Author: Land8: Landscape Architects Network

Mulini Beach, 3LHD Architects, Rovinj, Croatia. Well-executed public park projects are not created solely at the large-scale master planning level or the detail-oriented design development phase. Successful projects are a result of a cohesive planning and conceptual development process carrying through to the final details. The attractiveness of Mulini Beach in Rovinj, Croatia, is due to the strong conceptual and detail development by an interdisciplinary team of architects, landscape architects, and engineers. Designers were faced with the challenge of creating a public park along the waterfront on a piece of ever-changing real estate. One of the biggest design obstacles influencing all aspects of the project was the change in topography due to the tides. Taking on this challenge, designers had no choice but to allow the sea and changes in the tides to alter design decisions and dictate site usage.

Mulini Beach: An Elegant Tale

Architects from 3LHD noted that this property is “an extension of the city’s public area and promenade areas, whose primary function is to connect the city of Rovinj and park Punta Corrente.” Mulini Beach needed to serve the city of Rovinj as both an arterial connector and a public park destination. Design Solutions: Working with nature The design solution gracefully provides public open space,welcomes visitors to the sea, and connects the city center to adjacent parkland. Mulini Beach is divided into two zones: the wave zone and the tidal bay. The wave zone captures the essence and motion of the waves in the hardscape and site geometry. Vegetation and Clever Design Designers artfully crafted pathways, benches, and planters in jagged and tectonic forms replicating the crashing of the waves and the power of the sea. Vegetation in this zone is sparse, creating a hard, edgy feel. The second zone — the tidal bay — is the antithesis, embodying the serenity and calming notion of the sea. This zone is lush with native vegetation and uses a variety of materials to soften the geometry of the site. While similar tectonic forms carry through to unify the two zones, a pebble beach gradually dips into the sea creating a graceful connection to the water.

Spatial Opportunities at Mulini Beach

The two contrasting zones provide opportunities for visitors to sunbathe, relax, rest, and socialize in a variety of spaces. An additional site amenity, the Mulini Beach Bar, offers locker rooms, showers, restrooms, and information. The bar area provides additional day and night program space, with areas for small concerts and entertainment. Related Articles:

• Sugar Beach: The Design That Makes Your Teeth Hurt
• Stunning Residential Development Brings The Beach to The Residents
• The Garden of Hilton Pattaya by TROP : terrains + open space

A large pavilion made of structural steel resting on just six points provides shade and shelter during the day while defining space by creating visual enclosure. The design of the floating pergola was dictated by a solar analysis of the site and understanding of the movement of the sun. Designers worked to integrate the structural elements into the landscape, creating an interconnected site and unified image.

Design Highlight at Spatial Mulini Beach

The use of onsite stone is just one example of how detail-oriented design contributes to the overall success of Mulini Beach. Stone, a natural material found in outcroppings along the shore, is artfully used as an accent throughout the site. Large boulders in the concrete can be used as seating and bring a natural feel to the geometric hardscape. Other boulders form a natural edge between the water and the public park, mimicking outcroppings along the sea.

The theme of natural stone effectively carries over into the architecture, as well. Architects used stone in a feature wall at the bar area to unify the structural elements and the site design. The selection of natural stone strengthens the ocean theme, brings a hint of authenticity to the overall design, and shows the designers’ keen attention to detail. A collaborative team of designers began with an overall vision and purpose for Mulini Beach and carried through with careful planning and site detail development. The public park meets the needs of the city, connects existing parkland along the waterfront, and allows for visitors to have an intimate experience with the sea. Although designers faced challenges as they programmed spaces around the anticipated tidal changes, they allowed nature to influence the design, dividing the site into two distinct zones to tell the story of the sea. Recommended Reading: 

• The New Structuralism: Design, Engineering and Architectural Technologies by Rivka Oxman
• The Art of Construction: Projects and Principles for Beginning Engineers & Architects (Ziggurat Book)  by Mario Salvadori

Article by Rachel Kruse Return to Homepage

Charlotte Garden, by SLA, Copenhagen, Denmark. Charlotte Garden in Copenhagen, Denmark, is located on the site of a former factory that produced cryolite aluminum. Today, the factory has been replaced by a modern residential complex with 178 apartments. Its facade is covered with bricks in multiple shades of blue. The building’s square structure follows the current composition of other buildings in the city.

Objective of the Charlotte Garden

Thanks to this square structure, the center of the residential complex appeared to SLA — a large landscape office in Denmark — as a place full of life. SLA wanted to design this space as a meeting place for local residents, but it is obviously open to all.

SLA has built this place to allow people to discover a new experience in the landscape, which is taking possession of site. This contact between the people and the garden allows people to flourish and feel comfortable in this place and for the place to come alive; there is a complementary relationship between the two parties. This is why a playground, as well as chairs and tables, are set in the garden, inviting walkers to stop to sit and contemplate or to chat with other people. The key is to give life to this place and to help people feel good. Related Articles:

• Contemporary Landscape Architecture in China: Beautiful or Dangerous?
• Shipyard Site Transforms into Stunning Ecological Park
• Lotus Lake Park Sets Precedent for Sustainable Urban Design in China

Planting in the Charlotte Garden

The priority of SLA was to make this garden as pleasant as possible. For example, SLA used vegetation to play with colors of the frame. So Charlotte Garden is invaded by grasses of all kinds, including Deschampsia sp., Molinia caerulea, Miscanthus sp., Festuca glauca, Calamagrostis sp., Carex sp. and Seslevia sp,. interspersed with some ferns and a few trees.

The use of these grasses is not common at Scandinavian latitudes. However, in this garden, they are in their place. The grasses impose themselves by the variety of colors they offer, merging with mineral soil and built areas. The grasses change from bright green to grayish blue in summer, to golden brown in winter. Intertwined in the wind, they move with the curves drawn by flowerbeds. Children playing there inadvertently break the grasses and give them a wild look that is even more captivating. As a place for meeting, sharing, and gaming, Charlotte Garden is a space where you can walk, but also eat, read, or relax. Charlotte Garden multiplies the functions that it offers to residents of the building and visitors from elsewhere. The corten steel edges associated with the quasi strict use of grasses gives the garden a great contemporary look and confirms that SLA has a dynamic and innovative team in landscape. With vegetation consisting of tall grasses, paths are drawn with free and undulating curves framed within a straight, linear space. One can feel the creative freedom that comes from these blends, this mixing between curved and straight, mineral and plant, with nuanced colors and different planting heights. Even surrounded by the apartment building, the garden is not stifled by the structure. It gives way to an open space, letting residents see it from all sides and offering pleasant views toward the inside of the city block. Charlotte Garden is a friendly garden for all seasons. With projects like this one from SLA, the public garden is finally taking its place in our homes, becoming a living room outside and not simply a separate green space. Recommended Reading:

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

Article by Alexandra Wilmet Return to Homepage

Architectural Engineering and it’s potential to create exciting opportunities for landscape architecture. Since its early days, landscape architecture has evolved to become a diverse and all-encompassing discipline that shares common ground with a range of other professions, including engineering, architecture, ecology, horticulture, and arboriculture. At one time, landscape architecture was primarily concerned with the use and arrangement of land; today, the profession increasingly finds itself drawn into areas not directly connected to the surface of our earth. For example, if one looks to many of the most famous (or infamous) projects of recent years, it is immediately apparent that projects that garner attention are to be found high above the ground or suspended over water. And to what do we owe this expansion of our profession? Architectural engineering.

Architectural engineering involves the application of engineering principles to architectural design and construction in order to achieve design intentions in form and function. Simply put, architectural engineering enables an architect or landscape architect to achieve his or her design.

Opportunities for Landscape Architecture Offered by Architectural Engineering

Looking at our list of Top 10 World Class Landscape Architecture Projects of 2014, it’s easy to see that many of them rely on architectural engineering in some way — to either achieve their design goals, re-purpose existing infrastructure, or to achieve water sustainability.

Arguably, without architectural engineering, there would be no High Line, as there would be no engineer (Robert Silman Associates and Buro Happold) to access the existing structure and declare it safe for planting and public access, or to achieve features such as the “The Flyover” and “The Cutout”. Without architectural engineering, there could be no School of Art, Design, and Media at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. These projects could only be achieved with the employment of architectural engineering. WATCH: Nanyang Technological University School

How to Employ Architectural Engineering in Landscape Architecture

The most important thing when considering employing the principles of architectural engineering is to know one’s own limits — and when to employ the services of an engineer. Related Articles: 

• Top 10 Pedestrian Bridges
• Moses Bridge : Walking Through Water
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In most cases, an engineer will need to be engaged if the design is “non-standard”. If the load-bearing capacity of a structure needs to be assessed or technical drawings produced to satisfy planning permissions or local building codes, then the services of an engineer will be required.

Future Opportunities for Landscape Architecture using Architectural Engineering

No doubt projects such as the High Line have sparked a flurry of copycat projects around the world, including Chicago’s Bloomingdale Trail and Park and the rather aspirational efforts of Rael San Fratello Architects, who have designed Bay Line; a whole “hanging neighborhood” and “sky park” consisting of three kilometers (1.92 miles) of bicycle paths, climbing walls, gardens, and meadows.  WATCH: Bloomingdale Trail It seems the repurposing of existing (redundant) infrastructure is a theme set to continue in landscape architecture for some time to come. However, there is an emerging trend in our profession that seeks to utilize architectural engineering to place landscape architecture on an equal footing with architecture in a wave of purpose-built green infrastructure. These projects go beyond repurposing existing structures and actually design items of green infrastructure intended to impress and attract attention.

The Future of Architectural Engineering in Landscape Architecture

The infamous proposed Garden Bridge in London has garnered much criticism recently for being an expensive (£175 million/$268 million), purpose-built structure that many believe isn’t needed. Critics claim that the proposed bridge is little more than a “vanity project” of London Mayor Boris Johnson, designed to be a public spectacle more than a useful piece of green infrastructure or landscape architecture.

But if it goes ahead, the Garden Bridge will signify an interesting turn in architectural engineering for landscape architecture — a paradigm shift from repurposing redundant infrastructure and empty spaces to direct investment in newly engineered structures for landscape. A Growing Trend This trend seems set to continue, with projects such as Pier 55 in New York City and the 11th Street Bridge in Washington, D.C., both proposing new engineered infrastructure for the sole purpose of providing public open space. None of these proposed projects would be possible without significant architectural engineering and, of course, investment. What’s Next for Landscape Architecture? Whether you agree with it or not, the immediate future for landscape architecture seems to include a significant number of projects that propose to provide purpose-built green infrastructure, many divorced from the ground by either being suspended in the air or above water. A lot depends on resolving issues of funding and public consultation, but if these projects prove to be a success, then could we be seeing a new era for landscape architecture? A future in which our profession is engaged in designing public open spaces that previous generations could only have dreamed of? Could architectural engineering assist us in achieving floating parks and garden bridges in every city? Whatever the future holds, it seems certain that architectural engineering will open up new opportunities for landscape architecture. Recommended Reading:

• Principles and Practice of Engineering: Architectural Engineering Sample Questions and Solutions by Mark McAfee
• Standard Handbook of Architectural Engineering by Robert Brown Butler

Article by Ashley Penn Return to Homepage

Mariahilferstrasse, by Bureau B+B & Orso.Pitro (ULRIKE PITRO, FRANZISKA ORSO), in Vienna, Austria. What is amazing about landscape architecture design is that the paper one uses is never blank. There are always several parameters to consider, many things that are given, and various restrictions. It might seem discouraging at first, but remarkable projects emerge from sites loaded with obstacles and limitations. The redevelopment of Mariahilferstrasse in Vienna, by Bureau B+B and Orso.Pitro, is an excellent example. Restrictions and design difficulties have contributed to the development of the project in the most creative way.

Mariahilferstrasse in Context

Mariahilferstrasse is a 1.6-kilometer-long street that is considered to be the most important shopping area in the heart of Vienna. It leads from the Westbahnhof — the city train station — to the Museum Quarter. It is obviously an important route for both visitors and city residents.

Competition Winning Design In 2013, the city held a competition for the redevelopment of Mariahilferstrasse, which had become a street with heavy traffic and little room for pedestrians. The competition was won by the Dutch landscape office Bureau B+B in collaboration with the Austrian office Orso.Pitro. The commercial activity, the elaborate building facades, the vehicular traffic, and everyday life rhythm had set a vivid, yet complicated field of intervention. The improvement of everyday life for residents and visitors’ convenience, as well as the smooth function of shops and businesses, were the main targets of the intervention. What is remarkable is that the future users of the area contributed to the design process through participation procedures. There is also a website regarding the redevelopment, www.dialog-mariahilferstrasse.at, where people can get information and make inquiries about the project. The design itself comes across as a process to simplify and clarify the given urban context rather than reshape it. Related Articles:

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• Lotus Lake Park Sets Precedent for Sustainable Urban Design in China

Area Zoning The street should remain accessible for vehicles and, at the same time, allow for as much space for pedestrians and bicycles as possible. It is obvious that the issue could not be tackled the same way for the whole length of the street. There are three different zones along the street. First is the central part, which includes Mariahilfer Kirche, a church with an informal plaza before the entrance. This has become a clearly pedestrian area. One can observe in this project how contradicted functions can be brought together and coexist without creating a conflict. The ground floor has been paved on one level, with Austrian granite in various shades of earth colors. It seems like an abstract, creative interpretation of the elegant, surrounding facades. The geometrical pattern offers uniform scale and flexibility to adapt to the street’s particularities and achieves integration with all the heterogeneous, existing elements. Urban Equipment The sitting areas have been formed as spaces with different densities and dynamics in order to accommodate a great variety of urban activities. The furniture has been constructed of Austrian granite, same as the paving, and includes seating surfaces made of oak. The limited use of materials offers coherence and clarity to the design. Existing Vegetation Two rows of tall trees, probably some kind of Acacia, along the building facades have been maintained. New planting beds have been designed around the trunk base, according to the paving design. New trees will be planted as well in order to offer a variant to the vegetation scale. Water Water features function as a thread that disappears and re-emerges on different spots of the street, creating a sense of continuity. There are water surfaces that work like mirrors, providing a new perspective of Mariahilferstrasse. The Mariahilferstrasse redevelopment appeared to be a quite controversial scheme. There was an intense debate whether how and if this project should be realized. However, it appears to be highly appreciated and very well welcomed by everyone. It seems that design has unraveled the hidden possibilities and versions of city life in a very successful manner.

Full Project Credits For Mariahilferstrasse

Client: City of Vienna, Department or Urban design (MA19) Design: Bureau B+B urban design and landscaping, Amsterdam i.c.orso.pitro architects, Vienna Photography: Bureau B+B/Ricky Rijkenberg Vienna City Archive/PID Transport science/ technical engineers: FCP Fritsch, Chiari & partner ZT GmbH, Vienna City of Vienna Engineering Department MA 28: Department of Road Management and Construction (MA28), Department of Urban Transportation (MA46) Construction team ARGE FUZO MAHÜ 2014: Teerag Asdag, Pittel & Brausewetter, Held & Francke, Leithäusl Granite Supplier: Granitwerke Kammerer, Schrems, Austria Location: Vienna, Austria Site area: 43,000 m2 Status: First Part Completed 2014 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

Vinaros Microcoasts, by Guallart Architects, Vinaròs,Castellón. Spain. There is a section of coastline along the Mediterranean in the town of Vinaros, Spain that is a true example of a landscape of change. In recent years, tourism has increased as a major industry in Vinaros compared to neighboring towns. This has led to development throughout the town and particularly along the seafront at a rapid rate. Single family detached homes dot the coastline and dominate much of the available land adjacent to prime views of the coast. Much of Vinaros is lacking in infrastructural development but there is a small road that divides the residential lots and the coastline as the shore is rocky, turbulent, and ever changing.

The Goals of Vinaros Microcoasts

Considering the existing conditions, architect Vicente Guallart along with a team of consultants was commissioned by the Vinaròs City Council, Generalitat Valenciana and Tourism Ministry to design coastline installations. The aim of the intervention was to allow visitors to access the coastline but maintain it as public parkland. Other goals of the project included a design and intervention that would withstand the rough action of the water and help stabilize the bank to minimize erosion without disturbing the natural habitat and beauty of the existing conditions.

The Solution – Vinaros Microcoasts

The solution takes the form of modular wooden platforms placed in a specific sequence along the coastline. The design of these platforms involves complex geometric calculations and forms, which result in a beautiful but meticulously calculated form. The prototype design of the wooden platform is an art form to be appreciated and admired.

The very tectonic and inorganic form of the wooden platforms creates a striking feature along the coast. When placed in a sequence down the coastline, these platforms create repetition and give a contrasting form to the harsh existing geological forms. Related Articles:

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Who’s Using Vinaros Microcoasts?

The practical side of the installation is how the public engages with the “Microcoasts.” Since installed in 2006, community members and visitors alike have embraced the opportunity to take in the view of the Mediterranean and interact with the coastline. Users are often found lounging, sunbathing, reading, studying, or engaging in conversation on the wooden platforms. It gives everyone an equal chance to take in the natural beauty that graces Vinaros.

Ultimately, the multitude of surfaces and variety of sloping, concave, and convex forms created within the Microcoasts allows for visitors to rest, sit, and lay in a range of postures. The Benefits of Preserving the Coastline Visitors have embraced the installations to the point that it has increased the collective consciousness of the community about the importance of preserving and allowing public coastline access for tourists, visitors, and residents in Vinaros. With the success of these structures, the community will be continuing preservations efforts at a larger scale, which will help stop encroaching development threatening to destroy the coast. How Would Your City Deal With This? Each city that is graced with natural resources in the form of lakes, streams, rivers, seas, and oceans takes a different approach at dealing with waterfront property and development. In the case of the Vinaros coastline, designers and community officials successfully allow for an intervention along the coastline to increase public access without creating large-scale disturbance or taking away from the natural beauty. Here Today, Gone Tomorrow While the Microcoasts are in place today, they can be removed without leaving any trace tomorrow. This is a prime example of minimalistic interventions that have large-scale implications but small-scale impacts on the environment. Everything from the design to material selection to the placement of the platforms on site shows an immense amount of respect for the natural coastline of Vinaros and teaches visitors a lesson of ways to enjoy the beauty around but leave no trace. Recommended Reading:

• The New Structuralism: Design, Engineering and Architectural Technologies by Rivka Oxman
• The Art of Construction: Projects and Principles for Beginning Engineers & Architects (Ziggurat Book)  by Mario Salvadori

Article by Rachel Kruse Return to Homepage

Sheraton Bali Kuta Resort by Enviro Tec. To design stimulating environments where occupants can enjoy a rich sensory experience is a challenge worth talking about in landscape architecture — especially when it comes to heavenly scenery such as in Bali, Indonesia, where the natural landscape is a delight on its own. Sheraton Bali Kuta Resort, with its design concept inspired by traditional Balinese architecture, surely succeeds in providing an indulgent experience for the senses through the mesmerizing sound of the waves, the gentle touch of the breeze, the smell of the exotic native flora, the taste of the delicate local food, and the breathtaking sight of the sea.

A Tourist Resort with a View of Paradise

Comprising an area of 3.2 hectares, the project is divided into two main zones: the “Beachwalk” and the five-star tourist resort. The U-shaped hotel complex seems to have its “arms open”, as if offering the stunning view of the sea to the guests. In fact, the two wings are oriented in such a way that all rooms have a privileged view of the sunset from the private balconies.

The hotel’s architecture follows an open design concept, which means nothing blocks the view of the sea. The structural system of the lobby was designed to enable 25 meters of free space (no need for columns), allowing the golden glow of the Balinese sunset to take over the lounge. Outside, the hanging vines create a charming “green waterfall” effect throughout the resort, reinforcing the impression of a true tropical paradise escape. “avoiding the conventional “shopping mall architecture” The Beachwalk is the retail lifestyle hub. The ambience there is different from a typical mall; the design follows the concept of a semi-open and naturally ventilated space (just like the hotel). By avoiding the conventional “shopping mall architecture”, the designers intended to merge the development within the surroundings, in a context-sensitive approach. Related Articles:

• A Greener Housing Solution Reducing The Impacts in The Neighbourhood
• Residents Get Luxurious Garden and Pool Project in Thailand
• The Garden of Hilton Pattaya by TROP : terrains + open space

The Designers of the Tourist Resort

The principal architectural consultant for the project was the Singaporean company Enviro Tec, headed by Chew Tai Eng and his daughter, Ming Zhou. Enviro Tec is an experienced firm that has existed for more than 40 years, operating in Indonesia for two decades. It’s interesting to point out that the development was planned with consultation from the Balinese government, in an attempt to improve the quality of life for local residents by enhancing the streetscape and encouraging positive interaction with pedestrians. Sustainable Approach The open design concept not only takes advantage of natural lighting, but also natural ventilation, reducing the energy demand of the resort. The abundant vegetation and semi-outdoor garden spaces found throughout the hotel also minimize the need for artificial cooling.

The project includes rainwater collection and water recycling systems for the water features and garden irrigation, reducing demand on the city’s water supply. The local culture is reflected in the architecture – one can easily spot traditional Balinese elements, such as the black-and-white-checkered pattern, poleng, which was reproduced in the architecture as a solid-and-void wall, or the alang alang, the typical Balinese roof. Indulging the Senses As a proper tropical retreat, Sheraton Bali Kuta Resort was carefully designed to immerse guests in an indulgent sensory experience, allowing them to directly interact with nature. As the designers say: “There is sensory value associated with being constantly visually connected to Kuta Beach.” Indeed, there are inexplicable healing and relaxing properties in the sight and sound of the sea, skillfully explored by the designers. Recommended Reading:

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

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The Beijing Sunken Gardens by Plasma Studio and Groundlab, Beijing, China. When I first saw pictures of the Beijing Sunken Gardens I could not quite get what those massive concrete plant beds were all about, which lead me to the designer’s website to get a better idea of the concept. My mind was blown away by the beautiful description by Plasma Studio of their own work, reflecting the elegance and mystery of classic Chinese garden design. The beauty of Beijing Sunken Gardens is not only in the project itself but also in the rich tradition that backs it up, which requires us to look back to try to understand a bit more of their culture.

Classic Chinese Garden Design

Traditional Chinese garden design is heavily based on symbolism. It’s well known that, in about 140 B. C., the Emperor Wu had the desire to re-create the Mystic Isles – where the immortals lived – in his own garden. This way, rocks (representing islands) and water (sometimes symbolically represented) are essential elements in traditional Chinese garden design.

Emperor Wu’s elaborate style continued right up until the twelfth century, when Chinese gardens turned their focus on the idea of nature appreciation, hence reflecting the natural landscape. The design process mainly involved achieving harmony, with the belief that elegance would follow as a natural consequence.

The Designers of Beijing Sunken Gardens

Headed by Eva Castro, Chuan Wang and Holger Kehne, the project is a collaborative work of Plasma Studio and Groundlab. Plasma is an innovative architecture studio with quite an intriguing name: “plasma“, in physics, is the fourth state of matter – having no definite shape, it can be modeled and has the potential to become whatever creativity may determine.

Based in London, Beijing and Bolzano, their design work has no scale boundaries: their projects range from furniture design to master plans. Groundlab is an international landscape architecture/urbanism studio with a multidisciplinary and innovative approach, based in San Francisco, Mexico City, Caracas, Santiago, Rio de Janeiro, London, Amman, Surat and Beijing.  Related Articles:

• Turenscape Design Outstanding River Park
• Shipyard Site Transforms into Stunning Ecological Park
• The Stunning Yanweizhou Park Recaptures Lost Ecology

The Sunken Gardens Designed and built in 2012-2013, the concrete sunken gardens launch a new concept in public space. People are invited to directly interact with the elements to silently appreciate nature. Enclosed by secluded areas offered by the canyons and corridors, one can pass through the oversized pots (guided by the beautifully detailed paving) as water flows gently through rocks in the sea. Juxtaposing and long-distance views, skillfully planned by the designers, bring back the delight of classic Chinese gardens. Elements further down can be seen in contrast with the immediate near ones to create an interesting composition that tricks the sight. Distant vegetation and other concrete elements in the surroundings are also “borrowed from the scenery” to complement the arrangement.

The massive tilted concrete gardens rise like ancient mountains, leading the visitors to slightly bend over as they pass under – almost akin to bowing as in a sign of reverence and respect. The artificial mountains in traditional gardens, if large enough, would often have paths leading the way up to their top. In this contemporary version, visitors can climb on the monoliths to fully experience their mass and also discover a different perspective. Following the existing scenery In the classic Chinese text on garden design, “The Craft of Gardens“, the author Ji Cheng states: “skill in landscape design is shown in the ability to ‘follow’ or ‘borrow from’ the existing scenery and lie of the land, and artistry is shown in the feeling of suitability created“. Perhaps the mystery of the massive concrete plant beds (that I could not understand at first) can be explained by the quote above. Perhaps oversized concrete structures prevail in today’s Beijing urban scenery, and this typology was “followed” by the landscape architecture proposed by the designers. Or perhaps not. Perhaps the intention is to be deliberately mysterious, and thus invoke the mystery of traditional Chinese garden design in the Sunken Gardens in Beijing. Recommended Reading:

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

Article by Julia Lucchese Return to Homepage

A showcase of some of Switzerland’s best landscape architecture projects. Dipped in the center of Europe, surrounded by the Alps, Switzerland has always projected the image of mountain life and communion with nature. But Switzerland is also a country with a deep respect for order. Over the last 10 years, Switzerland has seen an increased interest in landscape architecture, with many of its cities introducing creative and contemporary urban projects. Here you can find a Top 5 list of the best landscape architecture projects in Switzerland. Take a look!

Landscape Architecture in Switzerland

5. Tree Museum / Designer: Enea – Location: Rapperswil-Jona b

This museum is a collection of trees designed as a piece of art. On a surface of 75,000 square meters, the Swiss landscape firm Enea designed the tree museum around more than 120 trees, some of which are 130 years old. Enea used a series of giant local sandstone walls and water basins to divide the park and generate calm places to contemplate the entire tree collection. 4. Cardada Viewpoint / Designer: Paolo L. Bürgi – Location: Cardada In 2000, after an aerial cableway to Cardada was renovated, a new landscape project was designed by Paolo Burgi right on the top of the mountain above Locarno. The Cardada viewpoint is part of a set of different structures, a fantastic example to how integrate a functional project into a very particular landscape such as the Alps, simply using stones, steel, and concrete in nature with elegance, creating breathtaking views. 3. The Physic Garden / Designer: Thorbjörn Andersson with Sweco Architects – Location: Basel Situated inside the Novartis campus in Basel, The Physic Garden represents a new concept of the “hortus conclusus”. Taking the idea of monastery gardens, the team composed by Thorbjörn Andersson with Sweco Architects designed a garden to represent the pharmaceutical industry. Completed in 2012, this space includes a rectangular garden featuring 32 of the most important pharmaceutical plants organized in a pattern of stripes. 2. City Lounge / Designer: Carlos Martinez, Pipilotti Rist – Location: St. Gallen Related Articles:

• MFO Park in Switzerland
• The Skate Park That Thinks it Can Tell The Time!
• 9 Awesome Ways to Use Plants

A very creative project, designed as a fusion between urban design and art, is the City Lounge in the Bleicheli Quarter in St. Gallen. An open space redesigned by the artist Pipilotti Rist and Carlos Martínez Architekten, it covers the quarter’s outdoor areas with a red floor coating made of rubber granulate. All urban design elements disappear under this red layer, creating a unique public space — a red landscape in the center of the city. 1. MFO Park / Designer: Raderschall – Location: Zürich

One of the best examples of contemporary landscape architecture in Switzerland is the MFO Park in Zurich. This project, completed in 2002 and designed by Burckhardt + Partner and Raderschall Landschaftsarchitekten AG as a part of a redevelopment of one of Zurich’s most industrial zones, re-interprets the concept of the urban park. Using a big, three-dimensional steel structure to create a suspended park, architecture meets landscape. A group of more than 100 plant species climbs up this structure, covering the entire area and creating a multi-functional place where open-air movies and concerts take place.

Landscape Architecture in Switzerland

These are only few examples of outstanding landscape projects built in Switzerland which deserve to be known. Attention for the Swiss creativity and for its wonderful landscape architects is starting to be known also thanks to the Lausanne Jardins, the international festival of urban garden and landscape design. This extreme richness and variety of Swiss landscape architecture demonstrate as Switzerland played an essential role in the evolution of landscape architecture and urban design in these last twenty years. Recommended Reading:

• New Landscape Architecture by Nicolette Baumeister
• Paolo Bürgi Landscape Architect: Discovering the Horizon: Mountain, Lake, and Forest by Raffaella Fabiani Giannetto

Article by Maura Caturano Return to Homepage

Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve, Hershberger Design, Grand Teton National Park. Many know Wyoming for being the home where the buffalo roam, and while this is true, it is also home to one of the most breathtaking National Parks that America has to offer. Grand Teton National Park boasts the magnificent Teton Mountain Range, the mighty Snake River, and more than 200 miles of winding trails. It is now also home to the Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve. The people of Wyoming are steadfast in their love for the land on which they live, play, and work, and seek above all else to protect and preserve the beauty that surrounds them. So it comes as no surprise that the LSR Preserve was designed to reduce congestion in the area and to provide visitors with a place to enjoy the solitude of the park and reflect on their surroundings.

Laurance S Rockefeller Preserve

But is congestion really a problem in the park? Actually, yes. The entire state of Wyoming is home to just under 600,000 people, yet Grand Teton National Park hosted just under 2.7 million visitors in 2013. So the need to create a place within the park that could offer the solitude that most of the rest of Wyoming offers was great.

Related Articles:

• Ecological Landscape Design, Embraces Massive Body of Water
• Giant Sized Pergola Creates Ecological Haven
• Kiryat Sefer Park, Tel Aviv, Israel by Ram Eisenberg

The site sits on the former land of JY Ranch, the family compound of Laurance S. Rockefeller. The 1,106-acre plot, located southwest of Grand Teton, was donated by the family in 2001 with the hope that visitors could learn about the importance of protecting areas of natural beauty. The park didn’t have to look far for a team that was able to give them the perfect design for the area, either.

The Laurance S Rockefeller Preserve Design Team

Hershberger Design, led by Mark Hershberger and located in neighboring Jackson, Wyoming, was up to the task. The firm’s mission statement even says that the designers are “driven by the desire to create enduring landscapes which balance human needs, beauty, and the natural environment,” and that is exactly what they did in the preserve, which opened in 2008.

Trails of Interaction The scope of work for the project included designing a circulation system that would include trails for bicycles, pedestrians, and horses. According to their website, the trail system includes more than 10 miles of interpretive hiking and ADA-accessible trails and special interpretive and viewing spaces. They also included reclamation planning to restore unnecessary trails and vehicular routes to their native condition. Visitors are encouraged to explore the vast network of trails that wind through mature pine forests and whispering aspen groves with magnificent views of the Tetons and Phelps Lake. The trails offer numerous opportunities to watch the wildlife of the park, which include the American bison (buffalo), wolves, elk, and the always popular moose. A Design That Blends into the Environment The design elements along the trails were made to blend into their surroundings, not compete with them; some metal, mesh footbridges were even designed to be overtaken by the growth underneath. Benches are constructed of large timbers resting on boulders, and paths lead not only over land, but also over water, giving visitors every opportunity to fully submerse themselves in the environment. But before embarking on the trails, visitors are encouraged to stop by the 7,500-square-foot LEED Platinum (the U.S. Green Building Council’s highest level of certification) visitor’s center, designed by Carney Architects and M-E Engineers, for a brief orientation on the park and on Rockefeller’s vision for the preserve and his legacy of preservation and conservation. In keeping with the feeling brought on by the trail system, the building is located between two ecosystems — a meadow and a forest, “a very purposeful division,” says Hershberger, who specified that before construction, seeds from around the site were to be collected and replanted to landscape the building. This small detail allowed for the building to at once become a natural part of the site. Once inside, visitors will learn about these plants and also about the wildlife they will experience on their journey outdoors, as well as, according to the park’s website, “the innovative design techniques and features that make the center a model for energy and environmental design.” As the first LEED Platinum building within the National Park system and in the state of Wyoming, the visitor’s center and the entire preserve is proving to be the lasting legacy Rockefeller intended it to be. While he passed away before it was completed, he still managed to play an important role in the planning of the site, and his vision clearly shines through all aspects of the design. Recommended Reading:

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

Article by Erin Tharp Return to Homepage

Phase 1 of Governors Island, by West 8, New York City, New York, USA. Everyone has seen such places: Sites that have been abandoned and sunken into oblivion. They are often described as moonscapes, landscapes in emergency, or even eyesores. Despite those various definitions, they all have one thing in common: the unpleasant feeling they give to people. As we all know, ignoring the problem won’t make it go away. So, instead of searching for new virgin territories in which to expand our cities, we should first consider deserted landscapes that could be transformed into “green” jewels.

Governors Island

A perfect example of such a dramatic transformation is the Governors Island Project in New York City. A former military base with a central location near Manhattan, it was once invisible to citizens, but has now become a lively open space that drew approximately half a million visitors in 2011.

Versatile Analyses What stands behind this successful metamorphosis is the multidisciplinary approach of West 8 design team. A fixed rule to a good project is to lead a careful study. The team spent long hours on the island in order to be able to understand its specific needs related to micro and macro conditions. Which led them to the following conclusions, as their website suggests: “West 8 has understood from the outset that the new Park and Public Spaces would need to be resilient in the face of rising waters. Rather than withdrawing in the face of the advancing waters, we lifted the majority of the island out of the flood zone. West 8 designed a park that will allow people to enjoy the connection to the salt winds, swirling waters and expansive views of the harbor while ensuring that the trees we plant in 2013 grow into a great forest over the next few generations.” Another significant part of the planning process is the outlook of the visitors. The design team not only observed visitors on the island, but has also done empiric research to obtain information from the people of New York, without whom the island would be nothing. Other Articles Including West 8:

• Major Redevelopment of New Holland Island
• 280 Million Euros Invested into Urban Revitalisation Project
• Giant Sized Pergola Creates Ecological Haven

Governors Island: An Icon of New York City

Because New Yorkers played a considerable part in the redevelopment of Governors Island, one of the fundamental ideas of the project was to create a place that offered citizens a world apart from the city: a unique landmark where new sensations allure; a vantage point on the Statue of Liberty; and the experience of a green island surrounded by sea and sky.

The master plan aimed to design an extraordinary public park comprising the entire New York Harbor, including its history, culture and picturesque nature, thus creating an icon for the city. A Dynamic and Recreational Destination This complex transformation of the island included two consistent phases. Phase 1 of Governors Island covers 30 acres of new park and public spaces and provides key visitor amenities for the historic North Island. A variety of experiences are guaranteed, due to the variegated open spaces. Passive recreation includes Liggett Terrace, a lively green plaza with plenty of seats inviting visitors to enjoy the fascination of public art and the beauty of hedge gardens while having lunch. Leisure and tranquility are also found in Hammock Grove, where peace and quiet dispels all dark thoughts with the help of the fancy red hammocks. Active recreation takes place in the Play Lawns, the Play Structures and the bike paths. You only have to choose whether you want to play softball on the exquisite background of the Statue of Liberty or ride a bike along the meandering pathways. Soissons Landing and South Battery districts have also been renovated through increased accessibility, new landscaping, lighting, and signage facilitating circulation within the island.

Mayor Bloomberg at Governors Island

Phase 1 of Governors Island was completed in 2013, as Mayor Bloomberg announced by planting the 2,000th tree in the new park. Healthy Environment

One more vital participant in the transformation is the vegetation. The green strategies include a selection of native plants that easily adapt to the specific climate and soil conditions to provide a healthy habitat for the park fauna, forming a new ecology and nature for people, too. The Starting Point of Smart Planning What a dramatic change. It happened and it’s real. Maybe this project will set you thinking about the overall picture of the planning process. Could a number of ecological, social, and economic factors, utilizing derelict landscapes that already exist, turn out to be the starting point of intelligent preservation and improvement of our own environment? Recommended Reading:

• Urban Design by Alex Krieger
• Happy City: Transforming Our Lives Through Urban Design by Charles Montgomery

Article by Velislava Valcheva Return to Homepage

Simon Beck Snow Art, published by S-Editions, 2014. Hardcover, 167pp. Is it possible to transform your passions into a profession? And to unite artwork with an outdoor activity that can be compared to the most challenging sports? Despite not exactly aiming to address these questions, Simon Beck, in his book Snow Art, shows how he has been creating a difficult but pleasing art that combines all of the subjects about which he is passionate – snow, the outdoors, drawing, and orienteering. Although the book is not a guide on how to make this kind of art, the reader will find some practical tips in the easy-to-read texts, written in English and French and accompanied by a large number of pictures. It is a valuable book for those interested in this incomparable work that transforms the flat surfaces of frozen sites into unique artistic creations.

Simon Beck Snow Art

The Achievement of Uncommon Goals The topics by which the book is organized allow the reader to explore the various aspects of the author’s life and work without necessarily having to follow the suggested order. In the introduction, there is a brief history of the factors that contributed to Beck’s change from the field of orienteering maps production to a creative profession, transferring the skills from the former occupation to the new one. It is an inspiring example of the energetic and disciplined artist who was able to find a way to unite the activities and environments he has enjoyed since a very young age. The Practice of Snow Art Although Beck carries out most of the work alone, some complex and large-scaled drawings require assistants. This issue and others — such as how to maintain the regularity of the patterns — are described in this section, where the former orienteering map producer and current snow artist tells us a bit about the tools and techniques he uses to produce his art. Related Articles:

• Awesome Displays of Temporary Land Art
• 10 Amazing Landscapes You Won’t Believe Are NOT Photoshopped
• Mind Blowing Snow Art – A New Way to Think of Snow

After reading the short but informative text and looking at the related pictures, one will have a better idea about the tools used to measure the site and the time required for different scales of drawings. The results can be appreciated through the pictures, which show figurative drawings such as the reproduction of a church with the purpose to make Christmas cards. However, Beck’s work is more famous for the repetition of geometric forms, whose reliefs create areas with different levels of brightness and shadow, producing fantastic visual effects . Inspiration for Snow Art Where does the inspiration for such wonderful creations come from? Most are based on drawings the author used to make on paper in his childhood. As he became more experienced, his drawings have gradually been transformed into more complex versions. Snow Art Photography Because snow art is temporary, it relies on photography to be recorded for posterity. Therefore, the artist developed certain techniques to enhance his work, and he also shares this experience with the reader. He gives some advice on how to adjust the schedule to have the work ready on a sunny day, as well as choosing the best positions in relation to the sun and the times of the day to get high-quality general views and close-up photos that clearly show the textures produced on snow surfaces. Get it HERE! Dangers vs. Ideal Conditions Beck’s work is not the kind of art for those looking for a relaxing activity, but it is actually a perfect fit for people interested in challenging and risk-taking exercise. These people will find in the book some important advice to be well prepared for the work, avoid accidents, and reduce risks, in addition to learning the ideal conditions that lead to the best results in snow drawing. Next Steps After having achieved important goals in his career as a snow artist, Beck feels he is ready to try something new, and talks about some of the possibilities he has been considering, such as continuing his drawings in different materials. He also has some worries about the future of snow art, giving us some clues about his intentions to guarantee that it will continue to be practiced to embellish the environment and raise awareness on the preservation of snowy landscapes. Beck’s book is a must read for those who love outdoor art and landscape photography.

Pick up your copy of Simon Beck Snow Art

Book review by Tania Gianone Return to Homepage

Kopaszi Dam in Budapest, Hungary, by T2.a Architects and Garten Stúdió Ltd.  Imagine a piece of land surrounded by water, near delicious restaurants and cool places to hang around, and offering the perfect touch of nature everywhere: How cool would that be? And if the reality is that this land was once abandoned, that fact definitely adds some special value.

In 2004, the owner of Kopaszi Dam in Budapest, Hungary, and the XI district municipality called for an open, national architectural competition to complement a large-scale real estate development in the area. As the winner, T2.a Architects led the design and construction, while Garten Studio Ltd. did the landscape design. The designers of Kopaszi Dam didn’t just “design” it and make it beautiful, they actually injected life into a dead piece of land, turning the never visited site into something “randomly visited”. The Birth of the Peninsula After the great flood of 1838, the area of Lágymányosi Bay began to transform. Gellért Hill is a historic hillside in Budapest. To its south, the shore that accommodates some of the city’s main transportation lines was built, giving birth to Lágymányosi from the Danube River. Around 1870, a dam was erected at the narrow peninsula and named “Kopaszi Dam”. It was partially used by the water police, and since the general public had no business there, the potentially beautiful land remained unseen.

Waterfront Regeneration revitalizes a Lost World

The current owner of the site, property developer Öböl XI Ltd., actually handed over this lost world to Budapest’s people. When they acquired the land, it contained only some modest wooden barracks, which were being used as a home for the water police and some little restaurants. Due to lack of maintenance, it was a heavily polluted industrial site and the structures were in a very pathetic condition. The waterfront regeneration of Kopaszi Dam was completed in 2007 — and it made that summer totally different in Budapest. People suddenly had a new destination to go to to pass leisure time, to walk their dogs, to take the children to play, or to just have some delicious food in a unique restaurant.

Magnets That Pull People to this Waterfront Regeneration Park

It is easily understandable that it wasn’t an easy job to bring the site back to life. To begin with, it had been abandoned for a long period of time; thus, people had almost forgotten that it ever existed. The site is also pretty far from the city center. So to entice visitors, the designer had to create magnets that would pull people in and charm them enough to bring others. This kind of project that engages public interaction must be backed up with extensive study and observation of the city people’s lifestyle, taste, and preferences.

As a perfect example of this city’s need, we can look at Millenáris Park, which is situated in a former industrial site in Budapest. The child-friendly environment, pond and playground, green park, and venue for concerts and other performances have made it a vibrant public space. From that point of view, the Kopaszi Dam had more potential as a site, being situated in the most beautiful part of the city. What attracts visitors the most is the magnificent waterfront setting, with restaurants, cafes, playhouses, and terraces. It is perfect for relaxation, sports, romantic strolls, and family time. Related articles:

• 20 Million Euro Investment in Urban Waterfront Regeneration Pays Off at the Ljubljanica Embankment in Slovenia
• 10 Awesome Riverbank Projects
• Industrial Site Transforms into Beautiful Landscape

Doing the Least to Do it All Kopaszi Dam is a narrow peninsula that is 1 kilometer long. During the first phase of the waterfront regeneration project, the designers made a unique decision: They erected 14 pavilions at the exact position where the former barracks were. The shapes and sizes of the pavilions represent the lightness of local structures. This was done to preserve the old, organic timber building typology characteristics of the locality. When you are roaming here, walking barefoot, lying under a tree, relaxing on the sandy shore with a refreshing glass of cool lemonade, you won’t feel like the place is new or forced. It’s like it has been here for decades; it has grown here like an aged tree whose root has gone deep into the culture.

Intelligent and Sensitive Landscape design The Garten Studio has done a tremendous job with Kopaszi Dam. All the outdoor areas are carefully landscaped and harmonized with the built forms. Various flood levels were carefully examined before determining the shape of the riverside. At the lower parts, the trees of “Gallery Forest” are used to maintain the site of natural riparian vegetation, as these parts periodically flood. The inner lawns are decorated with colorful lanes of lower shrubs, canopy trees for shading, bright perennial plants, different sedges, and reeds. The free, wild green that Kopaszi Dam possesses is mind blowing. Materials, Forms, and Structures In this project, playfulness is everywhere. The total development has such an ease that it gives a platform for spontaneous human interaction. The buildings are designed intentionally with an expression of lightness and timelessness. The steel frames are dressed with different kinds of wood paneling, timber facades, and other lightweight wall structures, such as colored plastic or resin components. The structural detailing, unique shapes, and funky colors of the pavilions invite people and nudge them to interact with nature at the same time. Not only has the site been revitalized and regenerated, the environmental rehabilitation is also been achieved on the bay. The heavily polluted water is now living and fresh. Being a bit far from the city center could have been a downfall, but fortunately it’s not. Instead, it gives a certain charm to the site. It’s a perfect place for people who like crowds but also who want to be alone. The colorful surroundings are like brightly colored mushrooms growing naturally after rain. Do you need a walk into a secret wild world? Visit Kopaszi Dam. Recommended Reading:

• Urban Design by Alex Krieger
• Landscape Architecture Now! by Philip Jodidio

Article by Auditi Bridget Biswas Return to Homepage