Author: Lucy Wang

Forget TV, this is one landscape architecture video series you won’t want to miss. This week, The Cultural Landscape Foundation (TCLF) just launched their video series highlighting the accomplishments of American landscape architect and National Medal of Arts winner Laurie Olin. With a career spanning over forty years on high-profile projects from Bryant Park to The Getty Center, Olin is one of the most influential and best-known landscape architects practicing today. Read on for some of our favorite video picks from the series!

Filmed as the tenth installment to TCLF’s online Pioneers of American Landscape Design Oral History, Olin Oral History consists of 29 illuminating segments offering eye-opening glimpses into Olin’s life, influences, and philosophy. Shot over the course of one week in June 2012, the series is divided into three categories: Biography, Design, and Projects. Each clip is between two to five minutes long.

To get you started, we’ve picked a short handful of our favorite clips to whet your appetite. You can see the full web series on The Cultural Landscape Foundation’s website. Or you can check out their previous pioneer series on leading landscape architects such as Lawrence Halprin and James van Sweden in the archives.

Prelude to Laurie Olin Oral History – Meet the Man Himself

“Hi I’m Laurie Olin. I’m a landscape architect.”

Finding Landscape Architecture – The Influence of Capability Brown

“That was when I thought I need to know more about this stuff. This landscape design…this is pretty good stuff.”

Drawing as a Powerful Tool – The “Power of the Pencil”

“Drawing for me is not just a personal pleasure. It’s a way of working.”

Why Frederick Law Olmsted is a Hero – Starting from the Beginning

“He was a genius. He was a genius not only because  he figured out how to get it done…but because he saw how cities were going to grow and what their needs were environmentally.”

Evoking Nature in the City – The Healing City

“You can’t replicate [nature], but you can emulate it, and you can evoke it. And you can ask for some of its blessings through its attributes.”

Bryant Park – Redesigning an Iconic Space

“This was the beginning of a wave that is changing how we manage parks in America and actually, all around the world.”

Making Cities Work – How to Enhance the Urban Fabric

“My friends might be working on the wine glass, i.e. the buildings but I want to work on the wine, the stuff that flowed through the middle. You know, I was very interested in that other, the other, which people couldn’t see.”

Reflections by Olin Partners – “Lessons from Laurie” Revealed

“Laurie doesn’t separate his professional life and his personal life. They are one and the same. And it’s fun…when we travel, we don’t stop looking, we don’t stop loving, we don’t stop enjoying; and that is really a gift that he has given us.”

Looking for more? Check out TCLF’s full series on their website.

Want to win FREE registration to next year’s ASLA conference? Enter our fabulous new Instagram contest and you could land a complimentary pass to the 2014 ASLA Annual Meeting & EXPO in Denver, CO! Read on for the full contest details!

With this year’s ASLA conference just around the corner, Land8 is partnering with ASLA to celebrate landscape architecture in Boston by giving all conference-goers the chance to turn their fantastic Instagram photos of the Boston landscape into a chance to win free registration! All you have to do to win is:

1. Follow both @landscapearch and @land8 on Instagram (you must follow both to be eligible)

2. Stop by the ASLA Commons social media lounge at the EXPO on Saturday November 16 to pick up the ASLA and Land8 logos

3. Snap pictures of the logos with one of Boston’s fantastic landscapes in the background (the logos must be included in the same frame)

4. Upload the photo(s) to Instagram with the hashtag #ASLA2013

It’s that easy! The winner will be announced on the evening of Sunday, November 17 on the EXPO floor and during Land8’s Happy Hour at Howl at the Moon. You do not need to be present to win.

Can’t wait to snag your free pass? Get a head start on the competition by scoping out some fabulous landscapes to photograph on ASLA’s Landscape Architect’s Guide to Boston.

Got questions? Tweet them to @Land8 with the hashtag #ASLA2013.

Today, Land8’s Film-tastic Friday offers a sneak peek into The Cultural Landscape Foundation’s (TCLF) upcoming new series featuring National Medal of Arts winner and landscape architect Laurie Olin. Kicking off with design insights into the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden, the Laurie Olin Pioneers Oral History will go live on Tuesday, November 12. Hit the jump for the video!

From the description:

“Learn the design precedents which contribute to this Washington, D.C. outdoor gallery space. This clip is part of a series of richly illustrated interviews with landscape architect Laurie Olin, offering intriguing insights into his life, career, design philosophy and the concepts behind his legacy projects. Visit The Cultural Landscape Foundation’s website (http://tclf.org/pioneer/oral-history/…) for the full oral history.”

+ OLIN

Happy Friday! For this week’s Film-tastic Friday, Land8 explores landscape architecture firm Grant Associates’ award-winning ‘Gardens by the Bay’ in Singapore. Hit the jump for the video!

From the description:

“Masterplanned by Grant Associates, Gardens by the Bay is a remarkable blend of nature, technology, environmental management and imagination.

Andrew Grant, director of UK landscape architects Grant Associates, walks around Gardens by the Bay in Singapore, reflecting on the ideas and inspirations behind the the design of the spectacular Supertrees, Cooled Conservatories and Themed Gardens.

+ Grant Associates

DesignIntelligence has just released their list for the best landscape architecture schools of 2014 with some interesting new insights. Penn State University leads this year’s undergraduate pack, snatching the coveted position as America’s top BLA program from Louisiana State University, which held the number one position for the past three years. And for the tenth year in a row, Harvard University still dominates the ranks as the best graduate landscape architecture program in America. Keep reading to see if your school made the list!

Every year, DesignIntelligence surveys hundreds of selected professional practice leaders–over 300 different landscape architecture firms participated this year–on questions ranging from their biggest concerns about the profession to which schools they think best prepare students for the profession. 

Though 74% of respondents said they were “satisfied” or “very satisfied” with the current state of American landscape architecture education, nearly 30% reported that they felt that graduating students lacked adequate understanding on subjects of biology, biodiversity and environmental degradation. 

While 50.6% of firms ranked design quality as a major concern, 58.5% of firms crowned sustainability/climate change as the leading concern for 2014 (an increase of 10% from last year’s estimation). Integrated design (42.3%), urbanization (35.1%), and speed of technological change (31.7%) round out the firms’ top five concerns.

According to the firms’ hiring experiences in the past five years, the following schools were ranked in order of how well they prepared students for success in landscape architecture: 

Top Undergraduate Landscape Architecture Programs of 2014

1. Pennsylvania State University 

2. Louisiana State University

3. Purdue University

4. California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo

5. University of Georgia

Top Graduate Landscape Architecture Programs of 2014

1. Harvard University 

2. Kansas State University

3. Louisiana State University

4. University of Pennsylvania

5. Cornell University

Firms also broke down which collegiate programs they deemed strongest in each of the following skill areas: 

DESIGN

1. Harvard University

2. Kansas State University

2. Louisiana State University

4. California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo

5. University of Pennsylvania

RESEARCH & THEORY

1. Harvard University

2. University of California at Berkeley

3. University of Pennsylvania

4. Kansas State University

5. Texas A&M University

COMPUTER APPLICATIONS

1. Harvard University

2. Louisiana State University

3. Kansas State University

4. California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo

5. University of Georgia

SUSTAINABLE DESIGN PRACTICES & PRINCIPLES

1. Harvard University

2. Louisiana State University

3. Kansas State University

4. Pennsylvania State University

5. Texas A&M University

What do you think of these rankings? Are you surprised by any of the findings? Let us know in the comments!

Per DesignIntelligence’s request, we are only allowed to publish the top five for each list. For the full rankings, please visit their website.

Photographs © Lucy Wang

Land8 is kicking off November with the launch of Film-tastic Fridays! Every Friday, we’ll start your morning off with a short and inspiring landscape architecture-related video. Hit the jump for the video!

Architectural Digest and Delta focus their spotlight on Walter Hood. From their description:

“Number two in a series for Architectural Digest magazine and Delta. Focusing on Walter Hood, a landscape architect who transforms public spaces into community gathering places.”

Architectural Digest & Delta Present Walter Hood from Guggenheim Productions on Vimeo.

+Hood Design Studio

In remembrance of Superstorm Sandy’s one year anniversary, ASLA unveiled a collection of talks focusing on greater urban resiliency as scheduled in the upcoming 2013 Annual Meeting. As coastal cities face increasing frequency in extreme weather events, landscape architects are paving the way towards greener, more resilient urban design. Read on for the full list of talks!

From November 15 to 18, the 2013 ASLA conference will gather over 6,000 landscape architecture professionals and students to Boston, MA for an exciting four-day discussion of important issues from sustainability to stormwater management.

This year’s 2013 ASLA Annual Meeting & EXPO will be guided by the theme “Gaining Ground,” a message that reflects landscape architecture’s growing recognition across the world. “By any measure, the landscape architecture profession is gaining ground,” says ASLA President Thomas R. Tavella. “No field has shifted as quickly to address environmental concerns.” 

Will you be attending this year’s conference? If you are, comment down below and remember to mark your calendars now for Sunday, November 17! You’re invited to Land8’s biggest Happy Hour Party yet–Boston STYLE!

The list of resiliency-focused ASLA Annual Meeting talks: 

Friday, Nov. 15

“Thinking in Systems: How Urban Agriculture and Systems Ecology Can Reshape the City” – As the world population migrates to cities there is an urgent need to rethink urban ecology. We must focus on biodiversity, equality, livable infrastructure and sustainability. Presenters will explain how linking food to urban environments is a critical starting point to resilient cities and communities. 3:30 – 5 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 16

“Stay or Go: Adapting to Increasing Coastal Flooding” – Ditch or Dutch? Increasing coastal water levels have begun to affect the very idea of shared responsibility. This panel will present the many adaptation options from examples worldwide that include coastal industries and private interests to manage the increasing risks of living on the seaboard. 1:30 – 3 p.m.

Sunday, Nov. 17

“Infrastructure as Urban Landscape: Creating a Resilient NYC” – Traditional urban practice for landscape architects has been designing parks and parkways aslarge public spaces for recreation. With a new emphasis on resilience, landscape architects have a crucial lead role integrating multi-disciplinary teams to create a livable, more sustainable and more exciting New York City. 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

“Thinking about Tomorrow’s Waterfront Parks: Lessons from Hurricane Sandy and Beyond” – Hurricane Sandy’s impact on New York was devastating but not unexpected. The storm revealed vulnerabilities of coastal parks based on outdated risk assessment. Learn how two waterfront parks fared, the storm-design features that proved resilient, those that didn’t and what this means for future parks. 1:30 – 3 p.m.

Monday, Nov. 18

“(R)evolution: Planning for Ecological Change and Resiliency at a Public Garden” – In the face of ecological degradation and climatic uncertainty, landscape architects are well-positioned to improve the ability of environments to withstand violent storms. By examining conservation ethics in the planning of a public garden, this session explores landscape transformation that blends conservation, horticulture and education. 1:30 – 3 p.m.

“Fire, Water and Pixels: Catalyzing Ecological Resilience for Cultural Landscapes” – Cultural landscapes often manifest a complex legacy of human intervention, and, as a result, essential ecological functions often require restoration. This session will showcase the approaches, means and methods used to measure ecological resilience for three cultural landscapes, demonstrating design and action informed by science. 3:30 – 5 p.m.

Images via Wikimedia, ASLA

Winner of the INDEX: Award 2013, this life-saving “smart” highway can charge electric vehicles on the go. (Inhabitat)

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE

• Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates and BIG architects unveil their new designs for Brooklyn Bridge Park’s Pier 6. (Curbed NY)

• Speaking of MVVA, here’s a cool time-lapse of their team setting up a massive site model for ‘A Gathering Place for Tulsa.’ (Youtube)

• ASLA’s Jared Green explains what we should expect from New York’s Queensway Park. (The Dirt)

• In celebration of the upcoming school year, LAF compiles seven LPS Case Study Briefs on school and campus projects. (Landscape Architecture Foundation)

& RELATED

• Talk about hidden depths. Scientists have discovered a massive canyon–twice as long as the Grand Canyon–beneath the Greenland ice sheet. (NPR)

• What if a cocktail could help build the world’s first underground park? (Inhabitat)

• Giving kids bicycles is a low-tech and fun way to effectively reduce drop-out rates in India. (The Atlantic)

The Daily Blend is Breaking Ground on the Latest in Landscape Architecture.  Have any good stories you’d like to share? Post them on Land8’s Story Board section! 

DUTCH LANDSCAPES: Artist Mishka Henner finds art in the pixelated patterns overlaid onto censored government sites in Google Earth. (Co.Design)

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE

• Mathews Nielsen Landscape Architects takes on planting selection and design in their latest installment in the Green Team series. (Metropolis)

• The PBS gardening program GardenSMART features expert horticulturalists from fantastic garden locations every week. Most recently, they visited Battery Park City to focus on topics like soil testing and high quality compost as well as Brooklyn Bridge Park, where they explored plants ideal for a salt marsh and how to start a wetland garden. (GardenSMART)

• The 2013 Case Study Investigation (CSI) program came to a close on August 9 with a 1.5-hour information packed webinar. LAF released two of the presentations and encourages us to keep an eye out for more in the coming weeks. (Landscape Architecture Foundation)

• James Corner and Field Operations have just completed a $46.1 million seven-acre park in Santa Monica, CA. Architecture critic Christopher Hawthorne applauds the execution of the gently rolling landscape but criticizes Corner for soft-pedaling the design. (LA Times)

& RELATED

• Earlier this month I touched on agriculture-induced algae outbreaks in our waters. This time the Mediterranean coast is being invaded by an army of jellyfish because of overfishing and (probably) climate change. (NPR)

• China’s got a bad rap for environmental destruction and greenhouse gases. Here’s a fascinating inside look behind what Chinese factory owners really think about environmental protection and the reasons why. (chinadialogue)

• Kaid Benfield reminds us to not forget the peaceful meditative spaces in the rush to design lively and bustling places. (Switchboard)

• Streetfilms gives us yet another fantastic glimpse into the power of placemaking–this time in Montreal. I love the colors on the site furniture! (Streetfilms)

The Daily Blend is Breaking Ground on the Latest in Landscape Architecture.  Have any good stories you’d like to share? Post them on Land8’s Story Board section! 

Talk about a Sonic Bloom. Seattle’s psychedelic new solar-powered streetlights are 40-foot flowers that sing to passerbys. (Atlantic Cities)

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE

• Penn State University’s MLA program achieves LAAB accreditation. (Stuckeman)

• Competition alert! The James Rose Center for Landscape Architectural Research and Design launches Suburbia Transformed 3.0, a new residential landscape design competition with a focus on sustainability. (The Dirt)

• Landscape architects pride themselves on the diversity of their skill sets–but why isn’t that diversity reflected in our demographic numbers? (OLIN)

• Explore the work and process of landscape architect Mikyoung Kim in this video interview conducted by Alex Ulam. (Landscape Architecture Magazine)

& RELATED

• The next time you park your car, please remember to look at your rear view mirror before opening the door. You could save a cyclist’s life. (Atlantic Cities)

• Writers for the garden and landscape design industry will meet for the first annual Garden Bloggers Conference in Atlanta, GA from September 22 – 24. (Urban Gardens)

• Mindblowing video of the massive Rim Fire burning near Yosemite National Park. (Skip to the 4:00 minute mark for a full view). Progress update: Rim Fire is 20% contained with a recent decline in wildfire activity across the nation. (NPR)

• An ecosystem like no other grows on the summit of an extinct volcano on Ascension island, one of the most remote places on earth. This man-made tropical forest challenges the typical standpoints on dichotomies like natives vs invasives and Nature vs garden. Very, very cool article. (Yale)

Lead Image by Dan Corson

The Daily Blend is Breaking Ground on the Latest in Landscape Architecture.  Have any good stories you’d like to share? Post them on Land8’s Story Board section! 

Think your rain gutters are too passé? Three Dresden artists transform their neighborhood gutters into a multi-story musical instrument. (Grist)

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE

• Say hello to the next generation of landscape architects. This summer, middle schoolers in Georgia got a head start in the world of planning and landscape architecture in a week-long educational camp, ‘Designing Our World.’ (APA)

• The landscapes of the 21st century are moving towards a new ecological paradigm, trading in neat lawns for wild and vibrant native seed. Samuel Geer explores the paradigm shift and how to keep the momentum going. (The Field)

• The land of the midnight sun has a surprisingly robust public-private parks partnership in Anchorage. A symbiotic team of landscape architects, the Anchorage Park Foundation, community members and legislators help protect and develop the city’s 500,000 acres of parkland. (City Parks)

& RELATED

• Earthscape, a playground design/build firm, creates a fun, colorful playhouse using recycled doors and invites you to make one too. (playscapes)

• As a near-record wildfire continues to burn through Yosemite, the U.S. Forest Service wildfire spending surpassed $1 billion last week with many blaming climate change for the rise in spending in recent years. (Inhabitat)

• Tactical urbanism strikes again! The Dutch Cyclists’ Union wants to start an urban hitchhiking movement in Utrecht, where pedestrians can hitch a ride with passing cyclists. (Pop Up City)

lead photo via architectureartdesigns.com

The Daily Blend is Breaking Ground on the Latest in Landscape Architecture.  Have any good stories you’d like to share? Post them on Land8’s Story Board section! 

Playscapes looks at the work of Jeppe Hein, a Danish artist famous for reimagining the bench as a social and play sculpture. (playscapes)

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE

• Hoerr Schaudt recaps six quick tips for designing a successful shade garden from Doug Hoerr’s recent article for Organic Gardening Magazine. (Hoerr Schaudt)

• The AGILE Landscape Project develops the CHAIR>bench, a type of secure moveable site furniture embedded with sensors to collect data on how much the space is used and the patterns in which users reconfigure the furniture. (AGILE Landscape)

• Designed by LandDesign landscape architects, Charlotte’s Romare Bearden Park is set to open over Labor Day as part of the city’s 2020 Vision Plan for downtown revitalization. (Arch Paper)

• Design Boom reminds us of Charles Jencks’ ‘Cells of Life,’ a massive land art installation completed in 2011 for the outdoor sculpture park Jupiter Artland. The configuration of the landscape draws inspiration from the cell cycle, particularly the process of mitosis. (Design Boom)

& RELATED

• California Governor Jerry Brown declares a state of emergency for San Francisco as the massive Rim Fire continues to burn out of control in Yosemite National Park. According to the Fire Tracker, over 130,000 acres of land has been destroyed so far with only 7% contained. (NPR)

• One man’s trash is another man’s treasure. After Barcelona banned graffiti, artist Francisco de Pajaro decided to get his fix for street art by rearranging and dressing up street trash into strange, otherworldly creatures. (Atlantic Cities)

• A 383-year old Endicott pear tree–one of the first fruit trees in America–is still alive and bearing fruit to this day. (Treehugger)

The Daily Blend is Breaking Ground on the Latest in Landscape Architecture.  Have any good stories you’d like to share? Post them on Land8’s Story Board section!