West Harlem Pier Park, by W-Architecture and Landscape Architecture, LLC, in West Harlem, New York City. What is a public space? Are we prisoners of the cities in which we live? Are we powerless against events and bigger forces? What is the value of our desires? This is the story of a place built amongst the abandoned manufacturing and industrial areas of New York City’s West Harlem neighborhood, a place that was once a bustling harbor, but faded into decay after the construction of the George Washington Bridge and the Henry Hudson Parkway. The area that is now West Harlem Piers Park had lost its strategic value, remaining a marginal area cut away from the city by vehicular and subway viaducts, left to the destiny decided by its owners’ succession. The narrow area situated in the northern section of Manhattan’s peninsula, with a potential westerly access to the river, fell victim to pollution, criminality, unemployment, and social disadvantages.

West Harlem Pier Park

Things could have gone from bad to worse if not for the development of the park, thanks to the design by W-Architecture and Landscape Architecture, LLC and the resolute perseverance of 40 fervent groups of citizens, which took a position against city proposals to use the land in ways that didn’t satisfy the real needs of the local neighborhood. Reviving the River The park, first proposed by these groups and the city at the end of the 1980s, reached the design stage in 2003. It was built in 2008, healing wounds to the urban pattern and reviving access to the Hudson River, previously denied by fenced zones and parking lots.

River Related Articles:

• Extraordinary Development Re-connects City With The River Bank
• Turenscape Design Outstanding River Park
• Green Revival Brings Life Back to River Park

A Charming Design The charming design opens view corridors to the water directly from the streets, inspires itself from the cove and the valley, mimics the movement of the river, and creates a connection between the urban area and the water. Thanks to a new zoning plan relocating narrow activities in favor of small shops and bars, new life has been breathed into the area.

The design of the two new piers follows the lines of the urban matrix together with the lines of the cove, opening up options for open-air activities, such as fishing, kayaking, environmental excursions, biking, eating, or relaxing on the lawn. The strong diagonal lines of the park give a modern and minimalist feature and widen the space perception. Indeed, the lines seem to be generated directly from the city itself, defining sharp profiles. Next to lawns sloped by retaining walls, we find triangular steel planters, seating and details characterized by neat lines that intersect in granite benches and cobblestone pavements. The viaduct is underlined by the use of a particular colored lighting that gives a more peculiar aspect to the waterfront at night.

Preserving the Past at West Harlem Pier Park

But memories haven’t been lost: Many elements of the design, such as the benches, come from the area’s original narrow bulkheads and seem to have been carried by the force of the river to be set down in the park. The renewed viability, the relocation of the parking lot from the waterfront, the widening of the park area by the half closure of the marginal street next to the park, have all created a haunting park that includes post-industrial-themed sculptures by Harlem-based artist Nari Word. The sculptures underline and reflect the narrow personality of the area.

The Most Popular Bike Route in The United States Visitors picnic on the sloped segments of the lawn. They fish and take ferry rides from the pier. Children safely ride their bikes, weaving through the sculptures. The park is a place where the people can relax while remembering its past, giving the park an additional cultural and historical value.The park was also the missing section in the 32-mile Manhattan Waterfront Greenway, the most popular bike route in the United States. The Birth of a New Identity The West Harlem Pier Park can be seen as a model, a place that has discovered a new identity based on the needs of the population and the city’s willingness to listen and to invest resources to solve social problems and re-evaluate one of the most underutilized areas in Manhattan, creating a shower of collateral benefits. Environmental Justice The environmental and social benefits are clear: Continuity of the corridor improves not only human free time, but also the ecosystem and the river’s quality. Artificial “reef balls” were arranged along the river in order to offer a better habitat for the fish, giving back a sense of additional environmental justice to all users — humans and animals alike. In conclusion, we can say that this is winning example of how social priorities can merge well with environmental ones in order to improve everybody’s quality of life. Have you ever thought about environmental justice? What are your hidden desires for your neighborhood? Recommended Reading: 

• Design with Nature by Ian L. McHarg
• Sustainable Urbanism: Urban Design With Nature by Douglas Farr

Article by Valentina Ferrari Return to Homepage

After covering United States and Europe, we look at 10 Great Places to Study Landscape architecture in Asia. In Indonesia, “pekarangan,” also known as home gardeners, are instrumental in developing and maintaining public open space. Just as in many other Asian countries, the reason there are grand gardens, palaces, plazas, and public parks is because of these dedicated home gardeners who have a connection to the land and a strong understanding of their climate, culture, and city. Throughout Asia, there are many universities that offer landscape architecture undergraduate and graduate degrees. All of them provide students with an opportunity to study local landscape history and culture. This list of 10 great places to study landscape architecture in Asia is comprised of universities that stand out due to program content, geographical region, international study opportunities, or other unique facets.

Study Landscape Architecture in Asia

(Click the name of any of the top 10, to go directly to their website) 1. Beijing Forestry University (China) Beijing Forestry University is a top institution specializing in forestry and environmental ecology in China. There are various university research centers, as well as student exchange programs available for those interested in expanding their studies and increasing their travel opportunities. Additional blog and news articles about the School of Landscape Architecture highlight how professors and students are active citizens in their town, city, and neighborhood by engaging in various volunteer and extra-curricular activities outside of the university. WATCH: Presentation of Mahasarakham University and 8th QS WorldClass 2015

2. Bogor Agricultural University (Indonesia) Located in Indonesia, Bogor Agricultural University offers a wide range of major classes, including site mapping and landscape managements. The focus at this university is on science and technology to support landscape architecture and on global responsible and sustainable development. The university offers various supporting classes, such as colloquium and seminar opportunities, to create a more holistic and collaborative learning environment. 3. Mahasarakham University (Thailand) This Thai public university with two campuses offers a variety of settings in the city and subdistricts to study urban design and landscape architecture. The degree program for landscape architecture is five years, culminating in a thesis and seminar in landscape architecture. Courses evaluate topics such as environmental management, housing, and real estate development, and park and recreation planning. WATCH: Picture overview of Beijing Forestry University

4. National University of Singapore (Singapore) This university is the oldest higher education institute in Singapore and has the largest student body and curriculum options. There is a two-year master’s of landscape architecture offered in the Department of Architecture in the School of Design and Environments. The unique element of this master’s program is that it focuses on the design of “urban and mega-urban elements of landscape architecture.” With opportunities to study and visit other countries and cities within Asia, the school focuses on educating designers who can solve problems in high-density population areas. If you’re looking for a school that addresses landscape design in rural or suburban areas, this is not the school for you. WATCH: NUS Campus Video

5. Seoul National University (South Korea) Within the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences is the Department of Landscape Architecture and Rural Systems Engineering. The Program in Landscape Architecture focuses on the exterior environments of urban and rural areas. One topic that was highlighted on the Seoul National University website was the training students gain in converting industrial lands to a multipurpose space for public use due to Korea’s limited natural resources. Specific research areas, including but not limited to historic preservation, environmental aesthetics, landscape history, and Geographic Information Services (G.I.S.), outline the program topics of study. WATCH: Seoul National University (SNU) Promotional Video

6. Tokyo University of Agriculture (Japan) According to the website of the Tokyo University of Agriculture, the Department of Landscape Architecture Services offers undergraduate studies in landscape architecture covering a wide range of studies. The school divides the curriculum into various laboratories that are similar to a studio course. Each laboratory has a set group of faculty instructors and topics to cover. Areas of study throughout the undergraduate degree program include gardening, rooftop gardening, urban re-vegetation methods, park design, planting of urban green space, landscape planning, nature conservation, and restoration of national parks. WATCH: Welcome to Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology

7. Tunghai University  ( Taiwan) I found the Department of Landscape Architecture page to be easy to navigate and complete with up-to-date information compared to some of the other Asian landscape architecture department pages I browsed through. This department in Taiwan was established in the early 1980s as a part of the College of Agriculture. The department focuses on training students to become landscape architecture professionals who are planners and designers, as well as resource and environmental conversationalists. I found the curriculum — including drawing, ecology, structures, and studios — to be quite similar to American universities. Additionally, there is a required internship credit as a part of the major requirements. Related Articles: 

• 10 Great Places to Study Landscape Architecture in Europe
• 10 Great Places to Study Landscape Architecture in the USA
• 10 Books To Read In Your First Year Of Landscape Architecture

WATCH: 東海大學影音專區 Tunghai University ,Taiwan (not in English, but impressive visuals)

8. University of Hong Kong (China) At the University of Hong Kong, the Division of Landscape Architecture emphasizes the interdisciplinary nature of the degree program as well as ample study abroad opportunities. The program includes project-based and experiential learning. Since 1993, there is a four-year degree and a two-year postgraduate degree available. WATCH: Welcome to HKU (English)

9. University of Moratuwa (Sri Lanka) The University of Moratuwa is the most sought after technological university in Sri Lanka. While the landscape architecture program is young, it is a four-year program covering topics such as design communication, engineering, and plant science. The school is accredited, so graduates with experience are eligible to apply for membership in the Sri Lanka Institute of Landscape Architects (SLILA), which is also a part of the International Federation of Landscape Architects (IFL). WATCH: Possibly the most bizarre video you will ever see, coming out of a University (Viewed over 76,00 times)

10. Universiti Teknokolgi Malaysia (Maaysia) UTM is the oldest public engineering and technological university in Malaysia. The Bachelor of Landscape Architecture degree at UTM focuses on sensitive design. There are classes unique to the location of the university, including courses about local Malaysian dynamics, Islamic and Asian civilization, and tropical plants and studies. The undergraduate program culminates with a final comprehensive project. WATCH: Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) – Corporate Video

Study Landscape Architecture in Asia

Remember to do your research and talk to as many experienced and knowledgeable students, faculty members, and advisers as possible when making the decision to study abroad. For some, study abroad programs suffice as an opportunity to immerse oneself in a new culture and understand design from a new perspective. But for others, completing an undergraduate or graduate degree in landscape architecture in Asia offers opportunities to learn a new language, travel, and pursue future career goals and dreams. There are many strong programs in various countries throughout Asia. The key, as always, is to find the program that suits you best. Recommended Reading:

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

Article by Rachel Kruse Return to Homepage

Aberdeen City Gardens, by Mecanoo Arcitecten, in Aberdeen, Union Terrace Gardens, Scotland. Each city has its unique qualities that make it stand out. Each has its own characteristics, but all have one thing in common: They all tell a story. There are cities that take you back in time with their ancient buildings and civilizations. Some describe a rich history through the mix of local and foreign architecture. Others seem to bring you to a different world through their skyscrapers and science fiction-inspired buildings. But what about a sophisticated city, one that displays a beauty with class and elegance? Our idea of sophistication when it comes to architecture may be within the façade and interiors of a building itself. But what if I tell you that sophistication can be both indoors and out? How can you make a modern city garden that pays tribute to a city’s elegant image?

Aberdeen City Gardens – The Granite City

Aberdeen is the third most populated city in Scotland, and it is the 37th most populous metropolitan area in the United Kingdom. It is famous for the elegant look of its buildings. Aberdeen’s architecture was popular during the Victorian Era because of the use of granite in the façades of the structures, giving them a sophisticated vibe. This characteristic of the city led it to be locally called the Granite City, the Grey City, and the Silver City with the Golden Sands.

Aberdeen City Garden Project Competition

In 2011, Malcom Reading Consultants sponsored an international competition called The Aberdeen City Garden Project. The £140 million project’s purpose was to redevelop the simple, plain Union Terrace Gardens in Aberdeen — which cover approximately two and half acres of land — in order to match the city’s sophisticated look. The project aimed to transform the 19th-century gardens and to cover the unattractive Denburn dual carriageway and railway line.

The original 1869 plans for the Denburn Gardens called for a much grander park than the one we see now. The challenge for the competitors was to harmonize the proposed park with Aberdeen’s rich heritage while also modernizing the design. Other articles featuring Mecanoo Arcitecten:

• The Building That Wants to be a Landscape at Delft University of Technology
• How to Transform a Road into a Spectacular Park

The Flower of Scotland One of the entries in the competition was the “The Flower of Scotland” by Mecanoo Arcitecten. The idea was to create a grand and iconic space to unite and bring harmony to the buildings and the landscapes, making the design sensitive and complementary to the existing buildings around it. As visitors walk outside, they will see the intricate floral patterns that give a feeling of sophistication. Through this proposed park, one will be able to see a modern but classy distinctive identity and atmosphere.

Gardens and Public Spaces Aberdeen City Gardens will be transformed into a spectacular urban auditorium, but in order to remedy the shortage of green space in the city, the design needs to have a double function. A part of the garden is elevated to maximize the space. The lower level is composed of an exhibition space, cafe, lobby, and other functional spaces while the upper level is the elevated garden. As you go through the Aberdeen City Gardens, you will notice that the Public Arts Centre is not totally seen because of the roof garden and the gardens surrounding it. It pays respect to the existing buildings on the site because it does not overshadow the heritage buildings. The design made sure that Aberdeen City Gardens will complement these buildings. A continuous floral motif can be seen throughout the site, and there are also small gardens, playgrounds, an amphitheater, a park bench, a water theater, and a bar with terraces. In some parts, the path curls to fashion a series of private seats as it stretches to create a large outdoor surface that serves as a multipurpose area for hosting events. The design encourages unexpected encounters from different connections and interactions of social spaces. Looking at the design as a whole, it steps forward into becoming a modern city park, but it also flatters the Aberdeen heritage buildings. It promotes the city’s historic streets and it can also be a new landmark of the city. The buildings surrounding the city garden embrace the ambiance of sophistication, making it unified and harmonized. It does not outshine the city but complements it. Recommended Reading:

• The Green Roof Manual: A Professional Guide to Design, Installation, and Maintenance by Linda McIntyre
• Green Roof Construction and Maintenance (GreenSource Books) (McGraw-Hill’s Greensource) by Kelly Luckett

Article by Katrina Elpos Return to Homepage

Plaza de la Luna, by Brut Deluxe, Ben Busche Architects, Madrid, Spain. Drug traffic, degradation of housing, and prostitution were all problems emanating from the cohesive and anti-functional construction of Plaza de la Luna in Madrid, Spain. The square had no coherent space because a street divided the place into two separate zones. Uneven mixed levels, walls, ramps, staircases, ventilation towers, and vents from an underground car-park also divided the place visually. Plaza de la Luna needed to be reorganized and unified to create a new attractive and vandalism free square.

Plaza de la Luna

The central idea of designer Ben Busche and his team was to give the space a new topography. The former one hindered pedestrians from comfortably crossing the square and tended to focus on the worst part of the site – the space beneath the arcades. To solve that, a new large central space was created to make sure the focus of the users was no longer in the arcades, but in a new center.

“a perfect example of how to create a public space” The central space is a perfect example of how to create a public space. It is a multifunctional, indeterminate, and open area that provides a more dynamic space for all kinds of activities that need a lot of space. Toward the edges of the central space, low steps accommodate trees and existing elements, such as ramps, stairs, and ventilation towers. By its organization, the center does not determine fixed places for activities but provides the opportunity for diverse uses, such as street markets, musical performances, or sports. In the zone around the central area, more contemplative and static activities can take place. If you love plaza design, here’s three more stunning projects:

• The Central Plaza Parkscape That Has it All
• Beautiful Plaza Celebrates Canadian Landscape
• Awesome Plaza Shows You Why China Are World Leaders in Landscape Architecture

How Does it Prevents Vandalism? All the elements have been renewed with anti-vandalism in mind. All of the furnishings are made of 3mm, naturally rusted Corten steel to deter vandalism. It’s very hard to write on, glued papers drop off, and it’s easy to remove sprayed graffiti. But to give the Corten steel a less cheap and rusted look, the designers punched or stamped it with a floral motif. The use of the same material throughout the project gives the place a more unified and organized look, which is strengthened by the doubling of the amount of trees and vegetation.

The chestnut trees (Castanea) placed between the steel elements give shade in summer. They strengthen the depth of the square and give the space a vertical dimension that covers the neglected façades of the surrounding houses. Because everyone knows that vandalism happens most often when boredom strikes, the designers added a water fountain at the lowest point of the square that doubles as a place for children to play and as a refreshing focal point on hot days. At the highest point of the square, a children’s play area was placed near an area where seniors can gather. To hold the attention in the middle of the square and not on the arcades, the lighting under the arcades of the surrounding buildings is very scarce. As a counterpoint to make sure that the arcades aren’t too dark – and, therefore, attractive to vandals — a new false ceiling is covered with white tiles that reflects the light and gives a safer feeling at night. The white ceiling offers an adequate possibility for all kinds of activities, such as a screen for projectors. Paving Design The paving of the square focuses on texture. Designers chose granite blocks of different, highly contrasting colors – white, green, black, and grey. The main pattern is of alternating diagonal directions common to each zone of steps. It comes across like a big carpet, inviting you to play. The colors aren’t just placed but are used according to their position. A Hope, for Increased Pedestrian use In the center, dark green is prevalent; on the edges, the green gives way to other colors that integrate with the surrounding streets. The designers hope the paving schemes will encourage higher pedestrian use. The street that crosses the square has been removed, and the streets surrounding it have the same paving as the other parts. This makes the place feel bigger and gives it a unified look. In his mission to make Plaza de la Luna attractive and vandalism free, Ben Busche and his team have created an open square with imprecise boundaries. The visually uncluttered space, in combination with the right lighting, anti-vandalism materials, and ease of use for different activities, makes the place less attractive for small crimes. This kind of square, with a multifunctional nature that can be used every hour and every way, was the center Madrid was lacking. And if we can believe Ben Busche, “The best squares are those that are basically empty and indeterminate.” Photographs: Roland Halbe, Miguel de Guzman, Estudio BD Recommended Reading:

• 1000x Landscape Architecture by Braun Publishing AG (COR)
• Street Design: The Secret to Great Cities and Towns by John Massengale

Article by Sander Van de Putte Return to Homepage

Red Carpet by 100 Architects, East Nanjing Road, Shanghai, China. How do you transform a busy walking street into a flourishing and interesting attraction for a whole neighborhood? That was the question the designers at 100 Architects asked themselves when the Shanghai government asked them to create a new feature for the East Nanjing Road’s century square. The East Nanjing Road is a famous pedestrian street in the center of Shanghai, China. Historically, this road was the link between the port in the east and the old city in the west. It has become the main economic axis of the city, supporting a variety of cultural and social activities. The street has maintained its importance as the number one commercial street in Shanghai, with thousands of pedestrians traversing it every day. What was the objective of the Red Carpet Project? The eastern part of the street consists of a car-free area with a small performance stage that is used only once or twice a year. What’s missing is a landmark to accentuate the unique character of this street.

These were the conditions the designers at 100 Architects had to work with: Create a new perspective on the existing public space, while at the same time engaging in its original function. But they wanted to do more — they wanted to get people to think about their everyday life, and to reflect on the importance of public spaces on their wellbeing.

Red Carpet Park by 100 Architects

In their new design, they have created a theater-like construction where people can watch and the observe passersby. In this way, they engage people to see something as simple as going to the mall from another perspective.

A Wave of Red With a risky, but quite simple design, they have elevated something as common as walking down a street into something worth observing as if people were actually watching a movie. They created an atmosphere of luxury, glamour, and design in which the normal, everyday life of the pedestrians becomes subject to a show in which they are the stars. See More Red Themed Related Projects: 

• Plaza Design Turns Dead Space Into a Vibrant Livingroom at Stadtlounge, Switzerland
• Gasworks Into Artworks – The Rebirth of Dublin’s Waterfront
• Fantastic River Park Unveils the Value of the Natural Landscape

Red Carpet Park Amphitheater To create this vibrant, strong atmosphere, the designers focused heavily on the aesthetics of the project. A red carpet spreads from the façade of a building at the north, all the way to the other side, crossing the busy street, and creating a gap in the continuous design of the road, encouraging passersby to stop to explore and use this new feature. The structure itself is mainly made of metal pillars and concrete blocks to create the image of a theater, covered with red wood and red metal panels. A site for massive visual projections This prominent color contrasts with the gray and boring street, bringing people into a different world. The front of the building is covered in perforated metal panels to allow plenty of air and light inside. These panels are meant to be used as a background for projections and performances. The Half-Open Amphitheater The other side of the park consists of various levels of seating, much like a half-open amphitheater. This will give passersby a place to rest, and provide an audience for the shows and performances that will be projected on the opposite wall. The open space under the structure provides an open market with sunshade protection, while a more covered area houses a small bar, providing public toilets and other amenities. The design for the Red Carpet Park in Shanghai may not be the most subtle or common one, but it will for sure be an eye catcher in the public space, where people can dream of a luxurious life where common experiences develop into something extraordinary. With designs like these, people can be brought together, transforming banal places into social magnets. Recommended Reading:

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

Article by Tom De Bleser Return to Homepage

We reviewed Youtube video Five Crazy Bridges for Animals by Minute Earth, looking at the innovative solution of animal bridges. “Why did the chicken cross the road? We may never know since she probably never got to the other side“. This is how Minute Earth’s educational video (Five Crazy Bridges for Animals) puts forth a plethora of questions for discussion. What are the consequences of wildlife roadkill? Can wildlife and highways coexist safely? What exactly are wildlife crossings? How effective are animal bridges? Or is it all about our own attitude or the absence of one? If you feel skeptical about the effectiveness of wildlife crossings, there’s nothing wrong with that. This video doesn’t seek to convince anyone of something they don’t want to believe. On the contrary, its basic purpose is to inform and shed light on a subject that is widely discussed, but narrowly assimilated.

Animal Bridges

Even within the short two minutes, the animation will manage to set you thinking. What’s most important is that after watching it, you can’t just stay indifferent. After that, you will at least have an opinion. And you’ll soon realize how everything depends on your own attitude. Watch the whole video here:

The essence of the problem To start going deeper into the problem, let’s take a look at some of the statistics. It is said in the video that, “In the U.S. alone, about a million animals are flattened by passing motorists each day – and that doesn’t count all the bugs.” We all know that wildlife-vehicle collisions happen, but did you know the statistics? And do you know why this is happening? Although we can’t clarify why for sure, a part of the explanation lies in the nature of animals. “Animals are constantly confronted with barriers, some of them completely natural, and others that we build are barely barriers at all. As we build our own infrastructure, we’re also adding to this obstacle course without meaning to, and these unintentional fences are some of the most effective animal barriers out there,” the video explains.

The physical barriers to animals include roads and highways, high-tension power lines, and the discharging of ultraviolet flashes that can frighten or disorient animals. Animals also respond to psychological barriers, such as clear-cut corridors, pipelines, and even painted lines, all of which can subconsciously confine mammals within non-existent limits. Related Articles: 

• Why Humans Do Not Make The Best Architects
• Biomimicry: What is it, and What Does it Mean For Landscape Architects?
• Biomimicry UK: Interview With Richard James MacCowan

The negative consequences After discussing the reasons why wildlife-related car accidents happen, now you need to examine closely the negative results of those collisions.

The video displays it clearly: “While one stranded cow might not be a huge problem. However, if enough animals become isolated from food, mates, and protection, entire populations can dwindle and even disappear.” Considering that aspect, there is even more to be added to the list: harms caused to endangered species, loss of valuable livestock or pets, death, and suffering of animals stuck by vehicles. As for humans, the list of damages continues to grow: injury or even death of vehicle occupants, the money spent to repair damaged cars, the economic losses (cleanup and repairs), as well as the unpleasant sight of roadkill in tourist destinations.

The solution – Animal Bridges

With all those unfavorable effects of wildlife-vehicle collisions, there has to be a rational solution. The first thing that comes to people’s minds is “no obstacles, no problem”. But on second thought, giving up roads, power, and pipelines doesn’t sound like such a good idea. Even if we get rid of all the physical barriers, wildlife has already strongly memorized them, meaning that their restrictive power is still active. So basically, this is not a solution.

“Luckily, a little ingenuity goes a long way in guiding animals over, under, or around the obstacles we put in their way. Just as a footbridge helps us cross dangerous roads, we can build overpasses that help deer, monkeys, and crabs do the same”, as it is said in the video. Such civil structures include overpasses, underground tunnels, salmon cannons, and bridges. Effectiveness To support those statements, here are some of the successful worldwide examples of animal bridges: WATCH: Animal Bridges – Life-Saving Wildlife Crossings

In order to estimate the results of animal bridge construction, cameras are installed as a method of observation. As you can see in the following video, the results are more than satisfactory. WATCH: A Busy Wildlife Crossing – Slow Version

Recommended Reading:

• The Environmental Planning Handbook for Sustainable Communities and Regions by Tom Daniels
• Environmental Land Use Planning and Management: Second Edition by John Randolph PhD

Article by Velislava Valcheva Return to Homepage

Garden Bridge, by Heatherwick Studio, London, UK. A new approach to designing bridges and traffic routes leads to one of the most controversial projects in London: a garden bridge over The Thames. A project that will increase the global attractiveness of the city as a tourist destination, say officials. The blueprint of this project has been approved by Boris Johnson who has served as Mayor of London since 2008 and is championed by British national treasure Joanna Lumley. The London Garden Bridge project has been designed by Heatherwick Studio, and is intended to be a new pedestrian bridge that links the Temple Underground Station with the South Bank over Thames. This idea follows Transport for London’s trend for projects that improve pedestrian links across the river. London is already one of the greenest cities of its size in the world, and a project like this will be another iconic trademark.

No to cycling on bridge over Thames

This innovative project will be an important pedestrian route between north and south, that will feature plants, trees, woodland and meandering walkways to be used and enjoyed by all pedestrians. The ambitious project, lead by The Garden Bridge Trust, will enrich London’s diversity in landscape and technology. Unfortunately, on this new bridge cycling will not be permitted.

South Bank already attracts a large number of visitors to its art galleries, theatres, music halls and restaurants. The bridge’s structure widens and narrows and will be the groundwork for a new kind of suspended garden. Visitors, commuters and tourists will not only walk safely on this bridge but will also have special places to stop and admire the remarkable waterfronts and the river setting. For this purpose, there will be a series of viewing balconies radiating from the primary paths. Awesome Bridge Related Articles That You Don’t Want to Miss:

• Land Bridge is an Ecological Masterpiece
• Top 10 Pedestrian Bridges
• The Street Bridge Park Everyone’s Talking About

Planting on the Bridge The Garden Bridge project claims lands on both the north and south banks of the River Thames within the City of Westminster and the London Borough of Lambeth. The garden planted on the deck of the bridge will be a mix of 270 trees (approximately 45 species), shrubs, herbaceous plants, climbers, perennials and grasses (both native and non-native species).

The Garden Bridge will be supported by two piers that will be predominantly used for tree planting and lower growing species. The trees on the bridge would be managed to ensure no tree exceeds 15 m in height. The superstructure of the bridge would hold the soil and subsoil to support the garden at bridge deck level. The soil depth would vary from approximately 2 m to 0.3 m. The Garden Bridge in Numbers: • the extent of the bridge span: 366 m • the width of the bridge varies from 30 to 6.5 m • The width of the footpath: 4 m • numbers of piers: 2 • area of the garden on the bridge: 6,000 sqm • number of users a year: 7 million • estimated cost: £ 175 million • estimated public investment: £ 60 million • estimated cost per garden sqm: £ 20.000 There is a lot of opposition to this project, which has raised many questions regarding the high cost, the environmental impact, and what will be gained by implementing this project. Supporters of the project already imagine themselves walking in this dreamlike garden. Citizens from both sides of the Thames are concerned about the crowds of tourists who will invade their neighborhood, whilst the authorities are keen to see this project started. WATCH: New London’s spectacular garden bridge approved, but could it be a disaster?

It’s a very tough task to anticipate if the key strengths of this project outweigh the the weaknesses. But what is for sure, beside the fact that the construction of the bridge is being challenged, it’s that Heatherwick Studio made us all dream about a walk on this futuristic bridge. Recommended Reading:

• Site Engineering for Landscape Architects by Steven Strom
• The Artful Garden: Creative Inspiration for Landscape Design  by James van Sweden

Article by Diana Ispas Return to Homepage

The Baltic Sea Art Park, Pärnu, Estonia, by Kilometrezero. Waterfronts are naturally enticing places. In the urban setting, they provide residents with a nearby place to escape the pressures of the city and commune with nature. As cities grow, so do these waterfront leisure spaces – and the need for someone to design them. Over the last few decades, waterfronts have become the frequent subject of design competitions. A design for the Baltic Sea Art Park in Pärnu, Estonia, was born from a 2013 competition for a site on the banks of the Pärnu River. Designers were asked to create a park encompassing a ground program and floating buildings. Kilometrezero, a Paris and Barcelona-based architecture studio founded by Jan Kundlicka and Alvaro García Mendive, was up to the challenge, creating dynamic spaces and innovative buildings that would enhance the landscape, provide magnificent views of the city and the river, and enable the urban infrastructure to cross the boundaries between land and water.

Baltic Sea Art Park

How did they work with the land? The site is connected to the urban fabric by streets that form perpendicular and parallel axes to the riverfront, but it lacks internal axes to organize the open space. The designers decided to address that by using the existing trees as a starting point for the project. As those trees don’t form any pattern, the team reorganized the space by creating small squares separated by a sequence of smaller paths connected by circular areas. This approach would allow for the creation of spaces that stimulate social gatherings, while keeping the existing trees and encouraging the planting of new ones in the created squares.

By working with positive and negative spaces – in this case, the ensembles of trees and the empty spaces surrounding them, respectively – and linking the segments of paths, a larger axis was configured to give visitors the alternatives of choosing different ways to walk through the park to enjoy nature and the temporary pavilions and, eventually, the main building, proposed to be located at one of the park’s ends. Related Articles:

• RheinRing Bridge is a Work of Art!
• Top 10 Pedestrian Bridges
• The Street Bridge Park Everyone’s Talking About

How did they work with the water?

While the land is the space where people build their identity, water bodies usually are seen as a means to expand their horizons by connecting them to other places. The Baltic Sea plays this role for the nine countries and one autonomous territory located around it. Together, they form a region with a common culture, which was the inspiration for creating the circular floating platform on the Pärnu River. This ring’s shape, which unites the city and the water, also represents the countries’ intrinsic relationship by being the central element from which people can access the floating pavilions that represent each of those countries. The Estonian pavilion mimics the water’s surface with its roof shaped like a wave that, according to its designers, “inverts the relationship between the land and sea”. It was inspired by the country’s symbols and history through the use of wood, and the flag’s colors refer to its ships. “It’s a piece of sea,” the designers say, where visitors would have the opportunity to enjoy the best of Estonian art. The clever interface between land and water As a circle is a perfect, closed shape, the task of connecting it harmoniously to other areas always challenges designers. Kilometrezero’s team overcame this issue by distorting vertically one section of the circular surface, which resulted in a curved elevation. As a wave that reaches the shore, this space melts the floating area into the land and provides a roof for a building that would house the rest of the park’s program. The embedded building, enveloped by glass walls, would allow natural lighting into the building and provide visual continuity throughout the park. Besides this visual integration, the building also unites the indoor supporting functions — restaurants, lavatories, customer services, and employee work rooms – with the outdoor recreational activities through its walkable roof that works both as a lookout and springboard diving platform in the warm season, when the internal part of the circle would be used as a swimming pool. With the coherent use of materials, colors, and shapes, Kilometrezero has shown an in-depth understanding of the local culture, resulting in a design that echoes the country’s strong connection with the Baltic Sea. Although the judges preferred other ideas for the 19,000-square-meter park, this entry stands out for its innovative forms that would enable a complete integration between the city and the river, in addition to reconnecting citizens with the landscape. Recommended Reading:

• Site Engineering for Landscape Architects by Steven Strom
• The Artful Garden: Creative Inspiration for Landscape Design  by James van Sweden

Article by Tania Gianone Return to Homepage

A book review of Landscape Site Grading Principles: Grading With Design In Mind by Bruce G. Sharky. Traditionally, the use of grading textbooks by landscape architecture students has been limited to those produced by engineers, who tend to approach the subject, not in visual terms, but in terms of mathematics and problem-solving. These teaching mechanisms prove problematic, often neglecting or omitting the inherent design implications associated with grading — essential constituencies given that landscape architects learn and think visually and spatially. The impetus of “Landscape Site Grading Principles” is to provide landscape architecture students with a visual, practical approach to site grading concepts that advocates and illustrates the interconnectedness of grading and design, and to put forth the ambition for a greater synthesis of the two in tertiary education.

Landscape Site Grading Principles

Structure and Content The text is comprised of a total of 16 chapters, the first several of which contain a cornucopia of subject matter no longer part of conventional design curricula — a result of institutions transitioning from analogue to digital means or of subject matter being assimilated into other courses. Topics such as drafting, documentation conventions, scale, map reading, and land surveying are included in an attempt to better educate students about the subject as a whole. This information lays the foundation of the text by providing a sound knowledge base and pertinent understanding of the broader picture, and acts as a real counterpoint to the aforementioned engineer-oriented textbooks. Parallels drawn between grading and design early in the book allow the reader to understand the important coaction of the two: Both are reiterative, not linear processes; both are informed by a broad body of knowledge, and both require intent to be communicated clearly and concisely through the use of graphic representational skills. The clever use of metaphors in the book Metaphor is cleverly applied to help the reader cognize grading and its accompanying information. For example, the universality of drawing conventions are likened to that of musical compositions, or how both contours — like sentences — are communication devices that each follows a set of rules. Analogies such as these provide the beginner with an intelligible way of grasping and retaining various bits of information. Other book reviews you may be interested in:

• Landscape and Urban Design for Health and Well-Being
• Digital Drawing for Landscape Architecture
• 10 Books to Read in Your Fourth Year of Landscape Architecture

Ease of use Illustrative diagrams and photos of real-life examples from everyday urban environments supplant what would otherwise be too difficult to explain textually. To aid in an explanation, many images have indicative contours, spot levels, slopes, or surface water flows overlayed onto them, allowing readers to discern the intent of the author’s words with ease. Calculus necessary for determining slope, spot elevations, and/or interpolating contours is not introduced until the ninth chapter. This demonstrates how the first portion of the book prepares the student visually and textually before focusing on the actual act of site grading. Signature Solutions Although each given site possesses innate qualities and natural processes, grading plans often follow standardized approaches. The author presents eight “signature solutions” that can be applied as a stand-alone or in coalescence to solve the vast majority of site grading problems, ranging from the creation of a simple slope or level area on sloping ground to creating a watershed or detention pond. All are elaborated upon in depth and visualised through imagery. Throughout the final chapters, the reader is introduced to more detailed grading solutions, allowing prior information presented on contours and spot elevations to amalgamate as the “detailed grading”, “storm and surface water drainage management”, and “estimating volume of cut and fill using the contour method” chapters are reached. Some of the many techniques encompassed in these chapters are how to grade paved surfaces, bicycle trails and parking lots; the options available for handling storm water; and estimating earth-moving quantities. Culmination is presented in the form of case studies, providing a range of professional examples of technical site drawings. I found this an excellent way to conclude, as it allows the reader to put aside the application of the concepts detailed throughout the book and view the work of built projects, all of which would have resulted from the very techniques described in prior chapters. So Why Should I Choose This Book? As a student who has already studied site grading but is not yet adept, I can attest to this book’s efficacy. The subject as a whole can be somewhat daunting and mysterious if not fully understood, but it is fundamental knowledge if one wishes to practice professional landscape architecture. I would highly recommend “Landscape Site Grading Principles: Grading With Design In Mind” to any student who has been, or will be, introduced to grading and does not fully fathom its framework and concepts, as this book provides a visually comprehensive, non-technical, step-by-step approach.

Pick up your copy of Landscape Site Grading Principles: Grading with Design in Mind

Article by Paul McAtomney. Return to Homepage

Apply these 5 tips to get your head around technical drawing. We all at one point dread the day when our social lives will turn into weekend parties with T-squares and inking pens. Those of us who studied technical drawing look back and cringe at the thought of having to go through that one day-long exam again. But I will quit being so apocalyptic now and tell those who are going to take this course soon that, fortunately, there are several steps you can take to make the best out of your technical drawing class — and even enjoy it!

5 Technical Drawing Tips

1. Ditch the comfort of home for the studio group dynamic Back in high school, I didn’t very much like the idea of studying in a group. It seemed too distracting and like an easy ticket for procrastination. But as soon as you get into design, you realize that things here work differently. The studio experience is especially vital for “first years”, as they are still unfamiliar with the system and with design itself.

In the case of technical drawing projects, working in the studio is not only useful for motivation and building tighter relationships with your classmates, it makes you less prone to making mistakes in your projects. Why? It’s simple — working with other people on similar projects makes it easier to identify mistakes that you might have committed. You will learn from each other and have fun doing it. WATCH: Studio Experience: Architecture + Landscape Architecture

2. Don’t be afraid to say, “I don’t understand. Could you repeat, please?” This doesn’t only apply to technical drawing, of course, but it is particularly true for these kinds of lectures, which can be so overwhelming. The truth is that most instructors I’ve encountered who lecture on technical software or skills are really good at what they teach, and they assume that everyone is able to catch onto it as fast as they do. So they tend to explain it a bit too fast. Don’t be afraid to ask the instructor to repeat things or to go slower, or to schedule individual appointments. Doing so is much easier than going through hell during the assignments or, worse, finding out that you lack some basics during design projects later on. Trust me; I know this, having been through a similar experience in the shades and shadows section. 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

4. Handle inking carefully Technical inking pens can be such a pain. They are expensive, they come in all kinds of thicknesses, which is confusing at times, and they break easily! And the worst thing is, they can turn a project into an unalterable mess. For this reason, it is always a bad idea to start inking right after finishing a drawing. Take your time to double-check the drawings, possibly with a friend or an instructor, before inking. However, accidents happen sometimes. So in case you dropped some ink on your paper or made a small mistake that you would like to correct, bring a sharp cutter and rub the ink lightly with its side — it will disappear like magic! Although do be careful about dropping blood spots, in that case. 3. Lecturers are not handling it well? Try tutorials OK, so you asked, they repeated, and yet you still didn’t understand it. Maybe they didn’t make the effort you were really expecting to make things clearer. Luckily, today you can find tutorials online for almost ANYTHING (really — even how to darn socks or put the battery in your smartphone). WATCH: Check out this Drawing Tutorial – 2 Point Perspective

Also, don’t forget that YouTube and websites are not the only sources you can use for further explanations. Chances are that the university you study in has a wide range of architectural books on technical drawing. Examples include “Basic Technical Drawings” by Bert Bielefel and Isabella Skiba and “Basic Perspective Drawing: a Visual Approach” by John Montague. WATCH: Check out this tutorial on How To Draw Perspective Shadow – Drawing Shadows In Perspective

5. Work with little models The technical drawing project that I found to be most exciting (yes, contrary to popular belief, technical drawing can be fun at times) was the one in which we had to construct our own Lego model, then draw it in 3D and 2D plans and sections. Visualizing in three dimensions can be hard, which is why creating little models of your assigned drawing with Lego, cardboard, or any other material can make your job so much easier. WATCH: Scale Model Tips – 13 quick tips in less than 3 minutes

On a side note, working with models will also prove to be a great help in later stages in design projects. Also, it’s your one chance to get crazy (a girl I know once made an edible model). Majoring in design, while it is overall a wonderful and enriching experience, can be frustrating at times. But the challenges will become easier once shared with someone who has been through the same experience and once you seek further help. Also, make sure to drop by our page from time to time for inspiration! 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 Dalia Zein. Return to Homepage

A useful AutoCAD tutorial to help you with detailing your sections in AutoCAD. Plan drawings could be considered the most important graphic of a landscape architecture project. Sections and elevations, however, also explain a lot and are important during the design process. Drawing natural elements in elevation requires a different approach than drawing them in plan. Take grass, for instance. In a plan drawing, grass can be represented as a dotted hatch or maybe even a green solid hatch. This doesn’t work in section. In this article, you’ll see some cool and quick ways to draw nature in no time. The problem of the traditional method A lot of AutoCAD users draw grass in sections with a block. Of course, this is an option, but it has some downsides. A block always has a particular size. Let’s say you have a block that stretches over one meter of surface. If you want to place the block on a line that is 3.5 meters long, you will have to shorten that block. You will have to explode it and delete some entities or xclip the block. And that’s assuming you are placing it on a straight line. Since landscape architects like to play with topography sometimes, you need to draw grass on a curving base — another challenge when you draw grass with blocks.

Sections in AutoCAD

Select the baselines The space where grass needs to be drawn in a section can be defined by a linear entity. In the included video, you will see how the commands ‘Grass In Elevation’ and ‘Reed In Elevation’ allow you to draw natural entities in an instant by selecting linear entities. No blocks are required.

The commands will consider the direction of your coordinate system. That means that despite curves and slopes, the grass or reed will point up as it would in the real world and not be perpendicular to the direction of the block. The commands will draw the patterns differently every time you use it, just like it’s never the same in nature. With blocks, you can often see a repeating pattern. “Waves In Elevation” allow you to emphasize water in your drawings with waves. You can control the height, the distance, and even the direction. More AutoCAD related Tutorials:

• How to Show Topography in your Plan Drawing in AutoCAD
• How to Randomise Hatches in Your AutoCAD Drawing

Send in your vegetation patterns The UrbanLISP commands in this article are part of the elevation category. If you often use a particular vegetation pattern in your drawings and you think it could be nice if it would work in the same way as the commands shown in the video, please send an example! Most patterns can be translated into a script to automate the drawing process, and if your pattern is suitable, it can be a nice addition to the elevation category. Of course, you will be the first one to test it! Native AutoCAD features Besides the elevation commands, you can also see a few native AutoCAD commands and tricks in the video. Did you know you don’t have to use your mouse to make a selection? Or that you can create a closed polyline based on linear entities in your drawing by using the ‘Boundary’ command? Check the video and see how it works. Enjoy! WATCH: Tutorial on How to Add Detail to Your Sections in AutoCAD

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

Nouvelle at Natick, by  Martha Schwartz Partners, Natick (MA), USA. The concept of modern urban living is based on the idea of comfort wrapped up in luxury. Nouvelle at Natick is the best proof that urban living has evolved to a point where it can offer luxury, privacy, and breathtaking views. The project was started by General Growth Properties, and it involved the creation of Parc Nouvelle, a splendid roof garden. The designer was Martha Schwartz, one of the top names in the field of landscape architecture. Nouvelle at Natick extends over a surface of 34,850 square feet and was completed in 2008. When looking at how the roof garden turned out in the end, it should come as no surprise that the project received the BSLA Award (Boston Society of Landscape Architects) in 2012.

Nouvelle at Natick – The Best of Urban Living

The design chosen for the rooftop deck is unique, presenting the beauty of nature from a spatial and visual perspective. As one walks through the roof garden, the rich colors enhance the visual experience. The residents can view the roof garden right from the comfort of their own apartments, enjoying the multitude of elements and the ever-shifting sea of colors. This rooftop delivers the perfect view, the deck being the central element. There are also two roof deck extensions that bring a private space to some of the residents.

Plant Selection Majestic trees have been chosen to complement the entire scenery, providing much-desired shade during hot summer days. The greenery has been carefully selected, including the most amazing diversity of ornamental grasses. Add to that the flowering perennials that change color with the seasons and the evergreen shrubs, and you have the perfect image of what a rooftop should look like. Other Articles Featuring Martha Schwartz: 

• Gasworks Into Artworks – The Rebirth of Dublin’s Waterfront
• Top 10 Influential Landscape Architects
• 7 Female Landscape Architects That You Need to Know About

Social interaction within the green outdoors As this is an age in which physical social interaction loses ground to the kind that happens online, one should be happy to have a roof garden as a social space. Nouvelle at Natick has been specially designed to connect the residences. Thus, it encourages the residents to interact and enjoy the open green space together.

The rooftop deck provides residents with the opportunity to interact, socialize, and discover the beauty of the space at the same time. The visual experience delivered is more powerful than words can describe. Viewed from above, the roof garden entices with its amazing geometry, green distribution, and carefully placed elements. Elements of taste blended within the green The wood path is one of the elements that draws attention, with its forms that are curved and full of grace. Stretching over the entire roof, it sometimes comes to a stop, only to provide wonderful seating opportunities to people coming to enjoy the scenery. Corten steel has been chosen for the planters, with the red shade contrasting beautifully with the chosen greenery. Large circles of stonework have been placed between the other elements, reminiscent of the materials that were actually used for the landscape outside the mall. The alternation between stone and sedum ribbons creates a refreshing pattern, blending perfectly with the graceful wood path and the Corten steel planters. The stepping platforms that are found at the roof deck’s end allow residents to take the concept of walking to a whole new level. The whole picture is made even more beautiful with the appearance of the crushed glass fountains along the walkway. Practice your golf in a unique setting As one of the main reasons for the development of Nouvelle at Natick was recreation, it should come as no surprise that two large circles have been created to be used as putting greens. The idea was to sustain active recreation in a space that has a lot of opportunities to offer. So, one can practice his or her golf skills, taking advantage of the choices presented in this unique setting. In conclusion, this urban oasis is an element of perfection. Every choice has been made with a purpose, such as the selection of trees to act as living screens and deliver protection against the wind. It is a genuine blend of landscaping and art. This is what sustainable urban living is all about, as the roof garden connects everything that is important to today’s modern world. Recommended Reading:

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

Article by Alexandra Antipa. Return to Homepage