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It’s that time of year again, when landscape architecture students across the world are packing up their trace paper and getting ready to say farewell to the studios that they’ve grown to know so well. It’s finally graduation! And while we wish the Class of 2014 good luck and congratulations during this bittersweet time, we also wanted to give some parting advice as they move on to become working landscape architects. Keep reading to see what words of wisdom Land8 members and professionals Donnie Longenecker RLA, ASLA and John Aikin have to say to this year’s graduates. Oslund and Associates’ large library shows the diversity of topics in landscape architecture | © LandscapeVoice 1. Specialize and Find Your Passion in Landscape Architecture It’s OK to be a jac...Read More

Drawing trees is an essential part of landscape architecture. The most important thing to understand is the level of detail we want to apply to a tree. The type of drawing we want to use for a tree depends on the scale. We abstract the trees that are more distant and apply more detail to the ones up frot or the ones we want to emphasize. This video explores the techniques for drawing trees. While there are infinite ways to draw a tree, I tried to narrow it down to three different techniques I use. Linescapes is a project focused on exploring drawing techniques for recording and analyzing landscapes. It also tries to promote hand-drawing in landscape architecture. You can also follow Linescapes on Youtube, Twitter, and Facebook! 

The east side of London has experienced significant public space improvements over the past decade. Public spaces in London and worldwide are being rethought and redesigned for pedestrians. Skidmore, Owings, & Merrill (SOM) designed the new Finsbury Avenue Square in 2001. A series of public space renovations within the Broadgate Financial District have revitalized this area of the city. The Broadgate district is quickly becoming the center of the east side of London. A thoughtful redesign The Finsbury Avenue Square was seen as a dark and unwelcoming plaza that people avoided at all hours of the day. SOM’s redesign is centered around an intricate lighting installation built into a matrix on the ground. Over 100,000 LED lights and 650 fixtures illuminate a variety of scenes during the da...Read More

Plants, often serve many precise functions, many of which are in harmony with their environment, but what happens when the function is to infect and harm anyone who comes into contact with it. Is it still harmonious with its enviornment, is it trying to protect for survival or trying to attack to takeover? Beautiful colourful plants and flowers are sometimes just as dangerous as a poisonous snake. Their only defense is to cause harm to its predator, it may be in the form of thorns, like the prickly Mala Mujer, or in the form of toxins that affect the victim when the plant is ingested. This article is all about danger in nature and how it can spell doom for anyone unfortunate enough to ingest or come in contact with these poisonous plants, enjoy: 10. Daphne spp. Daphne, also called spurge l...Read More

Welcome to another of our increasingly popular Sketchy Saturdays, this week we present to you a diverse range of talent highlighting nature, design and a work which displays beautiful and historic character, really pulling you into a different place and time as you appreciate every stroke and choice of shade and colour. There’s no doubt about it, the contributing artists make Sketchy Saturday what it is, so be inspired, keep on sending in your work and allow others to see your awesome talent! Enjoy this weeks excellent, amazing and consistently fabulous Sketchy Saturday top 10: 10. by Maria Rochowiak, landscape architecture student at Agricultural University of Kraków “I was inspired by a forest in my neighborhood where there are a lot of wonderful place like this one. I wanted...Read More

Happy National Bike to Work Day! Were you one of the hundreds of thousands of commuters who traded in four wheels for two this morning? If so, have a virtual high-five. For those unfamiliar, Bike to Work Day is an annual U.S. event that was launched in 1956 to promote cycling as a fun and healthy alternative to driving. Grassroots organizers, governments, and volunteers all band together to offer free tips, tune ups, and even breakfast goodies to participants along the commute. Thanks to the efforts and enthusiasm of cyclists across the nation, Bike to Work Day has grown in size and momentum every year. So let us know–how was your ride in this morning? (Related Story – Bike Parking: Design mis-Considerations) From the description: “Sometimes, the greatest way to make an e...Read More

Atenistas takes run down street and turns it into a fun and functional public space! The playful Perikleous Street public intervention marries beautification with community engagement to transform a formerly neglected alley into a pleasant public space. The street was once a space inundated with trash, a dark and unwelcoming passageway, a dilapidated façade for graffiti, and a neglected piece of the city of Athens, Greece but now stands as a prime example of urban revitalization. The vision The goal of the design intervention by Atenistas was to incorporate everyday items into a streetscape that would engage visitors, enliven the space, and make a statement with public art. The project was a joint effort and utilized connections with local business owners, residents, and the public lightin...Read More

The Chinese Garden by Bianca Maria Rinaldi The modern landscaped garden certainly has some well established roots. The English, Japanese, French, and, not lastly, Chinese were pioneers in organizing all the elements of a garden to create an inspiring and unique space most often regarded as a piece of art. As we wish to explore every aspect of modern landscape architecture and its every implementation, we search the past to inspire the future. To do that, we have chosen Bianca Maria Rinaldi’s book “The Chinese Garden” as a great reference for gardeners and landscape architects alike. Overview  My first impression of the book was quite positive. Even for an expert in the domain, “The Chinese Garden” seems like a complete guide to all the aspects concerning the design, history, and influences...Read More

Fans of experimental urban design will love Landscape Institute’s recently unveiled winning proposals from the Creating Healthy Places Ideas Competition. The eight winning designs offer visionary and creative proposals on how to better connect green infrastructure with public health. In addition to layering ecological functions with recreational ones, many of the proposed projects explore the use of underutilized public space, from cemeteries to a swimmable River Thames. Keep reading to see the 8 winning entries! As more and more people flock to cities, demand for livable urban conditions and green space are higher than ever. As highlighted in the Landscape Institute’s five principles for the creation of healthy places, parks and landscape architecture projects have a proven ef...Read More

Valencia seized the contemporary landscape architecture spotlight on 2011 when Gustafson Porter won an international competition to design Spain’s 60 hectare Valencia Parque Central. While that high-profile project is under construction, I’d like to bring your attention to another very important green space that already exists in the city of Valencia: the Turia River Garden. The Turia Garden is an exceptional example of world-class landscape architecture. A linear park that stretches 8 kilometers long and 200 meters wide, this massive garden traverses the entire city, from La Huerta in the west to the docks in the east. This lush green park is one of Valencia’s most distinguishing features and can be likened to a big green crack in the urban fabric that offers reprieve an...Read More

Anyone who is, or has been, a landscape architecture student knows the value of exploring past and present projects for both design ideas and inspiration. Anyone who is, or has been, a landscape architecture student also knows that free time is hard to come by. Rarely do you get the opportunity to take time out to scour the Internet for such designs. So, I am here to help. The following 10 projects for students are examples of incredible landscape architecture that every student needs to know about, representing more than simply the aesthetic and pushing the boundaries of what landscape architecture is and what it can be! 1. Landschaftspark Duisburg Nord Why? Duisburg Nord is considered an icon in the reclamation and reuse of a post-industrial landscapes. The designers built respectfully a...Read More

Australia is a nation renowned for many things. Its vast array of killer creatures, alluring beaches, self-deprecating humour, backyard barbeques and inordinate beer consumption to name a few. Aussies are proud of their country and unique culture. I know this, being one myself. What I also know is that our nation has some of the best landscape architects in the world. Here are 10 examples showing why Australia is the leader in landscape architecture. 10. Bonython Park Playspace – WAX Design This premier playspace and community hub is located along a naturalistic river setting within the Adelaide Parklands. Through community involvement and collaborative design, carefully considered user focused solutions provide opportunities for children of all abilities to develop physical and soci...Read More