Author: Land8: Landscape Architects Network

The Klyde Warren Park, Dallas, Texas, USA, by the Office of James Burnett – OJB The Dallas community has taken a bold step by deciding to construct a park over the existing Woodall Rogers Freeway in a busy area of the city. As a result of this initiative, the city’s Klyde Warren Park offers a new perspective on urban revitalization, showing that it does not need to be restricted to sites left behind with economic decline. It is a process that can also create new spaces that coexist with current users while enabling new functions.

Klyde Warren Park

Embraced by the citizens and adapted to existing elements An important characteristic of the park’s design was the fact that it has been idealized by the citizens despite having a large scale, which is usually associated with government initiatives. Some community leaders were able to see an opportunity to use the gap between the ground level, where the buildings and streets are located, and the sunken freeway to construct a deck to support an outdoor green area that is a mix of a pedestrian bridge and an urban park, connecting the Central Business District, Uptown, and the Arts District in downtown Dallas.

From the Initial Idea to its Completion The period between 2002 and 2004 was critical to define the leaders, identify the sponsors, and produce the studies of the project. Its main aim was to improve the quality of life in the busy center of Dallas by reducing traffic noise and air pollution through the construction of a park over the existing freeway. Properties Rise in Market Value An expected effect that engaged the real estate community in the project was the rise of the surrounding properties’ market value. As the idea evolved and demonstrated that it would bring many more benefits to the whole community, more people became interested in taking part in it, generating important donations. Although the park is owned by the city, the Woodall Rodgers Park Foundation managed all stages of the project until its completion in 2012.

The Design Concept of Klyde Warren Park

The award-winning landscape architect Jim Burnett, the principal of the Office of James Burnett, was chosen to lead the design of the five-acre park. The choice for a designer who is well known for his multidisciplinary approach challenging the conventional boundaries of landscape architecture showed that the citizens were interested in an innovative solution that enabled their reconnection to the urban fabric.

Design of a World-class Public Space As community leaders were researching the best solutions that had been built in other places, they were no longer interested in the old models that dissociated the business centers from outdoor activities and pedestrian areas. Those leaders represented the well-informed and convicted clients to whom the landscape architecture firm should create a design of a world-class public space. The Solution The designers’ solution resulted in a place that offers amenities to the residents and workers, in addition to enabling visitors to feel they also belong to it by producing comfortable and relaxing spaces. These environments were intended to transport the users to their own residences by offering them the opportunity to enjoy diverse activities by discovering the different “rooms” of the park. Related Articles:

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Spatial Organization A pedestrian promenade works as the element that organizes the park, inviting visitors to explore its different areas, including the children’s park with water features, the reading room, the restaurant, and the event lawn. The continuation of the pedestrian promenade over the adjacent street extends the visitors’ experience to the botanical garden, the dog park, the recreation lawn, and the games area. The Synthesis of Engineering and Landscape Design The concept, of building the park over the freeway, was only possible due to the combined efforts of engineers and landscape architects. More than 300 concrete beams were arranged with the slabs forming a structural deck to support the soil and enabling the construction of the stormwater system. The slab and beams system works as planter boxes to accommodate more than 300 trees and other native plants that are growing in the desired size in specially designed soil combined with Geofoam, which helps to reduce the load on the deck. The Positive Results The Klyde Warren Park fulfilled the citizens’ expectations by creating a layer with rooms of well-being to replace a typical modern urban landscape dominated by vehicles lanes. The locals and visitors now have a park where they can explore the outdoors and enjoy inspiring views of the surrounding buildings. WATCH: Dallas Klyde Warren Park Aerial Video: From Freeway to Greenway The general public can learn a lot from this case in relation to the community initiative to produce a healthier, beautiful, and more productive urban environment, which is a breakthrough in the urban model that has for years favored cars over people. And the landscape designers can celebrate the fact that their field of knowledge is playing a central role in the achievement of this goal. Photography by Liane Rochelle Photography, Dillon Diers, Mei Chun Jau, Thomas McConnell, Gary Zvonkovic Recommended Reading:

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

Article by Tania Gianone Return to Homepage

Quilotoa Crater Overlook, Zumbahua, Ecuador, by Jorge Javier Andrade Benítez, Javier Mera Luna, and Daniel Moreno. Lots of projects are being executed around the world that reinforce natural tourist attractions and are also appreciated by the critics. But projects in which the interventions of the client(s), users, and designer(s) fully reach expected outcomes remain rare. One such successful project is the Quilotoa Shalala Overlook in Zumbahua, Ecuador, a magical platform that enables visitors to step out over an active volcano or to quietly observe the natural beauty.

Sometimes the designer’s greatest challenge is not what to do, but what not to do. How an already perfect natural site can be changed to meet human needs and still not be compromised is the real lesson here.

Quilotoa Crater Overlook: The enchanted beauty

The crater is located in the Andes, 3,974 meters above sea level and some 170 kilometers southeast of Quilotoa. The untouched natural beauty and geographical peculiarities have made the site a tourist attraction of growing popularity. What makes the site most beautiful and distinguishable is the turquoise-colored lake that has formed inside the crater thanks to the natural minerals dissolved in the water. The diameter of the crater is about three kilometers.

Another important feature of the site is the Andean Paramo ecosystem that prevails here. WATCH: Quilotoa Crater Lake What is Andean Paramo? Only found in the Andes, this high-altitude mountain region of mostly wide-open grassland possesses a distinct flora and fauna, making it the most interesting of the life zones of the Andes. These regions have been inhabited by humans for approximately 15,000 years. Paramo regions are very sensitive lands for a designer to touch. From that point of view, the overlook was a great challenge that could have been a failure in a blink. The designers had to be as concerned about the variety of mammals, birds, insects, amphibians, and reptiles as with the Paramo vegetation, such as large and small shrubs, stunted trees, cushion plants, herbs, and rosette plants that provide shelter to the wildlife. Does the overlook deserve to be here? After understanding the site and its ecosystem, we must question the justification of building the overlook. When asking that question, it is vital to understand the people who are going to use it and, most importantly, who will benefit from it. Indigenous people of the Ecuadorian sierra have traditionally inhabited this area. There are still some scattered communities close to Quilotoa. Shalala is one such community, whose inhabitants have an age-old connection with the volcano. They are the people who initiated the tourism here by offering guided visits, accommodations, and restaurants. The Quilotoa Crater Overlook is a response by the Ministry of Tourism of Ecuador to aid the community-scale entrepreneurship by creating a gazebo and an access trail that connects with the existing tourism infrastructure on the slope of the volcano. The project was executed on the site in 2013, and it is already paying off. The tourist flow has significantly increased and the Shalala community is receiving revenue from the tourism business. What are the special considerations that made the project successful? The project’s main objectives were to:

• Accentuate the tourism business to support the Shalala community
• Complement nature and educate the people to preserve the Paramo
• Find a design solution that was least disturbing to the surrounding natural areas

So, let’s see what was done to achieve them. The gazebo is a structure that has two major platforms that give two totally different visual and physical experiences. The upper section extends far over the edge of the crater, giving visitors the chance to float over the volcano and experience a vertigo-like sensation. Below that, the other platform follows the natural slope, offering a place to sit, rest, and contemplate the landscape. The camouflaging access trail The access trail guides visitors to the viewpoint from the slope of the volcano. The trail had to be safe and walkable, while not altering the natural qualities of the Paramo landscape. So it was made by edging with stones and filled with gravel, which is not overpowering at all. Related Articles:

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Materials and colors The decision to use simple, uniform materials throughout the overlook gives the whole site the same aesthetic presence. The total structure is composed with an internal steel truss system, while the outer surface is dressed with teak wood that has a pre-weathered finish to easily blend in with the overgrown landscape. All the open edges are blocked with safety glass to ensure maximum uninterrupted views. Portability Each and every gesture of this intervention is an attempt to keep the present harmony of the site in place. That’s why the structure is designed in a way to be dismantled and removed if is is no longer needed. The Shalala community appreciated the project and is committed to keeping it in good condition. This is also an indicator that the intervention has been successful. The designers faced a major conceptual challenge in this project. While the total surroundings offer such magnificent views, what extra value can an overlook add? This question actually drove the design to complement nature, not to be a showcase of its own. It’s actually not trying to be attractive or overpowering; some design components are even hidden, making more room for the natural views. Photo Credits: Lorena Darquea – Pablo Puente – Javier Mera – Daniel Moreno Flores – Cynthia Macias Leiva – Santiago del Hierro Recommended Reading:

• Architecture in Northern Landscapes by Todd Saunders
• Site Engineering for Landscape Architects by Steven Strom

Article by Auditi Bridget Biswas Return to Homepage

LAN Tutorial: How to Randomise Hatches in Your AutoCAD Drawing with AutoCAD expert Rob Koningen. As no human being is the same no human being will organise their surrounding in the exact same way. Although people may live in a house which looks the same as their neighbour’s, any open space belonging to it, be it a balcony, patio or garden, is designed or decorated in a different way. When drawing an urban plan it’s nice to express this somehow.

Randomise Hatches in Your AutoCAD Drawing

To show a variation of gardens without having to draw the entire garden in urban plans the ‘Hatch Random’ command was created. It works really simple. You have to prepare some layers, as many as you like, and assign different colours to each layer. In your drawing, you apply these layers to a few entities so you can select them. Then you have to create closed polylines for the garden areas.

When you run the ‘Hatch Random’ command you will first have to select the polylines for the garden after which you select the entities that are on the layers of different colours. When you confirm that ‘palette’ the command will hatch all the polylines you’ve selected with a solid hatch. Related Articles:

• How to Show Topography in your Plan Drawing in AutoCAD
• 10 AutoCAD Hacks for Beginners!
• 3D Modeling Software for Landscape Architects

For every solid hatch, the command will choose a layer from that palette randomly. Although the command was initially created to hatch gardens, it can be used for any feature that needs a variation in colour. Think about a brick path for instance. Bricks can come in a variety of colours and when you are drawing a detailed plan drawing it can be nice to show this.

Randomise Hatches

Another way, to play with hatches in your drawing, is by randomising the patterns. With ‘Hatch Pattern Random’ you can select solid hatches, after which you can select hatches with any kind of pattern you like. Instead of making a palette of colours, like with ‘Hatch Random’, you make a palette of patterns.

The command will go through every solid hatch you selected and will change it into a pattern, randomly picked from the selection you made. That way you can easily create a patchwork of the different kind of hatches in an instant. It could be useful when you want to play with the direction of wooden elements on a boardwalk for instance. If you want to go really crazy you can apply random angles and scales as well. and now the video tutorial… The video in this post shows you a brief demonstration of how it works. You can go to the UrbanLISP app store to download them. As long as the commands carry the social download stamp you can download them for free after a tweet or like and try them for free. Enjoy! WATCH: How to Randomise Hatches in Your AutoCAD Drawing Video Tutorial 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

The Green Atrium That Defines the VAT83 Building, by PLH studio, Søborg, Copenhagen. The VAT83 building designed by the Danish studio PHL in Søborg, a neighborhood in Gladsaxe Municipality some 10 kilometers northwest of central Copenhagen, Denmark, is a multi-tenant office building. According PLH, the building’s main function is to give shelter to a number of different companies. There isn´t a single owner of the building; there are many owners, and the building design has to respond to this situation. Each floor is flexibly designed to allow for a high degree of customization. The building also offers a series of general facilities, such as a reception area, conference rooms, and dinner facilities.

The Green Atrium

One of the public facilities the VAT83 building offers is the green atrium, located at the center of the two L-shaped sections of the building. The atrium brings a unique character to the building. Its design and location create a space that provides a natural skylight, open interior views, and public areas where building occupants and visitors can relax for a while.

The green atrium is big enough that it doesn´t affect the privacy of the offices on the other floors when it´s in use. Its architectural layout allows pedestrian flow from one side of the building to another. With this, the green atrium becomes the circulation node of the building. Furthermore, its design — which mainly comprehends a simple but elegant color palette, a small plant palette, and variations of pavements — creates a harmonic public space that doesn´t have a specific character, so it can be neutral.

The use of Daylight in the Green Atrium

The key aspect of the green atrium´s design is focused on the use of daylight. To gain this, its structural design allows an open space without columns and provides enough daylight to the entire building. Because of this, the electrical energy consumption of the entire building is reduced.

The combination of all the elements creates a unique atrium, where all the colors help to generate a visual perception of a bigger space, relaxing, with warm colors in vertical and gray colors in horizontal. A main part of the color palette is the use of wood, not only as furniture, but also as a parapet. Different textures and types of pavement help to define small areas with distinct uses, such as rest areas. Gray, small-dimension tiles are used as a general pavement for the green atrium, while the same type of tiles, but in black, are used in areas near the benches. With this, the differentiation between transitional space and sitting areas is made. Beauty is in the details In the public area of the VAT83 building, PLH studio decided to include small, but important details that reinforce the character of the green atrium; such details relied on the furniture and the green plant palette. Related Articles:

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Groups of bamboo are used as a green barrier surrounding wooden benches, reinforcing privacy as needed. The other plant species used is a creeping plant, which is used as part of the roof gardens of the private spaces of the atrium. Both are shade plants, which require minimum maintenance, including irrigation or pruning, with a very satisfactory growth. The last, but not least important detail, is the pond. It is at ground level and contains three modules of wooden benches, together with three groups of bamboo. The only access to one of these modules is by crossing the pond over stone steps. The proposal of a green atrium, which is the public core of a building that has to be impartial in its design because there are many different owners, is a challenging project perfectly designed by PLH studio. By proposing warm colors, simple geometries and forms, a basic green plant palette, and an elegant selection of materials, the concept of an interior atrium is redefined. Recommended Reading:

• Design with Nature by Ian L. McHarg
• Principles of Ecological Landscape Design  by Travis Beck

Article by Luis Eduardo Guísar Benítez Return to Homepage

Bicycle Club, by  NL Architects, in Sanya, the Netherlands. The Hainan Province is the smallest province of China. Just as its name says, the Hainan island (or the “South of the Sea”) is located in the southern part of the country, surrounded by the South China Sea. Hainan province, where it is summer all year round, is home to almost 9 million people and is known as the Eastern Hawaii. It is a popular destination due to its climate and features. Vanke, the largest residential real estate developer in the People’s Republic of China, teamed with Amsterdam-based firm NL Architects to develop in Sanya, Hainan, one of the most impressive bicycle pavilions for a great resort. Below: Check out the Presentation The bicycle pavilion is a totally functional reinterpretation of a pagoda The building requested by Vanke is located in Block 5, part of a resort development that consists of eight blocks of six stories for individual houses on top of a commercial ground floor with shops, restaurants, and bars. The bike pavilion is both a sport and leisure facility, with bike rental services and coffee shops to be accommodated in the new building.

Related Articles:

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The innovative design that allows bicycle enthusiasts to pedal on the roof, just like in a common velodrome, is a modern interpretation of the pagoda, maybe the most well known type of construction that dates from ancient China.

On one hand, the oversized curved roof seems to float over a glass-enclosed coffee shop and restrooms on the ground floor. On the other hand, considering the tropical climate of Hainan and the never-ending summer, the protruding roof acts just like a marquise does, shading the facilities from the ground floor. The idea is an adequate modern answer to an old need. The elegant, oval space on the roof top is a strength for the resort, a healthy facility for the residents, and a tourist attraction. Bicycle club visitors can rent a bike and pedal for a slow ride around the island, return to the pavilion for refreshments and rest, then take a fast ride on the rooftop while enjoying the landscape. The resort also provides leisure and retail facilities, but the bicycle pavilion is the most attractive. A virtuous circle shaped in a magnificent oval The bicycle club in Sanya is not only a way of spending time in a healthy manner and a place where people can meet and communities gather. It’s not only a bike rental service and a velodrome track. The bicycle club is all of these things and more — a major improvement for residents and an honest answer from the developer on the new standards of life. But most of all, the bike pavilion can become a symbol of the area, an easy recognizable brand the island can use to attract more residents and tourists and, with that, grow the economy. An outstanding project such as the bicycle club pavilion in Sanya is a virtuous circle of the community, local authorities, and tourists. Recommended Reading:

• Urban Design  by Alex Krieger
• The Urban Design Handbook: Techniques and Working Methods by Urban Design Associates

Article by Diana Ispas Return to Homepage

For a number of years, the landscape architecture profession has seen a rapid increase in the adoption of three-dimensional modeling to aid the creative process and express design intent. As a result, this increase has fueled a surge in the slew of 3D modeling software programs on the market, with the majority bearing a hefty price tag. Whether you’re a penniless newbie or a seasoned professional, choosing a new and foreign piece of software can often prove bemusing. Here are five programs to consider, both gratis and costly.

3D Modeling Software

1. Blender Ultimately aimed toward the 3D artist market, Blender makes the list because it presents a free, open source application for learning the art and craft of the 3D modeling world. The latest version of Blender features a slick interface comprised of three windows, and can be completely customized to your liking. The layout may seem daunting to curious newcomers, so the software aptly includes a well-structured manual and the Blender website contains copious step-by-step tutorials. Being an open source project, Blender benefits from user-based development, resulting in continuous improvements and bug fixes. Possessing a versatile interface and all the tools needed for 3D modeling, animation, and rendering, Blender is perfect for those not wanting to open their wallets. 2. SketchUp Make WATCH: Make Ideas Real with SketchUp This little gem also eschews the trend of exorbitantly priced 3D modeling software and presents a free, easy-to-use alternative. SketchUp is a fast, flexible, and fun application that allows you to create, view, and modify 3D ideas quickly and easily. Users can even integrate with Google Earth, posting their latest creations for the world to see. Despite its ease of use, SketchUp isn’t scant on functionality, and includes the usual collection of drawing and filling tools you would expect. Being free, SketchUp does lack some of the advanced features many of its heavyweight rivals possess. But with its no-frills interface, simple logic, and abundance of helpful hints and guides, it’s the perfect tool for beginner and intermediate designers alike. 3. AutoDesSys Bonzai3d The guys at AutoDesSys have taken a fresh approach to 3D modeling with Bonsai3d, intending to provide rapid conceptual modeling in a similar vein to SketchUp. The two are, however, rather different in their approach and the breadth of their toolsets. Bonsai3d has a collection of specific tools, whereas SketchUp tends to stick to a few general ones.

Bonsai3d fuses NURBS (Non-uniform rational B-spline) curves with polygon modeling, offering greater flexibility and precision when working. Another great feature is Bonsai3d’s embedded instructional videos, allowing you private self-tutelage. Exchanging ideas and problem solving is even made easy through its dedicated 24/7 online forum. For just under $500 USD, this small and intuitive piece of software has extensive capabilities. 4. Nemetscheck Vectorworks Landmark This robust and easy-to-use software is the only major stand-alone program designed for use in landscape architecture. Vectorworks assumes you want to work with both 2D drawing and 3D modeling, integrating both into a versatile, seamless product. This allows you to simply switch between plan and 3D view in seconds, and eliminates the need for AutoCAD altogether! The software comes packed with superb site detail libraries and industry-specific tools such as the parking tool, allowing you to quickly lay out a parking area complete with cutouts for plant medians. WATCH: Nemetschek Vectorworks Landmark even has its very own plant database, containing names and botanical information, and can be fully customized by adding your own data. The guys at Vectorworks realize that they aren’t the industry standard, so have made it possible to import/export data from a wide variety of other programs, such as SketchUp, 3ds Max, and AutoCAD. Vectorworks Landmark is a dedicated program designed for our profession, giving you the ability to create accurate plans and spectacular presentations. Coming in at $2,195 USD, it’s rather dear, but a worthy investment. Related Articles:

• Top 10 Hints & Tips For SketchUp
• 10 AutoCAD Hacks for Beginners!
• Computer Aided Software for Landscape Architects: The Essential Guide

5. Autodesk 3ds Max Considered a major player within the 3D modeling community, 3ds Max is capable of delivering a powerful rendering experience. The software offers polygon, subdivision, and NURBS modeling, resulting in the creation of smooth surfaces with supreme accuracy. Fully customizable interfaces help streamline work space and enhance productivity, while a multitude of editing tools allow precise model manipulation. A relatively new addition to 3ds Max is the population feature – giving you the ability to add people to a scene to give it life, ideal for landscape architecture modeling. A huge advantage of using 3ds Max is its support of AutoCAD pattern files, making it possible to create animated and visually interesting CAD illustrations. Mastering 3ds Max presents a steep learning curve due its cutting-edge features, and can be intimidating to beginners. As with all Autodesk products, online tutorials are available to help you tackle any problem you may encounter. Predominately geared toward professional environments, Autodesk 3ds Max is one of the best options for your three-dimensional needs, hence its astronomical price – ranging from $3,500 to $4,000 USD. WATCH: 3D Architecture Animation – demo reel 2008 Of the plethora of 3D modeling software out there today, these five programs are among the best for use in landscape architecture. Whatever your choice, take the time to learn the program inside out. In this day and age, it’s a valuable skill to have. Recommended Reading:

• SketchUp 2014 For Dummies by Aidan Chopra
• The Complete Guide to Blender Graphics, Second Edition: Computer Modeling and Animation by John M. Blain

Article by Paul McAtomney Return to Homepage Featured image: Julia Garan / shutterstock.com

Field House, by 81.WAW.PL., in Poland. The world functions based on stereotypes. It is an effective way to perceive and comprehend reality. Stereotypes apply in most cases; therefore they are valuable. Field House in Poland, designed by the dynamic and young office 81.WAW.PL challenges the common stereotype known as a “house with garden”. Exterior and interior spaces are usually clearly distinguished. They are places that are separated and handled differently during the design process. The garden surrounds and contains the built volume, and it separates it from the general context. There is a linear element, such as a fence, which defines the garden and the property.

Not the Usual House with Garden

This is what “usually” happens. However, this description does not apply to the project in question. Materials and architectural elements have been used in a most extraordinary way for the Field House design. Stone, concrete, glass, vegetation, and water have been blended in order to achieve a special and coherent result.

Blending into the Environment  The architects have set as important parameters ensuring the residents’ privacy and integrating the residence into the landscape. The built volume, that includes the domestic functions, has been clearly separated from the adjacent street by creating a buffer zone between the two. The transitional space includes the central access to the house and a built volume that houses the car garage. A green roof located on top of the garage softens its presence by creating an inclined garden on a different level. The main entrance is revealed only when one approaches the house, in order to provide an element of surprise. A long stone wall along the transitional zone forms the site boundary and encloses both interior and exterior spaces. It also serves as a link between the street and the field before the house façade. Location, Location, Location Field House is located in an incredible setting. The residence has a view toward a river on the south side. The façade before the lake has been entirely designed with glass, allowing the view toward the landscape. Related Articles:

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The presence of water as an artificial element appears on the north side of the building. A small reservoir surrounds the main entrance and the zone of everyday activities. Two large openings on the stone wall frame the view toward the water. The small platform on the water surface serves as a seating area and adds one more landscape variation for the residents. Large white stone slabs form the hardscape around the house. They are rectangular and create an irregular pattern of narrow and wide surfaces. They are placed in order to allow the lawn to grow among them, blurring the boundary between paths and planting beds. This architectural gesture provides the space with a sense of totality and coherence. The informal path leads to the main veranda on the south side of the house, where the view of the river can be enjoyed. The dispersed clusters of grasses provide a sense of motion and a variety of textures to the landscape.

Blurring the Boundaries of a House with Garden

Field House combines a variety of interesting elements and qualities of its design. The house is not a separate object that has landed in the garden around it. Both spaces have been shaped as a whole, and they are absolutely connected to each other. The volume that hosts the garage becomes a feature of the landscape instead of an unavoidable necessity.The water reservoir connects and structures the north side of the residence.

The green surfaces soften the strict geometry of the built volumes. The lack of color in the vegetation is an added value, since it applies to the simplicity of the architectural design. However, there appear to be no trees around the house and inner garden. Trees would allow the house to integrate better with its surroundings, create shade, and filter the views to and from the house openings. Field House has not been constructed yet, so one can only review the designers’ intentions. What is yet to be found out is whether these intentions will reach the desired result once the project is finished. Chances are that they will, and our notion regarding a “house with garden” might start to change. 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

The Peninsula at Burswood, by Hassell Landscape Architects, cooperating with artist Stuart Green, Perth, Western Australia As a country that features several world-class projects,  Australia has set a high standard in the field of exceptional landscape architecture. The Peninsula at Burswood in Perth by Hassell Studios is another project meticulously designed to the highest perfection. More than 2.5 hectares (six acres) of the new residential development includes parks, gardens, and community recreation areas. Thanks to a generous injection of 700 million Australian dollars, this leading-edge community is setting a new benchmark for residential projects, not only in Western Australia, but worldwide.

What kinds of public spaces have to be provided for a residential development of 3,000 people?

The built environment of The Peninsula is still under construction, but once completed, it will encompass a diverse mix of contemporary residences and luxurious apartment buildings, ultimately providing a vibrant home to about 3,000 people. However, the public realm components were completed in 2007, offering aesthetically pleasing outdoor residential spaces, plazas, streetscapes, mixed-use spaces, public open spaces, and pedestrian networks to the first and future settlers.

The Unconventional Roundabout Hassell has given detailed thought to a pedestrian-friendly design that forms an integral part of the development. For example, the circular park, located in the center, is constructed as a unique roundabout providing a safe and comfortable mix of occasional vehicular and pedestrian circulation. The generous meadow in the midst of this plaza serves as a meeting point and provides possible places for community events and festivities. The different types of vegetation on the huge roundabout also allow various activities, such as a weekend family picnic in the shadow of a tree or a spontaneous game of hide-and-seek among neighborhood children next to shrubs and perennials. The Main Plaza Oasis The main plaza is located along the central spine of the site. Running between two 10-plus-story buildings, this unique meeting point connects the circular park and the lower houses to the west. The mix of different materials and floor coverings — characteristic to the whole project — aesthetically signalizes where the vehicular traffic is subordinated to pedestrians. In the case of the main plaza, particolored concrete separates the pedestrian-only area from rare vehicular traffic at the edge. A water basin with playful fountains, asphalt footbridges, and wooden decks are located in the center of the plaza. Surrounded by beds of perennials, lawn, and trees, they form a stunning oasis between the high buildings, leaving no doubt that this is indeed the popular main plaza. The Promenade Following right after the main plaza is “The Promenade”, where different bodies of water allude to the historic Burswood Peninsula canal. Residents and visitors strolling along the promenade and the park next to it or resting at benches are treated to vistas of the skyline of Perth in the background. This pleasant environment at the western edge of The Peninsula blends with the attractive surroundings of the Swan River. Through incorporating walkways and cycleways into the design of this residential development, easy public access to the river foreshore is enabled in walking distance. The Finishing Touch of Art in this Exceptional Residential Development There are three conspicuous color spots at The Peninsula. All of them originate from Stuart Green, the design artist for the public open spaces. The sculptures are located in each of the most important spots of the site: at the circular park, the main plaza, and integrated in the wooden footbridge of the Promenade. Referring to Stuart Green’s website, the artwork on the bridge took as its starting point “snagged tree branches in a flowing river”, while the other two were inspired by the “rib form of a river boat moored to trees on the river bank”. All these large-scale sculptures were given a conspicuous color pallet over mild steel-welded construction. Related articles:

• The Australian Garden that Everyone’s Talking About
• 10 Great Projects Showing Why Australia are Leaders in Landscape Architecture
• Landscaping with Australian Plants: Book Review

Drawing Subtly on History With this $700 million project, the former Cement Factory of Burswood was transformed into one of Perth’s last remaining large-scale residential development sites close to the city. Hassell studios achieved a distinctly urban character, which draws subtly on the historic and natural aspects of the site. They created various unique outdoor spaces that favor pedestrians over cars and allow us to dream about similar investments in lots of other residential developments and council estates. Recommended Reading:

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

Article by Sophie Thiel Return to Homepage

A book review of Urban Acupuncture: Celebrating Pinpricks of Change that Enrich City Life by  Jaime Lerner. A review of Urban Acupuncture: Celebrating Pinpricks of Change that Enrich City Life, by Jaime Lerner. Translated from the Portuguese by Ariadne Daher, Mac Margolis, and Peter Muello. Published by Island Press, 2014. Hardcover. 143 pages. Through the telling of hundreds of little urban stories, Urban Acupuncture was created to be an inspirational guide. Jaime Lerner wants us to rethink our cities and take a look closer at all of the small details and people that make up our urban landscapes.

The Structure of Urban Acupuncture

At 143 pages, with illustrations on nearly every second page and a font size even my mother could read without difficulty, Urban Acupuncture is kept simple and of a definitely manageable size. A preface by Carol Coletta from the Knight Foundation, a foreword by Jan Gehl (who is an architect and also an author), and an introduction make up the first pages of the book. The content is then subdivided into 39 chapters, each two to six pages long. Those chapters bear names such as “People in the Streets”, “Draw your City”, or “Light is Good Acupuncture”. Every chapter tells at least one, but more often several little stories subordinated to the chapter’s specific topic. I find fault with some of the chosen chapter names. Sometimes the content of the chapters is not apparent at all, with names such as “A Letter to Fellini” or “The Presence of Genius”. Furthermore, the numbering of pages within the table of contents is missing, which makes it impossible to open the book at a specific chapter directly and solve the mystery of the chapter’s name.

Content of Urban Acupuncture

Nevertheless, all of the chapters tell heart-warming and inspiring stories. It is these kinds of little city tales that make you wonder if a city – no matter its size – could be called a city without them. While reading the book, you can literally feel Lerner’s passion for planning and his deep understanding of every unique city he has visited in his life. Occasionally, I found it hard to continue reading the book instead of leaping up, running out to the people, and starting to change my urban surroundings for the better.

Get it HERE! With Urban Acupuncture, Lerner shares his visions of great cities with us. He draws our attention not only to the physical features of every city, but also to the cultural, psychological, and many other factors. As he states it: “Just as good medicine depends on the interaction between doctor and patient, successful urban planning involves triggering healthy responses within the city, probing here and there to stimulate improvements and positive chain reactions. Intervention is all about revitalization, an indispensable way of making an organism function and change.”

Should you get Urban Acupuncture?

Professional language hardly exists, which makes this book an easy guide for anyone who wants to get involved in little changes for the better – the so-called “Pinpricks”. Of course, this is not a negative aspect, but as an evolving landscape architect, I was hoping for more detailed descriptions or sketches. However, often the most difficult tasks turn out to be much simpler than you think, and Urban Acupuncture encourages us to look for ideas and solutions that are easy to spread and to translate into practice.

This book is definitely worth reading for anyone who is interested or involved in city life. It not only talks about planning, but also about how to be responsible for making a project spark, especially for those people working as landscape architects or city planners. Reconsidering the importance of the role residents play in every city was a something I learned throughout the book. Get inspired by this book’s straightforwardness, and start creating your own visions and pinpricks of change.

Pick up your copy of Urban Acupuncture

Review by Sophie Thiel Return to Homepage

An Interview with talented plantsman Adam Woodruff. Let yourself be fascinated by planting design, and discover a particular discipline that is very important for landscape architecture practice. This specialized area of landscape architecture includes plant selection ability and horticultural knowledge about the growth requirements of plants, but also a visual touch. Adam Woodruff, owner and founder of Adam Woodruff + Associates, is a young, talented plant designer based in Clayton, Missouri, who is starting to affirm a new view of visual and botanical attention in planting design.

Woodruff shares with us his knowledge and his approach as a plant designer. Here you can find some information about his practice and advice to help you be a better landscape designer.

Interview with Adam Woodruff

LAN: During concept creation, how long do you spend imagining the design directly on the site? And how long do you spend contemplating solutions in the studio? Woodruff: I don’t like to rush concept development. It’s a time to dream and to contemplate the possibilities. I am very visual, so I spend a considerable amount of time on site early in the design process. I work for the organization of space, flow through the garden, views, and screening, etc.Later, in the studio, I develop preliminary ideas more fully. I am frequently back and forth to the site, verifying concepts before presenting them. LAN: What are the most important things to choose and match in working with such different plant species as you do? Woodruff: For successful plantings, always consider the cultural requirements of the plants you are combining. LAN: What are the benefits of using tropical plants in your projects? Woodruff: I use tropical plants and seasonal annuals to ensure continuous bloom.Typically, they offer strong architectural forms and bring a unique presence to the garden. Some of my favorites include:

• Cardoon (Cynara cardunculus)
• Canna lily (Canna spp.)
• Elephant ear (Alocasia spp., Colocasia spp.)
• Terrestrial bromeliad (Aechmea spp., Hohenbergia castellanosii)
• Castor plant (Ricinus communis)
• Banana (Musa spp., Ensete maurelii)
• Mother-in-law’s tongue (Sansevieria spp.)
• Coleus (Solenostemon scutellarioides)
• Croton (Codiaeum spp.)

LAN: This year, you won the Gardenista Considered Design Awards as the Best Professional Landscape for the “Jones Road” project. How did you choose those perfect color combinations to get that extraordinary natural visual result? Woodruff: The garden was designed in 2008 as a block-style planting. It was my first foray into a large-scale perennial garden design. Initially, the palette was inspired by Piet Oudolf’s Lurie Garden at Millennium Park in Chicago, but the plants were arranged differently. Since then, I have evolved as a designer, largely influenced by travels to Europe to visit significant gardens and their designers. Jones Road served as a trial ground. The garden has become an intermingled planting with fewer blocks of perennials. While color plays a role in plant selection, it is only one of the criteria. LAN: How have Piet Oudolf and Roy Diblik inspired you and your practice? Woodruff: I first met the pair in 2009. Roy, during the summer in St. Louis, Missouri, at the Perennial Plant Association’s annual conference and Piet, later that fall, in the Netherlands during an open day at his private garden. These early interactions sparked a creative awakening in me. I realized my work could be more. Piet is a master at creating atmosphere, evident in all of his works and exemplified at his private garden in Hummelo. It’s an ethereal place! I was so moved by my visit in 2009, I’ve returned four times since. I’ve visited most of his other gardens in an effort to connect with the underlying emotional resonance in his work. Piet creates living, dynamic art! His evocative planting schemes are aspirational to me. Roy is a brilliant plantsman. During the PPA conference, he shared his philosophy: a common-sense approach to planting design based on how plants are found in nature — growing together in communities that share similar habitat and cultural requirements. His designs are not only beautiful, they are practical models of sustainability, diversity, and low maintenance. Over the years, the pair have been open and very generous with me. We share a love of plants and beauty. While I continue to refine my style, I understand the importance of developing a signature independent of those who inspire me. LAN: Do you design your garden already thinking to its dynamic nature and all changes that will come in following years? Woodruff: My design solutions are intuitive, heavily plant-based. They are built over several seasons. I start with a good base layer, (and) add enhancements to create more visually dynamic displays with a good bloom succession, diversity, and seasonal interest. I am fortunate to have patient clients who support my experimentation and appreciate that building a garden is a process for me. I don’t know that I’ll ever be able to put it all on paper and pass it off to an installer. LAN: What are three of the biggest mistakes you see in large scale planting plans today? Woodruff:

1. Designing the macro experience while overlooking the micro experience, or vice versa. Gardens need to be legible from a distance, and sufficiently interesting up close and personal.
2. A lack of diversity.
3. The use of hardwood mulch. Roy Diblik has been a long promoter of leaf compost as an alternative for healthier perennials. He points out that in nature, perennials and grasses grow in their own debris, not surrounded by wood mulch.

LAN: In your experience, who is the perfect client and who is the worst? Woodruff: There is no perfect client. While unlimited budgets and complete creative control are nice, working with constraints is more often the reality. Challenging clients and situations present opportunities for growth. Trust your instincts, particularly when interviewing a potential client. Successful relationships are built on mutual respect and trust, and some relationships just require more attention than others. LAN: Have you ever had problems with maintenance that changed your project once it was finished? Woodruff: Early in my career, I designed, installed, and maintained a large and elaborate garden that received a fair amount of attention. At the request of the client, the garden was to include significant seasonal color. I wove annuals and tropicals between perennials, ornamental grasses, and shrubs. The seasonal components were redesigned each year. It was a very high-maintenance design. In 2010, we moved from St. Louis to the East Coast. I hadn’t considered that one day I might not be involved with the project. I’m less than satisfied with how the garden looks today. This has led me to rethink how I design. I’m much more interested in creating gardens that live beyond my involvement. LAN: If somebody wanted to follow in your footsteps, what advice would you give them? Woodruff: There is nothing formulaic about my career trajectory. Serendipity continues to play a major role. Some pointers I’ve learned along the way:

• Follow your passion.
• Be curious.
• Travel to see gardens beyond your region.
• Don’t compromise artistic integrity — you’ll regret it later.
• With each new project, experiment and take some controlled risks.
• Have a trial garden.
• Know your strengths and play to them. We can’t be good at everything. Collaborate when necessary. If business is not your forte, hire a consultant and a good accountant.
• Build your business on referrals, not advertising.
• Never forget that you are the brand.
• Join a professional trade organization.
• Identify a mentor.
• Network with other designers and gardeners whose work you admire.
• Network with professionals in adjacent industries — architects, interior designers, etc. They are a great source for referrals.

LAN: If you could recommend just one book on plants, what it be and why? Woodruff: With so many plants, recommending just one book is impossible. Some of my favorite resources include:

• The Well-Tended Perennial Garden, by Tracy DiSabato-Aust
• Manual of Woody Landscape Plants, by Michael Dirr
• The Know Maintenance Perennial Garden, by Roy Diblik
• The American Meadow Garden, by John Greenlee
• Designing with Plants, by Piet Oudolf & Noel Kingsbury
• Planting Design: Gardens in Time and Space, by Piet Oudolf & Noel Kingsbury
• Planting: A New Perspective, by Piet Oudolf & Noel Kingsbury
• Dream Plants for the Natural Garden, by Piet Oudolf & Henk Gerritsen
• Planting the Natural Garden, by Piet Oudolf & Henk Gerritsen

LAN: What’s next for you? What else are you currently working on? Woodruff: At the moment, I’m installing a two-acre landscape and gardens for a new home in Ladue, Missouri. The client is a young couple with small children. The design compliments the home’s French-style architecture without being too fussy. The aesthetic is soft and naturalistic juxtaposed with formality: clipped hedges and patterned repetition of structural elements like trees and shrubs. Also, I’ve recently taken on an exciting (and challenging) new commission in South Texas, designing the landscape and pleasure gardens for a 19-acre estate. Thank you so much to Adam Woodruff for sharing his knowledge and giving us some new interesting tips in planting design. You can find more information about Woodruff’s projects at www.adamwoodruff.com. Interview conducted by Maura Caturano Return to Homepage

Learn how to put a stop to the things that are stopping you! Would you like to get more done in a shorter time span? Would you like to have more free time to spend doing things you love? Perhaps you would like to be more financially competitive by spending fewer hours on projects? There are many incentives to increase your productivity in the studio. Here we share with you the top productivity killers in the studio and show you how to avoid them.

Productivity Killers

9. Lack of inspiration Chefs constantly taste their food. They also regularly taste other chefs’ food. Would you want to eat a meal prepared by a chef who never tastes any food? With impending deadlines and a work culture that praises long hours spent in the studio, it can be tempting to never venture outside. But it is vitally important that landscape architects regularly visit the landscape and take inspiration from it. Taking a few hours out to regain your inspiration can make a world of difference to your productivity in the studio.

8. Poor diet Yes. Poor dietary habits can have a drastic effect on productivity in the studio. We are all aware of what a healthy, balanced diet should be, but when it comes to working long hours on that demanding landscape architecture project, a healthy diet can fly out the window. Experts agree that skipping breakfast can be a major productivity killer. According to Business Insider, foods that can increase productivity include: • Berries — Their antioxidants can help fight the ravages of stress • Eggs – They contain choline, a natural compound found to help maintain brain cell membranes and thus aid brain function • Salmon — Rich in omega fatty acids, salmon can help strengthen the central nervous system • Dark chocolate — Yes, chocolate can be beneficial to your health. Dark chocolate has been shown to lower blood pressure and increase blood flow to the brain (thus aiding productivity). 7. Failing to take regular breaks Generally speaking, we do not take enough breaks throughout the day. Studies show that even a short break of two minutes every hour can increase productivity by more than 11 percent. Even a 15-second break every 10 minutes is enough to reduce fatigue by 50 percent. Longer breaks have greater benefits, including reducing Repetitive Strain Injuries (RSI), resting eyes, and benefiting the creative process. Schedule regular breaks away from your computer throughout the day in order to stay productive in the studio. 6. Monotony The “Mozart Effect” is a term first coined by French researcher Dr. Alfred A. Tomalis in 1991 to describe the short-term, positive mental effects of listening to the music of Mozart. It is purported that listening to the recordings of this particular musical genius can increase mental ingenuity and spatial-temporal reasoning for a short period of time. The good news is that it is not only the music of Mozart that can bring about this rousing effect. Listening to any music that you find exciting and uplifting can have a positive impact upon productivity. Related Articles:

• 6 Surprising Tricks You Need to Know for a Site Visit
• The 10 People You’ll Find In The Studio
• 4 Steps to Help You Get a Job as a Landscape Architect

5. Poor work flow

There are a plethora of software packages available to the landscape architect. Finding the right packages and knowing how to use them to create the most productive work flow is vital. Even something as simple as investigating the relationship between packages such as LandF/X and Sketchup can cut hours off your modeling time. It is always worth asking around and seeing what other people do to increase their productivity in the studio through effective work flow. 4. Multi-failing There has been a lot written about the myth of multitasking in recent years. Yet it can still be strangely compelling to try to do everything all at once. The fact is that when we try to do two things at the same time, both are likely to take longer — with poorer results. The answer is prioritizing. Try writing a daily schedule or use a program such as Desktop Calendar and Personal Planner, available as a free download from CNET. 3. Bad work environment A bad work environment can have far-reaching effects on productivity in the studio. Everything from poor lighting and ventilation to color schemes and flooring material can make an impact. While we might not have the power to change the lighting or decor in our studio, one important thing we can do is to bring plants into our working environment. A recent paper published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology: Applied, concluded that having sufficient plantings in the office can increase a worker’s productivity by up to 15 percent, as well as increase workplace satisfaction by 40 percent. This is in addition to a whole host of other benefits, such as increased air quality and noise reduction. So get the pencil out and design a planting scheme for your own studio. 2. Specific websites The thing about distractions is they are unique to each individual. If you find yourself constantly distracted by a certain website, then Stay Focused (the free Chrome plug-in) could save you hours. It works by allowing users to specify periods of free access to their most distracting websites, then blocking access to those websites at all other times. 1. Social media According to Statistic Brain, we now spend a shocking average of 15 hours and 33 minutes of our “free” time on social media alone (not including all those other internet distractions such as email and news sites)! It can be tempting to “just quickly check Facebook” when in the studio working on your latest assignment. Here’s how to overcome the temptation: Anti-Social is an app with a free trial and 60-day money-back guarantee that will block those pesky social media websites from your PC and/or Mac for any given period of time, allowing you to work distraction free. There’s a lot to be said for working smarter, not harder. We often overlook simple things such as taking regular breaks and going home early enough to take a walk through the park. Unfortunately, there are several productivity killers in the studio. But the good news is you can make simple, positive steps to enhancing your productivity, such as eating well and increasing the number of plants in your studio. Failing that, there are more immediate measures you can take, such as installing website and social media blocking software on your computer. Whatever you chose to do to increase your productivity in the studio, we guarantee it will be worth it. Recommended Reading: 

• The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey
• Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity by David Allen

Article by Ashley Penn Return to Homepage

Have you ever heard of the word tūndar? Tundra derives from the Russian word tūndar, meaning treeless plain. Tundra is the coldest of all the biomes, with the lowest temperatures and shortest growing seasons. It is characterized by extremely harsh conditions, poor nutrients, wind, and drought. Still, some unique plant species not only survive in the tundra, they bring beauty to the modest scenery. Tundra landscapes may be technically divided into three biome regions: arctic, alpine, and antarctic tundra. Generally, those three tundra types cover parts of the northern hemisphere, including the northern parts of Russia, Canada, and Alaska, as well as American Cordillera, the Alps, and other mountains worldwide, reaching to several Antarctic islands.

Tundra Plants With Unique Characteristics

To survive in such severe climate zones, tundra plants have developed some unique characteristics. For example, very few trees grow there because of the permanently frozen soil layer, called permafrost, which doesn’t allow deep-rooted plants (such as trees) to grow. However, there are a variety of plants, including low shrubs, flowers, grasses, and mosses, which definitely have a lot to offer. Take a look behind the scenes of the most amazing tundra plants for landscape architects: 10. Saskatoon berry (Amelanchier alnifolia)

A. alnifolia is a fascinating shrub due to its multiple ornamental features: delicate white flowers in spring, tasty blue berries in summer, and dazzling yellow and red fall color. It is also useful for controlling erosion through its knitting rhizomes, without being aggressive. A. alnifolia is extremely hardy and highly adaptable to hills, rocks, or stream sides. 9. Tundra rose (Potentilla fruticosa) Another flowering shrub, tundra rose is often used as an ornamental plant by landscaping firms because of its hardiness and low maintenance. P. fruticosa is an appealing shrub in the wild and has variable cultivars, with flowers from white to yellow, orange, and pink. All the cultivars are hardy and produce small but abundant flowers, fascinating through their vividness. 8. Labrador tea (Rhododendron groenlandicum) R. groenlandicum is vivid, too, but in a rather different way. It is a low, slow-growing shrub with evergreen leaves that are used to make tea for treating colds. This attractive, sweet-scented shrub needs only moist acid soil to show its full brilliance. Along with other advantages, the plant is used in closets to protect against moths. Not quite the ordinary plant to have in your garden, but why not try something outlandish? 7. Northern redcurrant (Ribes triste) Or try something reddish. R. triste is a flowering shrub that grows in wet, rocky woods and on cliffs. Often used in mixed borders and small urban gardens as a year-round structural element, its edible, bright red fruits and nice reddish fall color may add a pleasant sense of warmth to your urban landscape. 6. Bearberries (Arctostaphylos spp.) Speaking of urban landscapes, have you ever wondered how to landscape a poor-soiled plot with a low-growing perennial, requiring minimal care? Bearberries are the perfect solution. Landscape architects use them as ground cover on hillsides, rocky grounds, or under trees and shrubs. If put along rock walls, a Bearberry cascade will soften the appearance of the overall picture. Related Articles:

• 9 Awesome Ways to Use Plants
• Top 10 Dangerous Plants
• Landscaping With Australian Plants l Book Review

5. Purple saxifrage (Saxifraga oppositifolia) Another rock-breaker, as its Latin name suggests (Saxifraga means rock-breaker), grows in barren, rocky landscapes in all kinds of cold temperatures. It is an evergreen cushion-forming perennial, which forms alluring magenta to pale pink or white cup flowers. Although the plant isn’t easily available, it can be grown in gardens if planted in very dry spots. It can also be used in rock gardens to “break up” the rocky scenery.

4. Moss campion (Silene acaulis) A similar cushion-forming tundra plant is the evergreen perennial S. acaulis. Captivating, tender, star-shaped flowers spread like tufted pink carpet covering the ground. It is exceptionally beautiful when used in rock cracks, containers, or among stepping stones. 3. Tussock grass (Deschampsia cespitosa) To continue with perennials, here is D. cespitosa, also known as Tufted hairgrass. This low-maintenance ornamental grass is useful for erosive terrains and heavily damaged environments. It is suitable for borders and containers, providing fine texture and aerial flowers, mesmerizingly stirring on windy days. 2. Cottongrass (Eriophorum angustifolium) Even more pleasing views are created by the white, feathery flowers of Cottongrass. This hardy herbaceous and aquatic sedge is the perfect choice for water gardens or patio water containers, bringing fine taste and subtlety into the garden. 1. Reindeer moss (Cladonia rangiferina) One last representative of the exceptional tundra wildlife is Reindeer moss. Although this is lichen, not a plant, it is actually broadly used in home and outdoor decorations, architectural models, and dish gardens, perhaps due to its bizarre beauty. There are so many uses for such miniature plants, hardy and delicate at the same time. Is this the secret of tundra plants? To have the multiple characteristics that allow them to survive and still be beautiful in that eccentric, yet enchanting way? Recommended Reading:

• Planting: A New Perspective by Noel Kingsbury
• Right Plant, Right Place: Over 1400 Plants for Every Situation in the Garden by Nicola Ferguson

Article by Velislava Valcheva Return to Homepage