Author: Land8: Landscape Architects Network

A review of Landscape and Urban Design for Health and Well-Being: using healing, sensory and therapeutic gardens, by Gayle Souter-Brown. With the development of modern technology, accessible personal electronics, cars for every household, good education, and abundant career opportunities come new and difficult problems. Never before have our communities seemed so broken, the elderly so isolated, and the children so sorely lacking in social skills. We observe a dramatic rise in children’s obesity rates and in lifestyle diseases among adults stressed out by the speed of modern urban life.

The children are kept indoors due to the growing fears of their parents and the pressure of expectations laid upon them by their schools. The adults spend most of their time working in bleak office environments. The elderly and disabled are isolated from the rest of society in the sterile interiors of care facilities. The separation of the modern society from nature is becoming a bigger issue with every passing year. Gayle Souter-Brown, author of “Landscape and Urban Design for Health and Well-Being: using healing, sensory and therapeutic gardens” proposes a solution. Let’s have a look at her work.

Overview of Landscape and Urban Design for Health and Well-Being

Souter-Brown has an excellent style of writing; her book is extremely informative and well referenced, but despite that it doesn’t read like a textbook. The narrative flows, giving it the feel of a novel. The book is incredibly comprehensive. The author starts by outlining the history of healing gardens, which helps the reader to understand their purpose and value. In the second part of the book, she describes in great detail the different groups of people who might benefit from therapeutic gardens. She also explains what features each of the groups might need or expect. The third part of the book analyzes the principles of the salutogenic approach in healing garden design. Finally, the fourth chapter is dedicated to funding sensory and therapeutic gardens, as well as developing community green spaces. Other Related Book Reviews:

• Landscape and Urban Design For Bats And Biodiversity
• How to Grow a School Garden
• Detail in Contemporary Landscape Architecture

Each chapter is richly illustrated with photographs, drawings, and diagrams. Every fact is referenced, which means that all of the material has been thoroughly researched. The numerous real-life examples and case studies help the reader to really understand the subject. The charts and tables make this book an easy-to-use guide for anyone involved in healing garden design. Get it HERE! Why should you get it? If you are interested in designing healing gardens, therapeutic spaces for specific groups of people, or gardens and play areas for children of all ages, this is definitely a book for you. If you are a member of the community — a school manager, a health care worker, a city official, or simply anyone keen on making people’s lives better — you should also reach for this book. You will not find a more comprehensive, informative, and well-researched compendium of healing, sensory, and therapeutic gardens, with real-life examples and case studies, written with a tangible passion for the subject. This book, containing answers to all your questions, is a definite must have!

Order your copy today – Landscape and Urban Design for Health and Well-Being

About the Author Souter-Brown is founder and director of Greenstone Design UK Ltd, an international landscape and urban design consultancy. She has more than 20 years of experience in designing and creating healing, therapeutic, and sensory gardens for all age groups, all over the world. She is an author, lecturer, and adviser to the government. Publisher: Routledge Type: Paperback Page length: 340 pages Book Review by Marta Ratajszczak Return to Homepage

PRESS RELEASE: Building Trust international, Wildlife Conservation Society and the Royal Government of Cambodia announce details of an interpretation centre which will act as a hub for eco-tourism activities in the northern plains of Cambodia and stand as a memorial to the past. Building Trust international have unveiled their latest collaboration with the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) with a proposed interpretation centre at Ang Trapeang Thmor in Cambodia. Due to be constructed next year the building will serve to remember the great price Cambodia paid during the Khmer Rouge period, while looking forward to the diverse and spectacular wildlife the country has to offer both local and foreign tourists alike. The centre will be a new type of museum created to educate and raise awareness of both natural and cultural heritage.

 Building Trust international, Wildlife Conservation Society

Ang Trapeang Thmor is a 12,650-hectare wildlife reserve located between Angkor Wat and the border of Thailand in north eastern Cambodia. The Centre designed by Atelier COLE in partnership with Building Trust & WCS building trust Reflecting on the past while looking forward to the future Ang Trapeang Thmor Memorial Crane Reserve site was once a natural lake located within a forest which was adapted during the 12th century to feed the rice plains of the Angkorian empire and more recently it became one of the large scale, failed civil engineering projects forced upon the population of Cambodia during the Khmer Rouge period. Of the estimated 50,000 people who were tasked with enlarging the massive reservoir around 30,000 people are thought to have died,testament to the truly horrific chapter in Cambodia’s past.

Wildlife Conservation

The creation of the reservoir however has led to an explosion of wildlife with some of the worlds most endangered birds nesting in the area. This amazing revelation led to the area becoming a protected reserve which is managed by Forestry Administration (FA), with technical support provided by Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS.) In early 2014, Building Trust international and Atelier COLE were approached to help design a building which could act as a memorial to the past while also connecting people with the incredible opportunities for wildlife observation. Inspired by the forest which once dominated the site. The concept of the building is defined by the untreated rough timber columns that pierce the floor plates and drive up through the floor slabs. Visitors are engaged with the building in the surrounding landscape, with columns breaking free of the building starting in the car park and wetland area. A standing tall metaphor for both nature and man’s ability to overcome adversity.

The new facility will offer visitors the opportunity to view endangered species while gaining an eye opening insight into the atrocities which occurred during 1975-1979. Visitors rise up to enter the building and are welcomed by a short history of the sites Angkorian past. Following this guests descend into an interpretation area to experience the darker period of the Khmer Rouge with a short film and personal stories of survivors. Next visitors rise up a level through the roof slab which houses a reflection pool that gives an opportunity to reflect upon the past while being surrounded by the present splendour of the lake and wildlife reserve. On the upper deck level an outside viewing tower allows guests to take in far reaching views of the wetlands and wildlife. Once back inside the building visitors receive information on the wild birds and other species that can be seen in the area and throughout Cambodia. Also provided are details on protection schemes and education on how to help the conservation efforts. Finally, a cafe and shop which provide support to the local community, has a seating area with wonderful views of Ang Trapeang Thmor. Within the cafe, the feeling of being under a forest canopy is reinforced by the glazed roof which allows light to filter through from the reflection pool on the roof, throwing dappled shadows across the internal spaces. “It is impossible not to be moved by the tragic consequences of the past in Cambodia but at Ang Trapeang Thmor we see a lasting reminder which has gone on to provide the home to endangered species becoming a symbol of life over coming adversity.” David Cole, Principal, Atelier COLE Related Articles About Building Trust International:

• Building Trust International-PLAYscapes Competition
• Building Trust International Interview
• International Design + Build workshop

“WCS are excited to be working with BTI and Atelier COLE because we share similar values. Quality and inclusiveness are hallmarks of our conservation and are reflected in the design of this building.” Ross Sinclair, Director, WCS Cambodia. About Building Trust International Building Trust International is a non-profit organisation offering design assistance to communities and individuals in need. Building Trust International assesses areas in need, finds sustainable, economical aid solutions and ultimately provides buildings and infrastructure. These core actions have blossomed into advocating and educating on the principles of socially aware design, providing an accessible resource on humanitarian design projects and providing a structure for the crossover of information between design professionals. Building Trust International is a charity registered in England and Wales (1142338). www.buildingtrustinternational.org Issued by Building Trust International, 17th December 2014 For further information please contact: Louise Cole, Co-founder/Project Manager louise@buildingtrustinternational.org Skype: building.trust Renders © Atelier COLE Return to Homepage

We look at some of the most exciting and essential plugins for SketchUp. Ever since Sketchup (formerly Google Sketchup) debuted in 2000, it has been holding its position as one of the world’s favorite and most used 3d-modeling software systems available. Sketchup, designed by Last Software, is used by both students and professionals in various design fields, including architecture, landscape architecture, animation, and video game development. It has a wide range of tools and scripts to develop various three-dimensional forms that are helpful for modeling and sculpting 3D models. However, there are several design functions that cannot be performed by Sketchup alone. Such operations involve much more complexity. So here are some software plug-ins that are available to download that can be helpful aids in performing those missing actions. The following also includes some rendering engines used by professionals and students to create presentations that look like real-life objects. Such rendering engines can add details such as ridges and grooves, improving the overall appearance of surfaces.

Plugins for Sketchup

1. Curviloft (free) This tool is very effective and dedicated to performing loft and skinning through Sketchup. This tool is used to generate surface from contours provided by the user, and has two methods of lofting — Loft by spline method and loft along path method. Loft by spline joins separate contours by smooth splines; Loft along path generates a loft along a curve specified by the user. WATCH: Curviloft preview 2. Bezier Curve (free) This tool allows you to generate polylines, Beziers, and spline curves. It generates curves based on control points that can be easily manipulated, scaled, and moved in order to deform the predefined curve. The curves generated using the Bezier Spline tool are more complex than normal Sketchup curves. WATCH: Comparing Bezier Curves And Splines | SketchUp Lessons 3. Shape Bender (free) This plug-in helps in bending an existing group to match any curved line. For example, it can be used to design serpentine roads. WATCH: Shape Bender – Ramps and Roads 4. Joint Push/Pull (free) Sketchup doesn’t support extruding (push/pull) curved surfaces, but with the help of the Joint push/pull tool, multiple surfaces can be “pushed/pulled” simultaneously. This tool is very useful for creating volumetric solids, curved-in multiple axes, or building elements extruded along walls. WATCH: SketchUp: Plugin Joint PushPull 4. Unfold (free) This is a very useful tool that allows users to convert 3D models or objects into a two-dimensional plane or orthographic projection. It is so simple to use that the user need only click the unfold tool from the plug-in menu and select the 3D object that needs to be converted into a 2D plane. WATCH: Google SketchUp — Unfold Tool 5. Round Corner (free) The Round Corner toolset is very useful for chamfering edges or to reduce smoothing of specified 3D objects in Sketchup, which is not possible with Sketchup alone. It is a well-executed plug-in allowing users to round, sharpen, and bevel edges of any configuration and complexity. WATCH: SketchUp: Plugin Round Corner

Render Plugins for SketchUp:

6. V-Ray Render (paid, trial pack available) V-Ray is the rendering engine used by more design practitioners than any other. V-Ray was developed by Chaos Group, an important company in the design industry. WATCH: Custom Home Made in Sketchup, Rendered in Vray (demo reel) V-Ray uses advanced techniques such as the global illumination (GI), and algorithms such as path tracing, photon mapping, and irradiance mapping, which when combined simulate the physics of real-world lighting effects. Now 3D lighting techniques used by photographers and filmmakers can be applied to computer graphics to bring out an extra level of realism. 7. Maxwell Render (free demo version available) Maxwell Render is developed by Next Time Technologies and their initially released in 2006. Maxwell Render is a Raytracer-type rendering engine, and as such it is an unbiased 3D renderer. Maxwell Render utilizes Global illumination (GI) and algorithms based on metropolis light transport variation, providing the effect of exact physical aspects of the material rendered. Maxwell therefore gives a high quality and a less noisy result. Recommended Reading:

• Top 10 Hints & Tips For SketchUp
• 3D Modeling Software for Landscape Architects
• Computer Aided Software for Landscape Architects: The Essential Guide

WATCH: Using SketchUp with Maxwell Plug-In to Create Night, Dusk, and Evening Renderings 8. Kerkythea (free) Kerkythea was developed by Ioannis Pantazopoulos and released in 2005. It is a stand-alone rendering system that supports raytracing and Metropolis light transport. It is capable of rendering high quality, photo-realistic renders, utilizing caustics and global illumination (GI). WATCH: Kerkythea Tutorial – The Basics Kerkythea is even used for making clay renders. It is notable that Alex Hogrefe is one of the best practitioners in architectural visualization. He has his own website – www.visualizingarchitecture.com — through which he gives tutorials and tips for designers to improve their portfolios. He uses Kerkythea in most of his demonstrations for making clay models out of 3D models done on Sketchup. 9. Raylectron (paid, free trial available) Raylectron is a rendering engine developed by SoftByte Labs Inc. in 2010. Raylectron utilizes path tracing; it does not use approximation and/or emulation (as other conventional render engines do). Raylectron is capable of producing animations based on scenes either developed in Sketchup or in Raylectron itself. WATCH: Raylectron v3 Quick Tour Tutorial Raylectron is widely used by landscape designers and architects for creating trees, bushes, and other landscape objects. A unique capability of Raylectron is that each object can be individually rotated and scaled. 10. SU Podium (paid, free trial available) SU Podium was developed by Cadalog Inc. It is used to create photorealistic rendered images of Sketchup models. SU Podium functions entirely inside Sketchup and uses Sketchup objects such as textures, backgrounds, colors, shadows, groups, and HDRI. SU Podium utilizes raytracing and global illumination (GI). SU Podium also features several different types of natural and artificial lights, sky light, Omni light, LEM lights, and spot lights. SU Podium has some additional features such as direct reflection, blurred reflection, refraction, caustics, bumps, and physical sky. WATCH: SU Podium V2 Introduction One of the main reasons behind Sketchup being used by people in the design industry is that it supports a wide range of plug-ins and provides models that can be exported in many formats. Most of these plug-ins can be downloaded for free from the extension warehouse of Sketchup (Bezier tools, unfold tools, round corner tools, and shape bender, for example). These plug-ins are very helpful for providing results that can’t be achieved with Sketchup alone. The combination of Sketchup and these plug-ins will really make your work stand out.

Recommended Reading for SketchUp Enthusiasts: 

• SketchUp 2014 For Dummies  by Aidan Chopra
• Rendering in SketchUp: From Modeling to Presentation for Architecture, Landscape Architecture and Interior Design by Daniel Tal

Article by Sha Suliman Return to Homepage Featured image: Printscreen from Youtube, source

We ask the question “What is Landscape Architecture?” My first experience with landscape architecture came in 2006, when I was admitted into university to study it. This turned out to be a very important time of my life, as it served as a guide to my future. Back then, the future was full of surprises – first I had to redraw ancient park compositions with a technical pen and devise 44 ways to draw a tree silhouette.

What I found most amusing was telling my friends what I was studying. The response was almost inevitably the question “And what is that?” Sometimes, instead of the question, I might receive an encouraging “Ooo, architecture is a great and profitable profession, very good choice, bravo”.

But it was really me who was about to discover what landscape architecture is and what the role of a landscape architect is. When I was thinking that I should draw beautiful compositions of parks and gardens, I found myself walking through green meadows, staring at every tiny blade of grass and trying to identify different types of flowers and grasses.

An Epiphany About Landscape Architecture

A few weeks after, I was presented the task of drawing up a master plan. Then it hit me – landscape architecture is really a complex work. It combines deep understanding of nature and its processes, including science, art, design, and creativity. Related Articles Featuring Landscape Architecture:

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Nevertheless, the outcome of the hard work could be brilliant. 

Think of the perfection of a Japanese garden, or of a Victorian-style garden with trimmed geometrical and animal-shaped shrubs. Think of a more naturalistic design, like the High Line. Landscape architecture is diverse, inspiring, and changing. It can satisfy everyone’s taste.  In landscape architecture, everything is important — the plant, the bird, the line, the circle, and the human.

Moreover, it doesn’t focus only on landscape and nature. It is all about people and how they live, walk, work, observe, and use the landscape. Their experience and the quality of it is the focus of a landscape architect. Landscape architects are charged with making the most of things, and very often are asked to reinvent them in light of new experiences. 

Landscape architecture seeks to understand the needs and aspirations of people and how they use the outdoor spaces.

The Many Scales of Landscape Architecture

The landscape architect works on all scales – from small private spaces to large-scale development. The work also involves disciplines such as urban planning and urban design.  Public spaces, river promenades, infrastructures, campuses, workplaces, living spaces — all a field of work for the landscape architect, who often demonstrates great abilities to integrate nature in the dense urban environment. Public spaces are an essential part for the livability of cities. I feel lucky to live in a time when we can learn from past experiences — to respect them, but at the same time add new value to the environment in which we live. New materials, new technologies, and better knowledge of the world that surrounds us give landscape architects great possibilities for creating stunning projects.

WATCH: Learn More About Landscape Architecture

Recommended Reading:

• Landscape Architecture: An Introduction by Robert Holden
• Detail in Contemporary Landscape Architecture by Virginia McLeod

Article by Slavyana Popcheva Return to Homepage Feature image: Sorbis/shutterstock

MEDIA RELEASE: Two artist-designed artworks installed on Beaufort Street in Perth by DrainPave based on a decorative paving system are among the first on the surface of a major road in Western Australia. The vibrant contemporary designs by artist Roly Skender indicate ‘slow points’ at the entrance and exit points of the busy Beaufort Street pedestrian area in the City of Vincent.

Decorative Paving System

Each colourful artwork covers 800sqm and was installed by DrainPave using StreetPrint, which is considered the most innovative decorative paving system on the market.

DrainPave Manager Peter Borg said the project was something different for WA. “Not only are these among the first road surface artworks to be designed by an artist, but they are also the first ‘permanent’ artwork of their kind created on roads in Perth,” Mr Borg said. “No product other than StreetPrint can withstand the rigors of 25,000 vehicles per day.” It is also the first time Perth has seen such a vibrant palette of colours on the road. “There are other StreetPrint installations in the city, but they feature more conventional brick, slate and cobble StreetPrint patterns using more traditional colours,” Mr Borg said. Related Articles:

• Permeable Paving: The Essential Guide
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• Pavegen: Using the Pavement to Generate Energy

Virtually any pattern or design can be installed using StreetPrint, which combines the strength of concrete with the flexibility of asphalt, comes in a wide range of 3-dimensional architectural colours, and offers fast application, and low-cost and seamless repairs or changes if needed.

Street Print for Decorative Paving

A StreetPrint design can be laid over an existing surface, making it a cost effective option, and the system has been durability tested in more than 30 countries.

“The Beaufort Street installations, which were inspired by the orbit of the planets around the sun, feature large vividly coloured geometric shapes that lent themselves perfectly to the StreetPrint system,” Mr Borg said. “The bold colours reflect the vibrancy of the Beaufort Street precinct, help visually connect one side of the road to the other and highlight that the area is a high-use pedestrian-friendly zone.” A subsidiary of LD Total, and the sole distributor and installer of StreetPrint in WA, DrainPave provides decorative asphalt and porous decorative paving solutions for architectural and traffic management applications in the commercial, government and domestic sectors. DrainPave worked closely with the City of Vincent, the Public Transport Authority and Main Roads to ensure the Beaufort Street artworks did not detract from new ‘red’ bus lanes. Kerbing was also left un-coated to help provide clear delineation between the bus lanes and the general traffic lanes. “Due to the fact we were working in a high-use vehicle and pedestrian traffic area, the installation had to be completed at night between the hours of 8pm and 3am to accommodate traffic management procedures,” Mr Borg said. StreetPrint was awarded Product of the Year at the 2014 Awards for the Landscape Industries Association of Western Australia. Recommended Reading:

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

Media release from Bonnie Bullock. Return to Homepage

The metal sculptures of Floyd Elzinga, Ontario, Canada At first glance, you may think these behemothic objects are the remaining vestiges of a bygone era. They are, in fact, a series of contemporary works forged by artist and sculptor Floyd Elzinga. Canadian Elzinga is based in Beamsville, Ontario, with the best part of two decades’ experience creating environmental installations and sculptural landscapes. Upon graduating from Nova Scotia College of Art and Design with a bachelor’s degree in fine arts, Elzinga chose to return to his parents’ farm. Freshly armed with artistry and aspiration, his days of manipulating metal began there and then; after coming across some scrap metal lying around, he commenced working with the material and claims he “never looked back.”

Drawing on Nature as a Source of Inspiration for the Pine Cones

With his studio located on the Niagara Escarpment, Elzinga has no shortage of inspiration to draw upon. Both the natural, untouched environs and the cultivated, controlled landscapes that fringe his studio influence his work considerably. Many of Elzinga’s creations exalt and directly reference the quintessential Canadian landscape and his own unique perspective of the land. In using the natural world as a source of inspiration, Elzinga regularly references aspects of agriculture, politics, and religion in the form of hidden metaphors onto his conceptual sculptures. Instances of opposition or contrast are often explored and created in his work; his ideas embody this notion and are highlighted through dualities, such as the balance struck between industrial materials and natural forms. Elzinga has forged a career by glorifying the things that rouse his inner artist. These are the things that capture and reveal nature’s implacable impetus: decaying tree stumps, invasive species, and wind-ravaged trees, to name a few.

A Dichotomy of Material and Inspiration

Within his artistic palette, Elzinga has over the years made metal his dominant material of choice; a result of close to 20 years’ experience in fabricating steel. Elzinga himself describes the material as having a “malleable, plastic, and forgiving nature” and, along with its climate-resistant properties, it was these traits of the common, fast-working material that as a sculptor he was initially and is still drawn to, allowing him to conceptualize his ideas and thoughts in a persuasive and free-flowing manner.

Much like a painter with a brush, Elzinga uses metal-working machinery to create textures and strokes, with a color palette determined through means of polishing, burnishing, sanding, grinding, rusting, or heating. A Manifestation of Innocuous and Aggressive Potential So by now you must be wondering how Elzinga’s metal-working techniques are applied to his pine cone sculptures? Upon closer inspection, one realizes that it is the creative use of metal welded together that form the whole. These “Colonization Devices“, as Elzinga has dubbed them, illustrate and explore the dichotomous nature of seeds — simultaneously seen as innocuous and aggressive. Pine trees have in past eras been regarded as symbols of immortality, and pine cones of male fertility. Related Articles:

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With that in mind, Elzinga sought instead to aim attention at the threatening, almost hostile nature of the seeds, using the ordinariness of steel and its commonplace use to liken them not to the organic yet geometricized form they resemble, but to machinery and artillery; in turn, equating them to hand grenades. This juxtaposition of the seeds’ reason for being – colonization — and the sculptures’ shape emulating a hand grenade or bomb inserts an irrefutable political agenda into the artwork and fouls the pine cone’s purity. By comparing the potential of both seed and bomb, Elzinga insinuates that the pair possess the innate desire to stay alive — to invade and colonize. So as seeds lie on the ground, ready to spread, Elzinga’s fallen cones serve not only as physical manifestations of destructive and invasive forces, but also represent the idea of nature’s death with new life and regeneration — using the malleable medium of steel. Recommended reading:

• Environmental Art: Contemporary Art in the Natural World 2015 Wall Calendar  by Amber Lotus Publishing
• Art of Yarn Bombing: No Pattern Required by Ilianthe Kalloniatis

Article by Paul McAtomney Return to Homepage

André Citroën Park, Paris, France by Gilles Clément and Alain Provost. The modern Parisian park André Citroën, located in the 15th arrondissement on the left bank of the river Seine, has been for the past two decades an attractive space of interaction for the city’s residents, a hot spot for tourists, and an influential object of study for both landscape architecture and architecture students. But let’s not get hasty and call it a success, for it has been also criticized by many and even labeled by some as one of the worst parks in Paris. So does that make it a failure? In the following article, we look at the different aspects of the park with the intention of producing an insight rather than drawing sharp judgments on its extent of failure or success.

André Citroën Park and the War

The neighborhood of the park is known as Quartier de Javel or the Javel neighborhood. It was named after a factory, set up in 1777 by the Count Artois, that produced the disinfectant water known until today as eau de Javel (Javel water). The district maintained its industrial heritage with the opening of a weapon factory by André Citroën during World War I in 1915.

After the war, the factory was converted into the industry of the well-known car Citroën. The factory remained open until 1974 and was later moved to a new location, leaving behind an unused plot of land on the riverbank. The park, located on the old premises of the Citroën factory, was created in 1992 by landscape architects Gilles Clément and Alain Provost and architects Patrick Berger, Jean-François Jodry, and Jean-Paul Viguier. It is considered one of the largest parks in Paris to open in the 20th century. A Vast Array of Attractions The design of the park comprises a set of opposites that indeed attract. An encounter of intimacy and openness is present in this park that can be divided into three main parts: two separate gardens, called The White Garden and The Black Garden; a large central park; and a series of small gardens known as The Jardins Sériels or the serial gardens.

The Hot Air Balloon at The André Citroën Park

Be prepared to get lost in space, as the play on levels offers the park’s wanderers an opportunity to explore the site through walkways and bridges that connect the different areas. Lookout spots are also present, as well as a hot air balloon that allows for an aerial view of the park, the Seine, and surrounding urbanscape.

The Open Space A large lawn area occupies the center of the park, where individuals and families stroll, play, and enjoy picnics on the rare sunny days in Paris. A series of Cypresses and two large glasshouses frame the park and surround the large paved area facing the lawn, as well as the water games located between the glasshouses. The latter contain a variety of Mediterranean plants and trees. In the middle of the lawn area stands the large hot air balloon that can hold about 30 adults and 60 children, going up as high as 150 meters. Related Articles:

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• An Underground Park – The Lowline Park
• $3 Million Investment in Urban Park Breathes Life into Dying Downtown

 The Gardens Perhaps the most unique part of the park lies in its gardens, which are at once educational and entertaining. The White Garden, being the only part of the park where dogs are welcome and containing a playground, serves as the fun area and is a favorite of families and children. The Black Garden is a quiet area for reading and strolling, enhanced with dark foliage. The Changing Garden contains a wide variety of plants that, as its name suggests, allows for a change in the colors of this section according to the seasons. The Garden of Movement permits flexibility, as plants have no specific theme and grow untamed. The Serial Gardens are each represented by their vegetation of a different color, expressing a metal, a planet, a day of the week, a water state, and a sense.

Each garden is accompanied by a tactile sign that lists the vegetation.

• The Blue Garden (Salvia superba, Veronica gentianoides etc.): Copper, Venus, Friday, rain and smell.
• The Green Garden (Acanthus mollis, Miscanthus sinensis etc.): Tin, Jupiter, Thursday, water spring and hearing.
• The Orange Garden (Azalea ‘flame’, Parrotia persica etc.): Mercury, Mercury, Wednesday, stream and touch.
• The Red Garden (Sambucus nigra, Taxus baccata etc.): Iron, Mars, Tuesday, cascade and taste.
• The Silver Garden (Olea europea, Lobularia maritime etc.): Silver, Moon, Monday, river and sight.
• The Golden Garden (Rosa ‘golden wings’, Sambucus racemosa ‘sutherland gold’ etc.): Gold, Sun, Sunday, evaporation and the sixth sense.

The Shortcomings of The André Citroën Park

Despite the impressive design lines and innovative features, the park does have several defects. It is first of all a real pity that while the park is advertised as being the only open park on the Seine, it does not really establish any connection with the river, as there is a gate and a wide unused space between both, losing a great potential.

“Look but don’t touch” The gates surrounding the park not only separate it from the river, but also from any interaction with its neighborhood. The park has been also criticized for inciting its users with a “look but don’t touch message” due to the lack of seating areas in some of the gardens and the absence of any picnic tables in the lawn area. Also, signs such as the one next to the water games warns children against playing there, but does not necessarily stop them. The park moreover closes as soon as it gets dark, and it would be rather more interesting to create proper lighting for the park and keep it open at night. André Citroën is definitely not your average, typical space. And the fact that it is visited by many means that something has been done right. Yet considering the large amount of money being spent on that park, it is definitely worth taking a second look at its weaknesses and turning it into an even more vibrant space. Recommended Reading:

• Public Parks: The Key to Livable Communities by Alexander Garvin
• Urban Green: Innovative Parks for Resurgent Cities by Peter Harnik

Article by Dalia Zein Return to Homepage

North Bethesda Market, by Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects, cooperating with sculptor Jim Sanborn. Rockville, Maryland. Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects has struck again, this time with its landscape design for the mixed-use urban development of North Bethesda Market. Together with HKS Architects, the firm transformed a former suburban parking lot into a small but extraordinarily good-looking urban center. This project in the Washington, D.C., metro area is not only aesthetically pleasing, but also convincing on a sustainable level, providing extensive green roofs, a rain garden, and the nearly exclusive use of native plants.

Can a project be too perfect? Nothing seems to be left to chance, which in my opinion makes the design a little bit too perfect. However, a plaza surrounded by high-class restaurants and luxury shopping is probably expected to look perfect, and I must admit that its down-to-the-last-detail in design that will undoubtedly make every landscape architect’s heart beat faster.

North Bethesda Market – Blending Home with Community

HKS Architects describes the goal for this 650,000-square-foot project as “blending home with community”. Indeed, North Bethesda Market offers various semi-private and public open spaces, allowing residents and visitors to enjoy this place equally.

Two big, green rooftop gardens — both including a swimming pool area – serve the residents’ needs for community and relaxation, while the elliptical plaza in the buildings’ center, a festival street for outdoor markets, and the sidewalk landscapes are accessible for everybody. Forgotten spaces can be so much more It is exactly these kinds of street landscapes, often treated as inferior in the past, that are given so much thought by NBW Landscape Architects. The sidewalks are separated from motorized traffic and sheltered by a canopy of trees. Cafes provide an engaging, pedestrian-friendly urban experience. Small and more intimate public places are sprinkled throughout, offering benches and different vistas. A fascinating rain garden that mitigates stormwater runoff is nestled between the sidewalk and Rockville Pike.

Is North Bethesda Market Pedestrian-Friendly Project?

This pedestrian-friendly project was completed in May 2010. Since then, many people have wandered the tree-lined streets on the beautiful, striated stone paving. The use of locally sourced granite in different-colored shapes helps to create a breath-taking atmosphere at the central plaza.

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Quartz Meets Water A stunning mini-waterfall is one of the key features of the design, breaking the strictly arranged lines of stone with a smooth burble. Through three wavy steps, visitors are allowed not only to look at this reassuring installation, but also to get in direct touch with the uncut stones on which the water runs down in a playful way.

Alluvium – A Name and a Meaning One more element has the power to steal the show: the sculpture “Alluvium”. The Latin name describes unconsolidated material deposited by rivers, and the sculpture, together with the quartz-rich granite and the fountain, recalls the previous, unspoiled environment of this project site . The most conspicuous part of the art installation, by sculptor Jim Sanborn, is made out of copper perforated with waterjet-cut texts in various languages. On closer inspectionm one will notice that even the granite is inscribed with texts about the area’s natural and cultural histories. “Alluvium” acts as the finishing touch of North Bethesda Market, revealing the allusions to the geography of the region even if any natural trace has been completely wiped away. A Design for the Future to be Enjoyed Now In conclusion this stunning design, based on sustainable concepts and a site-specific sculpture by Sanborn, is working very well, and we would definitely appreciate seeing more projects like this –especially if it’s not only in the context of luxurious shopping facilities and apartments that are almost unaffordable. North Bethesda Market is an unexpectedly overwhelming city plaza, which convinces with green roofs, a stormwater runoff concept, and the major use of native plants. It is indeed a design for the future. Recommended Reading:

• Happy City: Transforming Our Lives Through Urban Design by Charles Montgomery
• Urban Design: The Composition of Complexity by Ron Kasprisin

Article by Sophie Thiel Return to Homepage

A review of Simon Beck’s unique art of geometry on snow. Land art often is associated with sandy or stony coasts or deep green hills and hollows. Simon Beck, however, is the founder of a very different and special kind of land art: snow art. His drawings in the snow go far beyond our snow-angel childhood memories. He produces geometrical art works that cover areas the size of multiple soccer fields. They are reminiscent of crop circles or huge, beautiful mandalas in the endless, white landscape of winter.

Snow Art Designs Mirror Mathematical Equations

Beck’s design process starts with a sketch on paper, which he then creates in nature on a much larger scale — one to four hectares per work. His designs are influenced by the world of complex mathematical forms, geometry, and sometimes crop circles. Each of his stunning drawings in the snow takes at least 10 hours to accomplish and requires that he walk between 20 and 30 kilometers. Walking such a distance in fresh, deep snow is unbelievably hard work; hence, his creations are both artistic and athletic masterpieces.

How It All Started Ten years ago, Beck started his artwork as “a little fun after skiing one evening” . In December 2004, he decided to do some orienteering (which used to be his main source of income) and went with his compass to a snow-covered lake. There, he plotted five points in a pentangle and joined them up to form a star. He filled in the 15 triangles that resulted from this, and later added some circles. After examining his work from a nearby chairlift the next day, he was impressed. Repeating this exercise with even more complex drawings led to the rise of Snow Art. Back to the Roots While other artists in the land art community work with multiple methods using different tools — even heavy construction equipment – Beck is only equipped with a compass and his snowshoes. He works in bleak regions under hard conditions, always against the time and the cold. Working in fresh snow means Beck is powerless to the elements: The temperatures could warm and melt the snow, or more snow could fall and cover his work. Related Articles:

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

Sketches and Math The first stage of designing a snow art masterpiece is the same as beginning with a landscape architecture project: sketching on paper. Since Beck is really into mathematical formulas, most of his works turn out to be adapted shapes of them. Some of his favorite ones are the Sierpinski triangle, the Koch snowflake, and the Mandelbrot Set.

Creating a Snow Art Masterpiece

To get those beautiful geometric drawings onto the snow, Beck starts by measuring. To create straight lines, he uses the compass; but curves are made by his own judgment. Both require lots of practice. After this framework is completed, Beck uses a simple pace count method to measure distance and create points along the frame. By joining these points, he adds secondary lines before finally filling in the shaded areas.

Beck improves on his unique creations every year, mostly in the region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur (France), maintaining his position as the world leader in producing snow art. Today, Snow Art by Simon Beck is known worldwide. With his remarkable shapes on the untouched snow, Beck wants people to see not only what impressive land art can be created in snow, but also to feel the urge to preserve the mountain landscapes that support them. His example also shows us that we are improving ourselves with every project and every drawing. Even if we don’t get credit for our work (at the moment), it is still worth all efforts as long as we enjoy it. Recommended Reading: There’s really only one book we can recommend here and that’s Simon Beck: Snow Art a perfect gift or for anyone who wants to know more about his incredible work. Article by Sophie Thiel Return to Homepage

Amazing landscapes to inspire your mind. In the words of Frank Lloyd Wright – “Study nature, love nature, stay close to nature. It will never fail you.” The natural world is full of fantastic wonders. Since the dawn of time Man has drawn inspiration from the natural environment. Here we share with you some of the world’s most amazing natural landscapes that you won’t believe aren’t photoshopped to inspire you in your work and studies as landscape architects. Take a couple of minutes now to check out these beautiful landscapes. Go on. You deserve it.

10 Amazing Landscapes

1. Lower Antelope Canyon

Lower Antelope Canyon or Hazdistazí (meaning Spiritual Rock Arches) as it is known to the local Navajo people who own the land, is part of a spectacular slot canyon system in Arizona, USA. As light pours into the slot canyon it illuminates different places on the canyon’s walls at different times of the day, creating an ever changing display of light and shadow. It is easy to understand why the Antelope Canyon system is the most photographed slot canyon in the World. In fact recently a photograph of the canyon has sold for $6.5 million (USD)! 2. The Eye of the Sahara Also known as the Richat Structure, the Eye of the Sahara is a massive 50 km (31 miles) wide geological feature near Oudane, Mauritania, in the Sahara Desert. Due to it’s almost perfect circular structure and striking colors the Eye of the Sahara has attracted many fantastic stories over the years involving aliens and links with the lost city of Atlantis. The truth is, scientists don’t truly know why the structure is circular. It used to be believed that it was the site of a enormous asteroid impact, but this has since been discredited. It is now widely believed that the Eye was formed as a result of rising rock formations, volcanic action, and thermal springs. 3. Zhangye Danxia Landform The Zhangye Danxia Landform in China is a region of rugged terrain that bears the most incredible range of colors. The fascinating array of colors is due to a combination of effects of erosion and mineral deposit acting upon the natural sandstone bedrock. This process of coloration is thought to have taken around 24 million years, and dates back to the Cretaceous period. 4. The Marble Caves of Chile The Marble Caves, or Cuevas de Mármol, are a spectacular array of caves formed from solid marble on Lake General Carrera, a remote glacial lake on the boarder of Chile and Argentina. The caves were formed by wave action over a period of around 6,000 years. The walls of the caves are actually white, but reflect the stunning blues of the glacial waters, and so the spectacular scene changes depending on the light, from day to day, and time of year. 5. Pamukkale Pamukkale is Turkish for ‘Cotton Castle’. Looking at the shockingly white travatines, or terraces of carbonate deposits one can hardly believe it is a natural feature. This vast landscape 2,700 m (8,860 ft) long, 600 m (1,970 ft) wide and 160 m (525 ft) high has been created by the thermal springs of the region (ranging in temperature from 35º C (95º F) to approximately 100º C (212º F). The region has been a tourist attraction since the 2nd century BC, and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Nowadays only a few of the pools are open to the public to bathe in. 6. The Giant’s Causeway The Giant’s Causeway (also known as Clochán an Aifir or Clochán na bhFomhórach in the native Irish language), is an impressive landscape of geometric interlocking basalt columns in County Antrim on the north-east coast of Northern Ireland. While looking suspiciously regular in shape, the pavement is actually entirely natural. The causeway was created some 50-60 million years ago by huge volcanic eruptions which caused hot liquid magma to rise up through limestone to form a layer on the surface. As this layer of lava cooled it cracked in much the same way as mud does when it dries. 7. The Glowing Electric Blue Sea of Vaadhoo This striking image of a night time beach in Vaadhoo in The Maldives is one of the most unusual natural phenomena known to man. It is caused by a few species of algae known commonly as a Red Tide. During the day these dinoflagellates color the water red, and often bloom in such quantities that they block out the light and deplete oxygen levels, causing other marine species to die. However, at night when disturbed by currents (such as waves on a beach) the algae is exposed to a greater concentration of oxygen, which causes them to fluoresce by means of natural bio-luminescence, creating this amazing glow-in-the-dark beach. 8. Grand Prismatic Spring, Yellowstone National Park The Grand Prismatic Spring in Yellowstone Park, USA, is one of nature’s truly amazing wonders. The striking colors are actually the result of bacteria growing in the water. They range from green to red, following the spectrum of split white light as can be found in a rainbow. Each bacterium species favors slightly different temperatures, and so the striking concentric bands of color are formed as the water gradually cools towards the edges of the spring. What’s amazing is that bacteria can survive in the water at all, as the average temperature is a shocking 70º C (160ºF)! 9. El Saldar de Unyuni Salt Flats The Salar de Uyuni Salt Flats in Bolivia is one of the most bizarre and dreamlike landscapes in the World. At 10,582 square kilometers (4,086 square miles), El Salar is the world’s largest salt flat. Despite it’s large area the salt flat deviates in altitude by no more than 1 mm across its entire surface! The exceptional flatness, combined with the water content of the drying salt, gives rise to El Uyuni’s amazing ability to reflect the sky so perfectly, creating this stunning Topsy-turvey landscape. 10. Sossusvlei red dunes The eerie and enigmatic red sand dunes at Sossusvlei in Namibia form a striking backdrop to the flat salt and clay plains or ‘vlei’ as they are known in Africans. Due to their high salt content the flats cannot sustain plant life, and are a stunning almost pure white in color. The sand dunes owe their shocking red and pink colors to iron oxide present in the sand, and are amongst the tallest sand dunes in the World, with many extending to heights in excess of 200 m. The tallest, nicknamed Big Daddy, stands at 380 m in height. See these pictures “BIGGER” with our Slideshare presentation: Where do you get your inspiration from? Sometimes we all need to take a break from the grind of continuous designing and refresh our inspiration. There are many ways we can recharge our inspiration batteries, but for me I can always find inspiration in nature. As the great Albert Einstein once said “Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.” So whether the beauty of the Zhangye Danxia Landform or Antelope Canyon have rekindled your love for natural stone; or the striking colors of the Grand Prismatic Spring or Sossusvlei Red Dunes have given you pause to reassess your favorite color schemes, there’s no doubt that taking just a little time out to refresh your inspiration can have a beneficial effect. Why not use the comments section below to share with us your favorite inspiring natural landscape that you can’t believe hasn’t been photoshopped. Recommended Reading and Great Gift Ideas:

• Landscape Photography: From Snapshots to Great Shots by Rob Sheppard
• Digital Landscape Photography: In the Footsteps of Ansel Adams by Michael Frye
• National Geographic Stunning Photographs by Annie Griffiths

Article by Ashley Penn Return to Homepage

Sponsored article from www.iotagarden.com.au Garden Pots and Planters for Design Build and Landscape Professionals. Container gardening is a great tool for landscape designers. It helps to add that natural style to your outdoor or indoor space. Green aesthetics is the keyword here. Imagine a busy city street where concrete and pavement is the all-encompassing material. It may look dull and is probably an eyesore by itself. There is no hint of plant life or foliage. Container gardening brings green aesthetics to these kind of environments.

The Benefits of Container Gardening

Let’s look at some of the benefits of container gardening:

• 

  Photo credit: Nicholas Jones

  Adding foliage to concrete and hard paving. In places where planting is impossible under normal circumstances, container gardening makes it possible.
• Indoor planting. Planting indoors adds a special appeal to interiors and this is usually only possible with container gardening.
• Easily move plants. Container gardening allows the gardener or the landscape architect to easily move the plants as needed. Redesigning is made much simpler. Depending on the size of your container, the plants can even be moved indoors when the cooler months come.
• Containers can be functional in a design. Plant pots and planters are not just pleasing to the eye. Depending on the container shape, they can be used for functional design. Tall pots can be used to highlight doorways and entrances. Trough shaped pots can be used to guide pedestrians. When used properly, plant containers can also become the focal point of a design.
• Soft Landscaping at a Designer Outlet Mall. IOTA planters were commissioned at a Designer Outlet Mall in Banbridge, Ireland. The mall was full of hard lines and hard concrete paving; and a variety of granite taper and granite trough planters helped bring about a certain kind of sophistication adding a soft touch to the existing design. The end result is an urban oasis.

For more information, see here.

Functional Design at Park House Hotel Green aesthetics made functional is the theme at Park House Hotel in Bepton, West Sussex. The hotel was installed with 58 of IOTA’s granite planters. Tall taper planters were used to emphasize doorways and entrances while trough planters were lined up along walls to direct pedestrians. For more information, see here. Planting Trees in Containers at Gold Coast Deepwater Point Apartments The vigorous root growth of a tree can prove to be a problem for many landscape designs. When roots grow too large, they can start to cause structural damage which is exactly what happened at Gold Coast Deepwater Point Apartments. Related Articles:

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That’s when IOTA’s large planters came in. The planters are strong enough to withstand the vigorous root growth of the magnificent poolside palm trees. The end result is a stunning poolside view with the palm tree standing proudly encased in an elegant fiberglass container. For more information, see here.

Indoor Planting at Newstead Office IOTA’s concrete planters provided the much-needed facelift at Newstead Office in Brisbane. The planters brought a fresh appeal that can brighten up the mood. When using planters indoors, drain holes are to be sealed so watering won’t create a mess. For more information, see here. Would you like to feature your product or service on our website? If so contact us at office@landarchs.com and find out more. Guest article from Nicholas Jones Return to Homepage

Vanke-Shoukai Retail and Leisure Centre, By SPARK and BAM Landscape, Daxing in Beijing, China   Vanke-Shoukai is a new leisure and business center that combines a shopping mall, offices, and apartments. The center is a project of the SPARK office, in collaboration with the BAM landscape office. This is a new urban development center in the city of Daxing in Beijing. Its main priority is functional diversity, but with prime concern for business, given its proximity and connection to the new airport south of Daxing. It was necessary to create a park welcoming these activities within the same space.

An interrelationship between interior and exterior The building is innovative and focuses on the interrelationships between interior and exterior spaces. The architects broke with conventional constructions and split the vertical tower into a building that plays with scales. Despite the scale of the building, the fact that it does not go up in height keeps it at a scale adapted to man. The curves are present at the base of the building, but are most generously used in the park. The initial idea of the design for this park is a reaction against the flatness of the surrounding areas. This is the reason why the landscape architects borrowed from the tradition of Zen Gardens, and played with topography, trees, furniture, and curves. The park can be seen from different angles, from the volumes created in the park such as the paths of bricks, but also from the building. Indeed, whether from inside the building or from the terraces, we can have a top view of the park to admire the different circular spaces. In addition to allowing visitors to discover the park from several points of view, these curved brick paths invite visitors to travel around the different areas of the park. Related Articles:

• Where Zen Garden Design Meets Enchanted Woodland: TROP’s Forest and Pool at Pyne 
• The Dark Art of Conceptual Design in Privately Funded Public Space
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Reinterpreting the Ancient Art of the Zen Garden

In Zen Gardens of the past, stone carpets were used as winding roads that connected the different parts of a garden and the house, so that people did not have to dirty their feet. These roads were winding, to make the longest walk possible. So we had the habit of accentuating the curves in the most natural way and without opposing the flow of water. This contemporary Zen Garden’s black and white floor is a beautiful example of this tradition while being designed in a modern way.

Similar to islands in the sea or the mountaintops in a sea of clouds, rocks are placed on this raked stretch, represented here by these cobblestones. A Timeless Design Many varieties of oaks (Quercus), maples (Acer), pines (Pinus), and willows (Salix) have been planted. These species were chosen for their rapid growth. Passersby can quickly have an idea of what the place will be like in a few years. The main elements of Zen Gardens are present, but are interpreted in a contemporary way. For example, there is a granite stone sphere placed in the center of the concentric circles. So, the garden plays its role as an intermediary space between the internal and the external, the visible and the invisible. As the founder of philosophical Taoism, Lao Tzu says, it is the harmony of the median-void. This site will serve as an example for new developments in the area. Moreover, the two teams that worked on the project — SPARK and BAM — are already working on new developments, such as the Jiugong Vanke Plaza Project. Landscape and Architecture in Harmony Vanke-Shoukai is a park with peaceful and harmonious curves, and an architecture that counters the usual rigidity of buildings. It gives a feel of definite dynamic and power that emerges through the interplay of form and scale between architecture and landscape. Recommended reading: 

• The Garden Source: Inspirational Design Ideas for Gardens and Landscapes by Andrea Jones
• Private Paradise: Contemporary American Gardens by Charlotte M. Frieze

Article by Alexandra Wilmet. Return to Homepage