Author: Land8: Landscape Architects Network

Article by Maria Giovanna Drago – A review of Hotel Mar Adentro by Miguel Angel Aragonés – San José del Cabo, México. Mar Adentro is a hotel complex located at the far southern tip of the California peninsula in Mexican territory. It’s separated from the inland by the Sea of Cortez, a geographical area characterized by the prosperity of marine fauna and flora — it is recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in the category of natural goods. The complex directly overlooks the beach, inviting guests to scan the horizon. It stands out among the succession of hotels along the coastline, not just because it is completely white, but also thanks to its essential and modern design. It is composed of more than 200 rooms, suites, and villas. Mexican architect Miguel Angel Aragonés designed it in collaboration with traditional artisans. Its simple lines stand out, offering limpid spaces that stimulate feelings of well being in humans, together with the sky and the water.

Hotel Mar Adentro

The Sea Inside (Mar Adentro)

The accommodations cover three levels of water terraces, with such arrangements and differences in height to allow each level to have a clear view of the sea. Each terrace consists of a huge rectangular pool with a solo dry path — more or less articulated — that splits it in half. Villas and apartments are arranged on each terrace in an arc shape that makes them look like islands, while the panoramic side remains open toward the beach and sea. Blocks of flats, which are the bigger buildings, have nude facades or regular big windows and are located on the highest terrace, while the villas are nestled on the others. The central buildings never exceed the immediately higher level in their height, while the ones on the two sides are higher to enclose the space in such a way that it looks like there is no rest of the world outside, just the panorama to enjoy, undisturbed by the underlying levels.

The architect ensures that every guest will have his own window on the sea. “Each room visually contains a piece of the sea. No one can resist gazing out at it,” he said. The prevailing color is the pure white of the walls and curtains, providing a reference in a context dominated by the blue sky, together with the blue water of both the swimming pools and the sea. Green trees mark the boundaries of the tourist complex on the long sides adjacent to other hotels. The short sides host the accesses: On one side, the transit flows to the main road; on the other, to the private beach. The layout, the landscape, and the colors recall the magnificent Salk Institute for Biological Studies in La Jolla, California, by architect Louis Kahn, built in 1965. There the laboratories are organized in a horseshoe shape around a square with a stream of water at the center that visually connects with the sea in front. The rivulet ends with a waterfall on the next level, which is a secondary, more reserved square.

The Nest, the Solarium, and the Lawn

The pool of the main terrace — the upper one — is crossed by a slightly curved walkway that leads to three outdoor oval areas: the sushi bar, the solarium, and the artificial lawn. Dark gray slabs upholster the path. There are no railings on either side, so people have the impression of walking on water.

The first oval you come to is the sushi bar, called “Nido,” which means “Nest”. Indeed, it is located inside a nest-like structure that seems to float on the water, as there is no external flooring around. It’s made up of a dense network of wood branches — reinforced by a well-concealed steel structure — that creates a zone in dim light with two access holes at each end, connecting it with the walkway. All the furniture inside is white, including the long central table that runs from side to side. Going beyond the “Nest,” the walkway descends slightly to reach the solarium. It is an oval area with a deep pool at the center that is accessible by a ladder to allow clients to have a swim. Candid beds with pillows are arranged around it, some of them sheltered by white curtains. Customers can sit here, lie down to rest in the shade, or sunbathe. Immediately after this, the walkway continues with another curve and surrounds a green, oval lawn with white, modern design seats. Opposite, in the corner, is a small, shallow, artificial lake – also oval — while the perimeter is bordered by bushes, as if to imitate a private garden.

High Technology

Mar Adentro is also a showpiece of high technology. The Hotel Mar Adentro offers its guests the convenience of modern life — the one we all hope to have in our homes — just a click away. No need to download a bulky app on a mobile phone; the reception staff consigns a tablet to each guest at check-in, with intuitive controls.

The idea originates from the desire to provide guests with the opportunity to personalize their accommodation and feel at home. They can manage everything with the tablet: They can regulate the opening of curtains, heat or cool the rooms to suit their favorite temperature, communicate with the staff about customized menus, request a new toothbrush, or even book a personal chef. Guests can have what they want without the usual physical interference of waiters, so that they can enjoy their holiday undisturbed. Last but not least: Guests can adjust the intensity of artificial light and even change the colors, choosing between shades of rose, magenta, and tangerine. In the evening, the colored lighting of each room make the facades look like modern paintings. It must be a spectacle outside to see how the colorful atmosphere reflects in the ripples of the pool.

Human Proportions and Italian Interiors

The interior rooms have been built according to a modular system, with the same repeated module allowing guests to obtain larger accommodations according to their requirements. This system has facilitated the organization of the environments and their construction on site. Each module is obviously proportioned according to the architectural principles of ergonomics and space on a human scale. “I always use human scale, no matter what size of building,” Aragonés said.

The interiors follow the same principle as the space modules. They were manufactured in Italy and then assembled on site. Aragonés has partnered with Poliform, an Italian brand of interior design. Together, they designed the modular system in 12 different options, in line with the essential style of the architectural building, which were assembled together to obtain the furnishing: wood floors, doors, fixtures, and furniture both of the residences and the restaurant area. Alberto Spinelli and Giovanni Anzani, founders of the company, have collaborated on the design of some of the pieces. Aragonés chose Poliform because of the dedication and imagination of Italian manufacturers, where nothing is left to chance, but cleverly worked by years of experience.

Music and Architecture

Aragonés has revealed a secret: He likes to listen to music while he works. He says music is one of the five pillars in his life. He listens to everything, from Bob Dylan and Cat Stevens to Bach. As we can see, Mar Adentro was born from the tune of many songs, as it also stands in company with the sound of the sea waves. Moreover, the Hotel Mar Adentro’s owner has included an exclusive music program — “musician in residence.” Other Articles You May be Interested in: 

• Las Vegas Gets a Taste of Award Winning Landscape Architecture
• How to Show a Community’s Soul in The Landscape of the City
• Singapore’s Got Talent – Landscape Architecture in Singapore

Organizers usually match dinner with great music, since the Hotel Mar Adentro is the ideal place to share the pleasure of a live performance together. For this reason, it has been signed as an exclusive partnership with the Los Angeles music venue Hotel Café, bringing the conviviality of the singers and music songwriters that perform once a month or during the holidays. Choreographers and dancers from all over the world perform, too. Among other services, Mar Adentro hosts the Abierto Spa Sea, an art gallery, private pools, a shopping plaza, five prestigious restaurants, and a movie theater. It’s obvious that it has been sold out for months even before the grand opening! Hotel Mar Adentro looks like the perfect place to go to forget your problems and duties and enjoy life. How do you think the architect could have improved on his design to convey feelings of well-being? Is there more besides location, human scale, and colors?

CLICK TO COMMENT

Full Project Credits For the Hotel Mar Adentro:

Project Title: Hotel Mar Adentro Landscape Architecture: Miguel Angel Aragonés Design Team: Miguel Ángel Aragonés, Juan Vidaña, Pedro Amador, Rafael Aragonés, Alba Ortega. Structural Engineering: José Nolasco Location: San José del Cabo, México Scope: Design a private residence Completion: January 2016 Construction: Jorge Flores, José Torres Collaborators: Ana Aragonés, Fernanda Kurth, Antonio Trinidad, Manuel De La O., Diego Amador Heads Of Labor Work: Severiano Torres, Roberto Torres Materials: Concrete, Steel, Travertine, Photo: Joe Fletcher Lighting: Taller Aragonés, Ilumileds. Glazing And Sliding Windows: Taller Aragones, Javier Rivero External Roller Blinds: Deko System Group (Model System Italia) Wardrobes And Closets: Poliform Interior Furniture: Poliform Exterior Furniture: Exteta Water Systems: Swimquip Intelligent System: Control 4 Special Engineering: High Tech Services Kitchen: San-son Preliminary Project January 2012 Executive Project November 2014 Building Opening January 2016 Area: Covered Area 47,082.00 Sqm, Uncovered Area 26,454.77 Sqm 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 Maria Giovanna Drago

Article by Ophelia Yuting Ji – A review of the Loop light installation, by Olivier Girouard, Jonathan Villeneuve, and Ottoblix, in Montréal, Québec, Canada. When we think about a city’s landscape, we often picture rivers, parks, neighborhoods, and downtown streets shining beneath the beautiful light of the sun. But what about the city’s nighttime landscape? The nighttime view and the daytime view can be astonishingly different. When the natural landscape fades from view in the night, the infrastructural landscape created by people takes center stage, often providing a charming atmosphere framing the energetic activities going on under the moonlight and artificial lighting. The relationships among infrastructure, public spaces, and people are redefined in the starry night.

Ideally, well designed and considerate city infrastructures have the opportunity to not only serve as secondary companions to assist us in our daily – and nightly — activities, but to actually become the center of our lives, engaging us in a city’s public spaces. Visitors are not just the audiences of the spaces constructed by designers, but participants in the spaces, making them “public.”

The Loop Light Installation

The installation called Loop brought the above expectation amazingly to life on Place des Festivals, in Montréal’s cultural center — the Quartier des Spectacles. From Dec. 8, 2016, to Jan. 29, 2017, this installation by artists Olivier Girouard and Jonathan Villeneuve with Ottoblix, produced by Ekumen and the Quartier des Spectacles Partnership, showed tourists a fairytale wonderland through the interactive installations of 13 giant animated wheels. Each of the wheels was like a zoetrope. When visitors pump-powered the machines, the cylinders started to spin, the lights lit up, and the images became animated, putting the whole story in front of the participants and creating a new way to experience the night. WATCH >>> The 7th edition of Luminothérapie about Loop in 30 seconds:

According to the Quartier des Spectacles Partnership, each of these 13 zoetropes featured a different fairytale, each with 24 images. These fairytales included familiar childhood staples such as the frog prince and the three little pigs, shown mainly through black and white images as a reflection of memory. After three months of design work, 800 hours of assembly, 115 kg of screws, the help of 20 suppliers throughout Quebec, the elbow grease of 15 dedicated volunteers, and contributions from Generique Design, Jérôme Roy, and Thomas Ouellet Fredericks, the project was brought to life.

The biggest installation featured in the annual winter art event Luminothérapie, it evolved into a collective re-imagination of the night streetscape within the city’s busy cultural center. It was a machinery experiment that called not only for designers, artists, and engineers to get involved, but also the whole public, which was needed to complete it with their active participation. All of these efforts were condensed into a fantastic project that gave participants the full ability to manipulate the push-cars and to make the story unfold for their own entertainment, as well as for those seeing the projections on the surrounding buildings — UQAM’s Pavillon Président-Kennedy and the new Wilder Building Espace Danse. Two architectural video projections were installed on the site by Ottoblix. In this way, the artwork was connected to the surrounding context of the modern buildings as one part of the contemporary urban fabric, and other pedestrians simply walking by could also have the chance to enjoy dreaming in this wonderland. How fast each story was told totally depended on the speed with which the participants were spinning the machines. With the music and flashing lights on the periphery of these giant wheels, a mysterious world among the noisy business streetscape opened up a brand new door. Advanced digital formats were used to reconnect people with their childhoods. The combination of new technologies and old memories made time stand still and evoked warm Christmas feelings WATCH >>> Luminotherapie, Montreal

According to interviews with the artists conducted by the Quartier des Spectacles Partnership, the idea of the zoetrope was inspired by a trip Jonathan Villenueve made to the Berlin Technology Museum. He was impressed with a zoetrope he saw in the museum that animates images by spinning a cylinder. So then he and Olivier Girouard decided to make a vertical zoetrope, which would be not only participatory, but also collaborative. In their minds, this hybrid machine and art installation was like a three-headed beast – a Chimera with all of these music box, zoetrope, and push-car ideas.

This loosely defined hybrid turned out to be something that the public really enjoyed. In the artists’ opinion, a successful project such as this means more appreciation by the public. “It will be interesting to see how each person responds, but in any case we want to stimulate everyone’s imagination and encourage all to participate, helping people see public space differently. Loop looks simple, but it is technically complex,” the artists said. Instructions on how to manipulate the machines were provided along the street. These joyful scenarios were an extraordinary example of how public space can be redefined for the public, not as objects but as incubators to stimulate creativity and passion from every person. It was about inspiration, innovation, and interaction. It was about the future of public landscape, with the help of digital tools and by engaging the existing contextual urban fabric as well as the memory of the city. As Jonathan Vlleneuve said: “The Place des Festivals is part of a worldwide network of major public spaces. Working outside museums and galleries gives us the opportunity to think differently and reach different audiences – people who want to have their daily routine punctuated by something extraordinary. Our job is to give them something that’s both meaningful and astonishing.” So what do you think a cityscape in the night should look like? How would you imagine the infrastructure of the city in the future? Do you ever re-imagine any public spaces around you that could be better with some innovative ideas? These are not just questions for artists or landscape architects; they are also questions for the public at large.

CLICK TO COMMENT

Full Project Credits For the Loop Light Installation: Designers: Olivier Girouard, Jonathan Villeneuve and Ottoblix Contributors: generique design, Jérôme Roy and Thomas Ouellet Fredericks Produced by Ekumen and the Quartier des spectacles Partnership. Photography: Ulysse Lemerise/OSA Images 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 Ophelia Yuting Ji

Article by Gwgw Kalligiannaki– A Review for Lizard Log Playground and Park, Designed by McGregor Coxall, Western Sydney, Australia. “Design a park”. This task is a challenge for all architects. Well, it’s not easy, because what, actually, is a park? I am sure that we all think about parks as big green spaces distributed around the city, in order to have some “nature points” between the buildings. However, Lizard Log Playground and Park is not an ordinary park. It is not just a green area. Lizard Log is designed by McGregor Coxall to reflect all the pros and cons of the Australian rural land.

The master plan of the park is, in fact, a renewal of the Pimelea parklands, a design that was made prior to the Sydney Olympics in 2000. Coxall’s design includes new toilet blocks, BBQ and picnic areas, and also a new design for the children’s area. Coxall’s design includes new toilet blocks, BBQ and picnic areas, and also a new design for the children’s area.

The Master Plan

Coxall was asked to redesign and extend the facilities of the park. The new master plan is based on the site’s topography, with all the elements designed and embedded into the landscape.

Paying attention to the siting, in combination with a minimal materials palette, the project reinforces the connection to nature, in order for the visitor to have a “personal sense of landscape”. The long paths allow the visitors to enjoy long walks in an atmospheric landscape or cycling between tall trees.

Lizard Log Playground and Park – A Self-Illuminating Project

The design of this park includes systems to meets its own energy needs. The power for the site is produced by solar panels, and recycled materials are used where possible.

The water used for toilet flushing comes from the dam and all the grey water is used for irrigation.

The Role of Water

Highlighting the lack of water in the Australian countryside, the park is organized to conserve as much water as possible. All the parking areas are constructed as a system of rainwater collection and transportation in wetlands, for cleaning before reaching the dam for reuse.

The system is noticeable to the user, in order to understand the flow of water but also the logic of the system itself. Facilities The master plan includes a variety of facilities for the users, all designed to be close to the natural environment. About 1.6km of pedestrian path loops around the park area and is available for long walks, or cycling. Lizard Log is also connected with paths to a neaby dairy; Calmsley Hill City Farm, as well as Moonrise Lookout, Sugarloaf Ridge, and Prospect Reservoir. In order to host outdoor events, like festivals or outdoor cinema, Lizard Log also includes an amphitheater for 500-5000 people. Playground The core of the park is the playground, a sprawling area that is fully blended with the surrounding landscape. An existing stand of trees “shows the spot” where the playground should be placed, to take advantage of the shade. The dead trees of the site area are used as sinuous interpretive elements, to give a different sense of playing. Apart from the landscaped trunks, the children are in contact with games like balancing beams and wood-carved animals, also made from the site’s timber. A climbing wall, swings, a slide, and flying foxes complete the playing equipment. Water is always an attractive game for children; the architect designed and placed a play deck with a hand-operated water pump, for the children to play with. This action was made so that children would understand that water is not always an abundant resource. BBQ and Picnic “The countryside is appetizing”. The park is embedded with twenty-four electric barbeques and ten coal barbeque stations, all free of charge for the visitors. Concrete platforms were designed for the coal barbeques, but it is forbidden to use them during official total fire ban periods. Twenty shelters for picnics are also designed to host different capacities of people. Ten of the shelters are available for hire and the rest of them are free of charge. These kinds of facilities make the park a place for the whole family to spend its time, at different times of the day. McGregor Coxall gave a new impetus to Pimelea parkland, through a modern design. Including facilities for all ages but also for the whole family, allows the visitor to stay for a long period of time without losing interest. The site’s views and the light materiality create a scenic environment, designed out of the limits of a classic park. Modern landscape architecture includes several factors in designing such sites, in order to make them more interesting for the users. It is its statement to the vast green spaces that we used to call “parks”. “A sensitive response to the rural nature of the site, underpinned by a strong sustainable strategy, drove the site’s redesign,” says the architect, highlighting his method of tackling the project in relation to its environment and the topography of the landscape. So do you think a park reflects the quality of the city is located in?

CLICK TO COMMENT

Full Project Credits For Lizard Log Playground and Park Project Name: Lizard Log Playground and Park Location: Western Sydney, Australia Budget: AUD $7,800,000 Date of Construction : 2011 Size: 5 ha Client: Parramatta Park Trust Disciplines: Landscape Architecture Environment Sectors: Parklands and Open Space Project Team: Philip Coxall and Jack Qian Collaborators: CHROFI and Fiona Robbe Landscape Architects 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 Gwgw Kalligiannaki

Article by Giacomo Guzzon – A review of the Parkstad Rotterdam Project, by DELVA Landscape Architects,  in Rotterdam, Netherlands. Parkstad, a residential project covering three building blocks, is part of a larger master plan for the redevelopment of a derelict area in the southern part of Rotterdam. This project challenges the conventional way people live in the city, and seeks alternative solutions to encourage residents to interact with each other and to use space in a more efficient way.

Having lived in the Netherlands, I had the opportunity to become familiar with this country, its inhabitants, and the way they live. The Netherlands is one of the countries with the highest population density in the European Community (396 people/km²) and therefore I am not surprised that, especially there, where space is limited and precious, there are new projects exploring alternative ways of collective living. Since many areas of this country were reclaimed from the sea, it is logical that the use of space is planned in a very meticulous way. The land is fragmented into small properties, and the average plot for private houses is generally very small. A typical Dutch suburban house is narrow, has a tiny front garden and small backyard divided from the adjacent ones by a fence or a hedge. Parkstad challenges the conventional arrangement of houses and gardens, proposing an innovative solution to use space in a more collective way.

The Master Plan

The plan aims to transform an undeveloped part of the city, a void, occupied by a railway yard, a water-retaining structure, and a temporary park, into a new urban district, reconnecting the neighbourhoods of Kop van Zuid and Afrikaanderwijk, which flank it on either side. This project was envisioned as a linking and regenerative element for Rotterdam South, converting a mix of fragmented urban elements into a new, diverse, and well-connected part of the city. The framework of pedestrian and vehicular roads, public transport facilities, boulevards planted with large trees, and green spaces forms the basis of the master plan. Within these elements a diverse range of residential urban blocks will be developed, accommodating a heterogeneous housing program. The scheme also envisions the creation of a public swimming pool.

Parkstad Rotterdam – The New City Block

The Parkstad scheme moves away from the traditional residential block and seeks new solutions of living that are able to embody the needs of a modern and diverse society. Today there is interest in finding a housing model that offers the right balance between demands for both individuality and collectivism. The designers wanted to create a way of living with a strong social cohesion whilst giving everyone enough privacy to satisfy individual needs.

The designers wanted to create a way of living with a strong social cohesion whilst giving everyone enough privacy to satisfy individual needs. The new city block in Parkstad combines some elements of conventional housing arrangement, like a private outdoor space for all ground floor properties, with the square shape of a common urban block, which typically has a central communal courtyard surrounded by buildings, resulting in something new and innovative. With this layout the city block is able to provide a large communal and safe park in the middle of the development as well as many small private gardens around its perimeter. Each ground floor apartment has a private garden with a terrace which is open on one side to the communal courtyard. These are separated by greenery. Attention is also given to the exterior façade and height of each block, since these elements have an important impact on the ultimate feeling of the cityscape. The façade is designed in two different ways depending on whether it is facing a main street or a secondary lateral road. The façades facing primary streets are designed to accommodate shops and bars and have an active frontage, giving the neighbourhood a lively atmosphere. The other ones have a more intimate and residential feeling, giving priority to pedestrian and residential activities. The housing program moreover aims to offer a range of property sizes and prices to attract people of varied age as well as income, in an effort to mitigate the gentrification effects common to such regeneration projects.

The Garden Rooms

Enclosed within the building blocks are three garden rooms or communal courtyards. These have slightly different forms and orientations according to the building massing, but are united by some common features, namely a small orchard, a greenhouse, a communal BBQ area, a shed to store garden tools, a lawn area for sunbathing and a playground with natural play elements instead of manufactured products. The future development of the garden rooms is envisioned to be realised by the future residents acting collectively. By doing so, residents will feel a greater degree of commitment to and sense of responsibility for the communal areas.

Landscape Elements

Each garden room in Parkstad Rotterdam has, at its centre, a path that forms a loop around most communal areas. The path is an important element in the scheme, because it provides the perfect interface between the private gardens and the public areas while providing a gathering space and a jogging facility. Along the path are long benches where people can sit and meet their neighbours while the children are playing. This path is designed to encourage contact between neighbours and make them feel they own the space.

In all gardens, instead of fences, walls, and gates, hedges and perennial borders are used to divide space. This soft boundary between the small private gardens and the communal courtyard has a twofold function: it adds large areas of planting to the courtyard, making the space feel green and less regimented, and it enables parents to see their children playing while sitting in the garden terraces. Parkstad Rotterdam shows us how simple landscape concepts can be used to create something innovative. By combining high standards of quality in private spaces, assuring a broad range of housing opportunities, and providing for both collective outdoor living as well as private outdoor space, it is possible to reconceive the “city block” and achieve a model for a new way of communal living in the city. What do you think, is the “city block” in Parkstad responding to the needs of today’s society?

CLICK TO COMMENT

Full Project Credits For Parkstad Project Name: Parkstad Designer: DELVA Landscape Architects / Urbanism, Powerhouse Company, Skonk Location: Rotterdam, NL Competition Date: 2016 Client: Vestia/Estrade and the municipality of Rotterdam 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 Giacomo Guzzon

For this issue of our “Got Talent” world series, we have selected 10 amazing projects that represent Landscape Architecture in Singapore. Singapore is one of the leaders of modern architecture nowadays. For decades it has been transforming its cities with distinguished structures and it has been recognized for originality and design all over the world. So, let’s take a look at some projects…

Landscape Architecture in Singapore

10. Patterson Collection Located in the River Valley Planning residential area, in the main district, this exotic residential development consists of two towers, each with 19 stories of flats. ONG&ONG was the firm who took charge of the landscape design in this place, with responsibility and consciousness toward the environment, where the residents can join harmoniously with the exuberant vegetation as well.

9. Adria Completed in 2013 and designed by ONG&ONG, one of the most important landscape firms in Singapore, Adria is a residential project located in the Novena District, in a strategic place where residents are easily linked to the most important nearby places. Here’s where home is a synonym of luxury and coziness. The landscape design has placed terraces where residents can have an inside/outside experience with the exotic vegetation, and pools refresh the surroundings with a new kind of “islands”, where residents will forget about where they are. 8. Cyan Another design by the prestigious landscape firm ONG&ONG, is Cyan. These two 24-story residential towers are quite different from others. What makes it special is that just about 20 percent of the site is occupied by buildings, leaving the other 80 percent to landscape. This project combines luxury housing with plenty of vegetation and water. The landscape designers captured the tranquility of gardens, so the residents would feel a sense of peace inside the noisy city. The firm planned for all the amenities people need to be located in the same place. Residents don’t need to take step out of the devolvement, for they have everything they need inside. And if you wonder why it is named Cyan, it is for the cyan-colored tiles used in the pool. 7. Minton Housing Development Designed by DP Architects Pte Ltd, this housing development of 10 towers with an extensive offering of activities and such a fascinating interpretation of landscape, which makes this residential complex an attractive place to live as well. Wooden bridges and sky terraces connect and are in turn interconnected with the living blocks, making a whole new experience for the residents. With spaces for yoga, karaoke, spa, and piano playing; adding commercial services and seating areas across the entire development makes it a perfect place for living. This development shows the modern and sophisticated lifestyle of residents where they can meet with nature, not leaving behind their comfort. 6. The Coast Continuing with residential developments that look like a 5-star hotel, we found The Coast. Located in Sentosa, which translated from malayo means peace and tranquility; this residential development enters another luxury category, with privileged views to the South China Sea to which only residents have access. The landscape design was charged to Tierra Design + POD. Vertical gardens and oases create the perfect ambience that connects directly with nature while residents get encapsulated away from the noisy city. This is the kind of project where tranquility, peace and architecture have the same meaning. 5. City Square Urban Park As far as we can see, ONG & ONG has established its presence in Singapore not only in residential development but in urban projects. City Square Urban Park is adjacent to the City Square Mall. The real purpose of the park is to be an “educational” park where the population can learn about ecology, understand nature, and most important, respect it for its role in conservation. Also, to be coherent with the educational theme, the park is built with eco-friendly materials and alternative energy supplies the functions of light and temperature regulation. Not a common park, as they try to break the bridges among social classes, where everyone is equal. This is the kind of park every city in the world needs. 4. Cape Royal Resort If you want to have your sweet and perfect escape for holidays, this is definitely the place you should go on vacation. Cape Royale Resort is located in Sentosa Island, one of the most attractive places in Singapore which is full of tourists every year. The Thai firm TROP: TERRAINS + OPEN SPACE was in charge of the landscape design. This resort has it all; beautiful views to the sea, pools with different depths, and a special and enormous pool which is the centerpiece. A real oasis encapsulated inside the hustle a bustle of a city. 3. Marina One We have talked about amazing and unique projects, this is not an exception. Marina One is located in the business district of Singapore, with four towers of different heights and such a great design viewed from the inside. With a green valley in the central area, we find waterfalls that fill a pool, and ramps where anyone can take a walk to have some peaceful time surrounded with nature. Its organic façade plays along with the environment. Terraces in the buildings provide a place from which to gaze at the surroundings, including a green roof that recalls nature. 2. The Capitol Yes, the capitol. Not like in the Hunger Games, but a capitol which thinks of the entire, real society. One of the most expensive projects planned for the inhabitants of this district, the municipal campus hosts interactive attractions, cultural events, galleries, open markets and so on. This project combines the luxury of the private with the open access of populism, creating interaction between them. I believe this project has a very well-thought-out social purpose. 1. Bishan Park As Wyn Phyo outlined in her article, “How Bishan Park Became the ‛Central Park’ of Singapore”, Bishan Park is to Singapore what Central Park is to NYC. It is a recreational park in which water is an important element to refresh the location, thanks to an engineering project that irrigates with water to feed the ecosystem within. This park is surrounded by a watercourse which carries 40% of the nation’s water during the rainy season. It has been designed to reduce heat during the day, and to refresh the area. In addition, the park has multiple playgrounds, so people each have a space according to their age; “Recycle Hill” is the name of the area that receives these playgrounds, which are made of recycled concrete. Moreover, the park has connected its neighbors with nature and the conservation of it. 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

For Tons More Landscape Architecture Articles click the link Article by Miriam Judith González Bolívar

Article by Irene Crowo Nielsen  – We take a deeper look at planting plans and discuss 10 mistakes you really don’t want to mane when creating a planting plan. For a landscape architect, the planting plan is like the cherry on top of the ice cream sundae: It makes the design and concept come together. A good planting plan creates a framework allowing people to interact and thrive in different environments. But creating a good planting plan can be tricky. There are a few things you should be aware of before setting out on this task. We are going to help you along the way by listing a few bullet points you definitely should avoid:

Get Your Planting Plan Done Right

1. Choosing Poisonous Plants

It is easy to be deceived by plants; one part may be edible while another is poisonous. Others can hurt if you get them on your skin. Whatever you do, avoid planting poisonous plants in public spaces or in private gardens where children will be present. Foxglove is an example of a common flower that is highly poisonous. A good alternative for Foxglove is Hollyhock. Other poisonous plants include Water Hemlock, buttercups, Lily-of-the-Valley, Hyacinth, Oleander, and Iris. Check charts, books, or other sources for poisonous plants that apply to your country before making a planting plan. Treat unknown plants with respect, and teach your children to do the same. 2. Selecting Dangerous Trees It’s scary how dangerous trees can be, so be careful with the type of trees you are choosing for you planting plan. Take the Silver Maple and the Bradford Pear, for example. Both are prone to lightning strikes and to splitting. 3. Using Scattered Colors Less is more! Color is a powerful design tool. Too much sense of color without harmony can become a distraction. Choose your key plant and add color combinations that blend well with it. For example, you will want to select either harmonious or contrasting colors. Harmonious colors are found next to each other on the color wheel and share similar values (i.e. violet and blue or yellow and orange).

4. Not Planting for the Season A lot of planting plans only address spring and summer, but there are so many climates around the world that need to take into account an all-season landscape. Designing year-round gardens begins with choosing appropriate plants for your region. The trick for color through the seasons is to group plants so that as one clump fades, perennials nearby are coming into flower. Depending on where you live and the amount of sunlight your garden receives, these are suggestions for seasonal plants:

• Spring: Tulip, Crocus, Snowdrop, Daffodil, Peony, Pansy, or Forsythia
• Summer: Daylily, Coneflower, Zinnia, Nasturtium, Rose, or Hydrangea
• Fall: Asters, Ornamental grasses, Mums, Hardy begonias, Ornamental kale, or Sedum
• Winter: Evergreen Hollies, firethorn, or chokeberry bushes

5. Ignoring the Sun

Have you remembered to plant for the sun? Do you know how many hours of full sunlight the outdoor area will get each day? Ignoring the importance of a sun/shadow analysis can cost you a beautiful planting plan in regard to its lusciousness and will to survive. Color through the season is also easier to achieve in a sunny garden. Most shade-tolerant perennials bloom early in the season, so a shade garden will not be as colorful as a sunny flower garden.

6. Over-planting or Under-planting

Be sure to give the plants enough space, but remember that too much space between plants will make the design look less luscious and more like a desert. The ideal space when arranging individual plants in the beds is to space them so that they will touch when they reach mature size. Another tip is to think about vertical and horizontal layers with a repeating pattern of plants. By repeating colors, forms, spacing, or textures of plants throughout your planting plan, you will create a recognizable pattern in the landscape. 7. Choosing Non-site-specific Plants Not checking what type of trees, shrubs, and plants will do well on your site and in the soil you have can cause you a massive headache. Have you decided to use a plant that is suitable for sandy soils, but really you’re on clay soil? Look for information in charts or books to make sure you are planning for the best possible plants for your soil conditions. 8. Ignoring Soil Depth Another important point (which cannot be said enough) is to double-check and agree on all soil depths with the client ahead of time, then decide what plant, tree, or shrub goes where. This is especially important when you are planting on top of a parking complex or some place similar. Clear it up with the client (fight for depth!) before you start making your planting plan. This will make your job so much easier, and the trees, plants, or shrubs you choose will live happily ever after.

9. Planting a Tree Too Close to a Structure

This is a common mistake by new designers — they plant ornamental trees too close to a house or building and the plants end up growing into the structure and blocking the light.

10. Ignoring the Powerful Roots of Trees and Shrubs Many trees have a powerful root system that can easily damage the foundation of your house or in-ground pool, or interfere with water, natural gas, or sewage lines. Stay clear, and if you are unsure if it’s enough space, play it safe and move the tree farther away. Another important thing to remember is to not put the plants too close to the pavement; you are both choking off the plants’ nutrients and water and potentially damaging the pavement. An example of a powerful tree is the River Birch. In the past, these trees were used as foundation plantings, but people soon discovered that their roots seek water — sometimes in the form of water pipes, which can be highly destructive and even tear up pavement. Lastly, a planting plan does not have to be complicated; it can help you organize ideas and help you select the plants you’re using. Good luck! What’s your favorite plant to use when you are making a planting plan?

CLICK TO COMMENT

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 Irene Crowo Nielsen

Article by Nour Adel – Renaturation of the river Aire, by Georges Descombes and Atelier Descombes & Rampini, in Geneva, Switzerland. Designing river gardens and natural scenery is a unique aspect of our profession as landscape architects, because it allows us to not only focus on hardscaping and landscaping specs, but also to deal with an intriguing ecological dimension in which there is an an opposition between nature and culture. This challenging renovation project in Geneva attempts to propose an alternate path, in which the urgent ecological shifts are incorporated into a larger cultural change. The complex organization of the design associates the new river space and a linear series of gardens in the former canal. It is a great example to analyze in order to understand what to consider when designing river gardens or any refurbishment project that deals with water elements and existing natural scenery.

Renaturation of the River Aire

Ecological Shift

“The activist is not the man who says the river is dirty. The activist is the man who cleans up the river. ” –– Ross Perot, American businessman and independent presidential candidate in 1992. The main approach for the renovation project was an ecological one. In front of the watershed — the area of land that separates waters flowing to different rivers — this long river garden organizes the area’s views, aiming at attracting attention to this fragile and precious territory.

The project’s main goal was to present a true “restoration” of the whole region, since rebuilt landscaped devices — ditches, hedges, and thickets – had almost entirely disappeared, but remained readable on historical documents. Action was taken to bring them back to life. In the perimeter reserved for natural environments (a strip of about 80 meters along the canal), open lands that were once intensively cultivated have been replaced with diverse backgrounds for the creation of a remarkable ecological corridor that promotes the networking of habitats and displacement of small animals. These ecological corridors are connections across the landscape that link up areas of habitat. They support natural processes that occur in a healthy environment, including the movement of species to find resources such as food and water. Ecological corridors can contribute to the resilience of the landscape in a changing climate and help to reduce future greenhouse gas emissions by storing carbon in native vegetation. They can also support multiple land uses, such as conservation, farming, and forestry. The idea is to balance between making it a beautiful natural scenery for people to witness and enjoy, while preserving the area’s authenticity and maintaining a healthy life for the its little wildlife inhabitants. The footprint of the canal is a key aspect for providing the necessary atmosphere of calmness and interiority, without which there is no real garden. It is a permanent trace that introduces a complex integration between past and future. The result is an organized sequence of differentiated places and paths that allow a reasonable distribution of people and movement. In an effort to contribute to the restoration of natural landscape values, the safety of property and people is one of the main aspects of the project for managing flooding. It helps to strengthen security by management measures and water storage procedures that utilize the river to serve the community. Integration with Surroundings Located in a pivotal spot in the city of Geneva, the river gives a unique spatial definition to the area. Such a space is very challenging to be re-designed. For the drawing of the river itself – conscious of the useless effort to design a fixed riverbed and aware that a river usually loves to design itself freely – the designers of Georges Descombes instead proposed a pattern whose form addresses the play between the river flow and the prepared terrain. Accordingly, the spontaneity and freedom of the river’s nature is still preserved. This diamond-shaped pattern opens a complex series of undetermined channels for water flow. These channels were excavated along the entire new river by removing the humus layer, consisting mainly of remnants of plants and animals, thus maintaining a precise control of the longitudinal nature of the river. The dimensions of these special diamond-shaped islands were configured to be able to accept the general sizes of the former curves. The result is spectacular and suggests the tool of most landscape artists — integrating artificial interventions into a natural situation, which is afterward left to the mercy of natural forces. One year after the opening of the new river space, the results are beyond our expectations. The river flows, displacing diverse materials, gravel, and sand. The geometrical matrix of interlacing diamonds is significantly modified. Surprisingly, the more defined the grid given to the river, the more the river will be free to design. This project enables us to see the importance of ecological/wildlife corridors to the environment. Could this design approach be setting a new standard for upcoming renovations?

CLICK TO COMMENT

Full Project Credits For Into the Renaturation of the River Aire:

Project: Renaturation of the river Aire, Geneva Client: République et Canton de Genève (State of Geneva) Architecture: Group Superpositions Architects: Georges Descombes and Atelier Descombes & Rampini Engineers: B+C Ingénieurs ZS Ingénieurs civils Biology: Biotec SA Chronology: Phase 1: 2002 – 2006, Phase 2: 2009 – 2011, Phase 3: 2012 – 2015, Phase 4: Ongoing Costs: Phase 1: 1’500’000 Fr., Phase 2: 25’000’000 Fr., Phase 3: 33’000’000 Fr. Length: 5km Surface: 50 Ha 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 Nour Adel

Article Bhanu Mahajan – Into the Wild shows us landscapes designed for children, by Openfabric and DMAU, in Grevelingenveld, The Hague (Netherlands) Outdoor play is about an experience, skills, health, stamina and everything else that is part of a kid’s development. But why outdoors and not indoors? While formal sporting activities strengthen them physically, playing in the wild/natural settings nurtures their creativity. But what to play, and how? The formal, hard play courts are generally the sole landscapes designed for children to try their hand in outdoor activities, and most of these activities are related to pre-structured sports, right? But what to play, and how? The formal, hard play courts are generally the sole landscapes designed for children to try their hand in outdoor activities, and most of these activities are related to pre-structured sports, right?

But are the conventional play areas, with courts and lawn patches, enough to foster kids’ all-around development? The absence of nature is so profound in the modern day child development curricula that the experience of playing in the natural world is somehow lost, and the importance of it is ignored. Here designers, and planners too are the stakeholders, as they conceive of open spaces as neighborhood parks with greenery and walkways, and seldom think about the kids’ play area.

Landscapes Designed For Children

So how should a play area be designed?

An answer to that can be found in the ‘Into the Wild’ project by ‘Openfabric’. The project is about a bold transition of a boring playground into an interactive and experience-based play area.

The Grevelingenveld, known locally as Deltaplantsoen, is a neighborhood square, developed in 5100 sq.mt., in Rivierenbuurt, The Hague, which initially had a set of courts with some scattered seating areas and green patches. With the development of a new neighborhood school facing onto the square, it lacked a touch of nature and the freedom to define play space ourselves. Preschoolers learn much through their senses. Keeping this in mind, the design concept is to juxtapose both concepts of playing; a formal sports court on the outside and a wild, interactive play zone at the center. This value addition is significant to the aesthetics and functions of the same space. An urban exterior contains standard-sized play courts and structured order games and a natural interior where, with their own perception of a play-scape, users are free to design, build or destruct play spaces using natural materials, fast-growing plants and tree logs. The earlier playground was mono-functional which offered neither the diversity nor the dynamism of the new space, nor did it allow for the different play choices and preferences of different age groups. Especially for the lower age group children, there wasn’t any space to show their creative instincts in this formal playground.

Urban Gone ‘Wild’

With this new arrangement of the same space, the ‘Into the Wild’ project has a diverse range of different kinds of playing activities. The exterior formal court is defined by painted lines, forming standard-sized courts, and the intermingling of some other colorful straight lines, without any specific order and which can be interpreted as an abstract pattern, also offers endless possibilities for children to interpret and imagine their own space through their own perceptions.

The central play area, formed by an undulating landscape, is the most innovative part of the project, which contains native plants and natural materials, sand pits, tree trunk bridges, tunnels, and slides. Isn’t it inviting and tempting for the children to re-explore the new functions of this play space, which was boring and mono-functional, earlier? To add to this is a curvilinear wall separating the playscape and the outer court area, called the ‘Ribbon’, which, according to the designers, is the ‘threshold between the urban and the natural’. It has all the traditional playground equipment and the top surface of it can also be used as seating for the spectators watching the sports. Sand art, hide and seek, treasure hunts, tagging, and digging, along with cycling, wall climbing, skating, all intermingle together with slides and tunnels to provide a richer experience which was lacking in the previous layout. Because the natural world is filled with beautiful sights, sounds, and textures, it’s the perfect resource for the development of aesthetics and ability of place finding in young children. The space, as a whole, helps to master emerging physical skills and building blocks of life. Sustainability is not only about preserving the environment, but also about feeling an increase in sensitivity. The beauty of the natural world around the children increases aesthetic awareness, which can heighten care and love for nature among kids. This heightened sensitivity is crucial to achieving sustainability of our natural environment, about which they are generally taught in schools. Because playing outdoors gives them a chance to connect with nature and get sensory experience from the activities and games by learning through movement, this project truly shows the way forward to achieve ‘Sustainability’ in its true sense by bringing kids into direct contact with nature. This project is crucial to the well-being and creative instincts of kids and their sensory perception. The rich, interactive and first-hand ‘Wild’ experience in the ‘Into the Wild’ project is unmatched. And kids, no doubt, love it. What is the role of landscape design in children’s overall development?

CLICK TO COMMENT

Full Project Credits For Into the Wild:

Project Name: Into the Wild Architects: Openfabric, Dmau Website: http://www.openfabric.eu/, http://dmau.com/ Contact e-mail: open@openfabric.eu Project location: Grevelingenveld, The Hague (Netherlands) Completion lear: 2015 Gross Built Area (square meters or square foot): 5.100 sqm Photo credits: Jacopo Gennari Feslikenian, Daryl Mulvihill, Francesco Garofalo Other participants (eg. collaborators, clients, consultants, etc): Team: Francesco Garofalo, Daryl Mulvihill, Barbara Costantino. Client: The Hague Municipality, Richard Krajicek Foundation Consultant: Arcadis 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 Cristina Ferrara

Article by Cristina Ferrara – Yeppoon, by TCL (Taylor Cullity Lethlean), in Yeppoon, Queensland, Australia. People and places facing a natural cataclysm have to deal with negative consequences. These events leave both psychological aspects and constructive challenges; reconstructive, indeed. Floods, thunderstorms, cyclones, and heavy snowfalls are always more and more frequent, bringing possible damage to natural habitats, constructions, buildings and inhabitants’ habits. A rapid restructuring and renovation of damaged places is one of the best ways to react to the negative impact on the psychological field and a good strategy to improve and ameliorate the relationship between inhabitants and their towns, their public spaces and their lives. See Also: 

• What To Think About When Designing The Landscape For a City Center
• Landscape Architecture Articles
• The Latest News Landscape Architecture

This is what happened in Yeppoon, Queensland, Australia, in 2015, when the big cyclone Marcia devastated all of the town’s foreshore and the nearest places around it. In that occasion, a joint and farsighted strategy among the institutions decided to give the residents new renovated places to live and to take care of and the Foreshore Requalification Project was selected to give new vitality and new life to this place.

Yeppoon Landscape Design

This project covers a wide, rather flat area on the sea-side coast and it has one visible and essential aspect: its shapes link the sea and the natural site to the waterfront promenade and the “vitality-places” around it. They are suitably designed and inspired by the beauty of the natural surroundings that accompany it and the soft shapes of the coast. Zigzag long paths first lead people in front of the sea, breathing the saline and facing ocean waves; once inside, the fantastic nature-embraced platforms appear with playing plazas, community places, activity open-air rooms, swimming pools and water games. Hard and soft-scape are well intertwined together: material colors like brown and light-brown lead back to the sand aspect and together with the wooden trees, give rise to a pleasant mix of all elements. Like other great community spaces, this project has the full control of the space and makes it the perfect backstage for aggregation, spare time, recreation and community.

Highlights of the Project

After the destruction caused by the cyclone, the intent was to re-build spaces and establish a new sense of confidence and identity for the inhabitants of the place, making them confident with activities and shapes of the area. The key point of this project is that it is perfectly grafted into the context and it has multi-functional spaces, largely usable by day or night, like the staircase and the terrace overlooking the sea; comfortable meadows and sitting areas made of curbs and stone seats on which to relax, play or walk during the day and perfect at night for fireworks, spectacles, concerts and open-air cinema. Multifunction is also relevant for the water elements: wide swimming-lagoon pools attract people during hot days and they get inspiration from the sand dunes deployed on the shallow coastal beaches. At the same time, under the comforting shade of the palm trees, variety Pandanus, lies a wide wooden terrace encircling the pool and offering space for reading and sun bathing; a very good chance to enjoy the fresh air. A tropical mix of wide- leaf shrubs borders the trees and gives a more natural look to the place. Special water games for children are next to the pool, ensuring a connection between the two fluid spaces and giving a chance to kids to have fun where bridges, big flowered-shaped showers, and soft meadows invite them to jump and run.

Connection between the promenade and the beach below are guaranteed by slightly inclined stairs, comfortable also as seats, and by vegetated and rocked slopes which sew natural and built spaces together. Different ways to spend time and coexist with the natural beauty of the ocean sea-side have been studied for this project that is going to rescue the inner aspects of the place, offering also a wide choice of pavilions and cafes perfectly integrated into the landscape setting and designed by Architectus and Brian Hooper Architect. The accessibility of places is supported by wide parking areas in proximity of the main access to the promenade: a well-organized and integrated system that will make the whole area reachable, permitting people to directly take part in the place; an important aspect with some relevance nowadays.

Participated Project: a Future Resource?

The Foreshore Revitalization has the peculiarity to be partly funded by the federal, state and local governments in order to create a new strong identity for Yeppoon and its community: it means that shared ideas and efforts led to a new design approach and to new possibilities to live in a place and take part in it. Gradually more and more projects around the world are involving citizens, technicians and institutions in their process: this might be a real turning point, very different from the classical approach to design where professionals think and draw and users use – and sometimes dislike. Whenever a project is shared, discussed and applied together with inhabitants and institutions, the outcomes are extremely satisfying and this is what will happen to the Yeppoon foreshore: unity is strength, especially after a disaster. And you, have you ever taken part in a participatory project? Would you like to be involved in this process? Describe it in the comments below.

CLICK TO COMMENT

Full Project Credits For Yeppoon:

Project: Yeppoon Client: Livingstone Shire Council Location: Yeppoon, Central Queensland Size: 1 km stretch of Foreshore Project Team TCL (Taylor Cullity Lethlean) Perry Lethlean – Design Director Lisa Howard – Associate Alex Lock – Senior Landscape Architect Alexa Ongoco – Project landscape Architect Architects Elizabeth Watson Mark Burrowes Brian Hooper Architects Brian Hooper Commercial Aquatics Glen Luscombe Gareth Clarke Bligh Tanner Rod Bligh Alan Hoban TTM Ilona Blackburn Assett Horticulture Ross Higginbotham Queensland Quantity Survey Tim Rawkins 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 Cristina Ferrara

Article by Frank Bourque – The Park, by !Melk Landscape Architecture & Urban Design, in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States. Let’s face it — landscape architecture isn’t just a growing revolution. It is the reality in which we live, and one that is pioneering the way to a better future. Many metropolitan cities have embraced landscape architecture and have shifted from simply accommodating it to actively integrating open space in strategic ways to elevate our urban environments. From Marina Bay Sands in Singapore to the Dubai Tower, there is a lot of good landscape design going on around the world. Many cities have embraced landscape architecture as an integral part of their built environments; Las Vegas, as unexpected as it may seem, is definitely one of them. One proof of that is this amazing project located on the Las Vegas Strip that transforms the flashy, entertainment-driven motif into a green paradise.

Las Vegas, The Park by !melk

The Park And Its Very Beginning

The new green space in Las Vegas actually has a very simple name: The Park. Completed this spring and officially presented on April 4, it injects a swath of nature into the concrete-and-glass strip and fills the blank spaces between modern buildings. Located between the popular hotels Monte Carlo Resort and Casino and New York Hotel & Casino, it features a massive outdoor public space filled with fun activities for people of all ages. The Park is definitely more than just a park. Extending from Las Vegas Boulevard to the famous T-Mobile Arena, it is meant to give a facelift to one of the most urban parts of Las Vegas and align it with urban landscape architecture at its finest.

The lead designer behind this project is the team at !Melk Landscape Architecture & Urban Design, a modern landscape architecture company located in New York. Being fully dedicated to this project and focused on making a huge difference as seen through the eyes of landscape architecture, the designers put their clear minds and optimistic attitudes to work. The end result is Las Vegas’ newest attraction, which has already welcomed millions of people. MGM Resorts International backed the project and continued its green domination of built-up landscapes in Las Vegas. The Park is one of the largest outdoor spaces in the city and a property that complements the gaming industry by adding a new twist.

What Does the Park Have to Offer?

The Park offers it all from entertainment to nightlife, amenities, and restaurants. It introduces the best of Las Vegas to the public and attracts like-minded individuals who understand and enjoy the presence of landscape architecture in an urban setting.

Also referred to as an oasis in the middle of the desert, The Park is a green space that includes some of the most unique native plants and trees. With more than 250 shade trees and more than 7,000 individual plants of both native and adapted varieties, the greenery is well-balanced within The Park. Agave and yucca plants and palo verde, acacia, and mesquite trees fit perfectly with the desert vegetation. And as soon as you notice the several fun water features and the amazing 60-foot-tall structures, you won’t see The Park as just a park anymore, but as an artistic hub that offers pure relaxation.

When to Go and What to Do

The Park is an open public space, which means that it is open 24/7. However, most of the restaurants, bars, and cafes are open during standard business hours – which, of course, tend to run quite late in “Sin City.” The best times to go are the afternoon and evening hours, and the best places to stay nearby are the Monte Carlo and New York, New York resorts. In a nutshell, The Park offers a lot of activities and opportunities for both tourists and locals. You can eat and drink, gamble, or just enjoy life. When it comes to nightlife, there are a few great restaurants and bars, including the Shake Shack, Beer Garden, California Pizza Kitchen, and the Japanese restaurant Sake Rok.

If you don’t feel like eating, drinking, or partying, you can sit back and relax in the authentic oasis of The Park. After all, the landscape is the most special thing in it, making The Park a great place for public gathering. The Park is definitely a place to visit and take pictures of the four clusters of shade structures, which stand around 60 feet tall and give the park an interesting artistic appeal, topping the wonderfully designed recreational spaces and walkways.

A Final Word

The Park is one of the best things to happen to Las Vegas in the past few years. The space is so popular nowadays that it is actually expected to be the most-visited urban park in the world. This breathtaking fact falls perfectly in line with the vision shared by the landscape designers at !Melk, proving that big metropolitan cities such as Las Vegas need vibrant, attractive, open spaces in order to build a true modern character.

From works of art to shade sculptures, bars, restaurants, LED-powered lighting sequences, and fascinating nature, The Park is definitely not to be missed when you visit Las Vegas. It creates a picturesque patio ambiance and pioneers the world into a new era in which landscape architecture dominates the outdoor spaces and sets the bar higher for every city. What do you think you would enjoy the most in The Park? Let us know in the comments section.

CLICK TO COMMENT

Full Project Credits For The Park:

Project: The Park Designer: !Melk Landscape Architecture & Urban Design Size: Approximately 3 acres (6 acres including frontages) Location: Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Date of Completion: April 2016 Client: MGM Resorts International Cost: $100 million (including the architecture of the restaurants) Since its opening on April 4, 2016, “The Park” has received coverage by numerous popular news and trade outlets, including: USA Today, NBC, Telemundo, NPR, ABC News. Fox 5, Discovery Channel Canada, Los Angeles Times, Wall Street Journal, De Volkskrant, The Guardian, Landezine, Architect Magazine, World Landscape Architecture Magazine World Architecture News, Inhabitat, Curbed, Landscape Architects Network

Awards

• Water Hero Award by the Water Conservation Coalition / Southern Nevada Water Authority (update May 17, 2016)
• Top 10 Landscape Architecture Projects of 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 Frank Bourque

We take a closer look at what you need to think about when designing the landscape for a city center.  Designing the landscape for a huge project like a city center or even park in the middle of the city is a huge accomplishment. Being assigned this design is also a huge responsibility as you will have to think about numerous factors. You will not be able to just design anything as there will be vendors and other issues that might arise. For this type of project you should have a list of requirements that you have to live up to. The following are things you need to think about when designing the landscape for a city center.

Landscape For a City Center

Factoring In The Sun

There are areas of cities in warmer parts of the country that bring in full grown palm trees to plant when redesigning a landscape. While these trees can offer immediate coverage from the sun, other trees might take years to fully mature. Putting in adolescent trees can be the answer or even quickly growing trees can help until the slower maturing trees grow appropriately. The wind is something that needs to be factored in as well as creating a wind tunnel with the landscape can have people avoiding the center of the city in colder climates.

Flow of Foot Traffic

Many landscape architects like to focus on the landscape itself and forget to worry about its functionality. The flow of foot traffic in the middle of the city is extremely important. One misplaced plant arrangement can lead to congestion and the plants being trampled. Do not overestimate people’s respect for the landscape when they are in a hurry or are stuck behind a slower walker. Make sure everything flows effectively with rounded edges when connecting two streets as this will help immensely with flow.

Cost Efficiency With Beauty

City projects might not have the budget that many luxury homes do when it comes to landscape architecture. The person in charge might want the city to look like a pastel portrait but only gives you minimum money to do so. Picking the most durable and cost-effective plants that do not sacrifice when it comes to beauty is essential. Being picked to design the city center’s landscape is a huge honor. This can lead to plenty of other opportunities in other cities and even more lucrative opportunities locally. Keep in mind the above tips as you will have a majority of the city looking at your design in awe if you design it to the best of your potential! 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 Bilal Sajjad Featured image: CC BY-SA o.0

Article by Moreira Filho – The Afghan Bazaar Cultural Precinct, by HASSELL, Dandenong, Melbourne, Australia. Far from their homelands, immigrants all over the world look for a space they can call their own in their adopted country. And they often have to do this in an atmosphere of struggle and even prejudice in their day-to-day lives. How can landscape architects design projects to help people feel at home and celebrate their culture in an unfamiliar setting? In 2014, HASSELL designed a place for the Afghan community around Thomas Street in Melbourne, Australia, in an area now called The Afghan Bazaar Cultural Precinct.

The Landscape of the City

A Mirror to the Soul

The Afghan Bazaar includes a bunch of shops, cafés, and restaurants designed for Afghan people but open to everybody. The influence of Islamic design and Afghan culture comes alive for those who walk along the sidewalks or browse the stores. To discover the soul of the place, the designers went beyond simple observation. They consulted with the community to hear their dreams and listen as they reminisced about their homeland. This consultation was facilitated by the landscape architecture practice of Sinatra Murphy.

From these consultations, the designers adopted a patterned blue mosaic for the pavement, reminiscent of the tiles of Afghanistan’s Mazar-e-Sharif — the Blue Mosque. This respect toward geometrical Muslim design can be read as respect for the Afghan culture and people, inserting them into the city’s scenario and encouraging cultural pride. Social gathering is a tradition in Afghan culture, so benches of steel and wood by Commercial Systems Australia were customized as a reinterpretation of Arabic daises and sofas. The benches promote socialization, small talk, coffee meet-ups, and outdoor life. At night, LED lightbulbs under the benches give the sensation of Arabic lighting, common in Afghan culture. They also shortened fragments of the street to make the sidewalk bigger, creating parklets. Parking for cars and bicycles is interspersed among these fragments, creating a calm space in the midst of city traffic. Cars have to slow down as they approach the area, because of the change in topography and the addition of stone rumble strips positioned along the street. All of this makes the area both culturally significant but also inclusive.

Vegetation as an Oasis

Green elements always remind us of prosperity, freshness, and life. In cities, they have the power to break through heavy concrete and the mechanical aspects of cars and public transit. In this project, the designers created garden beds along strategic points of the extended sidewalk. The sense of enclosure and buffer from the roadway encourages people to gather, meet, and eat meals outdoors.

Along the garden beds, Persian Lilac (Melia azedarach) has been placed to provide shade on hot sunny days. Its powerful green leaf color and the bright lilac flowers forming bouquets contrast elegantly with the other elements of the landscape. Parrotia persica, also known as Persian ironwood, has been placed linearly into the main sidewalk. This rectilinear green visual effect completes the harmony of the geometrical forms of the pavement. The trees provide shade and make the promenade pleasant with their fresh sensation, especially on hot days.

Lamp: Light for Human Beings

The apex of the promenade is an art installation known as Lamp, by Afghani-Australian artist Aslam Akram. This sculpture is composed of two parts. According to the artist, the base expresses human energy and, for this reason, it represents history, holy places, and the memories of the Afghan people. This part can also sum up knowledge, wisdom, purity of heart, and the Afghani experience. The top of the artwork symbolizes human energy creation in a positive way: the friendship and respect among multicultural communities that make Australia a diverse, respectful country. WATCH >>> Making of ‘The Lamp’ Afghan Bazaar Cultural Precinct Centrepiece Dandenong

Lessons to Learn

How can we insert a community identity without doing harm to other communities within a city? What lessons can we learn from the Afghan Bazaar Cultural Precinct? Hearing people’s wishes and dreams can make all the difference for the success of a project. But we need to listen not only to those who work or live there, but also to those who are passing through. As landscape architects, we must be conscious of connecting people with their environment as if they were in their homes while also helping them to receive their visitors as good hosts. As Jan Gehl teaches: “Every good neighborhood should have a heart (…) Public life and lively cities are very important for social inclusion and for democracy.” So, what do you think a useful questionnaire would be for this kind of research into the heart and soul of a community?

CLICK TO COMMENT

Full Project Credits For Afghan Bazaar Cultural Precinct:

Name of Project: Afghan Bazaar Cultural Precinct Architects: HASSELL Location: Melbourne, Australia Client: City of Greater Dandenong / State Government Victoria, Office of Multicultural Affairs and Citizenship Year: 2014 (completion of 1st phase) Partners: Sinatra Murphy | Community consultation and brief development Aslam Akram | Artist WSP Group | Lighting and electrical design Aurecon | Civil engineering Size: 1,500 square meters 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 Moreira Filho