Author: Land8: Landscape Architects Network

Vinterbad Brygge, by BIG in Copenhagen, Denmark. People in Scandinavian countries have a very special perception regarding physical contact with water. The most common ritual is known as the “Nordic Bath” and it originates from Finland. The ritual of a “Nordic Bath” involves alternately taking a dip in cold then hot water. It is an activity that has social, health, and cultural aspects well founded in Scandinavians’ perception of life. The use of thermal baths goes a long way back in the history of these countries, as well as in other countries worldwide. Winter swimming seems to also be a very popular activity in Northern Europe, although the climate would suggest otherwise.

Vinterbad Brygge

The Harbour Baths in the island Brygge in Copenhagen, Denmark, are a landmark for both the citizens of Copenhagen and the city’s visitors. The indisputable success of the baths, after their inauguration in 2002, has led to the extension of the facilities in order to accommodate thermal bathing. The Thermal Baths design has been assigned to the architectural office BIG. BIG, in collaboration with the architectural firm JDS, also designed the existing swimming facilities.

The Exciting Design  The new facilities have been conceived as an extension of the wooden platforms that accommodate the swimming pools. They have been allocated on the southwest part of the complex. An inclined surface made of Scandinavian wood becomes the Thermal Baths roof. At the same time, the roof functions as an open-air platform for sunbathing and relaxing. The surface folds into a sequence of wide steps that welcome visitors to enjoy the view and the sun. The platform offers views toward the pools and the diving pier. The pier and platform heights create an interesting tension, by contradicting the horizontality of the surrounding landscape. The association with the existing adjacent park establishes a sense of continuity between the wooden platform and its surroundings. Related Articles: 

• Unbelievable Conceptual Pool Design That Plays With Your Mind
• The Floating Pool – A Revolution in Public Space
• Rooftop Infinity Pool with Awesome Views

The entrance toward the Thermal Baths has been perceived as a linear crack on the wooden surface. The design intention is to intensify the transcendence from the exterior to the interior and becomes a prelude of the bath ritual. The spatial atmosphere resembles the spirituality of a temple entrance. The interior of the baths is divided by mirrored walls, giving a sense of a spatial infinity by blurring the boundaries between the different rooms.

Use of Glass on the Site The exterior façade made of full-height glass panels connects the inside and the outside and opens the view toward the water surface. The glass façade is an innovative adaptation on the privacy that characterizes spaces related to bathing. Instead of designing an introverted space with filtered natural light and limited views to the outside, like most similar facilities, the architects have followed a different approach. Making the Most of World Class Views They have allowed light and views of the city on a part of the building that one can observe from, and yet not become an object of observation themselves. The glass facades are adjacent to the water surface and combine privacy with a chance for reverie while enjoying one’s bath. Remembering the Importance of Tradition  BIG has managed to design contemporary bath facilities with a clear reference to tradition. The designers have evaded the trap of reproducing forms and have opted to adopt basic principles such as the atmosphere of mysticism, the sense of isolation, and reflection as a state of mind as well as a material quality. Collaboration with Famous Artist  HuskMitNavn Another creative inspiration from the past can be observed in the floor design. The entire floor is covered with black and white ceramic mosaics with motifs by HuskMitNavn. He is a famous artist who lives in Copenhagen. The artist’s name means “Remember my Name”. HuskMitNavn is known for his controversial, humorous, and political street art. The images on the floor of the baths depict contemporary Copenhagen scenes and activities. The use of ceramic mosaics originates from the Roman thermal baths. During winter, the Thermal Baths’ glass façade functions as a lantern that can be observed from the islands of Brygge and Kalvebod Brygge. It appears as if the seawater and the baths’ warmth have merged into one, shedding new light on Copenhagen Harbour. The activity of bathing is based on contrasts: hot and cold, submerge and emerge, shade and light. The Thermal Baths in Copenhagen Harbour have transformed the qualities of the bathing ritual into vibrant, innovative architecture. Recommended reading: 

• Urban Design by Alex Krieger
• Digital Drawing for Landscape Architecture by Bradley Cantrell

Article by Eleni Tsirintani Return to Homepage

We take a moment to explore the delights of the exotic Xilitla garden. Inspired by great architects and artists such as Antoni Gaudí, Giovanni Baptista Piranesi, and Maurits Cornelis Escher and his surrealist friends Salvador Dalí, Leonora Carrington, and René Magritte, Sir Edward James found in Mexico, in the middle of the jungle, an opportunity to build a living dream — nearly 80 acres of paradise waiting to become a surreal garden. The construction took almost 40 years (until James passed away), and yet remains unfinished. A new visitor can’t tell what the purpose of the edification was: stairs leading to nowhere, infinite paths, arches, and sculptures all around. WATCH: An Incredible Overview of the Xilitla Garden

Xilitla Garden

The Castle of Edward James has become a landmark and one of the top travel destinations in the region. It is a place hard to imagine and impossible to understand. Sir Edward James, the man, the legend More than 100 years ago, a man was born in Scotland with the name of Edward Frank Willis James. He was raised in a privileged family and was very well educated in the arts since his childhood. As a young man, James inherited a fortune from his father and uncle. Looking forward to being part of the surrealist movement, he left college and moved to mainland Europe, becoming a close friend of some interesting personalities, including Salvador Dali and Pablo Picasso, among many others.

A Change of Plan Tired of the world war avatars, James moved to the United States and, four years later, an invitation to Mexico changed his plans. After a few months traveling the country, he finally made it to San Luis Potosi and, while taking a bath, a butterfly cloud blocked the sunlight. James interpreted this as a signal that he should build a life in that very spot. The Discovery of a Virgin Site The site is located on the eastern slopes of the Sierra Gorda mountain range in northeastern Mexico. It is a subtropical rainforest next to a small village called Xilitla. James referred to the site like this when he was asked about his first impression: “The scenery is magnificent, romantic as could be. … It has many waterfalls that fall between the giant trees of primary jungle and pristine, inhabited by wild parrots that come in flocks to bathe with foam splashing waterfalls.” Acres of Possibilities, Waiting to be Filled with Imagination With 80 acres of possibilities, one of the first plans was to build a retirement house, an exotic plant greenhouse, and an adjacent orchid field. That same winter, the frost killed all that had been planted. Since then, all plants have been carefully selected, and only local species are used. Eventually, the surreal garden and zoo were added; nowadays, only a few cages with names remain, but no animals live there. Building the Castle Even though it is not properly a castle, like the ones you can find in Scotland, local inhabitants considered it one. James had genuine concern for nature and wildlife preservation. When Plutarco (an intimate friend of James, who was in charge of the administration of the Castle) and James were traveling in Mexico, they heard about a hidden valley where orchids grew freely: Xilitla. Naturally, when he bought the place, the first intention was to keep the wild orchids and add other exotic species. As we already know, this plan was frustrated by nature itself. A Garden of Eden Propelled by a whim, James decided he wanted to build a Garden of Eden, where everything could grow. Besides all that was planted, they began to build things that looked like trees, plants or flowers — things that could not be killed by frost. A Building Without a Function When you visit the Castle grounds, you realize most of the spaces don’t have any function at all. Unlike other constructions, this building is useless — and that’s its beauty. That’s why this Castle is something unique: an architecture with no practical utility, responding only to the fantasies of its owner, who spent most of his fortune and half of his life making it happen. Related Articles:

• The Alchemy Garden: A Secret Look into the Monsters Park of Bomarzo
• The Lost Gardens of Heligan
• The Flying Parks- From The Highline in New York to The Promenade Plantée in Paris!

A river runs through the property and along a beautiful waterfall, harnessed to create multiple “pools” near corresponding sculptures.

When his fortune was finally coming to an end, James had to sell most of the paintings he had bought since the 1920s. There is a discrepancy about the total construction cost. It is said that it goes from $5 million to $15 million.

Surrealism at Xilitla Garden

Walking along, the garden sculptures pop up randomly. They all represent something (most of the time something religious), but there is no hidden message or interconnection between these symbols. Probably, the only reason for this symbolism is to justify its presence in some way: stairs going nowhere, giant concrete columns and flowers.

The pathway to the main entrance is flanked by seven snakes, representing the seven capital sins. From this point, there is no obvious trail; you can suddenly be facing some other organic sculpture, animal cages, or bamboo-like structures. Along the route, James placed concrete eyes to remind us that we are being watched by the Creator all the time — a Masonic eye and compass are placed over a bridge, and so on. It is a real challenge for a man to make the illogical logical. All of these random elements somehow seem to merge with the surroundings, enhancing nature even more. The Castle of Edward James is a one-of-a-kind gem, built outside the market logic. It would be almost impossible nowadays for someone to spend all that he has in building something like this. No one did it before, and probably no one ever will again. A nonprofit organization and the local government bought the property and are in constant work (together with local inhabitants and independent artists) for keeping it in the best conditions for the international visitors and the memory of a great man. Recommended Reading:

• Private Gardens: Personal Gardens of Ancient China by Cheng Liyao
• Earthly Paradises: Ancient Gardens in History and Archaeology by Maureen Carroll

Article by Eduardo Reguer Return to Homepage

MultiSit is a design solution aiming to change how we observe and engage with our urban environment.  We all know that our world never stops changing. Inevitably, the same goes for us: people. We change the way we live, our environment, our technologies, our surroundings. And through this constant development, our needs alter, as well. To satisfy our needs, design is also changing on a daily basis. A good example of this kind of transformation can be found in the comparison between a conventional, standard park bench and an up-to-date, cutting-edge design of a public seat.

To illustrate how a contemporary bench functions and what it looks like, we are about to review MultiSit, the multifunctional product designed by Tri-On. Check out this modern version of public seating, which provides an ingeniously simple and simply ingenious design solution at the same time.

MultiSit – Sit, Fence, Advertize

“MultiSit is an elegant, clean looking and durable seat serving three functions in one – sitting, fencing and advertising,” this is how Christof Niederberger, CEO of Tri-On Gmbh in Austria, describes the characteristics of the product. MultiSit is a suitable choice for expedient sitting arrangements in public or business areas due to its elegant design, safe use, and zero maintenance.

If arranged in a row, MultiSit seats can serve as a visual and physical fence, which can also direct passengers toward a certain location. It is perfect for places where space is limited, but there is a need for public seating installations. Last but not least, MultiSit offers a platform for advertising through its surface, which is, above all, weather protected and stores no waste. Interactive Design Another advantage of the product is its interactive design, allowing people to fold the seat to both sides or to lock it, depending on the needed space and advertising. MultiSit also excels in its load-bearing capacity (150 kg) and is tested for child safety. Durable Materials In order to create a maintenance-free product, special consideration was given to the selection of materials. The goal was to use materials that would resist weather conditions and natural damage. Recommended Articles: 

• How to Make an Unnatural Space Feel Like a Natural Park
• Turenscape Design Outstanding River Park
• Shipyard Site Transforms into Stunning Ecological Park

Rotary joints, for example, are made of die-cast aluminum, offering durability and corrosion protection. The material used for the pipe and the frame is black steel, which can be substituted for high-quality stainless steel if needed. The sitting area is filled with a transparent, heat-and-impact resistant polycarbonate sheet. According to the clients’ needs, the official RAL color system offers various colors for final paint and coating. Shapes and Designs Besides the variety of colors offered, MultiSit is available in three different shapes, which follow the measurements required for safety and comfort. The shapes are: • 45-degree slats of the corners • Round • Straight There is an option allowing for the connection of single seats in rows or vice versa if more space is demanded, connection points are installed only at the upper-end corner of the pipe frame. As to the attachment, there are five different types, including dowelling above or under the ground, cementation on site, and three shape possibilities for bolting. Good Investment Continuing with the numerous profits of using MultiSit, an emphasis should be put on the quick investment return through advertising. As it was already mentioned, the advertising area is excellently durable, dries quickly when in a vertical position, and is easily changed. “The lower end piece of an advertising surface is removed by loosening the safety screws or pulling off the magnets, taken out and replaced,” as it is described on Tri-On’s website. In a competition-based environment, advertising with MultiSit is effective by sending visually strong messages in a creative way, which is the key to increasing advertising impact. In this way, the income from advertising proves the value of MultiSit right from the beginning of its exploitation.

MultiSit in the Future

Having discussed the product in detail, let’s examine how the ideas about the brand are expanding. The brand of MultiSit is planned as a product line, which has an expandable modular system. Besides MultiSit, there is one more available product, the MultiSit bicycle stand. Supplementary products, such as the MultiSit waste container and the MultiSit work table, are currently in a development stage.

The variety of features will continue to grow in the future, with MultiSit L and MultiSit A, which will provide illuminated and animated advertising surfaces. For the convenience of advertising, MultiSit DIN A2 will be offered, with advertising surfaces in a standard A2 format, available in illuminated and animated versions. Simple, Yet Significant As MultiSit seeks to expand in the future, the same goes for design as a whole. Multifunctional, space saving, and sustainable seem to be the keywords to the needs of our contemporary, dynamic world. MultiSit undoubtedly holds those qualities, and as it seems, will continue to improve them further. 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

YouTube can deliver many great tutorials on the subject of technical drawing, so feel free to check out this Top 10 and form your own opinion. Landscape architects are required to be familiar with technical drawing because so much of their work is related to space geometry and planning. The success of a landscape architect is often defined by how well his/her skills are developed, with technical drawing standing at the top of the list. Regardless of how familiar you are with technical drawing, there are still many things to be learned. The YouTube tutorials presented in this article are going to reveal essential information related to the field of technical drawing. It is well known that tutorial videos deliver the information faster and in a more efficient manner than other sources, so be sure to consider them as your source of knowledge. – Below, you will find the Top 10 YouTube tutorials for technical drawing. Each of them has something to offer in terms of knowledge and practical information, so be sure to pay attention to all and use them to develop yourself and your skills.

Tutorials for Technical Drawing

10. How to Make a Scale Drawing, by Dana Lee This video will take you back to the basics, teaching you all about the different measurement systems and types of technical drawing. The information is presented in easy-to-comprehend terms that explain the clear difference between one-to-one drawing (drawn object has the same size as in real life) and scale drawing (miniature sketches). I recommend this video, as it delivers essential information on scale and also highlights the importance of making a rough sketch before doing the actual drawing. Watch:

9. Introduction to Engineering Drawing, by EzEd Channel If you are looking for an introductory tutorial to the world of technical drawing, then this one is perfect for you. Thanks to this tutorial, you will learn what engineering drawing is all about, which drawing instruments are essential for this kind of work (along with individual uses), and the types of lines commonly chosen for technical drawing projects. I recommend this video, as it appeals to the visual sense (through graphic information) while delivering useful information through the spoken word. Watch:

8. Multiview Drawing, by Eric Fischer Multi-view drawing is one of the most important skills you will want to develop. This video tutorial made is great, as it takes you through all the steps of the process, teaching you how to transform a real 3D shape into a 2D drawing. The spoken information is strengthened by graphic information and written text. Watch:

7. How to Draw Oblique Sketches, by Ty Vernon The oblique tutorial is going to guide you through every step of the process, helping you learn how to draw oblique sketches. The information is structured into four parts, each being presented in detail. I recommend this video because it contains a wealth of useful information, delivered gradually so that you do not feel overwhelmed. Watch:

6. Understanding First and Third Angle Projections, by DesignInnovations If you are just starting to discover technical drawing, then you will need to watch this video. Presented in easy-to-comprehend terms, it will help you in understanding first and third angle projections. I recommend this video because it explains the differences between these two types of projections quite clearly. Watch:

5. How to Draw a City Using Two Point Perspective, by Circle Line Art School The two-point perspective is quite complex, and you need to learn it from the best. This video contains a simple demonstration on how a city can be drawn using this perspective, and the steps are easy to follow. I recommend this video because of all the knowledge it delivers. Watch:

4. Orthographic Projection Drawing Tutorial, by AutoCAD Tutorials For those of you who are interested in learning how to make a simple orthographic projection, there is no better tutorial to follow. It will present clear steps to take for drawing the front and end elevation, plus the plan for looking down on the object. You will find recommendations on what kind of pencil to use and how to measure correctly. Plus, it explains important things, such as the appearance of construction lines. Related Articles: 

• Is Drawing Dead?
• How to Suck at Hand Drawings and Still be a Good Landscape Architect
• Interested But Not Confident? – Know How to be Good at Hand Drawings

Watch:

3. Orthographic Projection and Solved Question, by Khabia Sir This video is definitely worth seeing, as it explains the basic concepts behind orthographic projection. In providing this explanation, the author of the video makes use of a 3D model. I recommend this video because of the animated projections. Watch:

2. Using Sketching Effectively in Design – Drawing, Sketching and Designing, by The Open University This video tutorial is quite interesting, as it takes a simple toy and transforms it into an amazing sketch. There is a lot of visual information, including when it comes to the purpose of shading. Watch:

1. Rules for Dimensioning, by Jon Olson I have chosen this video for number one, as I feel it presents vital information for anyone who is interested in technical drawing. It offers a clear and simple perspective regarding the proper dimensioning techniques and is definitely worth watching. Watch:

Selecting Tutorials for Technical Drawing

In conclusion, you can find hundreds of YouTube tutorials that are meant to help you with your technical drawing skills. The important thing is that you learn how to select those that transmit meaningful information. Remember, selection is the key! Recommended Reading:

• Drawing and Designing with Confidence: A Step-by-Step Guide by Mike W. Lin
• Landscape Perspective Drawing by Nicholas T. Dines

Article by Alexandra Antipi. Return to Homepage

Fish Market Plaza by Thorbjörn Andersson & Sweco Architects in Karlskrona, Sweden.  Does a spatial quality create a place or does it happen the other way around? Perhaps it works both ways. In the case of Fish Market Square, or “Fiskertorget Plaza” in Swedish, the place still exists under the same name, but everything else related to the market function is long gone. The Fish Market Plaza is located in Karlskrona, Sweden. Karlskrona, which means Carolu’s Crown, has always been an important harbor. Nowadays, it is also one of the most picturesque cities in Sweden and is protected as a World UNESCO Heritage Site.

The Fish Market Plaza

There used to be a Market Hall for selling fish where the square is now, but it was torn down in the 1960s. The only thing left after the demolition was the name of the site and a gap of potential waiting to be shaped. In 2009, a new intervention started to take shape, designed by Thorbjörn Andersson & Sweco Architects. The main purpose of the design has been to reconnect the city with the water’s edge and create a new spot for meeting and leisure.

A surface made of wood called the “Sun Deck” brings the visitor close to the water and extends the land limit toward the sea, like an L-shaped pier. The “Podium” lies on the “Sun Deck”. It is an elevated wooden volume that reaches toward the archipelago. The “Podium” is illuminated during the night in order to create a landmark that can be seen from a distance. It resembles a lantern that has just emerged from the deck surface. Contribution by Artist Pål Svensson The Fish Market also is home to the sculpture “Doldrums”, created by the artist Pål Svensson. The sculpture is made of granite and glass. The Doldrums is an equatorial region of the Atlantic Ocean characterized by calm, sudden storms, and light, unpredictable winds. The sculpture makes a reference to the naval tradition of Karlskrona. Use of Materials in the Project A pavement made of granite forms the entrance toward an adjacent hotel building and leads to the Sun Deck. There is a sitting area on the granite surface shaded by a row of field Maples (Acer ginnala). The row of trees marks the way toward the water’s edge and shapes the edge of the Fish Market Square. A stone retaining wall divides the granite surface from the lower part of the promenade. A spacious staircase located on the east side brings the visitor back to the square. The intervention works in a simple, subtle way in order to bring visitors close to the water’s edge and create a place for public life to develop. The clarity of the lines, the surface geometry, and the simplicity of the design fit well in an area overloaded with historical urban context. How will it benefit from being close to the sea? The fact that a city has been located near the sea does not necessarily mean that it has established its connection to the water. This is a condition that needs to be examined, redefined, and shaped over and over again, according to the current needs and demand. Other Articles Featuring Thorbjörn Andersson & Sweco Architects:

• 5 Incredible Displays of Landscape Architecture in Switzerland
• Discover the Ancient Secrets of the Physic Garden

The Fish Market Plaza – 60 Years in the Making

What is astonishing about the Fish Square Market is that although the Market Hall was demolished almost 60 years ago, it took this long for the city to redefine the space’s identity. It could have been due to financial and other reasons. However, I could not help but think that the Fish Market has been more than a hall for the city’s perception of this particular place.

Space and function seem to have merged into one, in the public notion and the redefining of the spatial character, but keeping the same name is an important indication of that. This intervention reveals a process characterized by social conditions, historical continuity, and contemporary needs and shows that landscape architecture needs to tackle many different factors, on various levels, in order to be successful. Recommended Reading:

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

Article by Eleni Tsirintani Return to Homepage

 Zameret Park, by TeMA Urban Landscape Design in Tel Aviv, Israel. Perhaps the first thing to capture your attention from our headline was the unfamiliar word Zameret. That Hebrew word, often used as a girl’s name, literally means tree top. If you are wondering about the relationship between the origin of the word Zameret and the park, you are about to read the riddle within the framework of this project. To tickle your fancy even more, here is the philosophy behind the park, revealed on the website of TeMA Urban Landscape Design: “We develop our projects with an underlying theme. The theme runs like a thread between various parts and layers of each project, thus enabling its comprehension beyond the aesthetic experience. The theme serves the different planning phases, allowing for a fruitful dialogue to take place within the design team, as well as with the client.”

Zameret Park

That underlying theme has given character and distinction to Zameret Park, the landscape jewel of the Zameret neighborhood in Tel Aviv, Israel. The prime design concept covers the understanding that the newly built environment of the neighborhood should be strengthened and enriched. And naturally, the best possible way to achieve that effect is through excellently designed landscape architecture.

A good precondition for exceptional landscaping, in this case, is the fact that all of the buildings in the neighborhood are surrounded by green space, with only 18 percent of the whole space being occupied by buildings. Related Articles: 

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

The luxurious buildings in the Zameret neighborhood consist of 14 skyscrapers, a small shopping mall with an adjacent office tower, and a future school. In order to design landscaping highlighting the luxurious nature of the architecture, TeMA created an elegant, exquisite solution, which beyond all question has fulfilled that aim.

The “Green River” Concept of Zameret Park

The graceful landscape design relies on a linear landscape core, planted with a diversity of native trees that cast shade on stylized grass mountains. Thus, a “green river” is formed, which mainly serves as a connection to both the pedestrian and underground parking entrances to each of the 14 high-rise buildings.

As the name of the park suggests, the basic form used throughout the design is the circle. This simple geometrical form contributes to the holistic fine expression of the green area, and at the same time varies the appearance of the neighborhood. As a result, a delightful green avenue is created, symbolizing a “river” of trees that invites visitors to dive into its green waves of recreation. A Multi-functional Space To further enrich the enjoyable experience of visiting Zameret Park, the landscaping team considered the use of diverse elements, providing versatile activities within the area. Passive recreation is represented by the attractive biological fountains, alluring people through their classy, inviting design of contrasting dark pebbles and fresh, green aquatic plants. Taking Care of Recreational Space The combination of the stylized grass mountains with the comfortable wood benches also brings new elements to the recreational space, varying both the experience and the design of the site. Active recreation covers the concave circular playgrounds, inviting skaters, cyclists, and children to gather and spend time playing and entertaining one another. Social gathering is also included by means of the two plazas, developed at the north and at the south of the neighborhood. To frame all those components, an architectural pergola serves as a scale medium between the high built environment and the pedestrians below. All of these components of contribute to the creation of the finished, successful design of that urban space. The Hidden Strength of Individual Approach To draw a general conclusion on what transforms an ordinary urban space into a distinguished and vibrant green avenue, here comes the belief of TeMA Urban Landscape Design team, as their website indicates: “We believe that each project and site should be endowed with a particular design concept and a unique idea. This approach to design originates in the notion that different sites and programs have singular characteristics. We always develop a design idea with notable aspects, not only at a conceptual level, but distinguishable at every detail.” And at every detail, that “green river” of Tel Aviv has become a distinctive and delightful urban landmark. Recommended Reading: 

• Design with Nature by Ian L. McHarg
• Meadows by Design: Creating a Natural Alternative to the Traditional Lawn by John Greenlee

Article by Velislava Valcheva Return to Homepage

The Canberra National Arboretum, by TCL, Canberra, Australia. The loss of habitats and the extinction of species are prevalent topics among environmentalists today. We are witnessing the largest extinction crisis since we lost the dinosaurs. According to the World Wildlife Fund, at least 10,000 species disappear every year — forever. At the same time, awareness of the amazing diversity and the imminent danger of its loss are probably higher than ever. Multiple organizations and even whole countries are working against the threat of extinction and habitat loss. Australia is one such notable example.

Canberra National Arboretum

In January 2003, a wave of fires wreaked havoc on the Australian mainland and its unique forests. Saddened by the loss, the ACT Government decided to act instead of grieving: It developed a proposal for an International Arboretum, to be established on a 250-hectare site six kilometers from the center of Canberra, at the western side of Lake Burley Griffin, an area offering unique, panoramic views over the capital. WATCH: National Arboretum Canberra: World Landscape of the Year 2014

The site included four existing forests, which were included in the final master plan: Quercus suber, planted between 1917 and 1920, which became Forest 1; Cedrus deodara, planted between 1917 and 1930 and again in September 2010, at present Forest 11; Pinus radiate, currently Forest 76; and finally other native trees and plantings, which now make up Forest 2. In 2004, an international design competition was held and in 2005, the winner was announced — the Australian landscape architecture practice Taylor Cullity Lethlean (TCL) in cooperation with Tonkin Zulaikha Greer’s (TZG), for their “100 Forests/100 Gardens” concept. The Design The original vision has its roots in the plans and dreams of Walter Burley Griffin and Marion Mahony Griffin, who 100 years ago drew the first plans for an arboretum that would include iconic trees from all over the world.

The Winner The winning master plan has sustainability at its core, with aesthetics coming in second. One hundred of the world’s most endangered tree species, chosen by experts from the IUCN’s Red List, are creating an invaluable seed bank and a viable population to preserve vulnerable and endangered species. The environmentally friendly irrigation system supplies water to all of the plants of the arboretum. Other Articles Featuring TCL: 

• The Australian Garden That Everyone’s Talking About!
• Top 10 World Class Landscape Architecture Projects of 2013
• Top 10 World Class Landscape Architecture Projects of 2014

The design’s orthogonal grid is superimposed bravely over the rolling hills of the impressive landscape. The sculptured earth terraces are filled with trees grouped into 100 single-species forests intertwined with 100 gardens. The Layout of the Forests Each forest consists of 200 to 3,000 trees and covers two to three hectares. The design’s form is simple and geometrical, with terraces linked by a cascading stream and a fully accessible pathway. It is supposed to not interfere with the natural landform nor with the planting. The individual forests are planted in a grid, arranged across the landscape to align with a civic axis created by the Burley-Griffins.

  The design’s form is simple and geometrical, with terraces linked by a cascading stream and a fully accessible pathway. It is supposed to not interfere with the natural landform nor with the planting. The individual forests are planted in a grid, arranged across the landscape to align with a civic axis created by the Burley-Griffins. The entry road takes visitors from the main entrance directly into the forests. The twisting path immerses them in the tree–filled space, leading them upward into the central valley clearing, where 12 hectares of sculpted and terraced landform reaches up toward the 900-person Visitor’s Centre designed by TZG. Their Royal Highnesses, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge Playing a Part The planting along the path is particularly special: The ceremonial trees have been planted by dignitaries and leaders from Australia and around the world, including Their Royal Highnesses, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. The sculpted earth creates the Events Terrace — a wonderful, open public space offering wide views of the neighboring capital. Finally, the gabion-lined cutting leads to the Visitor’s Centre, hosting service spaces, a bonsai garden, sheltered seating areas, a cafe, meeting rooms, site administration, and retail spaces.   Each forest accommodates a range of visitor facilities, such as picnic areas, art installations, and secret gardens. The number and variety of such areas will grow with time and will be adjusted according to the community’s needs. The Famous Playground Presently, the site includes, besides the aforementioned Visitor’s Centre, art installations by renowned Australian artists and a recently completed, state-of-the-art children’s playground. The imaginative Pod Playground, situated next to the Visitor’s Centre, is one of the best playgrounds opened for young users in recent years.

The Development of the Canberra National Arboretum

The first trees were planted in 2006, and the arboretum was opened to the public on Feb. 2, 2013, as a centerpiece of Canberra’s centenary celebrations. All of its 100 forests were already planted with trees such as Washingtonia filifera, Liriodendron chinense, and Wollemia nobilis. However, it is not nearly completed — the National Arboretum is meant to continue to develop and grow over time. Its potential and possibilities are unlimited.

The park’s pavilions, open spaces, and public art displays make this area an incredibly valuable addition to the city’s public landscape. The project has been appreciated all over the world and distinguished with an array of awards. The importance and gravity of the National Arboretum cannot be overestimated. It is one of the gifts of our generation to the children of tomorrow. Awards: “Landscape of the Year Award” at World Architecture Festival Awards (2014), The Australian Medal for Landscape Architecture (2014), AIA Sir John Overall Award for Urban Design (2014), AIA Canberra Medallion (2014), AILA Victoria Medal in Landscape Architecture (2013), AILA Awards for Planning in Landscape Architecture (2013) Recommended Reading:

• Urban Design by Alex Krieger
• Digital Drawing for Landscape Architecture by Bradley Cantrell

Article by Marta Ratajszczak Return to Homepage

We search for 10 top examples of land art from around the world. I have written previously about how public art is an essential ingredient in creating a city’s built environment in my article “Incredible Public Art at Highway Underpass!“. The powerful visions of artists often bring cultures and societies into deeper dialogue, ultimately creating more meaningful relationships between people and place — a goal central to the landscape architectural project. Hence, there is much to learn from artistry laid upon the land. Here are 10 examples of incredible land art:

Land Art

10. Chevron Cubes Located in Middlesbrough, England, Chevron Cubes is a piece of urban furniture created by design agency United Creatives as part of a Grant Associates mixed-use development public realm design. The florid colors reference the distinct locale of the project and endeavour to reflect the surrounding industry and residences.

9. Freedom Sculptor Zenos Frudakis has forged this public sculpture to signify the notion of struggle for achievement and to break free — a feeling that is undoubtedly felt ubiquitously by people around the world. The composition shows a figure moving left to right, each time one step closer to freedom, and was constructed in 2001 as part of the headquarters of a pharmaceutical company in Philadelphia. 8. The Singing Ringing Tree The Singing Ringing Tree is a three-meter tall, wind-powered sculpture located in Lancashire, England. It was completed in 2006 and designed by architects Mike Tonkin and Anna Liu. Aptly named, this piece of art is composed of galvanized steel pipes, possesses a tree-like resemblance, and exploits the wind’s natural energy to emit both discordant and tuneful notes covering several octaves. WATCH: The Singing, Ringing Tree

7. Huellas Artes This architectural intervention by 100architects artistically recognizes and highlights the daily flux of human functions and flows around the Bellas Artes metro station in Santiago, Chile. It aims to revitalize and catalyze the site as a place for urban activity and the development of social relationships. WATCH: Huellas Artes official video

6. Invisible Tree Graphic designer Daniel Siering and art director Mario Schuster collaborated to masterfully mimic the rural German landscape straight through the middle of a tree trunk, giving the illusion that the tree has been cut in half. This act of deception was achieved simply by wrapping the tree in plastic sheeting and recreating the background landscape and the bisected trunk through detailed spray painting.

5. Andres Amador’s Sand Art San Francisco-area based artist Andres Amador is renowned for his ephemeral use of beach sand at low tide to create beautiful works of art. Reaching sizes of up to 100,000 square feet, Amador’s sand paintings are created by using a rake to delicately scarify wet sand in order to achieve a variety of textures, using rope as a geometric guide. 4. Elastic Perspective This circuitous Cor-Ten steel staircase designed by NEXT architects sits on a hill in the Rotterdam suburb of Carnisselande in the Netherlands. Based on the principle of the Mobius Strip — a single-surface volume with no top or bottom — the result is an unending pathway whose periphery is impossible to circumambulate and that serves as a reflection on the equivocal cultural relations between the suburban dwellers of Carnisselande and the urbanites of Rotterdam. Related Articles:

• Awesome Displays of Temporary Land Art
• 10 Amazing Landscapes You Won’t Believe Are NOT Photoshopped
• Lace Art Used to Transform and Beautify Neglected Urban Spaces

3. Giant Clothespin Designed by Turkish artist Mehmet Ali Uysal and built for the festival of the five seasons in Chaudfontaine Park, Belgium, it gives the illusion of the earth below being firmly grasped in the clutches of this huge, spring-loaded sculpture.

2. Pine Cones A series of contemporary works forged by artist and sculptor Floyd Elzinga, these sculptures were created through the upcycling of shovelheads. Elzinga refers to them as “Colonization Devices”, signifying the dichotomy associated with seeds, which inherently possess both harmless and hostile natures. The use of commonplace steel allows Elzinga to aim attention at the mechanistic, hostile side, not the innocuous image the population tends to perceive. 1. Simon Beck’s Snow Art Possessing the same temporality and impermanence as Andre Amador’s artwork, Simon Beck’s snow art lasts only until the blustery French Alpine winds of the Savoie Valley blows it away. It takes Beck up to 11 hours to create a single image, using only a compass and by counting the steps he takes in his briquette snowshoes. You can also see our book review on Simon Beck’s snow art.

What Land Art Has to Offer

Used as precedents, these 10 examples offer insight into the processes, symbolism, and metaphoricity inherent in the making of art within the landscape, which, in turn, contributes to our world both socially and culturally. Recommended Reading:

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

Article by Paul McAtomney Return to Homepage

Huellas Artes, 100architects, Santiago, Chile. In many cases, people perceive the urban environment as boring. Gray streets and static buildings are part of everyday routes to work and home, turning life’s daily adventure into an urban routine. Cities are full of places that go unnoticed and unappreciated. Dealing with such places is a common task for urban designers — and it is not an easy one. How does one revitalize the image of a monotonous urban space?

Urban Artwork

The team of 100 Architects solved this problem by taking an unconventional approach. By means of a temporal, non-built, urban art intervention, their project Huellas Artes transformed the urban routine into a special experience for three days.

Changing the Landscape Overnight The project took place on the ground level of a circulation space over the Bellas Artes underground metro station in downtown Santiago, Chile. The transformation literally happened overnight, amazing and engaging hurried passersby heading to or coming out of the busy metro station. The architects set up a new, open-space configuration by the simple use of cloth material with a polyethylene surface. Lines, arrows, different colors, and even words and signs were taped to the pavement and walls to break up the everyday monotony. The design is a graphic interpretation of the urban dynamic of the site. Pedestrian flows and uses of the square were highlighted with the colorful material. Seeing the City with Fresh Eyes The result was incredible — the everyday circulation space was transformed into a vibrant public plaza. Suddenly, the urban everyday life became a new experience. The people were encouraged to explore a well-known city space from a new perspective. They were invited to walk, stop, look, meet — activities they performed on a daily basis, yet were perceived differently than usual.

Urban Artwork and a  Selfie Wall

The design also accelerated public interaction by adding new uses to the site. Among them were “the spot”, “the meeting point”, and “the selfie wall”. “The spot” was an improvised stage for street artists. The “meeting point” was strategically located at a place with good visibility of the comings and goings from the metro station, allowing people to search for familiar faces in the crowd.

“More than 1,000 spontaneous photos were uploaded in less than two days“. The most beloved was the “selfie wall” — a wall covered with playful motifs as background for funny photos. More than 1,000 spontaneous photos were uploaded in less than two days. In this way, the design encouraged virtual social interaction and was witnessed by more people than just those passing by. Related Articles: 

• Plaza Design Turns Dead Space Into a Vibrant Livingroom at Stadtlounge, Switzerland
• Gasworks Into Artworks – The Rebirth of Dublin’s Waterfront
• Shanghai Red Carpet Park Lets People Reflect on Their Everyday Lives

Designing with People as the Focal Point The project stands out because of its design focus, which is not on streets and buildings, as in most urban projects. Here, the people are the subject of interest, and the city life is placed in the foreground of the “painted scape”, as the designers call this urban intervention. They demonstrate a strong sense of the public space by recognizing its greatest potential for development — the citizens as an essential part of the urban perspective. WATCH: Huellas Artes official Teaser by 100architects

They successfully managed to revitalize the place by initiating activities and turning them into art, whose significance goes beyond mere aesthetics. The project is a living sculpture, consisting of people engaged in their activities. This is a motion design with the primary intention of making people happy with their urban routine.

Huellas Artes is a great showcase of socially driven design. The project lasted for a short time yet lives in the memory of Santiago city. It is a part of 100 Architects’ urban footprint series of work, which will keep on delighting the public into the future. Recommended Reading:

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

Article by Angelina Georgieva Return to Homepage

Nelson Mandelapark, by Mecanoo in Bijlmermeer, Amsterdam. With intensification in cities around the globe, more and more people are living in apartments with little access to private green space. As a result, community parks are taking on an increasingly important role in communities, acting as an extension of people’s living spaces.

Nelson Mandelapark or Bijlmerpark?

Nelson Mandelapark is a large, 32-hectare recreational park complex designed by the multi-disciplinary Dutch firm Mecanoo. The park is located in the Bijlmermeer neighborhood of Zuidoost, Amsterdam.

Originally named Bijlmerpark, the park was renamed Nelson Mandelapark in 2014 to honor the former South African president after his death and to recognize his unique connection with Amsterdam. Completed in 2011, the park offers a wide variety of recreation facilities, containing more than eight hectares of sports fields alone. The project also includes the design of a multi-use community, including 700 homes, office space, and even a school. Understanding Context: The Urban Renewal of Bijlmermeer Bijlmermeer is a neighborhood in the borough of Zuidoost, designed and built during the 1960s and 1970s to accommodate growth in the city. Designed in the typical utopian modernist style of the time, the neighborhood is characterized by the collection of nearly identical mid- and high-rise apartment buildings surrounded by large swaths of open space. The neighborhood incorporates a high proportion of low-cost and social housing. As a result, the neighborhood is extremely diverse, and houses many immigrant and low-income families. A Hotbed of Crime However, the resulting concentration of poverty, combined with poor urban design, contributed to the creation of a hotbed for crime. Then in 1992, a devastating aviation accident occurred in the neighborhood, destroying hundreds of homes and killing at least 43 people. This tragedy ended up being the catalyst for a revitalization of the entire neighborhood. Since the accident, the local government has been working hard to re-brand the neighborhood, redesigning and rebuilding housing and public space in order to improve the urban quality and safety of the neighborhood. Home to the AFC Ajax Amsterdam ArenA Today, the area is increasingly vibrant and attractive to developers, and is home to the AFC Ajax Amsterdam ArenA football stadium, as well as Amsterdam’s largest shopping center.

The Design of Nelson Mandelapark

The redevelopment of the neighborhood’s extensive parklands was a keystone project in the re-branding. Nelson Mandelapark aimed to meet the present and future needs of people living in the neighborhood. Located in such a diverse population, it was necessary for the new design to create a wide variety of recreational opportunities and programming. Luckily, designers had ample space to work with. Diverse Programming for a Diverse Population The new park has seven main entrances, each marked with a distinctive iron gateway that allows the park to be closed at nighttime. The park has an extensive network of pathways, winding through gentle hills and wetlands. With bikes being so ubiquitous to Dutch life, the park is the perfect place for a relaxing bike ride. Other Articles Showcasing Projects by Mecanoo:

• How to Transform a Road into a Spectacular Park
• The Building That Wants to be a Landscape at Delft University of Technology
• How the Aberdeen City Gardens Blend Buildings and History with the Landscape

Several sports fields are located centrally in the park, including football fields, a handball court, and a track. The park features a unique, custom playground and a skate park area designed by Carve. Constructed in bold colors with playful shapes, this playground area provides challenges for a variety of ages and includes unique features, such as rope obstacles and a water play area. The park also offers opportunities for more passive recreation, with more naturalized waterfront areas. The park’s planting scheme is specially adapted to the Dutch landscape, focused on wetland species that tolerate flooding and species that attract butterflies and other wildlife. Along the edges of the park, new homes and offices create a more vibrant street life. It is hoped that these homes will help to attract more higher-income families into the neighborhood, to create a more balanced demographic. The new design manages to bring renewed life into the neighborhood while still respecting the historic diversity and modernist architectural style that characterizes the area. Amsterdam’s New Outdoor Living Room Nelson Mandelapark acts as a community center for the diverse and vibrant Bijlmermeer neighborhood. It offers a wide variety of recreational opportunities for all ages, while enhancing both the natural and urban environment. In Bijlmermeer, almost all of the residents live in small apartments without access to green space, so the park plays an especially important role in building community and improving residents’ quality of life. But, above all, the park has allowed for the expansion of residents’ living space, creating an outdoor living room for the community. Recommended Reading:

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

Article by Michelle Biggs Return to Homepage

Here’s what you need to know about Cor-Ten steel.  CORrosion resistance-TENsile strength. Does this sound familiar to you? If it doesn’t, think of the name of one of the most popular materials used in architecture nowadays. That’s right, the name Cor-Ten steel stands for those two properties, which best describe this cutting-edge material. You’ve seen this natural-looking hardscape in buildings, bridges, retaining walls, fences, as edging, or even as sculptural masterpieces of art, everywhere around you. It is frequently used in architecture, construction engineering, and mostly, in landscape architecture.

As one of the latest trends in the world of contemporary landscape architecture, Cor-Ten steel has become the novelty every landscape architect should know about. If you are willing to delve into the rusty nature of this appealing subject (don’t worry – you’re not going to get dirty), feel free to study the basic characteristics of Cor-Ten steel – from fabrication to recycling – within the framework of this essential guide.

Cor-Ten Steel

Are Cor-Ten Steel and Weathering Steel the Same Thing? The first thing that needs to be clarified lies in the question: Is there a difference between Cor-Ten and weathering steel? The truth is that both names are used as synonyms, but they differ in their meanings. Weathering steel is a group of steel alloys designed to avoid the need for painting, which form a stable, rust-like appearance if exposed to the weather for several years.

Cor-Ten, on the other hand, is the registered trademark held by The United States Steel Corporation, under which the weathering steel is best known. What Properties Does Cor-Ten Steel Have? The second important subject deserving your attention is the indication of this steel’s properties. As its name suggests, weathering steel has increased resistance to atmospheric corrosion in comparison with other steels. This is due to the protective layer the steel forms on its surface under the influence of the weather. By forming a film of dark brown oxidation over a metal barn or building, Cor-Ten successfully resists the corrosive effects of weather conditions such as rain, snow, ice, and fog. In this way, the protective layer prohibits deeper penetration of the elements and eliminates the need for painting and the expense of rust-prevention maintenance over the years, saving both money and time. Why Should You Use Cor-Ten Steel? Considering the advantages of the material, it’s no wonder that weathering steel is at the zenith of popularity in landscape architecture today. Ranging from engineering constructions such as bridges and buildings and reaching outdoor sculptures and art installations, Cor-Ten has also conquered exterior design and landscaping. Landscape architects and designers especially appreciate the material due to the following assets it provides:

• Combination of strength and durability with minimal thickness, resulting in the creation of fine, elegant solutions for the outdoor space.
• Generally available in sheet and plate form, facilitating the process of construction.
• Natural, warm, and specific hues, which easily blend into the overall landscape and add to the identity of a unified site

Related Articles with Cor-Ten steel can be found here:

• Modern Meets Mediterranean in an Outstanding Private Garden Design
• Designer Achieves Outstanding Results With Terraced Garden
• Metamorphous: The Constantly Changing Seawall Sculpture

Uses in Landscape Architecture The numerous architectural projects worldwide display the diverse uses of Cor-Ten steel, serving as excellent examples of the opportunities this material has opened to design. Fancy-looking Cor-Ten steel retaining walls, with their thin profile, significantly spare outdoor space. This is a plus that a concrete wall certainly doesn’t have. Weathering steel can also be used to design terraced or raised beds for vegetation, tapered strips to sculpt a terraced garden or steel-framed planters. Don’t forget the art installations and sculptures, where, once again, Cor-Ten steel has deservedly earned its fame.

Standing out with its climate-resistance properties, this fast-working material allows artists and sculptors to easily transfer their conceptual ideas to a satisfactory realization. Read: The Pine Cones of Floyd Elzinga That Challenges your Perceptions Adding to the list of uses are water features, vertical gardens, fireplaces, edgings, or even garden steps. It seems that the only limit to Cor-Ten steel is the designer’s imagination. WATCH: How to Install Steel Garden Edging – Skemah 80a Corten

 

The Shortcomings of Cor-Ten Steel

After illustrating the numerous advantages of weathering steel, attention should be paid to the shortcomings of the material. Cor-Ten steel requires alternating wet and dry cycles to form a properly functioning protective coat. It shouldn’t be used in areas with salt-laden air, high rainfall, humidity, persistent fog, or generally hot, humid climates. Other challenges relate to construction in terms of special welding techniques. And –lastly, Cor-Ten steel may also stain surfaces located near it through its rust.

Maintenance, Lifespan, and Recycling Although it’s not flawless, Cor-Ten steel’s perks undoubtedly surpass its offsets. These perks include:

• Minimal maintenance
• Long lifespan (some Cor-Ten bridges can reach 120 years)
• Exceeding all LEED requirements (100 percent recyclable)

Flawless or not, Cor-Ten steel is the appealing, rusty trend in landscape architecture, which, if used properly, simultaneously provides an attractive, low-maintenance, and economical design solution. Recommended Reading:

• The Innovative Use of Materials in Architecture and Landscape Architecture: History, Theory and Performance by Caren Yglesias
• Landscape Architecture, Fourth Edition: A Manual of Land Planning and Design by John Ormsbee Simonds

Article by Velislava Valcheva Return to Homepage Feature image: Abetxuko Bridge by J. Sobrino, PEDELTA, Abetxuko, Vitoria, Spain. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0

Thalie Park, by Urbicus, in Chalon-sur-Saône, France. Have you ever wondered how a landscape architecture project can be successful in a flood plain with polluted soil? Chalon-sur-Saône is located in the heart of Burgundy, France, and is well known for being the birthplace of photography inventor Nicéphore Niépce. It is a cultural capital town of art history and home to many tourist attractions. The city is also known for its Carnival festivities (one of the most famous in France, according to Chalon-Sur-Saône), for the wine trade, and especially for its cultural event, “Chalon dans la Rue”. Bike paths and green spaces have been implemented to make the city more green and enjoyable, and Chalon-sur-Saône has begun to stand out in the environmental field, as well. In 2013, the Association of Mayors of Major Cities in France and the French Committee for Sustainable Development rewarded the city with ribbons for sustainable development in recognition of its commitment to the environment. In the same year, a new park was opened in the city.

The design for Thalie Park used inventive concepts to transform a flood plain into a functional park that beautifully integrates with neighboring buildings.

Thalie Park

Designed by Urbicus, Thalie Park is surrounded by the natural areas of the Thalie Valley. It is also located in a site with aspects that are usually avoided in constructions. The site of approximately 13.4 hectares is a former landfill at the edge of the railway infrastructure, in a flood zone; this was certainly a major point of concern in the project that needed to be tackled by the design team.

The hospital that neighbors the park was another key point that had to be considered in the project. The Centre Hospitalier Chalon Sur Saône Willian was opened in 2011 and is connected to other public spaces at the entrance to the town, by Thalie Park. Due to these facts, the fundamental challenge of the project was to manage the transition between the old city and the new area. A Disastrous Soil Under any circumstance, the soil had to be rejuvenated in order to accommodate the park. Urbicus had to design for a site where the soil was completely polluted by wastes such as heavy metals, illegal dumping, miscellaneous backfill, and other contaminants. The architects integrated the soil remediation into the design of the overall plan, improving not only the park, but also the hospital nearby and the safety of the area as a whole. Related Articles: 

• How to Make an Unnatural Space Feel Like a Natural Park
• Turenscape Design Outstanding River Park
• Shipyard Site Transforms into Stunning Ecological Park

With the completion of the project, the city depolluted the soil, gained another park while providing great views from the hospital, and improved the ambiance for the patients. A Great Solution by Urbicus Another great solution implemented by Urbicus was the creation of two ponds that allowed the management of water influx due to rises in the river water level or rainfall. The aquatic ecosystem existing in the ponds is comprised of species particularly chosen in consultation with fishing associations and state departments.

Furthermore, the water from the hospital roof can be collected in the northern pond, enabling better management of rainwater and overflow. Lastly, to meet runoff specific water management requirements, the Rue du Capitaine Drillien — the street that separates the ponds — was converted into a road for buses and non-motorized vehicles only.

Thalie Park – Seeing Opportunity in the Face of Adversity

It is a fact that polluted soil is generally far from being the preferred choice for projects such as Thalie Park. And this is what makes the project so special: Instead of ruining the project, the characteristics of the soil and the fact it had to deliver the functionality of a flood area were major contributors to the design of the park and have actually led to the success of the project.

Thalie Park successfully delivers a new recreational space to the local population, improves the landscape for hospital patients, and creates a great integration between the city entrance and the hospital, all while inventively serving as water runoff management to the site. Beyond that, the net effect of Thalie Park is one of less polluted soil and more green space that contributes to the environment. Recommended Reading:

• Design with Nature by Ian L. McHarg
• Meadows by Design: Creating a Natural Alternative to the Traditional Lawn by John Greenlee

Article by Sarah Suassuna Return to Homepage