Blog

Quilotoa Crater Overlook, Zumbahua, Ecuador, by Jorge Javier Andrade Benítez, Javier Mera Luna, and Daniel Moreno. Lots of projects are being executed around the world that reinforce natural tourist attractions and are also appreciated by the critics. But projects in which the interventions of the client(s), users, and designer(s) fully reach expected outcomes remain rare. One such successful project is the Quilotoa Shalala Overlook in Zumbahua, Ecuador, a magical platform that enables visitors to step out over an active volcano or to quietly observe the natural beauty. Sometimes the designer’s greatest challenge is not what to do, but what not to do. How an already perfect natural site can be changed to meet human needs and still not be compromised is the real lesson here. Quilotoa Crater...Read More

LAN Tutorial: How to Randomise Hatches in Your AutoCAD Drawing with AutoCAD expert Rob Koningen. As no human being is the same no human being will organise their surrounding in the exact same way. Although people may live in a house which looks the same as their neighbour’s, any open space belonging to it, be it a balcony, patio or garden, is designed or decorated in a different way. When drawing an urban plan it’s nice to express this somehow. Randomise Hatches in Your AutoCAD Drawing To show a variation of gardens without having to draw the entire garden in urban plans the ‘Hatch Random’ command was created. It works really simple. You have to prepare some layers, as many as you like, and assign different colours to each layer. In your drawing, you apply these layers to a few entities so...Read More

Bicycle Club, by  NL Architects, in Sanya, the Netherlands. The Hainan Province is the smallest province of China. Just as its name says, the Hainan island (or the “South of the Sea”) is located in the southern part of the country, surrounded by the South China Sea. Hainan province, where it is summer all year round, is home to almost 9 million people and is known as the Eastern Hawaii. It is a popular destination due to its climate and features. Vanke, the largest residential real estate developer in the People’s Republic of China, teamed with Amsterdam-based firm NL Architects to develop in Sanya, Hainan, one of the most impressive bicycle pavilions for a great resort. Below: Check out the Presentation The bicycle pavilion is a totally functional reinterpretation of a pagoda ...Read More

The Green Atrium That Defines the VAT83 Building, by PLH studio, Søborg, Copenhagen. The VAT83 building designed by the Danish studio PHL in Søborg, a neighborhood in Gladsaxe Municipality some 10 kilometers northwest of central Copenhagen, Denmark, is a multi-tenant office building. According PLH, the building’s main function is to give shelter to a number of different companies. There isn´t a single owner of the building; there are many owners, and the building design has to respond to this situation. Each floor is flexibly designed to allow for a high degree of customization. The building also offers a series of general facilities, such as a reception area, conference rooms, and dinner facilities. The Green Atrium One of the public facilities the VAT83 building offers is the green atriu...Read More

For a number of years, the landscape architecture profession has seen a rapid increase in the adoption of three-dimensional modeling to aid the creative process and express design intent. As a result, this increase has fueled a surge in the slew of 3D modeling software programs on the market, with the majority bearing a hefty price tag. Whether you’re a penniless newbie or a seasoned professional, choosing a new and foreign piece of software can often prove bemusing. Here are five programs to consider, both gratis and costly. 3D Modeling Software 1. Blender Ultimately aimed toward the 3D artist market, Blender makes the list because it presents a free, open source application for learning the art and craft of the 3D modeling world. The latest version of Blender features a slick interface c...Read More

Field House, by 81.WAW.PL., in Poland. The world functions based on stereotypes. It is an effective way to perceive and comprehend reality. Stereotypes apply in most cases; therefore they are valuable. Field House in Poland, designed by the dynamic and young office 81.WAW.PL challenges the common stereotype known as a “house with garden”. Exterior and interior spaces are usually clearly distinguished. They are places that are separated and handled differently during the design process. The garden surrounds and contains the built volume, and it separates it from the general context. There is a linear element, such as a fence, which defines the garden and the property. Not the Usual House with Garden This is what “usually” happens. However, this description does not apply to the project in q...Read More

A look at how the green roof can have a positive influence on your bank balance. In the world today, it seems like everyone is talking about how we should become more “sustainable”. With the pressing issues of climate change and in an attempt to treat the Earth in a more respectful manner, people have implemented green infrastructure into the fields of design and construction. One of the most compelling ways that we have been making buildings more environmentally friendly is through green roofs. An otherwise unused part of a building can become a functional addition that can save you money in the long run. There are several cost-saving advantages to having a green roof that can increase the efficiency of your roof. Benefits of having a Green Roof 1. Reduced Energy Use [contextly_sidebar id...Read More

The Peninsula at Burswood, by Hassell Landscape Architects, cooperating with artist Stuart Green, Perth, Western Australia As a country that features several world-class projects,  Australia has set a high standard in the field of exceptional landscape architecture. The Peninsula at Burswood in Perth by Hassell Studios is another project meticulously designed to the highest perfection. More than 2.5 hectares (six acres) of the new residential development includes parks, gardens, and community recreation areas. Thanks to a generous injection of 700 million Australian dollars, this leading-edge community is setting a new benchmark for residential projects, not only in Western Australia, but worldwide. What kinds of public spaces have to be provided for a residential development of 3,000 peop...Read More

A book review of Urban Acupuncture: Celebrating Pinpricks of Change that Enrich City Life by  Jaime Lerner. A review of Urban Acupuncture: Celebrating Pinpricks of Change that Enrich City Life, by Jaime Lerner. Translated from the Portuguese by Ariadne Daher, Mac Margolis, and Peter Muello. Published by Island Press, 2014. Hardcover. 143 pages. Through the telling of hundreds of little urban stories, Urban Acupuncture was created to be an inspirational guide. Jaime Lerner wants us to rethink our cities and take a look closer at all of the small details and people that make up our urban landscapes. The Structure of Urban Acupuncture At 143 pages, with illustrations on nearly every second page and a font size even my mother could read without difficulty, Urban Acupuncture is kept simple and ...Read More

An Interview with talented plantsman Adam Woodruff. Let yourself be fascinated by planting design, and discover a particular discipline that is very important for landscape architecture practice. This specialized area of landscape architecture includes plant selection ability and horticultural knowledge about the growth requirements of plants, but also a visual touch. Adam Woodruff, owner and founder of Adam Woodruff + Associates, is a young, talented plant designer based in Clayton, Missouri, who is starting to affirm a new view of visual and botanical attention in planting design. Woodruff shares with us his knowledge and his approach as a plant designer. Here you can find some information about his practice and advice to help you be a better landscape designer. Interview with Adam Woodr...Read More

Learn how to put a stop to the things that are stopping you! Would you like to get more done in a shorter time span? Would you like to have more free time to spend doing things you love? Perhaps you would like to be more financially competitive by spending fewer hours on projects? There are many incentives to increase your productivity in the studio. Here we share with you the top productivity killers in the studio and show you how to avoid them. Productivity Killers 9. Lack of inspiration Chefs constantly taste their food. They also regularly taste other chefs’ food. Would you want to eat a meal prepared by a chef who never tastes any food? With impending deadlines and a work culture that praises long hours spent in the studio, it can be tempting to never venture outside. But it is ...Read More

Have you ever heard of the word tūndar? Tundra derives from the Russian word tūndar, meaning treeless plain. Tundra is the coldest of all the biomes, with the lowest temperatures and shortest growing seasons. It is characterized by extremely harsh conditions, poor nutrients, wind, and drought. Still, some unique plant species not only survive in the tundra, they bring beauty to the modest scenery. Tundra landscapes may be technically divided into three biome regions: arctic, alpine, and antarctic tundra. Generally, those three tundra types cover parts of the northern hemisphere, including the northern parts of Russia, Canada, and Alaska, as well as American Cordillera, the Alps, and other mountains worldwide, reaching to several Antarctic islands. Tundra Plants With Unique Characteristics ...Read More