Author: Land8: Landscape Architects Network

Article by Frank Bourque – The Grand Ensemble Park, by Espace Libre, in  Alfortville, France Landscape architecture is a vital reality in all parts of the world. The best proof of that is that numerous projects are popping up in every country which unify the vision of a perfectly organized green space. One very impressive project that has been recently made official is the Grand Ensemble Park, a residential-area-and-park-brought-into-one concept in Alfortville, a small town in France.

The Grand Ensemble Park

How it Mimics the Cornerstones of Urban Planning (Set in 1943)

A great way to present the benefits of landscape architecture, its environmentally-friendly impact and the neat design principles that this direction in architecture presents is to introduce you to the Grand Ensemble Park, a new neighborhood area in Alfortville, France, which was planned on the basis of the design principles found in the Athens Charter.

For the ones who don’t know, the Athens Charter is a document about urban planning that was created in 1943 by a Swiss architect called Le Corbusier, as a guide which scratched the surface of possibilities and set the cornerstones of landscape architecture. The great thing about the Grand Ensemble Park is not only the fact that this project mimics the Athens Charter and all of its guidelines and directions, but it actually includes all of the principles from the document put to practice in all the common areas. The neighborhood is therefore more organized when it comes to the public and private spaces and features an innovative design that sets the level higher when it comes to urban planning.

From Private Living Spaces To Public Playground Areas

Landscape design is a thing that cannot be done overnight. In the Grand Ensemble Park, it actually took 2 full years of planning (from 2013 to 2015), whereas the execution of this project took one full year (from 2015 to 2016). However, the results definitely justify the years spent in planning, and give all residents of the Grand Ensemble Park and Alfortville a new hotspot in their city that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. The Grand Ensemble Park is basically a mixture of both private and public living spaces and playgrounds. Because of that mixture, it resembles a community that everyone can access and enjoy themselves in.

The redefinition of residential spaces is fundamental in landscape design. The Grand Ensemble Park is set in a strong central public space and designed to be a neighborhood park which is spread on a 600m long and 20m wide axis, allowing room for the green spaces in the park that are surrounding the residential areas. The public facilities are located on both sides of the strong residential axis, which actually creates a link from one side of the park to the other. Including both urban and green spaces, this park focuses on bringing the very best for every age group, from toddlers to children and even teenagers. Although a large part of the unitary lawn is given to the people living in the neighborhood, the idea of living in a park and being a part of community where green spaces are the main focus is definitely an idea worth following.

A Neighborhood with a Public- and Environmentally-Friendly Character

From a design perspective, all of the principles of urban planning and modern landscape architecture are kept in the Grand Ensemble Park in Alfortville. From the lines to the shapes and the materials used, Espace Libre made sure to focus on nothing but quality and give the community a twist of modernist architecture that still backs up some of the initial urban planning principles from the Athens Charter document. That can be best seen in the force lines of the design, as well as the shapes and materials that all reflect the image of the Swiss urban planning heritage but also deliver a modern architecture look to Grand Ensemble Park.

Alfortville can now be proud of having a project that naturally leads to redefining the spaces and giving modern urban planning a completely new direction. Both inhabitants and visitors can enjoy the park and merge with the community within the Grand Ensemble Park or as residents, have a greener and more modern and environmentally-friendly home. Ambiguously open, all of the neighborhoods are organized to be in the center of the public space, packing in more than 300 homes. There is a large park surrounding them and a playground for kids of all ages (basketball courts benches, swings etc.). In the central part, there is even a toddlers’ playground. The green spaces include grass fields, trees, and nicely designed walkways that allow easy connection to each and every part of the park itself.

A Final Word

The opportunity to live, play or just enjoy being in the park is what each and every family member wants in the 21st century and something that is quite limited by the ultra-developed, too-crowded and constantly busy city locations. In the end, we can say that the Grand Ensemble Park definitely creates a natural symphony in the heart of Alfortville and perfectly mimics all aspects of urban planning and landscape architecture, creating a safe and livable neighborhood. Which aspects of this project stand out for you? Let us know in the comment section.

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Full Project Credits For The Grand Ensemble Park:

Project: “The Grand Ensemble Park” Designer: Espace Libre Size: approx. 4.5 acres (1.8 ha) Location: Alfortville, France Date of Construction: 2015 to 2016 Chef of the public planning bureau: Karim Amokrane Budget for the project: 2 million Euros Recommended Reading:

• Becoming an Urban Planner: A Guide to Careers in Planning and Urban Design by Michael Bayer
• Sustainable Urbanism: Urban Design With Nature by Douglas Fa

Article by Agmarie Calderón Alonso – National Museum Complex Master Plan of the New Administrative City by Office OU, in Sejong, South Korea. The National Museum Complex master plan is a design competition for a cultural center in Sejong, South Korea, which is also known as Administrative City. The first phase will utilize 75,000 square meters that will include diverse museums, such as Architecture, National History, Design, Digital Heritage, Archives and a National Children’s Museum. The site draws on its surrounding landscapes (groves, wetlands, forests, and rice paddies). All of these areas will be interconnected through a central square to create an outdoor space. Trying to connect structure and landscape can be creatively difficult, but in the right arrangement, it will amaze any spectator. That is what Office OU has done with the Sejong Museum Gardens. The gardens are recognized as a vital link between culture and nature, and the designers hope that this project can give the people of Sejong and South Korea a place to nurture this relationship.

National Museum Complex

With the basic logic of Korea’s Joeseon Dynasty palace architecture, Nicolas Koff (Office OU principal) says, “The palaces are simple and cohesive complexes united in their architectural language and yet differentiated by their response to the natural landscape.” It’s clear that tradition and culture are very important keys in the design and development for this museum complex.

By creating different characteristics, the spaces (museums) will interconnect with the landscape, building links between each area. For example, the Architecture Museum will have some hard landscaping with an urban feel, relating to the city and the structures, while the Archives Museum will be more of a mountainous environment, providing seclusion.

Plants in the Design

The museums are influenced by their adjacent landscapes, guiding the design of the courtyards. Some of the landscape areas include a grove featuring grass (Zoysia tenuifolia) and bamboo (Semiarundinaria ‘Korea’); wetland edges with perennial herbaceous plants (Typha latifolia) and perennial herb (Aster scaber); forests featuring Japanese red pine (Pinus densiflora siebold & zucc.) and Korean fir (Abies koreana); and the rice paddies, with Asian rice (Oryza sativa). This design will contribute to a new phase in learning about and cultivating how landscape and structure can work together. The architects are emphasizing nature vs. building; green areas are important and they can coexist with the museums.

Landscape as Educational Places

It is also important to recognize that while the museums serve an educational purpose, so do the landscapes surrounding them. The landscape is not just a pretty site. One of the competition’s jury called it “The interpretation of nature as an architectural element”. Office OU is creating and developing a new concept in interacting with nature — the realization that landscape can be the main focus and the museums can play a secondary purpose. The design integrates each element as if the spatial orientation of each space is what creates a collective visualization of greatness in design. In designing with nature in mind, the landscape is the central guide throughout these museums.

Each Museum has a Different Ecosystem

Nature is at its best within the constructed site, building a new learning experience within the spaces. Not only do visitors have the opportunity to reconnect with nature, they can also understand what the museums bring to the city. South Korea’s plan is to create the National Museum Complex as a platform for a cultural network, giving the Administrative City a harmonious vision between inhabitants and nature. It is a unique experience for South Korea and the world to have a development of this magnitude.

The competition jury praised the project’s “exquisite control of space,” as well as “the spatial relationship between nature and built form, which is successfully anchored in human scale.” I believe Office OU has designed a clear concept for the Administrative City; they are bringing a good idea to the future of landscape architecture. Making a commitment of this scale gives them a sense of importance for the country, because this project will carry out an educational purpose for both residents and visitors. Throughout it all, the architects have been developing incredible ideas that will surpass what other countries are doing. Taking a page from this project will be a must; everyone should be on the lookout when it is completed in 2023. It will be a very unique and interesting experience. Landscape architecture has come so far, and this is a stepping stone for the future. Taking a space and making it beautiful and useful is a task in itself, but if you have a great team that can create it, then everything will come together as it should. I know I will look forward to seeing this completed project and future endeavors that Office OU will have for the landscape architecture community. If you had the opportunity to design a project like this one, which museum would you choose as the site?

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Full Project Credits For National Museum Complex:

Project: National Museum Complex Master Plan of the New Administrative City Architect: Office OU Location: Sejong, South Korea Status: Competition Winning Entry Year: 2016 Size: 190,000 square meters – Thank you for reading another article on Landscape Architect Network – For updates on landscape architecture jobs, new competitions, internships, and discounts sign up to our VIP club HERE!

Article by Joanna Laska – We take a look at four terrific landscape architecture projects for green roof design inspiration.  Green roof design is probably one of the best inventions of horticulture and landscaping, that’s a fact. Not only do they have hundreds of environmental advantages but also, they can look awesome too! Green roofs – though they weren’t called that back then –existed thousands of years ago. Even if you’re no expert on this, you have probably heard of the “hanging gardens of Babylon”. And yes, they were truly amazing, and people knew – even back then – it was good. Right now the gardens in the sky are making their way back to the top of the list of “most wanted” for their great design and eco-friendly features. Green roofs probably are one of the few ways to truly improve the quality of people’s lives, especially those living in highly urbanised areas. A few of the great benefits of gardens on the roofs are that they provide great protection against noise and air pollution, they act as pollutant binders, and of course they provide extra green space, when that is lacking on the ground plane. Generally speaking, green roofs are the improvement for the micro- and macroclimate we live in. When good planting, design and sustainability are incorporated, green roofs are a true game-changer. In this article, we’re going to look at the 4 best green roof designs which definitely can be a powerful inspiration for all of us.

Green Roof Design Inspiration

1. The Rooftop Park At Saint John’s Bulwark

Designed by OSLO Ontwerp Stedelijke en Landschappelijke Omgeving, this rooftop park in s-Hertogenbosch (Den Bosch) in the Netherlands is probably one of the most surprising green roof designs yet. What’s so special about this design? Well, probably the fact that its modern design has been seamlessly assimilated into the historical site of a former fortification and a main entrance to the city. What makes the building even more amazing is the fact that it is located literally in the river bank. Right now the building is home to a museum.

The design of this rooftop park probably wasn’t the easiest task the designers at OSLO had to work on, as the planting space was highly limited due to the requirement of a very shallow depth of the possible planting beds. Nevertheless, a stunning project has been achieved. Cor-ten steel, steel columns, honey locust trees and various carex species are the highlight of the incredible pocket-park green roof design.

2. Orto Fra I Cortili – Garden Among The Courtyards

This wooden-pallet-based roof garden in Brera, Milan, designed by Piuarch, is definitely something you have never seen before. This project makes the difference when it comes to budgeting of the projects, as the base of this design is… wooden pallets. Believe or not, Piuarch really was able to shine a new light onto this material. This cleverly designed rooftop garden, surrounded by other taller buildings, creates a comfy space, which people in Brera really needed. The modular system of pallets hosts four types of plants, which really are eye candy. Repetitive straight lines of the wooden pallets, colourful varieties of salad, and yellow and purple pansies are the core of this design. This rooftop garden is the proof that you don’t need much to create something extremely beautiful.

3. Dock Street Roof Terrace

Now, this one it truly breathtaking. Located in DUMBO neighbourhood in Brooklyn, New York, and perfectly designed by James Corner Field Operations this rooftop is more than likely a place where everybody and anybody can feel comfortable.

This green roof design has been made comfy by the use of carefree or ‘loose’ planting in the form of yarrow, moor grass, coneflower and calamint. Of course, the plants have been accompanied by cleverly-designed wooden seating, metal balustrades and mirror elements which reflect the view from the garden. All of these features create a smart balance between the old and the new, the strict and the free. It’s really a challenge for me to state what the best feature of this garden is. Maybe it can be the linear water features, wooden decks, plentiful seating places or maybe the view from the garden.

4. Comturney- Keller Roof Garden

Last but definitely not least on the list of our 4 best inspirations is the Comturney-Keller roof garden located on Mainau Island in Germany. Designed by ZinCo and Thomas Steinamann, this innovative construction is another historically-based project on our list. Comturney-Keller was once a medieval fortress, but now it serves as a one-storey restaurant. The amount and excellent use of planting combined with innovative construction technology means that this project offers thousands of possibilities. What’s amazing about this rooftop garden park is the fact that its construction is so strong that it not only allows users to walk on it, but also it lets in small vehicles such as road sweepers.

Being accessible on three sides directly from the ground and the clever use of planting such as shrubs, perennials, and small trees means that this rooftop park can act like a junction between the ground and a garden in the sky. And of course, let’s not forget the stunning view which can be admired from the top. Which of the rooftop gardens are on YOUR bucket list? CLICK TO COMMENT – Thank you for reading another article on Landscape Architect Network – If you believe in what we do and want to support our mission to promote the profession of landscape architecture on a global scale, make sure to check out our VIP club HERE!

Article by Andrea Robezzati – Following on in our world series we have selected 10 awesome projects that perfectly represent landscape architecture in Denmark today. Have you ever been in Denmark? Are you planning to travel in this country? If not, let’s check for flights and come to meet one of the most democratic cultures of the world! It is widely recognized that Denmark is one of the most liveable countries, especially in its capital city of Copenhagen. Where is the relationship between this fact and landscape architecture? Well, apparently not just a political debate, here in Denmark it will be strongly revealed to you as a social way of life! Once, the politician Winston Churchill said: “First we shape the cities and then the cities shape us”. Denmark is one of the best examples where these words apply, where the landscape design shapes the hearts and souls of people. Let’s go through the list together to discover how this is possible, thanks to these 10 powerful landscape projects!

 Landscape Architecture Projects in Denmark

10. Aalborg Waterfront, C.F.Møller, Aalborg, 2013-2015

Situated in the northern portion of the country, Aalborg is one of the most highly populated cities in Denmark. In the last decades, the city has concentrated on building a “cozy cosmopolitan atmosphere”, especially along its waterfront which, in two different phases, has been transformed into a cultural quartier with new university buildings, student housing, and a striking concrete music hall. The project started in 2004 with the first phase and was completed one year ago with the second and last stage.

The master plan of Aalborg waterfront creates a new relationship between the medieval city and the adjacent fjord; what was formerly a back-side now is turned into a new, attractive front. The new promenade is one kilometer long and works as a unifying element between all the different sequences that you can find walking or biking along it; spacious plazas perfectly integrated with large green areas, play landscapes, steps, and recessed terraces that allow you to get close to the water. The boulevard is designed with very unusually high quality, in all its parts. The materials chosen are as raw as the fjord itself, including asphalt, rubber, Cor-Ten steel, concrete, and wood, while at the same time containing subtle references to the sea through wavy pavement patterns. An urban plinth forms a raised base which provides flood protection and unifies the area’s distinctive, freestanding buildings, including university buildings, student housing, and the Coop Himmelblau-designed concert hall Musikkens Hus. Contrast and versatility have been the leading principles in the design of Aalborg Waterfront, and the waterfront has already become Aalborg’s urban garden.

9. The Pulse Park, CEBRA Architects, Kildebjerg Ry, 2012

Kildebjerg Ry is a very popular residential area for families mainly because of the beautiful surrounding countryside that lends itself to a wide variety of outdoor activities. Since the community wants to expand this integrated system of leisure and sports, the Danish studio CEBRA was asked to design three activating and innovative activity zones for different purposes that form an integral part of the landscape. The Play Zone is designed for both playing and working out. People of all ages can go to this group of geometrical trees right next to the local gym to either climb, swing, or train with weights. The Pulse Zone is a literal bulge on the existing paths as it prompts horizontal movement.

The paths loop into a group of bowls created for running, biking, and skating at speeds dictated by the actual slant of the bowls. The third zone complements these active zones and provides a more contemplative space. This is the Zen Zone, where people can enjoy slower and gentler activities such as yoga or stretching. The Zone itself provides a green and quiet environment partly shielded under trellises and is placed on an artificial island in a small lake, which supports its meditative purpose and relaxing atmosphere.

8. Novo Nordisk Nature Park, SLA Architects, Bagsværd, 2014

If it is true that some of the best ideas in the world were generated during a walk through nature, Novo Nordisk Park should be the perfect space for the company’s employees, and for you, too! In 2010 a leading pharmaceutical company, Novo Nordisk, required a green space that would be just as innovative as the company itself. The talented studio SLA designed this space, taking inspiration from nature, with a sensational result and interpretation of a phenomenon known from the Danish woodlands: the dead-ice landscape.

Albert Einstein once said: “if you look deeper into nature, everything else will be better understood”, and this park interprets these words perfectly in a clear demonstration that the touch of nature is still essential in contemporary society. Novo Nordisk Park embraces the company buildings, in a very huge topographic design. The pathways winding through the natural area stimulate the senses of the Novo Nordic employees and facilitate knowledge exchanges, discussions, synergy, and social meetings between employees in transit. The boundaries between working life and leisure disappear; frogs, trees, red cheeks, and wonder become natural elements of a day’s work.

7. Vinterbad Brygge, BIG Bjarke Ingels Group, Copenhagen, 2002

Is it not strange, if on winter days, during your biking tour around the Copenhagen canals, with a strong wind in your face and frozen bike lanes under your wheels, you see people along the water’s edge, wearing only costumes and jumping into the frozen water? Maybe you think that they are trying for some sort of world’s record, but in fact this is a deep and very common ritual in Nordic countries, especially in Finland where it originated. The “North Bath” is the expression of a very special sensibility with the water and is an activity that has social, medical, and cultural aspects well-founded in Scandinavians’ perception of life.

One of the coolest places to take the “North Bath” in Denmark is the Winter Bath in Brygge Island in Copenhagen. Inaugurated in 2002, the Harbour Baths has had a really big success, not only amongst Danes but also amongst foreign visitors to the city. The indisputable approval of people has led to the extension of the facilities in order to accommodate thermal bathing. Designed by Danish architectural firm BIG, the wooden platform was finally extended to accommodate the swimming pools and lifted at the end to allow the underlying saunas and thermal baths to overlook the harbour. The inclined surface, made of Scandinavian wood, functions as an open-air platform for sunbathing or relaxing during the summer while the space below glows like a lantern during the dark months.

6. Butterfly Bridge, Dietmar Feichtinger Architects, Copenhagen, 2015

In the last few years, Denmark has invested a lot to build new infrastructure for bikes, like bike lanes and bridges, underlining its purpose to be one of the most sustainable countries in the world. One of the most exciting projects is the Butterfly Bridge in Copenhagen.

This lightweight foot- and cycle bridge is very unique due to the very specific situation of the site: three different banks are connected by three decks that meet above the water surface of Christianshavn canal in a star shape.

Butterfly Bridge takes its name from its form when two of three dynamic crossings are elevated for passing sailboats. When both doors are open at the same time, they form a butterfly, a beautiful figure which is spectacular for its size.

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Article by Alexis Alvey – Yueyuan Courtyard, designed by Z+T Studio, in Mudu, Suzhou, China Yueyuan Courtyard, designed by Z +T Studio, is a small courtyard within a new development at Mudu Village in Suzhou. Suzhou is a historic city in eastern China that sits between the Yangtze River to the north and Taihu Lake to the south. It is known for its exemplary collection of classical Chinese gardens. These gardens date from the 11th to the 19th centuries; nine of them are listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The classical Suzhou Gardens are meticulously designed and reflect the central importance of natural beauty in traditional Chinese culture. These private gardens were originally inspired by royal hunting gardens and are limited to the physical space within a private residence.

Yueyuan Courtyard

In Yueyuan Courtyard, Z+T Studio successfully blends traditional Chinese aesthetics with a modern functional approach, utilizing water as the central design element. Like the classical Suzhou Gardens, Yueyuan Courtyard artfully simulates nature within an urban living environment and creates a microcosm of the natural world by integrating water, architecture, stone, and vegetation.

The Promenade

Before entering the interior space of Yueyuan Courtyard, one is presented with a wide, plaza-like promenade that leads patrons to the Sales Center of Mudu Village. The promenade provides a larger-scale introduction to what one will experience within the courtyard.

The white and gray pavers are arranged in a subtle monochromatic pattern. Both sides of the promenade are lined by irregularly shaped islands of trees with groundcover below, and the tree islands are edged with raised black material. Four wooden benches accommodate the need for seating, but the limited number emphasizes that this is a space to walk through.

The Courtyard

Once inside the center, one can see the courtyard through large glass panels. The courtyard is designed to be viewed from all angles of the surrounding structures, which also include the clubhouse, restaurant, and commercial area. Being able to look out the glass and see the courtyard’s water features would surely have a calming effect on individuals inside the structures.

The Lake Garden

The courtyard was conceptually divided into a Lake Garden and a Creek Garden. A large reflecting pool dominates the Lake Garden, where both greenscape and building are reflected in the lake. One portion of the pool has terraced plantings, reminiscent of how one would find plants in nature growing along a riverbank. Square block stepping stones enable visitors to have contact with the reflecting pool. The Lake Garden alludes to Taihu Lake, a large freshwater lake that borders Suzhou on the southwestern side, which at one time was an important source of Taihu stone, a porous limestone commonly used in classical Chinese gardens as a viewing or scholars’ stone.

The Creek Garden

The other portion of the courtyard is the Creek Garden, which has a serpentine water feature running through it. The “creek” begins at a raised large stone basin, where a tranquil and meditative atmosphere is fostered as the sound of water drips into the dark granite creek and eventually flows into the reflecting pool.

The banks of the creek drop incrementally from the surrounding pavers, creating topo-line bands of small elevation change. The designers were inspired by the geological process of erosion on the site and created a highly detailed model of the creekbed, which enabled its finely executed construction. Erosion can also be understood allegorically as the marked passage of time in stone, and like in the classical Suzhou Gardens, would add a deeper and more poetic layer of meaning to the design. It is likely that Z +T Studio was also referencing the nearby Yangtze River, which has carved out its serpentine path through both the land and Chinese culture for millennia. Additional small elevation changes subtly delineate spaces within the gardens, creating distinct seating areas in the courtyard. These covered seating areas seem to be an extension of the building and allow for respite and completion of sales.

Materials and Plant Palettes

The monochromatic materials palette ranges from white to dark gray, providing a sophisticated and decidedly contemporary feel. It also helps integrate the courtyard with the white-and-glass surrounding structure and allows the eye to discern other differences, such as texture. The plant palette complements the materials palette and is also understated. It also focuses on texture, as evidenced by the twisted naked branches of the trees in wintertime and the coarse-textured groundcovers. Small purple upright blooms from what appears to be perennial sage (Salvia spp.) bring in a bit of understated color throughout the summer months.

Yueyuan Courtyard successfully provides a contemplative, nature-inspired space for residents and an elegant introduction for prospective residents by building upon the long-held design traditions of the past. Like the classical Suzhou Gardens, Yueyuan Courtyard harmoniously blends built residence with an artfully contrived abstraction of nature. Have you visited any of the classical Suzhou Gardens? How do you think contemporary design projects in other areas of the world can successfully integrate or adapt traditional design aesthetics? Please share your thoughts in the comments below.

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Full Project Credits For Yueyuan Courtyard:

Project: Yueyuan Courtyard Location: Mudu, Suzhou, China Size: 980 square meters Year Completed: 2016 Client: Suhang Real Estate Inc. Lead Designers: Z+T Studio — Dong Zhang & Ziying Tang Landscape Designers: Qiang Du, Yanjie Fan, Peixun Lin, Jialin Zheng, Hongchao Liu Architects: BIAD-BOA Recommended Reading:

• Becoming an Urban Planner: A Guide to Careers in Planning and Urban Design by Michael Bayer
• Sustainable Urbanism: Urban Design With Nature by Douglas Farrs
• eBooks by Landscape Architects Network

In this article, we discuss the concept of green homes and how they are infiltrating the modern era. Various campaigns to use environmentally friendly items have led to creative innovations in landscaping and home design. There is now a sense of distinction to homes that are reducing their carbon footprint without losing their aesthetic appeal. Solar panels, rainwater collecting system, environmentally friendly landscaping are few of the features that are defining the modern era green home design. Not only are they appealing, but pretty cost effective as well. Envelope

Modern Era Of Green Homes

The building envelope is one of the initial features. The idea is that all regions of the home should be insulated in some manner. This is applicable on porches, roofs, windows among other areas. Enveloping provides covered porches, roof overhangs, spray foam insulation and cross ventilation. The National Renewable Energy Labs (NREL) in U.S. reveals that such basic measures can cause more than 30% reduction in energy usage.

The ‘green’ case of Texas

Minimalist home designs equipped with green innovation are becoming a norm in many states, especially Texas. One stimulus for this has been the deregulation of energy providers which has led people to choose the right company for them. The deregulation of the energy industry has given birth to a competitive market with respect to rates and eco-friendly solutions. Homeowners can now refer to comparison websites to make a decision between providers. For homeowners in places like Corpus Christi, the power to choose their provider means they can save on energy rates and also help to save the planet by choosing providers that use more efficient ways of producing power. This trend is spreading to other states as well.

Rainwater Harvesting System

While a rainwater harvesting system can’t be regarded as an innovation, it’s now a common sight in green homes. Modern systems need minimal maintenance and allow residents to make use of nature’s supply of water. An extension of this idea is the aerobic septic system which is basically a treatment setup for the home. Wastewater from the home is sent to the septic system and can be used for the sprinkler system in the yard or related usage. In this way, your average water consumption can be reduced by half every year. A rainwater garden is also an eco-friendly option that provides special plants with the water they need to grow. They, in turn, provide benefits to the soil as well as birds and insects.

Indoor Air Maintenance

After the enveloping has been done, maintaining the air quality inside the home is a necessity. Homeowners going green are now using an Energy Recovery Ventilator system that’s able to manage the task without a hassle. The benefits are two tiers. You can change the air in your home about 2 to 3 times a day. Secondly, the risk of molds, dust and allergens sustaining in your house is reduced.

Home Design

Keeping the general green home trend in Texas as standard, certain features can be defined. Using these standard options, homeowners can convert their homes into green housing facility which provides aesthetic appeal without burdening the environment. Many such homes can found towards the lakeside of Lake Buchanan in Texas.

Grid Tied Solar

As mentioned earlier, states with deregulated energy markets are offering their residents the choice to choose from different energy providers. So, the grid tied solar is the electricity being generated by the home using solar that’s controlled by the local utility company. Such systems are becoming a norm because if more electricity is produced than needed, it can either be saved or sold back to the energy provider. Based upon the facilities that different homes are using, it is possible to classify them into following: 1. 1.  Energy efficient homes 2. 2.  Net zero energy homes 3. 3.  Positive energy homes 4. 4.  Point source homes Out of these, the point source homes are of great interest because they have the maximum amount of self-sustenance and produce surplus power. The National Association of Home Builders, as well as initiatives like the Green Building Program, are verifying homes that have some sort of sustainable component. Using these models, it’s possible to modify your home into something of value along with increasing its aesthetic appeal. Recommended Reading:

• Becoming an Urban Planner: A Guide to Careers in Planning and Urban Design by Michael Bayer
• Sustainable Urbanism: Urban Design With Nature by Douglas Farrs

Article by Brooklyn Williams Featured image for Green Homes article: By Jeff Kubina from the milky way galaxy – Solar Decathlon 2007, CC BY-SA 2.0

Landscape Architects Network Features a company profile of James Corner Field Operations. James Corner Field Operations is a leading-edge landscape architecture and urban design firm based in New York City that describes themselves on their website as ‘committed to the innovative design of public spaces’. One of the company’s most famous projects is the High Line in New York, which was designed in cooperation with architects Diller, Scofidio + Renfro and planting designer Piet Oudolf, and which has become a major tourist and residents’ attraction since its opening in June 2009 (Section 1 was opened in 2009; section 2 followed in June 2011, and the 3rd and northernmost section was finalised in September of 2014). The High Line is a 1.5-mile-long public park built on unused elevated rail tracks; it has become so successful that it now pulls in over six million visitors every year.

James Corner Field Operations

The company was founded by the Briton James Corner, who studied landscape architecture in Manchester and Pennsylvania in the 1980s. He has always combined his professional practice with intense teaching and writing, and a focus on post-industrial landscapes. James Corner was chair of the Department of Landscape Architecture and Urbanism at the University of Pennsylvania School of Design from 2000-2012, and is currently a professor emeritus in the department. James Corner’s work has been recognised – among many others – with the National Design Award in 2010, the Architecture Award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters in 2004, and the D&AD Black Pencil Award for the High Line in 2010.

One of the Capability Browns of Today

Corner’s work is renowned for innovative and bold contemporary design, with a special interest in designing a vibrant and dynamic public realm in cities. His designs bring back the open spaces of the natural wild into public realms – with a rough, natural, and ecologically-sound approach.   “There is always a danger that landscape architecture can actually kill a place, through the deployment of clichéd design moves. The design of the High Line was very much inspired by what we first encountered there – the wildness.”; Corner.   In an article published in the UK’s ‚‘The Telegraph’ in April 2016, James Corner has been compared to Lancelot ‚‘Capability’ Brown, one of the great English 18th-century landscape architects. The Brownian mindset was to enhance or alter the identity of large areas of land, rather than just decorate what is already there. In James Corner’s 21st-century projects, this would translate into renovating and regenerating existing infrastructure such as ex-docklands, derelict buildings, neglected riverfronts and decayed city centres. Integrating water into the design is also one of James Corner’s specialisms, similar to Brown’s.

Cross-disciplinary Approach

Field Operations is at the forefront of the Landscape Urbanism movement, an interdisciplinary approach that combines a wide range of disciplines including landscape architecture, urban design, landscape ecology, and engineering. Corner argues that it is an approach that focuses on process rather than a style. James Corner Field Operations also likes bringing in experts from various fields, such as artists and photographers. This cross-disciplinary approach led to one of his most celebrated books, ‘Taking Measures Across the American Landscape’, in which he and aerial photographer Alex MacLean explore the American landscape from a design perspective. His team comprises over 50 professionals.

Imagination and Immensity In his 2014 collection of essays titled ‘The Landscape Imagination’, he states the following: “Landscape architecture has a profound role to play in the reconstitution of meaning and value in our modern cities and communities.” Thus the role of landscape architects is to influence urban, social and environmental developments by appealing to the collective imagination, resulting in the creation of places that enchant rather than being showy.   “Intimate immensity is what it’s like to be in a forest where things are immediate and intimate and tactile, but at the same time you are in the big space of the forest, and the forest seems immense.“; Corner.   The Public Realm Takes Center Stage The reference to ‘place’ is always at the forefront of James Corner Field Operations’ work. To him, cities should be seen as landscapes; at the same time, landscapes can create new forms of city-making. The realisation of this approach can be seen in one of his recent projects – a spectacular design for a newly-built city in China’s Shenzhen, where the company runs another office. The site spans across 4500 acres of reclaimed land surrounding Qianhai Harbor and will be home to 2 million people. He argues that typically, the public realm is a leftover; a residue. What they have achieved in the design for the Shenzhen project is that the public realm shapes and frames the city – rather than the city purely being shaped by the streets, blocks and buildings, and the public realm being the leftover space.   “It’s been well demonstrated that the design of good public spaces enhances the economic value of everything around it.”; Corner.   Further important public-realm projects designed by Field Operations include:

• South Park Plaza at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London
• Shelby’s Farm Park, Memphis, Tennessee
• Tongva Park, Santa Monica
• Navy Pier, Chicago
• Public Square, Cleveland
• Race Street Pier, Philadelphia
• Salisbury Gardens, Hong Kong
• Presidio New Parklands, San Francisco
• False Creek, Vancouver

Here is a short list of awards Field Operations has won (the full list can be found on fieldopertions.com):

• ASLA NY Award, The Underline Miami, Honor Award, 2016
• APA National Planning Achievement Award: Tongva Park and Ken Genser Square, 2015
• ASLA NY Award, High Line at the Rail Yards, Honor Award, 2015
• Los Angeles Architectural Award, Landscape Architecture: Public Open Space category, Tongva Park and Ken Genser Square, 2014
• National Design Award, 2010
• D&AD Black Pencil Award, High Line, 2010
• Time Magazine “Ten Most Influential Designers,” 2007
• American Academy of Arts and Letters, Award in Architecture, 2004
• Daimler-Chrysler Design Award for Innovation in Design, 2000

Want to learn more about James Corner Field Operations?

Have you been inspired by Field Operations’ innovative designs? Check out their website at http://www.fieldoperations.net/ for more information. It also features James Corner’s various publications, including a book about the High Line. Direct Information for James Corner Field Operations: Company Name: James Corner Field Operations Founder & CEO: James Corner Senior Principals: Lisa Tziona Switkin, Richard Kennedy Year of Foundation: 1998 Address (main office): 475 10th avenue, 9th fl, New York, NY 10018 Global offices: San Francisco, London, Shenzhen Website: http://www.fieldoperations.net/ E-mail Contact: info[at]fieldoperations.net Social Networks: Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn

Related Articles Featuring James Corner Field Operations:

• Roof Terrace Offers Some Of The Most Breathtaking Views Of Manhattan
• The Navy Yard Central Green Shows us How to Achieve Healthier, Happier and More Industrious Workers
• How Frank Gehry’s Controversial Building Impacted the Landscape

If you would like to get your landscape architecture office profiled on Landscape Architects Network, contact us at office@landarchs.com Profile composed by Andrea Kreuer

Article by Maria Giovanna Drago – The Winton Beauty of Mathematics Garden, by Nick Bailey, Chelsea, London, UK. The Winton Beauty of Mathematics Garden was a project by horticulturist Nick Bailey that was exhibited at the Chelsea Flower Show in 2016. It had a great success among the audience and judges for developing a side of nature that not everyone knows and that is certainly unexpected. There’s still so much talk about its main purpose: to show that nature is based on numbers. Not everyone knows that there are mathematical rules behind the number of petals on a flower or the arrangement of leaves on a plant. Bailey showed this dualism in a refined way, including signs and numbers easily recognizable, even by children.

The Chelsea Flower Show

The Chelsea Flower Show has been held each year since 1912 on the 11 acres of land of the Royal Hospital Chelsea in Chelsea, London. It’s also known as the Great Spring Show, and it hosts an exposition of landscape gardens for five days. It attracts about 150,000 visitors from all over the world and is considered one of the most beautiful garden shows in the entire world. It is so popular that tickets must be purchased in advance because of limited capacity. The exhibition has become the ideal place to discover new gardening trends. Here, new plants are promoted and old ones can be admired in all their beauty.

The Mathematics Garden

The Winton Beauty of Mathematics Garden, which was awarded one of eight silver gilt, was rectangular in shape and organized around a path that enveloped the symbol of infinity. It enclosed a first circle of greenery; a second circle was open, as the path split into two endings. One ending reached the short side of the rectangle and the other the adjacent long side. Visitors could access the garden from both ends. The garden rose from a base made of fine white earth, which was most visible in the corner between the two entrances where vegetation was sparse. As you ventured into the garden, the vegetation began to thicken and the white disappeared completely. Also, the routes stood out in their whiteness, as did the first circular space that you encountered as you entered.

In this area, you could stop and sit on the bench that rose from the ground as a living plant. It had the shape of an arch made of two strips: the one for sitting was made of wood; the backrest was made of copper and was pierced with math formulas. After passing the first circular area, you reached the second circular space, where plants and shrubs grew in height and seemed to be organized to hide this part of the garden from prying eyes. Here, the path framed a circular water surface that overlooked a small circular arbor with a metal-bearing structure. You could reach the top of it by continuing from one of the paths that suddenly turned into a stairway and went up to reach the small terrace. The handrail of the stairway was the same as the copper backrest of the arch bench. It continued visually and ended as parapet of the terrace. Slender metal columns and wooden flooring and cover characterized the harbor. The floor was also decorated with a central circle that lit up at night. It was furnished with two director’s chairs and three stools, all in wood. Climbing plants hung from the wooden roof, and the parapet acted as curtains. The sculpture fountain near the entrance on the short side was also based on mathematics. Sculptor Giles Rayner created the a water-filled vase made of copper, whose proportional geometry followed the mathematical laws of nature.

Why Mathematics?

Who among us does not get along with math? I suppose many of us feel that way. That is why the garden was such a huge success — it let people discover that math is beautiful in unexpected ways. “I’m terrible at maths,” Bailey admitted. Who would have ever imagined that natural beauty is based on mathematical rules? No one knows why, but plants grow and develop following precise mathematical laws. For example, the seeds of the sunflower head are arranged to form spirals according to the sequence 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13 — which is known as the “Fibonacci numbers”.

Also, the spirals of the leaves of the succulent spiral Aloe develop the same way. Both of these plants were in the garden, along with other significant plants, such as Ceratonia silique, whose seeds are always identical in weight. The ancient Egyptians and Greeks had already guessed something about proportions and numbers in nature, as they discovered about the Golden ratio or Divine proportion: Two quantities are in Golden ratio if the ratio of their sum to the larger of the two quantities is equal to their ratio. The Golden ratio is approximately 1,61803. We can find this number in the human body, as the ratio of a person’s height to the height of his navel is roughly 1,61803. Italian mathematician Leonardo Fibonacci made extensive studies during the Renaissance, and many historic artists and architects based their works on this proportion. Fibonacci discovered a sequence: 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, … and so on, where the next number is the sum of the previous two. Moreover, the ratio of two successive numbers is very close to the Golden ratio. Designers can use the sequence to draw such geometric figures as the golden rectangle and the spiral. In fact, Bailey designed the arched backrest according to that. All of these algorithms and mathematical equations were pierced on there, as well as on the handrail and the parapet, and all of them lit up in the evening, revealing an even more beautiful sequence that’s not so visible during the day.

The Designer

Bailey is head gardener at the Chelsea Physic Garden, the oldest botanical garden of England, which covers four acres and contains about 5,000 plants. He is also a freelance garden writer and has 20 years of horticulturalist experience. He had visited the Chelsea Flower Show for the last 20 years, and finally had the opportunity to design a garden rather than just admiring them as a visitor. The Gardenlink service helped him realize the Mathematics Garden project, which took 14 months to complete. The multiple award-winning garden service has a team of 15 planter specialists, including three master gardeners from Japan.

There are many unusual and unexpected ways to enrich the way we design landscapes, with new experiences and points of view. Do you believe there are aspects of our profession that remain unveiled and should be brought to light? Which other subjects, besides math, can be related to landscape architecture?

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Full Project Credits For The Winton Beauty of Mathematics Garden:

Project Title: The Winton Beauty of Mathematics Garden Landscape Architecture: Nick Bailey Location: Chelsea, London, UK Client: The Chelsea Flower Show Scope: Gardening exhibition Completion: 2016 Recommended Reading:

• Becoming an Urban Planner: A Guide to Careers in Planning and Urban Design by Michael Bayer
• Sustainable Urbanism: Urban Design With Nature by Douglas Farrs
• eBooks by Landscape Architects Network

Article by Niriti Porwal – A Review of Grove Grand Bay, by Raymond Jungles Inc., Coconut Grove, Miami, Florida. The Grove at Grand Bay is a distinctive and luxurious residential project, featuring two twisting towers with a 360-degree view of Biscayne Bay. It is also the first LEED Gold-certified building in Dade County. This blending of sustainability and luxury brings a unique balance and paves the way for an ecologically sensitive approach to design. The low-density project of 98 units in two 20-story glass towers combines the remarkable architecture of the twisting towers with a contextually rich landscape. Raymond Jungles’ landscape design wraps around the towers in an unusual way. The design inspiration was drawn from the surroundings of Coconut Grove, which has a rich cultural history, a sense of community, a lush tropical landscape, and an unparalleled view of Biscayne Bay.

Grove Grand Bay

The design process for the three-acre landscape took form through three major considerations

1. The Ingles-Jungles Duo

First, the landscape was designed in a way that complements the architecture and turns the project into a unified piece of art by architect Big-Bjarke Ingles Group and landscape architect Raymond Jungles Inc. The landscape layout represents a strong, curvilinear design language that seamlessly separates the hardscape from the soft landscape. Design components such as the seating, pathways, and terraces were planned on either side of the curve to give a view of the planting alongside. The design also provides an opportunity for spontaneous human interaction. The spaces were designed keeping people of all age groups in consideration. Within the flowing forms, programmatic elements have been introduced, including shade gardens, secluded areas, water gardens, and communal gardens to please people with varied interests.

2. Re-Groving the Groves

The second consideration was to make Grove Grand Bay look indigenous. Tropical plants common to Coconut Grove were chosen for the site. The palette features about 470 trees and 15,400 native plantings, including aquatic vegetation for the water garden. The involvement of Jungles as a landscape architect from the very beginning helped in saving many of the old original trees on the site. The trees were moved during the construction period, then replanted once the work was complete. Sustainability was also kept in mind in choosing materials for the hardscape. To reduce the carbon footprint and prevent long-distance transportation, local stone inherent to the area was chosen for feature walls and water bodies. The hardscape element along the planting palette was wisely planned to create tropically rich visual corridors for pedestrians and provide opportunity for design interaction.

Much emphasis was given to the planning of spaces and connections. When approaching the site, one feels the continuity of space from the road level as one passes by different programmatic spaces embellished by lush green plantation. “Our mission was to seamlessly meld the gardens of the Grove Grand Bay with the historic village community of Coconut Grove and the dynamic towers designed by BIG. We wanted timeless elegance to inform our material choices and have the garden, once completed, appear to have always been there,” Raymond Jungles said.

3. The People’s Place

The third important consideration in designing Grove Grand Bay was the definitive comfort of its residents and guests. While being loyal to the site’s context, Jungles made sure residents would have the most luxurious experience when traveling through the landscape. A butterfly ribbon-shaped canopy — called a porte-cochere – was installed at the entrance to welcome visitors and serve as a covered walkway. The canopy connects the two towers. Greenery on the roof of the porte-cochere is intended to spill over the sides as it matures, giving a feeling of a green frame.

Five luxurious pools were planned throughout the site, with two of them on a rooftop deck that provides a view of Biscayne Bay anytime of the day, from dawn to dusk. Deliberate landscape views have been created to cater to the open and spacious planning of the towers, which feature a 12-foot-high, floor-to-glass-ceiling height and 12-foot-deep terraces. Special gardens with water features have been designed for people with botanical interests. In order to give a personal touch of landscape, a 5,000-square-foot landscape area with a pool and private rooftop deck have been designed for the penthouse residents of the south tower. The project also houses Jungles’ personal home, and that’s what makes the project so important to him – it’s a part of his daily experience.

A Practical Dream

Bjarke Ingels says, “What architects should do is to make the world a little bit more like our dreams, in a very practical way.” And when one experiences this unique blend of urbanism and nature as a part of everyday life, it certainly makes the experience of living at the site one of extraordinary quality. Raymond Jungles has provided the most tangible outcome of his goals for its design. What do you think? How can we derive goals for our site and stand by them?

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Full Project Credits For the Grove Grand Bay:

Project: Grove Grand Bay Client: Terra Group Design: Big-Bjarke Ingles Group Landscape Architect: Raymond Jungles Inc. Associate Architect: Nichols Brosch Wrust Wolfe &Associates Inc. Collaborators: Mónica Muñóz González, Adriana Herrada León Year of Completion: 2016 Consultants: HNGS Engineers, De Simmone Consulting Engineers, ESRAWE Photos: Robin Hill Location: Miami, Florida, USA Recommended Reading:

• Becoming an Urban Planner: A Guide to Careers in Planning and Urban Design by Michael Bayer
• Sustainable Urbanism: Urban Design With Nature by Douglas Farrs
• eBooks by Landscape Architects Network

Article Mai Nguyen –  OASIS Coyoacán by DLC Architects, in Coyoacán neighborhood, Mexico City.  With the effort to increase urban green and to confront urban sprawl, the office of DIC Architects has completed the project OASIS Coyoacán in the Coyoacán neighborhood of Mexico City. Indeed, they managed to make good use of the project’s location to turn it into an exciting “park mall”. Moreover, DLC creatively applied a module design to enrich the experience of the space for the users. Last, but not least, by bringing water into their design, not only is the microclimate of the mall improved, but also people’s appreciation for nature is awakened.

OASIS Coyoacán

The Neighbourhood’s Mediator

First of all, the site is close to the city’s green lung, named Viveros de Coyacan, in the north, a city park named Jardin de La Bombilla in the east, as well as other local green “spots” nearby. Secondly, the OASIS Coyoacán project site is also close to the Metro Line No. 2 and a lot of bus stations. Thirdly, the site connects to the Coyoacán neighborhood’s civic spine through the busy avenue Miguel Angel de Quevedo.

With those mentioned potential assets, DLC decided to create a public space while also encouraging shopping activities. According to DLC, the team tried to create a “park mall” that would allow people to spend the whole day in their park mall with enjoyment. Last but not least, DLC’s design also plays as a connector for the neighborhood with its greenery and public spaces.

Module Concept Design Enriches Space Experiences

The overall concept can be summarized as the transformation of “a pixel” (different landscape elements) to create an exciting environment yet still retain the unity of the whole works. Indeed, the concept of multiplying rectangular modules is used as the main design language from general scale to detailed amenities creating a modern atmosphere for the users, from paver, to bench planter, to platform. In the paving design, DLC used the stretcher paving style (running bond) with contrasting stretcher inlay and header. The paving with looser texture is installed mainly at the walking and plaza areas; while a denser one is applied at areas which contain planter boxes or benches to highlight those areas.

For public amenities, DLC installed modular green islands and dark brown benches in the middle of the pedestrian track as well as around the main exterior places. The plants are arranged carefully so that their colour’s pattern would also follow the main design concept. The benches are formed with a framed base and steel supports with composite wood on the top and the side. Moreover, DLC also changed the levels of benches and the heights of the planter boxes, creating a “3-dimensional” effect with a greener and fresher feeling.

Bringing Nature into the Shopping Mall

One mission of landscape designers is connecting people with nature and improving their awareness of the natural environment. To fulfil this mission in the OASIS Coyoacán project, DLC decided to imitate a waterfall by creating a small waterfall area at the end of the pedestrian track. DLC used different plant types in the background, establishing a green screen for the waterfall replica at the turn from pedestrian track heading into the main plaza. Further than that, DLC also designed a water feature for the whole OASIS Coyoacán project from the main entrance into the heart of the mall.

Particularly, the fountain in the heart of the mall, at the basement, established an exciting atmosphere by using strong water columns that would reach up to the ground floor. In fact, this design feature also eliminated the feeling of being underground and created a connection with the waterfall monument. Apart from that, DLC used numerous planting species to enrich the experiences for the user. Indeed, there are about 17 types spreading through the whole mall. Most of them have a slim trunk with decent canopy and average height; this selection created a thicker and more layered view for the planting areas. In fact, with a harmonious integration of water feature and plants, the design is like installing a miniature rain forest into the shopping mall.

Experience the Landscape in Time

If visiting OASIS during the daytime created a feeling of wandering inside a rain forest, visiting OASIS after the sunset would make you feel like getting lost in a fairy land. It is all thanks to the interesting combination of lighting to highlight outstanding design elements in the design. First of all, although the place functions as a shopping mall, DLC still managed to maintain the connection with natural light by using a glass ceiling integrating with aluminum sheet. As a result, the mall managed to have enough shade for the users yet be full of natural light.

In term of artificial lighting, DLC used mainly warm light to establish a friendly shopping atmosphere and to highlight the outstanding elements of their works; particularly the lighting design for benches and the waterfall. By having the LEDs at the foot of the benches, together with their unique design, the benches at night would look light floating on a yellowish and sparkling river. Meanwhile, white light is used at the waterfall monument to enhance the image of the force of nature. In short, DLC’s design for OASIS Coyoacán has proven to be a stunning project that has tremendous positive impact not only in small scale but also in the neighborhood scale. In fact, its Silver Medal at Bianal de Arquitectura de la Ciudad de Mexico 2016 is a solid proof for the success of DLC’s design in the Coyoacán neighborhood.

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Full Project Credits For OASIS Coyoacán:

Project Name: OASIS Coyoacán Architect: DLC Architects (María Guadalupe Domínguez Landa, Rafael López Corona) Collaborators: María Guadalupe Domínguez Landa, Rafael López Corona, Mónica Muñóz González. Construction: MF Farca, Oshimex, Villegas Herrerías, Igreen Site Area: About 10,000 sqm with 3,000 sqm of green areas Year: 2012 – 2015 Location: Coyoacán neighborhood, Mexico City Recommended Reading:

• Becoming an Urban Planner: A Guide to Careers in Planning and Urban Design by Michael Bayer
• Sustainable Urbanism: Urban Design With Nature by Douglas Farrs
• eBooks by Landscape Architects Network

Article by Mai Nguyen

Article by Lidija Šuster – Zighizaghi Garden, by OFL Architecture, in Favara (AG), Italy. Every landscape in the world has its own unique spirit and identity, not to mention shape, size, and purpose. This time, we are taking you to magnificent Italy. To satisfy your hunger for creativity, we are zooming in on the map to south-central Sicily, to the town of Favara in the province of Agrigento. The designers of the Zighizaghi Garden, OFL Architecture, describe it as a multi-sensorial garden. Like magic, our attention is drawn to that statement; we are eager to know more about it. What does multi-sensorial actually mean? Let’s find out by exploring this project with the quite interesting and extraordinary name of the Zighizaghi Garden.

The Zighizaghi Garden

As landscape architects and designers, how can we connect more with nature through design? By creating a space that replicates some natural element or shape, of course. In this case, the idea for Zighizaghi began through a partnership between an Italian furniture brand, Milia Shop, and the Farm Cultural Park art gallery. Here, the aforementioned connection with nature was accomplished through Milia’s affinity for ecology and the environment, which served as a guiding star. This urban garden of 320 square meters fully covers the main conception, which OFL Architecture studio designed so accurately in the form of honeycombs.

Horizontal and Vertical Levels

The Zighizaghi Garden consists of two parts joined together, represented as horizontal and vertical levels. The first part, which lies on a horizontal axis, is an entire floor shaped like bees’ hexagonal creations. The vertical axis contributes an “artistic touch,” adding dynamic structure to the space. These two parts can’t work properly without each other. Now, we will dig deeper into the details.

The Floor

In all landscape projects, the entrance should be highlighted and well maintained in order to draw in visitors. In the Zighizaghi, a slightly elevated gray platform plays that role. Three stairs lead straight to the building, but all the magic lurks to the left and right sides of the space.

As a tribute to nature, all of the stuff on the floor was made from a natural material – wood –harmonically assembling various hexagonal elements. According to the designers, the wooden elements were made of phenolic plywood and knots of Okoumé (Aucoumea klaineana). Not all of the space is covered with wood: Thanks to the flexibility of the hexagons, the surface is randomly pierced with openings filled with soil. The light, creamy color of the plywood perfectly contrasts with the dark brown color of ground, a catchy combination that is pleasant to the eyes of the observer. These soil-filled hexagons serve as a foundation for particularly selected Mediterranean plants, with special emphais on decorating the Zighizaghi Garden and fitting it into the environmental context. To be sure that the plants grow smooth and strong, the designers integrated an automatic irrigation system. Lavender (Lavandula) and cotton lavender (Santolina chamaecyparissus) are among the many different plants. The varied colors of their flowers and leaves tastefully fits into the whole space. Instead of standing out conspicuously, they quietly enrich the Zighizaghi Garden.

Light and Sound

Six vertical, 14-sided prisms rise above the hexagons. The red color of the “super-pods” refreshes the impression of the space, while also providing light and sound. These 3D objects stand on six thin, black rods, creating an impression of futuristic creatures from the movies. Their expressed artistic appearance is a dedication to the “Pfff” inflatable architecture competition. The hexagonal shape of the prisms is meant as a tribute to the inflatable pavilion made by Cityvision and Farm Cultural Park.

During the evening and night, the illuminated red bodies of the prisms add a mystical and glamourous touch to the whole ambiance. Light stamps scattered all over the place emphasize the floor’s decorative elements. Additionaly, these super-pods have loudspeakers inside them, using music to attract and harmonize people with Zighizaghi’s natural environment.

Why a Sensorial Garden?

Finally, let us sum up the “multi-sensorial garden” definition. With all of the details in one place, this description is totally justified. A multitude of senses is satisfied — sight, hearing, smell, and even touch. The combination of colors is right – not too much and not too little, with a very welcome aid of lighting. The space is peaceful in its horizontality, but properly dynamic and vivid. Carefully selected plants increase the sensorial experience with scents and aromas, as well as enriching the space with diverse leaf textures. Music is the final touch of art in this urban area — always helpful and advisable in this kind of landscape.

Designing any space is not an easy job. There are many things that should be taken into consideration. Smart use of technology, plants, materials, and architecture can do wonders. The Zighizaghi garden is great example of how one space can meet all of these criteria, and now the world is richer for one more beautiful landscape project. What do you think about the Zighizaghi Garden? Would you change or add anything? Tell us in the comments.

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Full Project Credits For Zighizaghi:

Project Name: Zighizaghi Project: OFL Architecture Architecture: Francesco Lipari and Giuseppe Conti Location: Favara (AG) Area: 320 m2 Year: 2016 Project Manager: Giuseppe Grova Client: Milia Arredamenti Realization: Falegnameria Leto srl, Lavorazioni metalliche Grano, Vivai Garlisi, GBR di Baldo srl Interactive Project: Blu Network Photos: Giuseppe Guarneri and Riccio Blu Recommended Reading:

• Becoming an Urban Planner: A Guide to Careers in Planning and Urban Design by Michael Bayer
• Sustainable Urbanism: Urban Design With Nature by Douglas Farrs
• eBooks by Landscape Architects Network

Article by Lidija Šuster