Author: Land8: Landscape Architects Network

Tree Houses from Antony Gibbon Designs Antony Gibbon has redesigned the concept of tree houses with his innovative and bold ideas. His projects show how we can reconnect with nature using carefully chosen materials and a kind of design strongly inspired by the natural world. Here you have three projects based on the principles of biomimicry: so really well integrated and respectful of the landscape, but at the same time really audacious in terms of design. Embryo Embryo could be considered the most introspective of Gibbon´s designs, like a cylindrical silkworm cocoon growing spontaneously up through the trunks of the trees. However, nothing in Embryo is out of the designer´s control. Inside its distinctive shape there are two floors, which allow enough space to sleep for four people.

Would you like to use it as your refuge in the forest? You could go into it through a hatch door and a kind of staircase. Then, inside Embryo, there is a spiral staircase on the walls, maximizing the interior space as much as possible. Due to its splayed windows, specially designed in three sizes, each Embryo can effectively use the natural lighting resources available in its particular location. However, this project is closer to a defensive strategy, trying to avoid heat losses by its continuous envelope, than a strategy of capturing solar gains. Inhabit Tree House Inhabit may be the most conventional project, in which Gibbon found inspiration in geometric forms to design a kind of contemporary sculptural piece. Instead of being in touch with trees, this structure is built over a series of inclined pillars, making it very versatile for different environments, including forests, lakes, and rivers. After we go into Inhabit through a trap door, we find two floors connected by a simple central staircase. Its attractive irregular section lets us enjoy different spatial experiences inside; the interior layout changes from one Inhabit to another. But one of the best points of staying in Inhabit is probably the large window set open from the floor to the ceiling, which creates a strong visual connection with nature and dissolves architectural boundaries. In addition, it also means a lot of natural light, which could help to keep the space warmer in winter as part of a passive strategy.

Roost Tree house

Do you think that you have seen this before? Maybe you are right, because at first sight Roost Treehouse looks a bit like Lothlorien´s house from “Lord of the Rings”. But you need to take more than just a look to understand how it works. Each tree house is formed by a variable number of capsules, one for each tree, which are connected through their outdoor upper platform. This curious design provides additional support to the structure and a really different and interesting inhabiting experience. Only one of the pods lets us access the platform from ground level, using a central spiral staircase that runs round the trunk of the tree. So we find two kinds of spaces, with a wooden outer structure around that unifies the image from the private space to the communal flat roof.

The key factor for all of these tree houses is to be so adapted to a place that they look to be a part of it There is a close relationship between these amazing tree houses and nature on many levels, like the way of attaching the structures to the trees without interfering with their growth or causing them any damage, or the cedar cladding that ages their appearance with time. Here, it is all about coexistence and learning natural strategies to the point that architecture behaves like a woodland creature. Recommended reading: New Treehouses of the World by Pete Nelson Tree Houses by Loft Publications If you like art and nature, see also: Mark Nixon’s Chimecco Chime Bridge Article written by Elisa García

HOSPER design Genk C-Mine. For much of its history, the Belgian city of Genk depended on coal mining for its economy and development. So when the mine at Winterslag closed in the late 1980s, city fathers knew that any repurposing of the site must reflect that legacy. Two initial plans for the site renovation fell through before HOSPER architects, in collaboration with Atelier Ruimteliijk Advies, created the design that has culminated in the Genk C-Mine square. The design, honed from 2006 to 2012, reconfigures the site’s open spaces around the remaining mining industry buildings and creates a cultural hub. A 0.5-hectare free space was rebuilt to accommodate a large variety of activities and events. From relaxing to chatting to watching concerts, local visitors and tourists can experience the diverse options offered by the flexible space.

The Design Genk C-Mine was reconstructed by adding attributes that connect its new functions to its historical past and ensure the space’s aesthetic quality. Starting from the ground up, the square was paved with Belgium black slate, whose similarity to coal reminds visitors of the material formerly extracted from underground. The black slates were arranged in sizes and shapes, from very small scraps to large, shiny plates, giving color uniformity to the floor while creating interesting contrasts in texture and brightness. The dark tone of the floor harmonizes with the contemporary design of chairs and stools made of folded stainless steel plate, with the internal and rear surfaces coated in red. The seating elements, designed by Carmela Bogman, are arranged in an informal way to accommodate both individuals and small groups. The furniture also blends with the square’s functional flexibility by being easily removed when space is required for bigger events. Major Renovation Project Genk C-mine square is surrounded by old brick buildings, most of them renovated from the mining days. The buildings offer programs similar to those provided in the open space, in terms of cultural, educational, and recreational goals, as well as in their concept of preservation through new functions. Among the buildings located around the square, the former energy building stands out for being rebuilt to house indoor activities in a spacious and illuminated environment, ensuring its relationship with the adjacent open space. The Brussels-based architecture office 51N4E transformed the 20th-century industrial environment by renovating the remaining parts and conciliating them to the two new concrete buildings. The main entrance of the Genk Cultural Center building is centered between two shaft towers that are the reference elements of the former mine site. The imaginary triangle shaped by the three components — the smaller and larger tower and the building’s main door — traces an axis in the square that guides visitors and defines the organization of community events. The Belgian office of NU architectuuratelier reintegrated the iconic towers to the underground by designing a lively museum that tells the history of the site’s evolution from its industrial past to the technological present. The reconfigured space is called C-mine expedition and consists of adventurous activities through the routes formerly used by miners. Starting under the smaller tower and the ruins of the former mine reception building, the excursion continues through the underground passages, where objects and images from the past are exhibited along with modern installations. The expedition ends with an activity that challenges explorers to climb up a tall stairway, which ends with a surprising view on the environment, completing the experience of learning about the former workplace while enjoying its new features. The Square at Night Time If during the day the Genk C-Mine environment is characterized by neutral colors only broken by the red chairs, at night a more dramatic atmosphere comes to life. The lighting design firm Painting with Light used a combination of cold and warm whites to accentuate the materials’ features and volumetric composition. The lighting design also included cool blues in reference to the local football team color and flashes of red to evoke blood and passion. As explained by the lighting design team leader, Luc Peumans, the red accents refer to the emotional value of the mine site for the Genk community, reminding them of the workers’ dedication to their challenging profession. Peumans added that new technologies were fundamental to the lighting design’s goal of creating a versatile open space. The LED technology fitted into this purpose, due to the small size of the components and the controllable light angles. It also enabled designers to reinforce the meaning of the towers as the site’s landmarks with the installation of a mix of amber, white, and blue LEDLINES throughout the structures and at their bases, in addition to the use of special LED modules to light water jets around the larger tower. Genk C-Mine design teams worked coherently to create an attractive and versatile space, which is a fusion of industrial past and contemporary design. The use of modern technology enabled the transformation of the coal mine into a vital space with a varied program that met the expectations for a cultural center while preserving the historical heritage. Project: Genk C-mine. Design of the C-mine culture plan Location: Genk, België Designers: Hanneke Kijne, Petrouschka Thumann, Han Konings, Hilke Floris, Ronald Bron, Remco Rolvink Partners: ARA Atelier Ruimtelijk Advies, Carmela Bogman industrial design, Painting with Light, NU architectuuratelier Client: City of Genk Size: 0.5 ha. Year of design: 2006-2012 Status: completed Photography / illustration: Pieter Kers Other articles HOSPER have featured in: Private Estate Reveals State of The Art Underground Car Park Top 10 Imaginative Squares World Class Entry for Park Competition! Recommended reading: The Social Life of Small Urban Spaces by William H. Whyte Article written by Tania Ramos Gianone

stpmj’s First Prize Winning Entry, DRIFT “DRIFT proposes a triangular arrangement of eight foot diameter balloons that create a dynamic canopy over bourbon tastings, educational spaces for children and other groups. Jurors praised the project for its unexpected playfulness and relationship to historic river imagery. The design was interpreted by the panel of jurors as a type of inverted raft with romantic allusions to the journeys of Huckleberry Finn as well as the flatboats that once populated Louisville’s wharf in great numbers. — Kentucky Museum of Art & Craft blog” On October 15, 2014, Louisville will host the Centennial Festival of Riverboats to celebrate the 100th birthday of the Belle of Louisville.  During the summer of 2013, the Waterfront Development Corporation announced an international design competition for a series of temporary pavilions to be used during the celebration.  Designs were required to accommodate a variety of uses and relate conceptually to the event while adhering to a stipulated material budget and public safety requirements. Interest in the project was far-reaching, attracting a variety of established firms and creative practices from thirteen countries including twenty United States.

The winning entry for the pavilion design is “DRIFT”, submitted by Brooklyn-based design practice stpmj. Design team members Seung Teak Lee and Mi Jung Lim are both natives of Seoul, Korea. stpmj has an impressive track record with inventive design projects as evidenced by works such as Invisible Barn, a reflective structure proposed for the Socrates Sculpture Park in Queens, New York. DRIFT proposes a triangular arrangement of eight foot diameter balloons that create a dynamic canopy over bourbon tasting and educational spaces for children and other groups. Jurors praised the project for its unexpected playfulness and relationship to historic river imagery. The relationship to Louisville’s river history was singled out by jury member Rick Bell, a prominent Louisville historian, as a vital characteristic of a centennial celebration and one that required a unique expression. DRIFT was interpreted by the panel of jurors as a type of inverted raft with romantic allusions to the journeys of Huckleberry Finn as well as the flatboats that once populated Louisville’s wharf in great numbers. The stpmj design team will receive a $2000 prize for their winning proposal which will be fabricated locally for the Centennial Festival. The second place award of $1000 went to Aaron Loomans of Milwaukee, WI for his entry entitled Paddle Flux. Mr. Looman’s submission also placed second in the People’s Choice voting. First place in the People’s Choice voting went to a project entitled Centennial Paddlevillion, a collaboration between New York City based Metamechanics and Christian Duvernois Landscape/Gallery. The Centennial Festival of Riverboats Pavilions Design Competition was initiated by Louisville-based design practice PART Studio LLC .Special thanks are given to Louisville’s own sonaBLAST! Records for sponsoring the competition and to the Kentucky Museum of Art & Craft for hosting the public exhibition of the work. Also featuring STPMJ: Invisible Barn Brings us Back to Nature Press release courtesy of  stpmj

Photoshop skills for advanced users. Photoshop has become one of the bread and butter tools for the landscape architect. Over the past several years, Photoshop has advanced in amazing ways and expanded the creative potential for designers in every profession. Landscape architects can keep their designs as simple and suggestive as they would like — or they can push the limits of human perception through photomanipulation. An apparent love for creating engaging and emotion-laden imagery has found a resurgence through montage-styled perspectives and otherworldly lighting and atmospheric effects. So to this end, we have collected 10 of the best “how-to” videos on the internet that show you how to move beyond the basics of Photoshop representation and advance your abilities to artistically represent your designs. But don’t be surprised if you don’t find the obligatory lens flare or flock of migrating birds in these videos. 1. Ambient Occlusion As mentioned in our introduction, having an accurate understanding of the way the world works pays dividends into the quality of our representations. Here, Alex Hogrefe shows us how to replicate ambient occlusion (or natural lighting) in Photoshop instead of using a time-consuming rendering program. The results are incredible and will save you hours of sitting at a slow computer. By: Alex Hogrefe 2. Gradient Maps Have you ever wondered how some final renderings seem to have a finishing element that ties all of the colors in a representation together? Gradient maps let you alter mid tones, shadows, and highlights with gradient overlays and blending modes. By Andrei Oprinca 3. Digital watercolor Watercolor graphics are often a crowd pleaser. But how do you take a sketchup model, site photos, tracings, and scans, and turn them into professional-quality watercolor imagery? Here’s your answer! By: Les Chylinski 4. Tilt Shift Blur Camera effects, like a shallow depth of field, are quickly entering the digital representation world. Photoshop has a great collection of filters, but one of our favorites is the Tilt Shift Blur. You can defocus the background as well as the foreground, and guide your viewers’ eyes right where they need to be. By: Howard Pinsky 5. Alex Hogrefe Alex Hogrefe is quickly becoming a staple in the architecture university. He shows us here how to quickly manipulate a few images of grass into an entire green roof. Don’t miss this tutorial on the clone-stamp tool. By Alex Hogrefe 6. Scene Creation If you haven’t discovered Pixelflakes yet, you are really missing out. Their in-depth tutorials come with stock imagery and MP4’. This tutorial will show you how to select foreground and background landscape elements, place and light entourage, and appropriately light a scene. Concrete Cliff from Pixelflakes on Vimeo. By: Pixelflakes 7. Lighting Effects Gritty images tell stories. People are starting to catch on to the standby lens flare, flock of birds, and two children running toward us holding hands (you know what we are talking about). This tutorial by Pixelflakes takes you through another step-by-step tutorial on creating emotionally driven lighting and atmosphere effects, color, and texture. This tutorial will revolutionize your Photoshop understanding. By: Pixelflakes 8. Painting FZDSCHOOL style FZDSchool is a Singapore-based entertainment design school. We feature this video first as a reminder that other disciplines are having representation dialogues that are worth participating in and learning from. In this video, FZD founder Feng Zhu does a real-time digital painting in which he teaches us about creating depth, lighting, scale, drama, and much more. By: FZDSchool 9. Non-Destructive Workflow One of the quickest ways to create trouble is poor file and layer management. Work smarter and not harder after you learn about layer masks, layer copying techniques, smart objects, and more. You will waste less time recreating work that you messed up. By: Martin 10. Clipping Masks Did you know that you can use layer adjustments and only affect the layer directly beneath your layer? There are numerous reasons for using clipping masks. This is one of the big ones. By: Andrei Oprinca Free Extra Photo Manipulation – FlewDesigns – Step into my turtle  The golden egg in each of these tutorials is to slow down the video or pause your way through and watch how he creates adjustments for each of his layers. Purely brilliant. Don’t miss how he uses the HIGH PASS effect. By: Flew Designs – Lewis Moorhead The big thing to keep in mind about advancing your representation skills is to find tutorials you like. The people making these videos really know their stuff and have a wealth of knowledge that they love to share with us all. Keep looking for ways to bring up your skill level and maybe you will end up on our next beyond the basics Top 10. Also see:  10 AutoCAD Hacks for Beginners! Recommended reading:  Adobe Photoshop CS6 Classroom in a Book  by Adobe Creative Team Photoshop CS6 For Dummies  by Peter Bauer Article written by Cameron Rodman Featured image: Print screen Youtube: Source

Your first meeting with a potential client is usually the one which determines whether you get the job. In the short time available you need to convince them that you are a right person to design their space – be it a garden, a park or a public square. To succeed, you have to develop certain skills besides your design abilities; a lot of empathy and a bit of applied psychology will take you a long way! You must convince your potential customer that the service you provide is going to be of the highest quality. Developing a personal relationship with them is of the greatest importance, especially when it comes to designing private gardens. The following guidelines, once applied will help you gain your customer’s trust and earn you the job you desire! 1. Ask detailed questions

This way you will show your interest in your customer. Make sure you know their habits, if they have children, own pets, enjoy parties or like to sunbathe. Ask about their colour preferences, favourite plants and garden styles. Do not forget about allergies and possible disabilities. Take your time, make them feel looked after, show them you care. This will help you understand and anticipate their needs as well as support your design process. 2. Make notes Write down everything you hear and all the things you observed. Do not trust your memory – it will fail you when you least expect it. It does not make a good impression to repeat all the questions – your customer might think you did not listen to him. It is even worse to design a garden that clearly goes against the customer’s wishes simply due to forgetfulness. 3. Look at the site through their eyes Try to walk in their shoes for a while. If you design for a family with young children, imagine yourself as one of them, even if you are single and detest kids. Always remember you design for a specific person or group of people, but approach the subject like you were one of them. 4. Design for the Client, and not for yourself Always remember, that the garden you design will be used by your customer, not by you. Never follow the mindset that allows you to think that you know better what is best for the user. You may present your ideas and proposals, but at the end of it all, it is your client’s opinion that matters. If they ask for a country garden full of flowers, do not try to give them a modern and minimalistic design. 5. Observe your client’s surroundings and personality They can tell you a lot about your customer and their preferences, even if they weren’t mentioned aloud. People’s interior design and the way they dress speak volumes about them. Good observation skills are essential for anyone working with people, providing services for them. Always remember – the space must fit the user, not the other way round! This world is full of beautiful, but underused spaces. This happens very often because the designer forgot to properly connect with the client before and during the design process. Remembering about those few simple rules will help you achieve the desired results. What is more, the engaged and emphatic way of approaching your potential customer might win you an amazing job and get you a reputation of a designer, who truly cares. Isn’t it just what you want? Check out the following articles to see how a good working relationship with the client leads to successful designs: Stunning Contemporary Garden Design! Contemporary Japanese Garden in The English Countryside Floating Roof Garden on the River Thames Article written by Marta Ratajszczak

Welcome to another dazzling display of sketchy talent from around the globe. Your work never fails to excite us and clearly our readership too as last week’s Sketchy Saturday was our most popular yet. In this week’s top 10 we start of with a doodle sketched at the breakfast table, which is a great example of how you can literally sketch anywhere and express your creative talent. I guarantee when this sketch by Antony (no. 10 Below) was being done that he had no idea that it would be seen by 1,000’s of people world wide, inspiring others and encouraging many more to sketch for themselves. This is what drives Sketchy Saturday, showcasing moments of creativity in order to inspire others.  Keep on scrolling and check out all 10 of this week’s Sketchy Saturday. 10. Antony Comrie, principal Greeninc at South Africa

“This is a breakfast doodle drawn at the breakfast table in Melville, Johannesburg, South Africa before rushing off to work. Dreaming about a place without cars. Fine, black, felt tip pen in Moleskin sketchbook. Photographed in the morning sun with IPhone 5″. 9. Patrick O’Keeffe , Landscape Architecture student, United States  A quick hand sketch by Patrick, using an sharp but light stroke to capture the ruggedness of the wild and natural landscape. While the trees do appear to be placed there, they have certainly not been tamed. Perhaps this is the wish of the owner of the space, or a result of a neglected garden. 8.  Megha Shroff, JR Architect, from Ahmedabad, India With little to no detail in spaces this sketch is all about capturing the atmosphere, which is created in this tight alleyway, using images of the outline of people to capture scale with the buildings on either side bearing down over them. Perhaps creating a feeling of safety or a feeling that makes you want to move through the space as quickly as possible. 7.  Andrea Reid, final year Landscape Architecture student at Unitec Institute of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand. “My motivation for this sketch was to capture the austere beauty of an aspect of Auckland City that is often over-looked. The drawing has many layers including pencil, charcoal and pastel. Location is Albert St in Auckand City, New Zealand”.

Our first collection of Youtube videos for landscape architects was such a major hit, that we had to follow it up with part 2. We did our best to compose a list with a rich diversity while keeping it relevant to outdoor design, delivering to you a list with a bit of comedy, some questionable music choices and some really ground breaking, innovative ideas that are sure to alter the way you think about public space. I hope you find the time to make it through all 9, they’re worth every minute, engaging literally millions of viewers worldwide. 1.Allgood Trio Sesame steps Disabled access is something designers of public space all need to be concerned about, and often it ends up changing the course of the overall design with the primary goal of achieving functionality for all those using the space. Since disabled access is such a prominent feature it is always great to see new innovative ideas, such as these mechanical steps by Algood, which are not only designed to be functional but to blend seamlessly into the environment. Perhaps a bit expensive but a really cool idea. This video was viewed over 80,000 times 2. Junction design the Dutch – cycle friendly – way Well as many of us know the Dutch are the kings when it comes to cycling around their country, so it is no surprise that this clever design solution came from them. In this brilliantly animated video we see both a wonderful, functional idea and a life saving approach to bicycle lane design. This video was viewed over 230,000 times 3. Waterfall Swing – World Maker Faire 2011 As if swings were not fun enough, seriously I’m a grown man and will still look for an opportunity to jump on for a push, you’re never too old to be a kid, however, when someone adds a movement sensor waterfall, the fun becomes a little more sophisticated and as adults it’s our duty to test it out, for the safety of the children of course! This video was viewed over 2,900,000 times 4. Eddie George on Careers in Landscape Architecture The profession of landscape architecture is often made up of people from all walks of life, in many cases landscape architecture is a second or third career for some people. Eddie George is an excellent example of this; the former professional American football player swapped his shoulder pads and helmet for a pencil and big sheets of paper as he embarked on an inspiring career as a landscape architect, surly taking values that he learned from his pro football days into his new career. This video was viewed over 38,000 times 5. 3-Sweep: Extracting Editable Objects from a Single Photo, SIGGRAPH ASIA 2013 The potential of computer software is endless, however, while we know this it still never fails to impress us. This software allows you to take features in your photos and turn them into 3D modelling objects, allowing you to move away from standardized blocks and work with the potential of what already exists, allowing you to look at it and work with it in new ways. This video was viewed over 1,800,000 times 6. The World’s Deepest Trash Bin (Fun Theory) We’ve all seen it, the casual throwing of the cigarette wrapper on the ground, the piece of junk that didn’t quite make the “basketball” like hoop of the garbage can and the endless other trash we see on our streets. One clever initiative was the Fun Theory, the idea that you can encourage people to do mundane activities by making them fun. When this idea was attached to a trash can the results were profound and it really makes you think about how we get people to do the things they probably should be doing anyway but don’t. This video was viewed over 4,460,000 times 7. Bike Lanes by Casey Neistat As cyclists we would love to use bicycle lanes everywhere we go, not just for safety but for in efficiency to get places, without being interrupted by obstructions. However, all over the world there is a clear disregard for bicycle lanes, with obstructions everywhere,from people walking on them to motor vehicles occupying them. After Casey Neistat was fined for his lack of use of a bicycle line, he responded in the most hilarious way imaginable and rightly so! This video was viewed over 12,500,000 times 8. Amazing Hidden Pool Many of us love gadgets, big boy toys and the James Bond theme music. Well this video has all three, combined in a slighly comical way and yes the design is a bit kitsch, but you have to admit it, there is a small part of you, ok a BIG part of you that really wants this in your backyard. If not for yourself than to impress your friends and family. This video was viewed over 28,000 times 9. Theo Jansen’s Strandbeests – Wallace & Gromit’s World of Invention Episode 1 Preview – BBC One This video is extraordinary and really makes you question and wonder about what life is, what gives things and people motion, what propels them, drives them and makes them change. Well of course in this video the answer is obvious, wind, but the movement is so organic that for a moment it feels like you are looking at something with a mind of it’s own, like it knows where it is going, however, as the observer we clearly know better, or do we? This video was viewed over 3,600,000 times It was great putting this compilation together, with so much out there in the world of Youtube it was pleasure to compose a list that is relevant to design, landscape architecture and the environment. I really hope you enjoyed the videos as much as I did and that you were entertained, inspired and learned something new. We’re always looking for new videos to feature, if you know of any please email us at office@landarchs.com and let us know! See also: 9 Unmissable Youtube Videos for Landscape Architects (Part 1) Article written by Scott Renwick

Zhongshan Shipyard Park designed by Turenscape As cities grow and space becomes tight, urban planners and architects are taking a bigger interest in how, when and which spaces can be redesigned in order to take advantage of the existing land. The main intention is not to keep cities from growing, but to design a better environment inside them. Recovering urban space requires integrating the project within its context. Integration occurs at different levels – social, urban, and architectural — but most importantly at the cultural level. The influence and success of a project depends on how it interacts with the people who live there. With this consideration, designers transforming a site into a new space must recognize the connection that exists between the site and the people.

One such project is Zhongshan Shipyard Park, by Turenscape studio, which was designed to recover a unique space that has been part of the daily lives of the people who live in Guangdong Province, China, for more than half a century. The park combines man, nature, and spirits. A Brief History To get a better understanding, we have to review part of the park’s history. The 11-hectare (27-acre) site was home to a shipyard built in the 1950s. The company went bankrupt in 1999. This industrial site represents 50 years of Socialist industrial history and was a witness to China’s Cultural Revolution. Its location, between the city and the flow of the Qijiang River, enforces its function as a link between nature and man made spaces. The Design The master plan for the ecological park called for bringing the water — the river — into the city and using the existing industrial infrastructure of the shipyard to integrate the urban and natural contexts of the site. The landscape design met the challenge of respecting the current and future flow of the Qijiang River, one of the main rivers in China. Because part of the park includes a lake connected to this river, water fluctuation levels can be up to 1.1 meters per day. This problem was solved by proposing a network of bridges at various levels connecting different areas of the park, as well as terraces defined by pavement and native plants and trees. Recommended reading: The Art of Survival: Turenscape Architects by Loft Publications Another great aspect that follows the line of natural integration is the presence of existing trees, mainly old ficus trees. A 20-meter-wide canal was dug to create an island to preserve them. As a biotope, the native plants and trees, together with mixed grasses, form natural habitats that create a unique link among the river, the historical aspect of the site, and the urban interconnection that is needed for the park to function properly. The recovery of the shipyard site and turning it into a green area depends on the appreciation and acceptance of the people. Despite being an historical place, the park merges into the urban fabric through a network of paths and urban facilities that were extended into it, such as remnant rusty docks that are reused for tea houses (local people customarily drink tea in tea houses). The machinery that was once part of the factory was left intact for preservation reasons. Thus, the landscape design of the park mixes programming, nature, existing vegetation, urban connection, and historical elements into one solid project that fulfill the needs of the people. Finally, it is important to mention that the park design has won a series of international prizes, including the Global Award for Excellence (2009), the ULI excellence award (2009), the gold medal of fine arts from the ministry of Culture in China (2004), and the ASLA Design Honor Award (2002). Other articles featuring Turenscape: Turenscape Design Outstanding River Park Top 10 Names In Landscape Architecture Today Article written by Luis Eduardo Guisar Benitez

A landscape architect’s dream come true – modern permeable surfaces – are finally here to stay. In recent years they have steadily become more and more popular. Concern for the environment, especially water resources, has massively contributed to their popularity and promotion. Different types of permeable surfaces have actually been known for generations. Turf, gravel, or simply soil are all allowing the water to penetrate through them into the underlying soil. However simple and cheap, those surfaces are not suitable for use on paths and roads with higher traffic volume due to their lack of durability. They are also not stable enough, making them harder to use, especially for people with special needs – the elderly, wheelchair users, parents with prams or simply women in high heels!

Choose the best for your needs! Modern permeable surfaces are overcoming all those problems; they are stable and durable, easy to walk and drive on. Nowadays we can choose from a whole range of products with different qualities and applications. Some of them are based on a grid system. Grass pavers and gravel pavers are numbered amongst them. They consist of a solid grid – concrete or plastic, with large pores filled with turf, a low growing herb or gravel. Water sinks through the pores into the stone-filled reservoir below and then into the native soil. That kind of surface is not particularly resilient and cannot be used in areas of heavy traffic. The idea behind the unit pavers is essentially a reversed grid system, where interlocking concrete paving blocks are separated by pores filled with a permeable material – sand or gravel. This surface is suitable for low-traffic roads, such as private car parks or driveways. Below: A detailed overview of Permeable Interlocking Concrete Pavements Permeable asphalt and permeable concrete are much tougher materials, which can be employed on heavy-traffic roads, including motorways. The asphalt consists of an open-graded coarse aggregate, bonded together by asphalt cement, with sufficient interconnected open spaces to make it highly permeable to water; the concrete is a mix of special Portland cement, open-graded coarse aggregate and water. The lack of fine material in both surfaces guarantees high permeability to water. Contemporary permeable surfaces are much more interesting. One of its types, the resin bound surfacing, is a mixture of resin binder and aggregate. The encapsulation of all the aggregate within the resin allows each particle to adhere to one another and to the base, leaving no lose gravel. The voids left within the surface layer are enough to ensure full permeability for water and air. Such surface is stable, strong and durable, suitable for both pedestrian and car traffic. It is also non toxic, has a neutral look and is available in a large variety of natural colours. Elastomerically bound recycled glass porous pavement is another modern invention, patented under the name of FilterPave™. The “glass aggregate”, prepared in a special process from recycled glass, is bound together with small various-colored granite by elastomeric glue, which makes the surface durable and hard, while leaving it porous. The benefits The benefits of water permeable surfaces are hard to overrate:

• Such surfaces help to restrict the erosion by reducing the runoff volumes.
• They have been proven to be effective in removing pollutants from water.
• They allow for groundwater recharge and eliminate the heat pollution which affects the water gathering on traditional pavements.
• They also reduce the size of the Effective Impervious Area  and the infrastructure footprint – they require a smaller on-site water storage area. They can be laid around the tree near the trunk without posing any danger to the plant.

Problems with Permeable Paving Like every technique, this one also has its dangers and limitations. First of all, permeable surfaces should not be used in areas of high pollution due to the danger of contaminating the groundwater. Such spots include for example industrial storages, fuelling stations and vehicle maintenance areas. Secondly, the application in very cold climates is a challenge – water freezing below the pavement might cause frost heave and destroy the surface. It is not surprising that the cost is one of the main issues. Below: A really nice run through of a permeable paving installation The modern permeable surfaces can be two to three times more expensive then the traditional paving. However, as the technique advances and becomes more popular, the prices should become lower and the products more available. It also must be remembered that they actually help to save money by reducing the amount of necessary stormwater storage in the area!

As our environmental consciousness grows and new techniques are being invented and implemented, the popularity of permeable surfaces is on the rise. Will it continue to grow? Will they prove to be a modern solution to water management problems? Is one of them going to become the asphalt of the 21st century? It is our decisions, as landscape architects, planners or investors, that will influence the future of permeable surfaces! Article written by Marta Ratajsczak Featured image: Permeable paver demonstration, source  JJ Harrison CC BY-SA 3.0

While students and fresh graduates in most professions take pride in the grades they have earned and academic papers they have written, designers have a whole different story. Unless you are pursuing higher education, grades don’t really matter that much. Professionals are instead interested in seeing a visual outcome of your studio work in the four or five years you spent in university. In that timeframe, designing a decent portfolio is probably the most important step before embarking on the hunt for jobs or internships. LAN decided to compile a list of the most common mistakes landscape architects might commit while preparing their portfolio.

Designing Your Portfolio

5. Inconsistency Perhaps every project you have worked on will have a different font and layout. That should not, however, be the case for your portfolio.  Being inconsistent and having too many fonts and background colors is not only visually misleading, but also gives an impression that the designer is not reliable enough in shaping a unified project. For that reason, think of the portfolio to be designed as simply a new project. Harmonize your various works by creating a sample to be used throughout the entire booklet. Take the time, as well, to modify the fonts and layouts accordingly. Below: Watch how the portfolio, uses boundaries, font and intervals to create a sense of consistency throughout the portfolio 4. Lack of personal touch Surely the Internet has a lot of cool formats and samples to offer. Yet, anything you might download will lack the individual touch you need to showcase. There is nothing wrong with searching for successful portfolios and getting ideas and inspiration, but don’t make the mistake of copying another’s layout or using a sample without making any modifications. Where is the problem in that? First, employers probably have seen many of these sample portfolios, so they will definitely recognize an Internet sample. Second, you will be losing an opportunity to advance and learn. Below: While made for video the personal touch involved here is undeniable as the host puts on an almost theatrical display of their work, almost has a Disney Movie/Indiana Jones feel to it and while you might argue that it’s slightly over the top it will certainly grab the attention of anybody looking at. 3. Unprofessional individuality Expressing your personal style and standing out is one thing; bursting all your character and interests in there is another. An important piece of advice would be to learn to draw the line between what is acceptable professionally and what solely belongs in your diary or personal artistic works. Those are extreme examples, of course, but design firms and clients will probably not care much that you have a “thing” for glitter. Also, they will not be impressed with a themed “Tim Burton characters“ portfolio either.  I would appreciate that last one, by the way. But in the professional world? Not so much. Related Articles: 

• 10 Ways Design Students Fail Projects and How to Avoid Them
• The 10 stages of being a landscape architecture student: GIF Party
• Top 10 Online Resources for Landscape Architecture 

2. Failure to kill or improve failing projects We all have our ups and downs. Even the most brilliant designers sometimes come up with projects that are an utter failure. However, it’s important to move on. With that being said, a common mistake students make is not being able to distinguish between the projects that are worth keeping and those that need to be killed. You are not expected to put all your projects in the portfolio anyway, so choose the best ones and work on improving the drawings. Why not add extra sketches, as well, to show your design process? Design projects are not a holy scripture — no matter how successful they are, there is always room for improvement. Remember that designing is a process and not an end result! Below: An excellent example of well selected design work, beautifully isolated and merged throughout the portfolio 1. Careless printing Do you recall your instructors warning about last-minute printing for your pinups? Same thing applies here. If you are preparing for a job interview or application, print as soon as possible in order to be able to modify any mistakes that might occur. Moreover, printing is really not the place to get lazy. Careless printing, such as using bad-quality paper, is not impressive. Also, give special attention to the paper size. Ensure that your portfolio is large enough so that your drawings are legible, but small enough to be practical to carry and skim through.

“designing a portfolio can be a pain”

It is true that designing a portfolio can be a pain, especially because the task is usually accomplished in between semester breaks and over summer vacations. But, if performed well, it is a pleasant experience and will elevate your potential for internships or jobs. We hope you learned a few tips that you can put into practice while designing your portfolio. If you have a portfolio that you would like to share, please send it to office@landarchs.com. Recommended Reading:

• Portfolio Design (Fourth Edition) by Harold Linton
• Burn Your Portfolio: Stuff they don’t teach you in design school, but should by Michael Janda

Article by Dalia Zein Return to Homepage Featured image: Creative Commons “Portfolio: Book Cover Design”. Source by Floor. CC2.0

It’s always so interesting to hear the thoughts of the people who compose the work that gets displayed in our top Sketchy Saturday feature each week. Each featured image is so much more than a sketch, it often has a story behind it, capturing a moment in the artist’s life, reminding them of how they use to think as well as acting as a token throughout course of their lives. Along with a high standard , we always look for the unusual, the personal and the imaginative when we choose our top 10 and certainly I think you’ll agree that this week’s top 10 have all of that and more. 10. Swayam Prakash Mohanty

“I had made this sketch last month during my summer course “Shared Grounds” in Revdanda, Maharashtra. It represents my impression of the region and how I perceive it as a student of Landscape Architecture. This shows how the landscape is shaping the architecture of the region. The region moved me as the smooth flow of land is highlighted by the coconut plantations called Wadis and the Portuguese forts. Medium: Pen/ Ink” 9. Ana Rotaru A late entry by Ana, that we found really interesting due to the choice of colours and perspective drawing skills. The space itself does look tight, awkward and convoluted, but the level of skill that went into portraying it cannot be denied. 8.  Coleene Yumul “The sketch depicts a mixed emotion of  warmth and sadness, two contrasting feeling. This is an imaginative portrayal of sunset on the beach. The style is somehow gothic. Materials used for this sketch was oil pastel and color pencils”. 7. Mark Almazan, Architect/Project Engineer in Philippines/Singapore “Sketching is one of my passions wherein I can express my imaginations, my wants and desires to see some places exist. Through pens and markers my visions somehow come to life, like this park beside a calm river, it opens our eyes to see the beauty in nature”. 6.  Sue Orme, chartered Landscape Architect in Suffolk, England “I found the watercolour last week on top of the wardrobe. This was a view of a derelict house painted from our sailboat while we were travelling with our daughters on the Intercostal waterway in Florida in 2006. Back home in England I framed most of the paintings from our travels but this painting wasn’t finished. Now I don’t think it matters.” 5. Aaron C. Elswick a masters of urban design student at the savannah college of art and design.  “The drawing was part of a design proposal for New Orleans’ Upper Ninth Ward that was selcted to be presented at the 2014 Conference on Ecological and Ecosystem Restoration. The render of the designed re-established wetland was aimed to depict that sustainable urbanism can be beautiful as well as the right thing to do. Drawing over a existing site photo I used my imagination, pens, and markers to bring this idea to life”. 4. Liza Valentine, Independent design consultant at Liza Valentine Design, BA, M. Arch, from Calgary Alberta, Canada “I drew this as part of a larger project illustrating architecture/urban design concepts for a proposed environmental development in Western Canada. I like to make my sketches in a loose graphic style where the black  pen can define edges but also flow into the marker like a water colour. I put the sketch on trace so that the markers behave like a wash and mix together”. 3. Jaime Barba “Is a sketch of a (stilt houses ) residential villas belonging to a tourist development, that is planning on “Bahia de Conejos, in Huatulco.” I made it in my iPad, with an application called Sketch Time. Location of the project: “Bahia de Conejos en Huatulco, Oaxaca, Mexico”. 2. Susan Pollock Susan sent us in a range of these pencil sketches, that we will never get tired of, such a simple technique is so effective at conveying the space in a soft and welcoming way; a powerful method to sell any project. 1.  Zainudin Ab Razak from aQidea Studio A really professional sketch and representation of an otherwise very simple landscape with significant planting along the lines of movement allowing for a free flowing, open and  harmonious transition from space to space. – That’s it for this week’s Sketchy Saturday, thank you all for a terrific edition, please keep your sketches coming in week in and week out, we love publishing them. Check out the Sketchy Saturday official Facebook album and see literally 1,000′s of incredible sketches! Follow all the winning entries on our dedicated Sketchy Saturday Pinterest page. If you want to take part send your entries into us at office@landarchs.com Recommended reading: Sketching from the Imagination: An Insight into Creative Drawing by 3DTotal Article written by Scott D. Renwick

Climate and city are interdependent: The climate determines how the city is used by its inhabitants; in turn, the way the city is used by the inhabitants influences its climate. High temperatures demand cooling, cooling requires energy, energy emits pollution, and pollution leads to an increase in temperature. Sounds a bit confusing, we know, but can you see how everything is connected? There are, however, simple strategies to prevent overheating of cities, as well as to reduce urban carbon dioxide emissions. Stick to these easy-to-follow steps for healthier and more sustainable cities: 1. Implement urban parks and green areas When air flows through a vegetated area, the plants reduce temperature and increase humidity through a process called evapotranspiration. Due to differences in pressure, this cool breeze is able to go beyond the park’s limits, cooling surroundings areas, as well — even small parks can be efficient cooling sources.

Related article: Community Turn Abandoned Industrial Site into Public Park 2. Plant street trees Trees can filter pollutants and dust particles, as well as cast shade, and therefore are of great importance on urban streets. With regard to shading, a tree’s crown shape is more important than the density of its leaves. Street trees are a great strategy, as they are relatively inexpensive and are highly accepted by citizens. Related article: GONÇALO DE CARVALHO: Beating Global Warming Like a Boss 3. Add green roofs and façades Vertical or horizontal green surfaces on buildings improve energy performance and the environmental conditions of the surroundings. Annual energy consumption in buildings with green roofs are said to be up to 16 percent lower than those with conventional roofs. Related article: 5 Amazing Facts About Green Walls That You Didn’t Know 4. Encourage private gardens And why not involve local residents in this initiative? Offering green areas may be mainly the municipality’s responsibility, but in the case of high-density cities, urban gardens can play a major role in balancing the local climate. Related article: Floating Roof Garden on the River Thames 5. Lots of water features Water can either cool by evaporation or by absorbing heat. Water features are a lot more effective if implemented on a big scale or if the water is flowing, in movement (like in fountains or jets). Water features are particularly recommended in high-use areas, such as commercial streets or squares. Related article: Green Revival Brings Life Back to River Park 6. Don’t forget rain gardens Climate change alters rain patterns, so rain water management is a very important matter nowadays. Promote the use of permeable pavements and storage infrastructures, which are beneficial strategies in case of both drought and flooding. Related article: Copenhagen’s First Climate Resilient Neighborhood 7. Pay attention to street width-height ratio This step is closely related to the previous one. Street width-height ratio (known as canyon geometry) influences airflow patterns, increasing or reducing wind speed. Ventilation is a great passive cooling strategy, as it also contributes to the dispersion of suspended particles and polluting gases. 8. Design the urban geometry carefully Building density and geometry influence the amount of solar radiation that reaches buildings and surfaces, which can store heat and therefore increase temperature both indoors and outdoors. Although buildings cast shade, this is not an excuse to fill a city with skyscrapers — there are other preferable shading strategies, such as through vegetation and movable shading devices that can be removed in winter. Related article:  Al Fayah Park: An Oasis in The Middle of The Desert 9. Use permeable pavements Evaporation in urban areas is decreased because of waterproofed surfaces. Permeable materials and vegetation allow cooling by evaporation, so avoid the use of hard materials, which accumulate heat. Related article:  Car Park Turns into Public Park! 10. Choose smooth and cold-colored materials Rough and dark-colored surfaces absorb more solar radiation than smooth, light-colored, and flat surfaces. Therefore, due to the material’s properties, the latter is preferable in hot climates. Related article: Sculptor Creates Major Public Square! As we have seen, the relationship between climate and city is interdependent. Achieving a healthy balance is a major challenge for urban planners and landscape architects, especially in the current context of uncertainties regarding climate change. But there are simple and effective design strategies we can use. It is important to emphasize that, when dealing with urban scale, strategies applied individually do not work, due to the complex interactions among city elements (so don’t forget that the techniques must go together for relevant results). Recommended Reading: Design with Nature by Ian L. McHarg Principles of Ecological Landscape Design  by Travis Beck Article written by Julia Lucchese