Blog

Mulini Beach, 3LHD Architects, Rovinj, Croatia. Well-executed public park projects are not created solely at the large-scale master planning level or the detail-oriented design development phase. Successful projects are a result of a cohesive planning and conceptual development process carrying through to the final details. The attractiveness of Mulini Beach in Rovinj, Croatia, is due to the strong conceptual and detail development by an interdisciplinary team of architects, landscape architects, and engineers. Designers were faced with the challenge of creating a public park along the waterfront on a piece of ever-changing real estate. One of the biggest design obstacles influencing all aspects of the project was the change in topography due to the tides. Taking on this challenge, designe...Read More

A deeper look at the possibilities of using SketchUp for ipad. SketchUp is known for being the most user-friendly 3D modeling software on the market. Add that to its compatibility with CAD and other drafting software, and there really is no reason why offices shouldn’t use it. And now, with two new SketchUp Apps for Apple iPad, the accessibility of the program has grown. SketchUp for ipad The first app, called “SketchUp Mobile Viewer,” was developed by Trimble Navigation Limited. It allows users to explore and share millions of free 3D models in the 3D Warehouse from their iPads. Easy to Use! The app is fairly easy to use and operates much like the actual program, in that you are able to zoom in and out of models and use the camera menu to adjust any of the standard camera views. The app a...Read More

Charlotte Garden, by SLA, Copenhagen, Denmark. Charlotte Garden in Copenhagen, Denmark, is located on the site of a former factory that produced cryolite aluminum. Today, the factory has been replaced by a modern residential complex with 178 apartments. Its facade is covered with bricks in multiple shades of blue. The building’s square structure follows the current composition of other buildings in the city. Objective of the Charlotte Garden Thanks to this square structure, the center of the residential complex appeared to SLA — a large landscape office in Denmark — as a place full of life. SLA wanted to design this space as a meeting place for local residents, but it is obviously open to all. SLA has built this place to allow people to discover a new experience in the la...Read More

Stadtlounge, St Gallen, Switzerland, by Carlos Martinez Architekten and Pipilotti Rist If you think the color of landscape architecture is green, you had better think again. Stadtlounge plaza design by Carlos Martinez Architekten, in collaboration with the artist Pipilotti Rist, is an astonishing project designed to contrast with many of our preconceptions. Form, Scale and Material in this Stunning Plaza Design The plaza design tackles with form, scale, and material in an extraordinary way and appears to be very well received by the citizens of St. Gallen, Switzerland. St. Gallen is the capital of St. Gallen Canton in northeastern Switzerland, and has approximately 73,000 inhabitants. The Raiffeisen bank and the municipality of St. Gallen held an architectural competition to reorganize the...Read More

Architectural Engineering and it’s potential to create exciting opportunities for landscape architecture. Since its early days, landscape architecture has evolved to become a diverse and all-encompassing discipline that shares common ground with a range of other professions, including engineering, architecture, ecology, horticulture, and arboriculture. At one time, landscape architecture was primarily concerned with the use and arrangement of land; today, the profession increasingly finds itself drawn into areas not directly connected to the surface of our earth. For example, if one looks to many of the most famous (or infamous) projects of recent years, it is immediately apparent that projects that garner attention are to be found high above the ground or suspended over water. And t...Read More

Mariahilferstrasse, by Bureau B+B & Orso.Pitro (ULRIKE PITRO, FRANZISKA ORSO), in Vienna, Austria. What is amazing about landscape architecture design is that the paper one uses is never blank. There are always several parameters to consider, many things that are given, and various restrictions. It might seem discouraging at first, but remarkable projects emerge from sites loaded with obstacles and limitations. The redevelopment of Mariahilferstrasse in Vienna, by Bureau B+B and Orso.Pitro, is an excellent example. Restrictions and design difficulties have contributed to the development of the project in the most creative way. Mariahilferstrasse in Context Mariahilferstrasse is a 1.6-kilometer-long street that is considered to be the most important shopping area in the heart of Vienna....Read More

Vinaros Microcoasts, by Guallart Architects, Vinaròs,Castellón. Spain. There is a section of coastline along the Mediterranean in the town of Vinaros, Spain that is a true example of a landscape of change. In recent years, tourism has increased as a major industry in Vinaros compared to neighboring towns. This has led to development throughout the town and particularly along the seafront at a rapid rate. Single family detached homes dot the coastline and dominate much of the available land adjacent to prime views of the coast. Much of Vinaros is lacking in infrastructural development but there is a small road that divides the residential lots and the coastline as the shore is rocky, turbulent, and ever changing. The Goals of Vinaros Microcoasts Considering the existing conditions, architec...Read More

Landscape Architects Network make landmark announcements as we embark on a new year. With another year in the books, LAN is grateful for the loyal support we’ve received from our tremendous fans! While 2014 was the year of public spaces—both large and small—at LAN we’re proud to announce the best and brightest on our end. From the article of the year to the top projects of 2014—here is a snapshot of Landscape Architects Network in 2014. The quest for 1 million Facebook fans continues… LAN 2015 Announcements Writer of the Year: Erin Tharp Erin joined LAN in May and has since written 25 articles about a wide range of topics including Can Copenhagen Become The Best Cycling City in the World? and 5 Amazing Facts About Green Walls That You Didn’t Know. When she’s not busy writ...Read More

I have pending a couple of articles about my work system. Today I bring you a video that condenses an hour photoshop landscape design in just 5 min. In this case, the project consists of a Mediterranean villa garden in San Fulgencio, Alicante, Spain. Housing has two very defined environments: On the one hand the access area, in which a Mediterranean clipping welcomes us and on the other the back space, opens to housing where the pool is located. Soon I’ll upload more information but while I share with you my last project video. And you, which methods do use you to draw landscape?  

Sheraton Bali Kuta Resort by Enviro Tec. To design stimulating environments where occupants can enjoy a rich sensory experience is a challenge worth talking about in landscape architecture — especially when it comes to heavenly scenery such as in Bali, Indonesia, where the natural landscape is a delight on its own. Sheraton Bali Kuta Resort, with its design concept inspired by traditional Balinese architecture, surely succeeds in providing an indulgent experience for the senses through the mesmerizing sound of the waves, the gentle touch of the breeze, the smell of the exotic native flora, the taste of the delicate local food, and the breathtaking sight of the sea. A Tourist Resort with a View of Paradise Comprising an area of 3.2 hectares, the project is divided into two main zones:...Read More

The Beijing Sunken Gardens by Plasma Studio and Groundlab, Beijing, China. When I first saw pictures of the Beijing Sunken Gardens I could not quite get what those massive concrete plant beds were all about, which lead me to the designer’s website to get a better idea of the concept. My mind was blown away by the beautiful description by Plasma Studio of their own work, reflecting the elegance and mystery of classic Chinese garden design. The beauty of Beijing Sunken Gardens is not only in the project itself but also in the rich tradition that backs it up, which requires us to look back to try to understand a bit more of their culture. Classic Chinese Garden Design Traditional Chinese garden design is heavily based on symbolism. It’s well known that, in about 140 B. C., the Emp...Read More