ecological design and won several awards. WATCH: An interview with architect Ken Yeang, on CNN’s ‘Just Imagin

Related Articles: 

• 10 Practices Showing That “Sustainability” is More Than Just a Buzzword!
• Designing the Sustainable Site | Book Review
• How the Coyoacán Corporate Campus is Pioneering Sustainable Ideas

4. Glenn Murcutt This Australian architect has been working on modernist buildings since the mid-70s. He likes to position buildings so that they absorb the most sun and have good air flow. That’s why all of Glenn Murcutt’s designs are open-concept. He is one of Australia’s most famous architects and has won several awards, including the Pritzker. Murcutt mostly works on homes, but he also designed the Arthur and Yvonne Boyd Education Centre. 5. Renzo Piano This Italian architect is arguably the most influential green architect in modern history. He doesn’t stick to stereotypical sustainable building shapes or materials, but he still incorporates elements that are green in his designs. One of Renzo Piano’s famous designs is the California Academy of Sciences, where a museum houses an aquarium and planetarium.

The real show stopping component, however, is that Piano built it into the side of a hill, so it really blends into its environment. The building needs no air conditioning and it actually absorbs two million gallons of rainwater every year. Piano also worked on the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center in Greece. WATCH: Renzo PIANO – The Modern Wing

6. Rolf Disch This German architect’s designs focus on incorporating the power of the sun. Since Solar energy costs are not as high as they once were, Rolf Disch takes full advantage of solar to make his architectural designs sustainable. He is most famous for the Heliotrope, a residence that he constructed for himself that harnesses the optimal level of natural sunlight to warm water and generate electricity. He and others constructed several Heliotropes as a result. Disch is also the winner of several awards, including the German Sustainability Award, the European Solar Prize, the Golbal Energy Award, and many more.

These are just a few of the architects leading the way in sustainable architecture today. Others to research include Buckminster Fuller, Eric Corey Freed, Peter Busby, and Norman Foster. Architects discover new innovations in design every year. It will be interesting to see what these architects come up with next. Recommended Reading:

• Landscape Architecture Now! by Philip Jodidio
• Street Design: The Secret to Great Cities and Towns by John Massengale

Article by Jane Miller Author Bio Jane Miller is an avid writer, traveler, foodie and a certified coffee addict. She really wanted to have a cat but her nomadic lifestyle won’t allow it. You can follow her at @AuthJane or email her at authorjanesc@gmail.com. Return to Homepage

Potsdamer Platz, Berlin, Germany, by Atelier Dreiseitl.  It sometimes seems that our contemporary planning is an unholy game of piling as much structure as possible in one spot. The urban spaces about which we brag are often merely the densest piles of bricks, stones or mortar with raised planting beds and seating being converted to mere showpieces. But, where in these heaps and stacks of masonry are the slightest considerations to restore ecological balance? Are the people for whom these are designed refreshed, inspired, and stimulated by their urban environment? Hardly, too often will be the answer for our times. Potsdamer Platz, Berlin, Germany designed by Atelier Dreiseitl is an award winning waterscape project where it combine sustainable water consumption and recreational areas in such a way that water environment issues become perceptible for the city’s citizens and visitors. In addition to the ecological benefits, the water system has cultural and artistic significance. This draws people to the plaza to relax and engage in the water in the realm of the highly dense commercial area.

Potsdamer Platz

Potsdamer Platz had been an important square and intersection in Berlin since the 20th century. The Berlin wall which separated East and West Berlin and later came down in 1989 gave him the idea to plan an iconic plaza which can heal the old wounds left behind by the wall and can symbolize the reunion of the city. Functional and artistic Significance Today the witness to the history holds the headquarters for multinational corporations like Sony and Daimler Chrysler, along with theaters and a large mall. To keep up with the constricted downtown area, the design team could stipulate that they had to come up with something out of the box.

Finally they came up with the concept to create an urban oasis where there would be an interplay of nature, wind and art and at the same time would provide ample opportunities to cross over and interact with the water metaphorically healing the old divisions. Related Articles: 

• Beautiful Plaza Celebrates Canadian Landscape
• Perez Art Museum Embraces the Landscape Inside and Out
• Ceramic Museum and Mosaic Garden

Water features and their purposes Here, the attributes of water are used to the full extent for the purpose of rain harvesting and a recreational plaza for people. The use of water features helps in the microclimate moderation as extreme temperatures are tempered by the presence of moisture. It also helps to bind dust particles in the air. Use of Green Roofs, cisterns and canals To reduce cost of mechanical cooling, approximately 60 % i.e. 30,000 m2 of the roofs of the buildings on Potsdamer Platz are green roofs. These reduce summer temperatures by approximately 2°C resulting in energy savings. The rainwater falling on the green roofs flow through the site’s buildings and are used for irrigation, fire extinguishing systems and lavatory flushing covering 80% of the toilets annual water usage. Biotopes: the organic purifiers There are five large underground cisterns which store water in case of excessive rainfall. The excess water is then slowly discharged into a series of narrow pools located along sidewalks and streets and finally to the southern pool. The series of pools and streams near the piazza, beside streets and pavements are integrated with vegetated biotopes. As it passes through the biofiltration beds, these aquatic plants treat the rainwater to purify organically. A great deal of attention is devoted to water quality and the clarity of water through this effective biological filtration system. The filtered water becomes high-quality water; rich in nitrogen, phosphorus, ammonia, nitrogen, nitrites suitable for aquatic habitats. The unsightly Algae and biofilms In this organic process of purification, the seasonally occurring algae and biofilms sometimes brought in an aesthetic liability which can be minimized by adding sieves to filter the suspended algae in the water system.

Scenic Values at Potsdamer Platz

Streams, water bodies are like punctuation marks in reading the landscape. Here, the water is brought out in shallow flow steps that create a shimmering surface of rhythmic waves. People can rest along the water edges or cross the banks on stepping stones over the expanse of water. The sounds of water evoke a sense of pleasure amidst the humdrum of the bustling commercial area.

In conclusion, it is truly a unique project where ecological measures are interwoven with engineering principles and aesthetic values as a unified whole and its success lies in the reinvention of a prominent, vibrant urban area, unifying and revitalizing the old relationships of the city. Full Project Credits: Project Name: Potsdamer Platz Location: Berlin, Germany Date of Construction: 1997-1998 Size: 1.3 hectares Awards: DGNB Silver Sustainable Urban District Client: City Berlin / Debis Immobilien Show on Google Maps Recommended Reading:

• Urban Design  by Alex Krieger
• The Urban Design Handbook: Techniques and Working Methods (Second Edition) by Urban Design Associates

Article by Farah Afza. Return to Homepage

Terrazas Reforma 412, by dlc Architects, Mexico City, Mexico. The largest metropolitan area in the western hemisphere – in short: Mexico City – has grown many skyscrapers during past years. However, one special building called Tower Reforma Diana needs to be mentioned particularly. It was completed in 2013 and comes up with multiple, surprisingly stunning rooftop gardens that feature a marvellous use of composite wood and surfaces covered with greenery. Due to very specific requirements and three different height restrictions this avant-garde complex is formed out of three different cuboid bodies that appear to be moved from their original place. Within the conceptual each of those elements provides minimum one garden-terrace on top, which are: “created to be human” and designed to “live architectural spaces” as the architects say.

Terrazas Reforma 412

Every terraces audacity manifests through intersecting volumes of bamboo-plastic-composite (BPC), a material which we know from previous projects of dlc architects. The various shapes and forms of the sustainable BPC at the multiple terraces of Reforma 412 range from shadow elements to bench-planter-combinations to remarkable wall surfaces. Those various components are decorating every terrace with unique design. Nowadays composite wood is still an underestimated material in Landscape Architecture.

BPC a Material with 60% Bamboo At the roof gardens of Reforma 412 nearly every flooring and furniture is made out of this special BPC, containing 60% bamboo fibre and 40% polyvinyl chloride (pvc), which almost has no environmental impact, a longer service life and comes with low maintenance. However, that’s not all; composite wood has many other tested qualities speaking for themselves that are proofing the choice of BPC as a key element for Reforma 412 to be absolutely right. The heavenly Lookout Tower without city-view The top floor garden is always imagined as a lookout tower, viewing the surroundings and making you feel humbled and small in comparison to the whole wide world. Not so at the graceful tower of Reforma Diana. Panoramic views and glass walls you would look for vainly. The terrace on the highest floor is nestled between BPC floors and amazing BPC walls, planters with succulents as well as a vertical garden. Visitors are invited to sit or lie down allowing ones gaze only in direction to the blue sky of Mexico City or the wall covered in greenery. An Escape up in the Sky This rooftop functions to conceal oneself from the overwhelmingly large surroundings of Mexico City. Even the plants of the vertical garden seem to function as a soft green waterfall that cools down the air a little and makes the summer heat more bearable. The office building lies quite in the centre of the federal district of Mexico City raising this rooftop garden to an unexpected, very special city oasis. How to make a wall look unconventional? At the top floor garden BPC plays an important role too. New to this project is its function not only as the floor covering but also as a remarkable wall panelling. With one exception, which is the vertical garden, every inch of the three walls is covered with composite-wood; forming a natural looking barrier against the hectic activity from the outside. Some parts of the BPC walls are running straight, others are shaped as square waves that form indentations. Those wooden bays provide space to sit and relax attracting the users to take a break in the middle of Mexico City. Why did this building receive the LEED certificate? The whole Tower Reforma Diana is designed under the certification criteria of sustainable buildings (LEED), but what were the decisive factors that led to this prestigious certificate? In addition to the sustainable use of bamboo-plastic-composite, dlc architects decided to choose a vegetation palette that consists of only regional species. Those species lining the terraces – mostly succulent plants, perennials and small shrubs – are furthermore of low water consumption as well as of low maintenance. 100% Reuse of Rainwater Additionally there is a 100% reuse of rainwater through rainwater abstraction and recycling. Also the completely automatic irrigation system with atomic sensors and time regulation is encouraging a low energy and low water consumption. Finally the chosen LED and fluorescent lighting features are of low energy consumption bestowing pleasant, indirect light to the users. With all of those qualities the criteria of LEED Green Building Leadership are fulfilled. The multiple terraced gardens of Tower Reforma Diana are another remarkable project of DLC architects in Mexico City. Again their conceptual is based only on sustainability that sets another example of how it could be done everywhere. With BPC as an underestimated material DLC forms each terrace into a unique outdoor experience. Full Project Credits: Project name: Terrazas Reforma 412 Location: Mexico City Date of construction: 2011 – 2013 Awards: LEED ORO – Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design Client: Partenón / Arditti and Asscociates Team: María Guadalupe Domínguez Landa, Rafael López Corona, Mónica Muñóz González, Rafael Medrano Pérez Contractors: L.J. Arquitectos e Ingenieros, Carlos Olivares, Metallum, Alan Acosta, DIME, Eladio Rivera, Econstrucción, Alejandro Tazzer, IGREEN, Miguel Arroyo, Gardening, Adrián Vargas Lighting: L + F , Luis Lozoya, DLC Architects Surface Area: 1384.84 m2 LEED Consultant: Grupo SYASA, Gabriel Morales Photography: DLC Architects Show on Google Maps Recommended Reading:

• Urban Design  by Alex Krieger
• The Urban Design Handbook: Techniques and Working Methods (Second Edition) by Urban Design Associates

Article by Sophie Thiel. Return to Homepage