Author: Land8: Landscape Architects Network

Designer Amir Schlezinger creates a stunning urban contemporary garden design. This 39-square-meter private garden is situated at the back of a terrace modern house near the Arsenal football stadium and Highbury Fields in north London, an incredibly dense urban area in the central part of the city. The owners, an Italian family, had recently moved in and wanted to modernize the outdoor space so that it was on par with the architecture of the house and their rich interior style of modern furniture and contemporary art. There was a great mutual understanding between the clients and myself right from the outset – I love walking into a space for the first time and leaving after a couple of hours encouraged by not only a clear vision of what needs to be done, but also the full support of an inspirational client. The husband – an investment banker; the wife – an attorney; and their two young children, a boy and a girl, gave me pretty much an open brief; there were no must haves or don’ts, and this was not to be a children’s play area, either — except for a bike storage cupboard we were able to situate beyond the garden perimeter, luckily. The garden faces north, but is open on the east and west. The Site

The house is part of 11 townhouses developed seven years previously to a high standard, yet the gardens were laid to railway sleepers, stepping stones, and gravel, which were completely out of keeping with the buildings. However, my immediate reaction was to retain the semi-mature tree specimens, as they provided instant scale – I have immense respect for any mature planting and, unless it is dangerous or totally out of context, will do my best to retain it and work around it. Offset to the left there was a magnificent, six-meter-tall Cordyline australis. Behind the palm was a valuable clump of Phyllostachys nigra and opposite two Butia capitata Jelly palms and a Yucca gloriosa “Variegata”. I was in my element – these are some of my favorite plants, and having those meant more of the budget could be spent on hard landscaping, which I had envisioned some rich detailing for. The fact that the house has four stories and that the garden can be viewed easily from each level meant that a strong ground pattern was very important in order to enhance the visual aerial experience. The Design The space appeared square and had a decent “hit-and-miss” fence on both sides, which meant I could paint it a dark color and tint the large back wall with a lighter shade. This technique makes the space appear longer and reduces the dominance of the back wall. I decided to triangulate lines between the existing specimen plants – luckily, this resulted in pure cross symmetry, in which the surfaces avoid damage to the roots and in turn demarcates the areas in which they are planted, thus appearing as if this was the original intention. Here I could introduce a couple of techniques I usually use on roof terraces – inserting LED light strips between the surfaces to create an additional layer of drama at night and powder-coated planters to add focal points. As the linearity of the design emerged, I felt that I needed a curve to contrast it; with the trunk of the Cordyline situated perfectly to the left, I could wrap around it a sinuous steel bench. This bench will appear lightweight, with only a six-millimeter plate as the seat with see-through leg supports so the surfaces would continue underneath to maximize the appearance of the space. The same powder-coating would then provide the finish to match the planters. A pair of curved, tall vases were specially designed for this project to amplify the curve of the bench and add a touch of height to the righthand side by the house – seen through a window. The first surface immediately outside the large glass doors is a gray flamed granite – this finish sparkles and the color blends in with the gray of the frames of the windows. The granite contrasts dramatically with the limestone, which is veined and slightly textured – this provides a tone that helps to mute harsh sunlight radiating in the morning and afternoon. The central bay features artificial grass – this gives real pull into the garden with its verdancy. From there on, the granite and limestone alternate again. The right fence, facing west, is clothed with evergreen Jasmine, while the left fence is extended further up for security – being end of terrace in a relatively high-crime area, a three-meter boundary was necessary. To contrast the dark fence, I designed a western red cedar cladding section in which three size battens alternate to create a dynamic pattern. To complete the last focal point on the righthand side at the back, a Prunus serrula tibetica multi-stemmed tree was planted in the limestone – it adds to the collection of interesting bark plants. Detailing Detailing in such a small urban space is extremely important, as it has potential to narrate the space, infuse contrast, and enrich the tactile experience. And so, matching stone samples, tweaking the surfaces, adding various aggregates to mulch any open planting beds, choosing paint colors, and even experimenting with the grouting shade for the paving are all paramount. It is an inherent element of the scheme to create rich yet subtle layers in which one can experience the craft of the design throughout all the scales and volumes of the garden. I used three types of granite in decreasing scales to compliment the paving from boulders to cobbles and chippings. White pebbles were used to add to the tone of the limestone, while the sable color of the planters and bench compliment the tone of the back wall. The distinction between the layers creates a sharp contrast – this contrast is one of the most important aspects of articulating a small urban space. The result is a low-maintenance, private, personal, yet liveable outdoor space that can be enjoyed on any day of the year. Legacy This was a great challenge for the whole team involved, and having free rein from the client enabled trying new blends of materials and lighting. Working in the summer of 2012 in London was an intensely exciting period: the Olympics, the Shard opening and for my practice, a bit of luck with a series of high-profile projects. Interestingly, this project hardly satisfied any immediately apparent reasons for celebration, but the minute the last slab of limestone received its final coat of sealant and all the tools were cleared, something felt pretty special. The space proved photogenic, and there was this constant and lasting elation from the client throughout the whole process, which sort of blessed the space. I return every other season to photograph, and since completion we have continued to make some subtle additions, such as interior planting, lighting improvements, and additional planting in the garden. See also Amir’s Contemporary Japanese Garden in The English Countryside Completion: June 2012. Length of build: 3 weeks. Cost: $35,000. Location: Highbury, north London, England, UK. Design and photographs by Amir Schlezinger Check out his website mylandscapes See more designs and updates from Amir on the mylandscapes Facebook page Recommended reading: The Contemporary Garden Editors of Phaidon Press, reviewed on LAN Color by Design: Planting the Contemporary Garden by Nori Pope

AutoCAD is one of the core programs used by landscape architects when creating schemes; it lets us accurately draw on an infinite board. For me, learning CAD was on a trial-and-error basis, but certain tips (learned through the help of tutors and on my own) aided me in improving my CAD abilities. In this article, I look at a few of the CAD hacks I use and share what I find to be most important when creating a drawing. 1. Naming layers – shortcut LA Layers are the base of any CAD plan and are imperative to CAD drafting. Just as you should keep your desk organized when drawing, it is just as important to keep your virtual workspace organized through the naming of layers. Categorizing and naming layers into titles that you understand and can keep track of is vital when drawing, and will make any future development through the project a lot easier, especially when introducing outsiders to your plan. Below: AutoCAD 2014 tutorial: Creating and adjusting layers | lynda.com 2. Spline – shortcut SPL Spline allows you to create curves that move through certain marked points. This is useful when creating an arc that isn’t the conventional arc shape, allowing you to establish a more free flowing organic shape to an otherwise technical and rigid drawing, helping you to mimic what you can draw freehand only much more accurately. Below: Drawing Splines AutoCAD 2014 Tutorial 3. Offset – shortcut O Another revolutionary command for me is OFFSET. Offset allows you to copy lines, arcs, polylines, etc. and paste them at a measured distance. I find this very helpful when creating curbs, benches, and paths. Below: AutoCAD’s Offset Command 2014 4. Polyline-Right click – shortcut PL While using the POLYLINE command, you can right click and a menu opens that allows you to access some very helpful commands, such as ARC (which allows you to draw a curved polyline) or WIDTH (which lets you change the lineweight of the polyline). Below: Creating Polylines AutoCAD 2014 Tutorial 5. Tree centres-DIMCENTER – shortcut DCE When creating a planting plan, this command lets you create the centers of drawn trees. This is vital when you are distributing your completed plans and you need to show where exactly you want certain trees to be planted. 6. Explode – shortcut X This command allows you to edit a section of a continuous polyline by “exploding” the line and morphing it into individual lines. This command is important, as it lets you select certain areas of a line without selecting a whole shape. Below: Explode and Join AutoCAD 2014 Tutorial 7. Paste to Original Coordinates This feature is indispensible when you are working on different drawings of the same site. This allows you to copy lines from one drawing and paste them to another using the original coordinates. This makes repetition of drawings easier. 8. Insert and ALIGN – shortcut Insert I, Align AL This command was a revelation for my CAD workings. The ability to insert a jpg into your model space allows you to work on concept sketches or to-scale hand drawings. After inserting the drawing, through the power of ALIGN, you can scale your drawing to a CAD plan. This means scale isn’t an issue when going from paper to CAD, which — as a designer — is incredibly important. Below: AutoCAD Inserting / Importing Images, Scaling Images, Tracing… 9. Annotation This is core to completing a drawing, especially when creating construction details and sections. This command helps insert notes, hatches, and dimensions to finish a drawing and ensure it is readable when passed on to another party. Below: AutoCAD Construction Drawings Tutorial | Annotation Scaling 10. Blocks Have a library of blocks you will need! I learned this lesson the hard way, as blocks are so useful when creating sections and you need to insert a figure or car for scale. Below: Make a BLOCK LIBRARY in AutoCAD Although this list is only a small number of CAD tips, these are the ones that I found aided my drawings the most. For a full list of AutoCAD shortcuts, click here! Recommended reading AutoCAD 2014 For Dummies by Bill Fane Article written by Lisa Tierney Featured image: shutterstock.com

If someone were to ask me who is the best contemporary landscape architect, artist and ecologist – I would immediately reply, Steve Martino! His works caught my eye many years ago, when I bought my first book about gardens. For a long time his thinking was totally out of step with the landscape profession, he had to struggle to get projects built using native plants. Over the years he has gone from being a heretic to a hero without doing anything different: society and the profession finally came around to his point of view. When I first talked to Steve, his philosophy sounded so simple, almost too obvious. But isn’t this the value of any great work of art? Here are just a few fragments of our conversations on sustainability, his style and design approach: On sustainability

In order for a beautiful garden to have any significance , it needs to go beyond just responding to the client’s needs and conditions, it also needs to accommodate the natural environment. Our landscapes are like terminally ill patients. They are tethered to IVs and monitors and need constant attention to keep them alive. If someone pulls the plug, the garden will die. The only way to break out this situation is to use native plants. They have less of a demand for water and fertilizer, which is better spent on food crops. My definition of sustainability has always been very simple: when the power or water is shut off, your garden should not die. On weeds and walls: Gardens consist of two worlds, the man-made and the natural one. I’ve described my garden design style as “Weeds and Walls” – Nature and Man. I started to use native plants to simply make the transition from a building to the adjacent natural desert. It seemed like a no-brainer as a technique to visually claim the adjacent land as part of your project. I like the idea of landscape design as being the juxtaposition of man and nature at their best: in my designs I feel that ‘man’s best’ are my refined architectural elements, they represent the best I can do, and ‘nature’s best’ is the native landscape of the site and the region. It represents millions of years of evolution to just be what’s there. I reconfigure it in ways, that may or may not be found in nature, to structure space to my liking, Then, I let the garden evolve on its own to work out spacing and dominance. I’ve found that some people do not like plants to touch, especially different species. I not only like them to touch, I expect them to have sex. Being in the desert where the sun is so strong I have thought of sunlight as another building material that needs to be used to your advantage. The sun washes out color and flattens surfaces, so I have been forced to use walls and light to give form to space and I think I learned that from Barragan’s work. On making a great design I have always tried to make gardens that are comfortable and fit their place, in my case it’s the desert. Each project is an advancement over the previous one. I try to take what I learn on one project and push it a little farther on the next one. Isn’t this what any designer does? My projects solve site problems and the walls are the backdrop for the’ living space’. A criticism I have of landscape design is that it can be a situation where you can spend an enormous amount of money and when you are finished, you can still have the problems you started with. I’m a fanatic about connecting the indoors with the outdoors. I think of garden design as an art form: it’s my art. I like to solve problems and to create interesting places that my clients love to be in and that are grounded to the natural processes of the site and region. You actually make your own projects and you should make them interesting. Don’t be satisfied with your first solution. Rework and refine until it’s perfect. The perfect solution is right in front of you – you just need to find it. Steve Martino is recognized as a pioneering influence on the use of native plants and bold forms to achieve livable landscapes. He has just been announced as a finalist of the James Rose Center Third International Residential Design Suburbia Transformed, which promotes works that go beyond “green” to address the aesthetic quality of human experience in the process. After so many years in the profession, he always stays on top. Article written by guest writer Malgorzata Okolowicz See Malgorzata’s Facebook page Great!Landscapes Check more designs and updates on Steve Martino’s website and his Facebook page Featured image: Steve Martino

With the advent of digital cameras, photography has quickly become one of the ways that designers record their work and have fun. Most people are afraid of making the switch to manual mode, though. The following six tips are for those who are interested in gaining more from photography and understanding how it is done. 1. Understanding the exposure triangle Whether you are a beginning photographer or a seasoned pro, having an accurate understanding of the ins and outs of exposure will either make or break your photograph. The exposure triangle is composed of three main elements that you can adjust or simply leave for the auto-shooting mode to handle. ISO is the sensitivity of the camera’s sensor to light. Landscape photographers can use a range of ISO levels, from 100 to 3200. It all depends on your desired look and the available light in your scene. If your site’s lighting is low or if you want a really grainy shot, you will most likely shoot with a high ISO (i.e. 800+). If, however, you have great lighting or plan on using long shutter speeds, a low ISO setting such as 100 or 200 may be appropriate. Shutter speeds offer a variety of looks for landscape photographers. As you increase the time of your shutter speed on your camera, images begin to blur and grow brighter. Should you find yourself looking to capture a perfect, silky-smooth waterfall effect while on vacation, you would want to increase the length of time that your cameras shutter is open. Typically, anything below 1/60 begins to showcase these blurs. Say, however, you are looking to capture the fierceness of the same waterfall. Settings above 1/100 will be more appropriate.

Controlling aperture is the icing on the cake, especially for macro photographers. Changing your aperture changes your depth of field. Landscape photographers who are seeking wide-angle shots often use a large depth of field. This is done by shooting above f/14. If you have found the perfect flower bud and want to blur out the background, drop your aperture setting below f/4. 2. Lighting You could say that lighting is the most important element to a photograph. We often upload our images only to find that they have blasted-out skies or darkened faces. When photographing, always know where the sun is. Face people and your back toward the sun and avoid shooting during the noon hours of the day. Look for creative ways to capture that perfect moment. Use shade from a tree or adjust the angle of your camera to the sun. Using soft light is the most popular and pleasing light for photographs. You can find this light during twilight (both morning and evening) and during the golden hours before sunset. 3. Framing Also known as composure, framing helps lead people’s eyes around the photograph and to the object you wish to highlight. Photobombing is extremely popular today, so be aware of the passerby who is looking for that opportunity to end up in your family album. Take some time and learn the rule of thirds. Imagine that your photograph is divided into vertical and horizontal thirds. The points where these lines intersect are the best spots to place your object. Placing images in the dead center often kills the image. 4. Focusing The big rule here is “if you have auto-focus, use it.” Blurry pictures make bad pictures. Unless you have practiced enough with your manual focus, don’t use it. 5. Good post-processing Many people have a bad taste for post processing today because of epic fails in Photoshop. Don’t let this deter you. Photoshop and similar software allow photographers to correct mistakes, adjust exposure, and add personal flair to a photograph. Different strokes for different folks. It never makes up for a bad photo, though. 6. Let your style shine through Above all else, have fun. Take chances and shoot the things you enjoy often. Learning from mistakes and understanding how and why you like to shoot is the most important aspect of photography. Practice these six tips and look forward to better photographs! You may also be interested in HDR and Digital Blending Courses The Lazy Photographer’s Guide to Photoshop

Featured image: credit Jimmy Mcintyre

This weeks Sketchy Saturday sees a few surprises as we break away from conventional methods and scenes and break into new realms of creativity and awareness of public space, displaying not just in how it’s built but in how people use it to. Congratulations to everyone who took part in this weeks Sketchy Saturday, there was so many sensational entries however not everyone can get published on the website. We’re very excited to reveal this weeks Top 10, here they are: 10. by  Zanyar Feizi, M.A.student of Landscape Architecture, Iran

“This sketch which has been drawn using colored pencil,indicates the identity of old Iranian Architecture that was created in particular after Islam in Iran. Dome is one of the remarkable elements of this architectural style”. 9. by Elvis Kaltofen, a student on the Academy of Architecture in Maastricht.

“This drawing is of the town hall of Den Bosch, located in the Netherlands. One a day my friend and I saw a beautiful coatrack with a graphic silhouette of iconic buildings in Den Bosch. Now, to surprise him, I couldn’t afford this coatrack, but I could afford a pencil and paper. So I drew some iconic buildings like this one with just a pencil. I like this drawing style where you can feel the experience of the renaissance building.I drew it more with an architectural style with basic quick lines, so the focus would be on the Town hall”.

8. by Scott Wardell a husband, father of two little girls and hopeless skate rat. “My drawing is focused on skateboarding- and I post my work on instagram @Scottwardell Pro skater Chuck Treece calls me a ‘gnartist’ I try to capture the motion, emotion and immediacy of skating with pencil and paper. Art allows me to tap into the raw energy of skating without the physical risk”.

A review of The professional designer’s guide to garden furnishings by Vanessa Gardner Nagel It is often forgotten or overlooked by the garden designers and landscape architects, that the furniture in the garden is just as important as plants. It helps to create a welcoming space for relaxation, play or socialising, enhances the garden’s style and character, and brings out the plants’ natural beauty. Without it the garden is unfinished, sorely lacking in style and usability. With the current accessibility of the wide range of garden furniture and accessories, there is no excuse for a designer to omit this essential part of the project. “The professional designer’s guide to garden furnishings” is an excellent manual for anyone involved in designing outdoor spaces, covering practically every style and material possible.

The Professional Designer’s Guide to Garden Furnishings

Overview 

The author, Vanessa Gardner Nagel, starts with an overview of the furniture’s history, reaching as far back as Ancient Egypt, but not forgetting about the contemporary furniture. She advises the reader on the best way to read the existing landscape and architecture, and lists the important factors that need to be considered while choosing the elements of the outdoor furniture – the surroundings, scale, proportion and comfort. Then she moves on to describe a multitude of design styles; their knowledge allows the designer to suitably link the furniture to the surrounding architecture. The knowledge of the preconceived styles will prevent the designer from choosing furniture clashing with the overall garden design. From Asian, through Naturalistic, to Woodland – the particularities of every style are described, the characteristic materials, typical plants, colours and furnishings are listed.

Get it HERE!

The large part of the book is dedicated to a thorough overview of every single material which might be used in garden furniture: stone, glass, wicker and multitude of others, each described in detail, coming with a useful checklist and information such as fabrication, standards, maintenance and sustainability. Finally, the author provides some very interesting information on trade standards and connections, freight and installation, as well as a list of her trusted design centres. All this comes enriched by the abundance of very good illustrations, practical tables and logical page layout. Other book reviews you may be interested in:

• Landscape and Urban Design for Health and Well-Being
• Digital Drawing for Landscape Architecture
• 10 Books to Read in Your Fourth Year of Landscape Architecture

Is it for you? The book is priceless for any garden designer, who is interested in going beyond the basic “plants and paths” design. It helps to understand the importance of the furniture in the outdoor space, learn the available options and implement the knowledge in the everyday work. The clear layout of the pages, informative tables and beautiful illustrations make it a perfect manual for any garden designer, either experienced, or just beginning his or her career.

Get your copy of The Professional Designer’s Guide to Garden Furnishings

About the author: Vanessa Gardner Nagel A garden designer, author and lecturer with a rich background in interior design. A boss of her own company and a part of the national board if the Association of Professional Landscape Designers. Publisher: Timber Press, Inc. Type: Hardcover Page length: 308 pages Review by  Marta Ratajszczak Return to Homepage

Alan Reisman’s gripping book “The World Without Us” details what would occur after a sudden vanishing of human life from the Earth. Nature would reclaim the built environment through processes that would begin within hours of the end of human intervention. But what if there were a world without “us,” as in those of us who guide change in the landscape, both throughout history and going forward? Here we will explore how things would have been different, as well as potential consequences going forward if the world was without landscape architects! Urban Design The idea of a “central park” is not unique to New York City. Many other cities of all shapes and sizes have developed around a communal green space that provides people with an area of respite away from the hustle and bustle of city life. Without landscape architects, what would have taken the place of parks? Government centers, massive transit hubs, and superstructures may have become the centerpieces to urban form. Without parks and public spaces as integral parts of daily life, perhaps people would have fled cities altogether in search of less claustrophobic surroundings.

Access to Nature Landscape architects have played a crucial role in the planning of hiking trails, bikeways, and jogging paths that provide humans with a means of connectivity and recreation. Given the option, many people have opted to make a scenic bike ride to work a relaxing part of their day. On a larger scale, design has allowed for a wider audience to experience wonders of nature that were previously off limits or difficult to get to. By creating environmentally sensitive plans for state and national parks and other natural areas of interest, there is now incredible accessibility for all to take in the sights and sounds of the world’s most pristine places. See also Top 10 Walkable Cities Ecology The development of urban, rural, and suburban areas has reduced biodiversity at varying levels, but would have been much worse without ecologically minded people as part of the design team. By selecting native plantings and advocating for the removal of invasive species, we have prevented the total destruction of many of the Earth’s unique ecosystems. Just the existence of plants in cities helps filter air pollution and maintains a healthy air quality for urban inhabitants. On the fringes, strategic preservation and planting have saved species of plants and animals alike from extinction. Many of these are essential parts of biological cycles that provide food and medicine that we rely on heavily. Good book to read: Planting: A New Perspective by Piet Oudolf and Dr. Noel Kingsbury Erosion The erosion of riverbanks and cliffs is a natural process, but the rate at which it occurs has been accelerated by human activities. Many rivers were dammed, widened, and dredged, leading to higher volumes of water. Although the speed of the water was slowed, the new barriers were not nearly as durable as the previous, naturally occurring edge conditions. Because of this, a large portion of landscape architectural work over the past century has been to stabilize riparian zones to prevent rivers from becoming too wide and subjecting developed areas to constant flooding. See also Turenscape Design Outstanding River Park and see how they dealt with riparian wetlands. Flooding Stormwater management has been the hot button sustainability issue of late, but without the less flashy water solutions of the past, we would be in some serious trouble. Flooding would be rampant in areas with no natural drainage solutions, where we would have to rely on retention and detention ponds designed to function in different storm events. The loss of wetlands reduces the amount of absorbent surface in the landscape. Incorporating floodable marshes and riverside buffers into master plans has prevented overflow and instituted diverse ecosystems. In the city, bio swales and rain gardens are assisting and replacing crumbling sewer infrastructure. If these sustainable methods of water catchment were to suddenly disappear, the rise in global urbanization would quickly overwhelm existing systems. Below: Trailer for top documentary “The Big Uneasy“ revealing that flooding was caused by more than four decades of misguided construction and design. See also our Top 10 Documentaries For Landscape Architects Granted, landscape architects weren’t the only ones involved in these innovations. Ecologists, horticulturalists, civil engineers, and architects have all played a role in the process. We have certainly taken the lead on bringing everyone to the table, and should continue to so. Can you think of other situations that would be very different without the presence of landscape architects? Article written by Peter Salmon

One word sums up present-day China: Speed! China is forging ahead at a rapid pace, with little regard for the many negative consequences piling up in its wake. Landscape Architecture in China happens extremely quickly and is under great pressure. At times, designs are installed even before construction details are complete. There are positive side effects of this rapid pace, such as construction advancements that are paving the way to transform the industry. However, after installation, sites are often all but forgotten. Building and park maintenance is rare, and these installations often fall into a state of decay, becoming hazardous to the people who use them. The Open Door Policy of 1978 initiated by Deng Xiaoping opened China up to the outside world and paved the way for major change. Since the 1980s, modifications within the political structure have been a driving factor for China’s rapid pace. Officials in China serve short terms and must produce results quickly in order to receive a promotion. This motivational structure has driven local government officials to build very rapidly.

China’s rapid pace certainly creates opportunity for positive growth. The rate of construction in China spurs technological innovation and creates jobs for people in the planning, design, engineering, and construction fields. For example, Broad Sustainable Buildings of Chingsha, China, has broken records in construction speed, having built T30, a 30-story hotel, in just 15 days! During the SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) epidemic of 2003, a 1,000-bed SARS hospital was built in one week in Xiaotangshan. The downfalls There are also adverse side effects of China’s rapid growth. Quite frequently, parks and buildings are installed too hastily. Designs are not always well thought-out and are often installed without the necessary period of refinement required to make a good design great. Speed and budget concerns can also lead to designs that are not always installed safely. Turenscape’s Houtan Park Walking around Shanghai, the most international city in China, one can find a plethora of examples of unsafe landscape architecture. Consider Turenscape’s Houtan Park in the Shanghai World Expo waterfront. The site offered an abundance of challenges, including a very narrow shape along the Huangpu River and the fact that it was a brownfield site. The design offers a solution to the brownfield problem that is both restorative and aesthetic. Houtan Park is home to beautiful and healthy artificial wetlands that clean polluted water as it trickles down the gradual gradient of the site. The amazing clarity of the water declares the success of the design, especially in sharp contrast to the brown waters of the Huangpu River adjacent to the site. However, there is a downside to visiting Houtan Park: The site is sometimes unsafe for visitors. While walking along the boardwalk, it is common to find missing planks where a foot has pressed through to the water beneath; a person could easily break an ankle on one of these many holes in the boardwalk. The interesting shade structures along the bank of the wetlands are another problem. In the original design, the structures were brilliant red and visually striking, but at present they are rusted, faded, and even broken, most likely ripped apart by the wind, only to remain in that condition. The site was constructed for the 2010 World Expo, so it is shocking to witness the degradation that has occurred in just a few years. This situation is not unique. Similar conditions are commonly found in many beautiful parks all over Shanghai. The problem comes from a combination of tight budgets and overlooked maintenance. It seems that in modern-day China, things are designed, built, then left to fall into disrepair until they must eventually be removed and replaced. It is both wasteful and disheartening. In the case of Houtan Park, the design is beautiful, thorough, and effective, which makes it unfortunate to experience the park in such a state of disrepair. As an admirer of the 2010 ASLA award-winning design, I found it extremely disappointing to observe the unsafe conditions on the site. Houtan Park is a positive environmental example, amidst a slew of negative ones found all over China, which is why it should be treasured and cared for. In order to create safe and comfortable spaces, designers must create maintenance plans that are followed by park staff to ensure that places like Houtan Park last for people to enjoy for generations to come. You may also be interested in reading: Turenscape Design Outstanding River Park Top 10 Names In Landscape Architecture Today (Featuring Turenscape) Article written by Lisa Sabella

Crown Sky Garden by Mikyoung Kim When you think about a hospital, can you imagine a terrace full of color, with bamboo 6 meters tall, wooden benches that can reproduce natural sounds, and interactive screens made of resin panels with a minimum of 40 percent recycled content? The Crown Sky Garden, designed by Mikyoung Kim design studio, uses four elements to transform a space that could have been seen as rigid because of its institutional setting. Based on this, we can say that the main concept of this project is the word “interaction”.

Sight, sound, water, and wood elements — all varnished with colors and vegetation — create a unique artificial park insidethe 11th floor of the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago. The common perception of every space in a hospital is that they are quiet, colorless, and boring in order to maintain calm and relax the patient. But in this case, the landscape design of the Crown Sky Garden breaks all those preconceptions and mixes, in a perfect manner, textures, attractive colors, vegetation, and sound. All the concepts, elements, and design intentions of this space have been decided with the collaboration of landscape architects and professionals specializing in the recovery process of people who are sick. Thus, the project features strong design foundations based on physiological and psychological research. If we think about the key factor of the space — interaction — we have to refer to all the elements that compose it. First, the dynamic resin panels, made of recycled materials and laid out in a curvilinear arrangement, have a certain height that allows them to function not only as planters, but also as a separation between the inner spaces of the Crown Sky Garden. These panels also have a unique characteristic that reinforces the idea of interaction: Every time a child gets close to one of these resin panel walls, the panels recreate a virtual image of water waves and bubbles. The closer the children get, the more waves and bubbles appear. With this, the panels become a spectacle for the children and, by this action, help them to accelerate their healing process. One of the most impressive aspects about this landscape project is the interaction the space has with the indoor program of the hospital and the outdoor environment of the entire building. With this, the Crown Sky Garden also functions as a link between the city and the interior, creating a unique relationship. Vegetation  At this point, we have to mention the vegetation. The selection of bamboo groves is a wise selection, in order to maintain the interaction of the complete garden, but also to respect the panoramic views toward the city. The height of the bamboo also affects the interaction of the “tree house” with the Crown Sky Garden, creating an exceptional sensation of being inside a forest. The concept of interaction, for children in the recovering process, is an achievement in this garden. The 11th floor is now a garden, a playful place for children to heal. The general sensation of visiting the garden is that it feels like a small park, not a floor of a building. The disposition of the wooden benches as furniture – a key aspect in landscape design — allows the space to have a series of “stay zones” where families can eat lunch or a small orchestra can perform a concert. The design of these benches was also a challenge, because of the goals that architect Mikyoung Kim had. Their final design combines natural sounds and colored lights inside the wooden layers. Using colors to great effect! One of the final and crucial factors is the color palette of the Crown Sky Garden. The use of colors such as yellows, oranges, blues, greens, and whites, changes the visual perception of the garden, increasing relaxation, decreasing the use of artificial light, and helping the children to interact with more confidence inside the garden. All the colors used in the resin panels and the pavements of the garden are so contrasting to the color palette of the hospital that the garden provides another sensation of comfort. These days, landscape design is not just about outdoor green areas and open spaces, but also about the use and reuse of indoor spaces. In this case, the Crown Sky Garden represents a new project that could change the paradigm for health care, integrating healing gardens into the indoor hospital program. Crown Sky Garden also featured in our Top 10 World Class Landscape Architecture Projects of 2013 Article written by Luis Eduardo Guísar Benítez

The Floating Gardens by Turenscape The term “floating gardens” usually brings to mind the famous Chinampas or the historical vegetable gardens planted by Aztec communities in the shallow lakes of Mexico that date back to two thousand years. But in 2004, an added value was brought forth to the term when world renowned Chinese landscape architecture firm Turenscape used it as a title for their Yongning River Park. The Mission: Aims and Challenges The design of this park was a response to a request made by Taizhou City, East Coast China to upgrade the park site along the riverside which was embanked with concrete as part of the local flood control policy. The task proved to be challenging, as the landscape architect sought an alternative and more ecological approach to flood control and storm water management that would at the same time have easy access to both tourists and locals.

Firstly, an effort had to be made to convince the local authorities about the ecological, social and economic negative effects of channelizing the river with concrete. Those mainly included the destruction of the edge conditions of the inter-tidal zones, insensitivity to the symbolic, cultural and historical value of the space as well as it being an expensive measure. They wanted to come up with an alternative solution that would serve as a model for all the rivers in China that suffered from the same misfortune of being canalized with concrete. The other crucial task was to make the park multifunctional and turn it into a fusion of wildlife sanctuary and a space of inclusive social interaction. Recommended reading: The Art of Survival: Turenscape Architects by Loft Publications The Design: An Overlapping of Natural and Human “Matrixes” To implement the vision of the ‘Floating Gardens’, Turenscape created a design composed of two layers: the natural matrix and the human matrix. Initially however, in order to come up with a proper flood control solution, the team drew on storm water process analysis that demonstrates the flood security patterns at every 5, 20 and 50 years level. See Slideshare below for the full graphic. The natural matrix and alternative flood control system was composed of a restored riparian wetland along the flood plain and an outer wetland (lake) outside of the river bank that runs parallel to the river. During the monsoon season, both the riparian wetland and the outside wetland are flooded. During the dry season, the outer wetland is still submerged from both the retained water and fresh water from the inlet located in the upper reach of the river. The design of the upper layer, or the floating ‘human’ gardens, ensures the park’s accessibility all year round as it ‘floats’ above the natural matrix. A series of planted groves of native trees, in harmony with the native wetland plants and bamboos along the riverbank, promote the continuity of the design with the surrounding ecosystem. A network of paths extends from the urban fabric downwards, guiding through a series of ‘story boxes’ which introduce the culture and history of the native land and people. Placed at strategic points in the landscape, these separate boxes comprise of a box of rice,fish, hardware crafts, Taoism, stone,mountain and water, citrus and a box of martial arts. These human scale boxes create a unique contrast with the endless surrounding riparian landscape. Below: Enjoy all the incredible pictures of The Floating Gardens courtesy of Turenscape

The phenomenon of overusing concrete, especially when damaging to the natural or cultural landscape, is not only present in China but sadly has become global. The significance of projects such as ‘Floating Gardens’ lies not only in their high aesthetic and functional qualities, but also in their ability to showcase that stubborn dead interventions such as concrete canalizing or sea landfill lead to the detriment of creativity in design rather than its development.

Name of Project: The Floating Gardens—-Yongning River Park Project Location (city/state/zip): Taizhou City, Zhejiang Province, China Project Type (park, commercial campus, memorial, etc.): park Date of Completion: March 2004 Owner/Client: The Government of Huanyan District, Taizhou City Other articles Turenscape featured in: Top 10 Names In Landscape Architecture Today Top 10 Names in Planting Design Article written by Dalia Zein.

In recent years, global temperature has increased significantly and encouraging the use of outdoor spaces is becoming a challenge for landscape architects and urban planners. Planting trees to cool the urban environment is an effective strategy to provide comfortable open areas in hot countries; but urban greening is more than just an environmental concern, it is a social preoccupation too as inefficient open spaces can lead to exclusion and isolation. GONÇALO DE CARVALHO One of the most inspiring examples of how green areas contribute to upgrading the quality of the urban environment is Gonçalo de Carvalho, which is considered by many as “the most beautiful street in the world” (and we do not dare to disagree). It is indeed the most beautiful street in the world, not only because of the impressive visual effect this green tunnel creates but also because of the touching love the residents have for these stunning trees.

THE STREET: WHAT? WHERE? WHEN? Gonçalo de Carvalho is a street located in the city of Porto Alegre, in Southern Brazil, between the districts of Independência and Floresta. More than a hundred Rosewood trees (Tipuana tipu) line it at both sides which, according to residents, were planted in the 1930s by employees of a local brewery. View Larger Map In 2005, a shopping mall that was to be build nearby threatened the beautiful street. Trees would have to be removed and the traditional paving of the road would be replaced by asphalt. The local community protested against the intervention and it had a successful outcome: the municipality declared Gonçalo de Carvalho part of the city’s Historical, Cultural and Environmental Heritage and would remain as it is. The street then became famous worldwide not only for its gorgeous Redwoods, but by the initiative of the residents to preserve it as well. URBAN GREENING & THERMAL COMFORT Trees can help create the perfect climate even in a overheated urban area – if you live in a hot tropical country, you know how important this is. But how can they do that? There are many parameters that influence human thermal comfort but we are going to focus on the environmental variables only. They are:

• Solar radiation
• Temperature of surrounding surfaces
• Air temperature
• Humidity
• Wind speed.
• Trees can improve each of these parameters by:
• Creating shade, which prevents solar radiation from heating surfaces
• Cooling the air through evapotranspiration
• Increasing relative humity through transpiration
• Reducing air speed, acting as barriers.

We can say they pretty much work as natural air-conditioners (check out the 5th fact at “8 Amazing Facts About Trees You Didn’t Know”) with regards to improving climatic conditions. This is of major importance in landscape architecture as comfortable environments promote the use of open spaces and increase vitality of cities. QUALITY OF OUTDOOR AREAS & THE NEED TO PRESERVE There is no doubt urban trees have a positive effect on people’s lives. Green areas improve the physical, environmental, economic and social aspects of the landscape which are very important in the planning of more sustainable cities. Climate change is upon us and an increase on energy demand for cooling systems could lead us to a global crisis. This situation compels us to seek ’green solutions’ and Gonçalo de Carvalho is an example of how quality of life in cities can be improved with a zero-energy approach. Besides, the street also brought the community together in the need to preserve their heritage fo future generations, strengthening public power in a country that is so in need of it. – A special thanks to Cesar Cardia and the organisation “Amigos da Gonçalo de Carvalho”. For more information, contact them at: You can follow them on there blog and at their Facebook page. Article written by Julia Lucchese

This week, we’ve got a new batch of sketchy, fresh out of the oven. I say that because they are deliciously detailed and drawn! We at LAN are constantly bedazzled by the talent of our readers and their amazing sketches! We think you’ll love our 14^th edition of Sketchy Saturday. Check them out below! No. 10 by Ahmad Benbela Muzakal, Landscape Architect, Malaysia

‘This sketch was actually done during my school field trip to one of the lush green resorts, in Ulu Yam, Selangor, Malaysia when I was in 2nd year of the BA Landscape Architecture program. To be honest, I am not very good at sketching, but for this one, I was really inspired by our senior lecturer’s hand sketch which was very tidy and detailed, and this is among the first attempts of mine to sketch like him. I used a black ink pen with varied tip sizes from 0.1mm to 0.6mm.. I chose this area to sketch because I love to see a mix of soft and hard landscape in scenes.’ No. 9 by Gabriel Legaspi, Architect from the Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina ‘It was a design or rather a study sketch which I made with color pencils on sketch paper. The project itself is called Mocoli and is located in Guayaquil Ecuador. The design is quite minimalistic, with boxy, geometric buildings with a white crisp render. The surrounding green landscape compliments the buildings well.’ No. 8 by Justyna Sulisz, 3^rd year student at The University of Agriculture in Kraków, Poland ‘My sketch is made in pencil, size B2, for one of the classes we did. It shows a peaceful stone bridge and water scene in a secluded place. I drew this sketch just to create a picture, I was probably inspired by a landscape I’ve once seen, so it probably exists somewhere.’ No. 7 by Landon Bell, undergraduate landscape architecture student at Texas Tech University ‘The location of the sketch is near the San Marcos Piazza in Venice, Italy. The experience of the environment is what made this sketch unique for me. As I was sketching on a bench next to the harbor, I was greeted by a local Italian lady who was accompanied by her dog. After a short exchange of greetings, she sat down on the bench and began painting a scene across the harbor. Since then, every time I pick up my sketch book and pen I cannot help but remember the Italian painter, her dog, and the harbor! The media used was a sketch pad and Faber Castell Pens. I also rendered it in Photoshop.’ No. 6 by Devin Kimmel, ASLA, Assoc. AIA ‘This drawing is for the concept design of a new residential dormitory building and surrounding gardens. The dormitory is part of an existing seminary school. The design is a simplified version of collegiate Gothic. This is in keeping with the older buildings of the campus. The building layout allows for garden spaces on multiple sides that can be used in different ways. There will also be a new garden pavilion for multiple functions. The base drawing was drawn with pen and a color wash was added using a Wacom tablet.’ No. 5 by Sébastien Jobin, landscape architect student and Valentine Maeder, interior design student in Geneva, Switzerland ‘I’ve done this sketch to explain the concept of our project for a student contest in my school. I’ve participated in a workshop with Valentine to design a temporary project for this summer in Geneva. We’ve been selected to realize this project this summer. It’s a hand drawing with black ink and color pencils.The characters are from my Photoshop library. We are planning to use painted pallets in blue and white to make the structure. It will be completed with annual plants to provide a tropical effect.’ No. 4 by Léa Zeitoun, second year student in Landscape Architecture at the American University of Beirut (AUB) ‘The drawing represents part of an old church square located in a village north of Lebanon. It is also part of my site of intervention for my design course. I chose to illustrate this particular space because of its archaic beauty. Time perfectly shaped itself within the smallest details of this landscape.’ No. 3 by Blake Andera, Landscape Architecture Student, Iowa State University, United States ‘This drawing was made as a series of scenes emphasizing the important aspects of Chinese landscape design. Inspiration includes Chinese ink drawings, borrowed landscape, sculptures and details. The medium used was ink pen and gloss finish paper.’ No. 2 by Jesus Palafox Garcia, Architect, Mexico ‘This drawing is the Cathedral of the City of Mexico seen from the Sagrario.  Monumental architecture is an exciting domain; I worked for many years in monument restoration. When the time allows me, I draw them. They are generally of realistic style. The technique used is pencil on paper.’ No. 1 by Peter McQuillan ‘This sketch represents a street in Albi, Southern France. Beside the landscape itself, Albi also has a great streetscape through its centre – famous for its brick cathedral and the birth place of Toulous Lautrec. The style of this sketchy is quite impressionist, but rendered in a plain but detailed way to emphasize the beauty of the landscape. The medium used was water colour on plain paper.’ Getting to the end of this article, you can probably see why it was so hard this week to pick the top 10 sketches: they are all so good! For more talent-pumped drawings check our official album. And don’t forget to check back next time! Article written by Oana Anghelache.