Blog

        SLANT AWARDS SUMMER 2011 © International Competition for Students of Landscape Architecture www.slant.eu The international competition for the SLANT AWARDS is being held this year for the first time and on this occasion is aimed exclusively at students of Landscape Architecture and Landscape Design worldwide. The central idea behind this challenge is that the project in question is a “virtual project”, one that has been created specifically for this competition. What you are being invited to do is to create a concept design for a public park, one which will not only serve the needs of the citizens of this city, but which will also aim to achieve iconic status and in so doing will enhance the international reputation of the city. You will see from the brief that we are looking here ...Read More

http://tolsondesign.blogspot.com/ Row, Row, Row Your Boat; or The Case for Network-Centric Landscape Architecture From Wikipedia on the meaning of Row, Row, Row Your Boat “The lyrics of Row, Row, Row Your Boat have often been used as a metaphor for life’s difficult choices, and many see the boat as referring to one’s self or a group with which one identifies. Rowing is a skillful, if tedious, practice that takes perfection but also directs the vessel. When sung as a group, the act of  rowing becomes a unifier, as oars must be in sync in a rowboat. The idea that man travels along a certain stream suggests boundaries in the path of choices and in free will.” The Biology of Twitter I didn’t actually call my boss obsolete. I was trying to impress upon her that proficient use of tec...Read More

I asked local whiz-bang architect and friend Andrew Mitchell this question…”Are Landscape Architects really necessary”. His answer might surprise you. As a Graduate Architect, a crucial part of my job is analyzing other people’s designs in order to make fun of them1 and feel superior. I know it is a sacrifice that I must make for my profession, but I feel that I am the ideal person for this challenge. As a designer I am fully qualified to be anything and everything to my clients. I can design their facility from A to Z and save them money in the long run. I do not need to hire consultants, I know everything and know what is best for them. The only hiccup to my design dominance is when the client asks questions like, “Why is our warehouse surrounded by boxwoods...Read More

I asked local whiz-bang architect and friend Andrew Mitchell that question…”Are Landscape Architects really necessary”. His answer might surprise you. As a Graduate Architect, a crucial part of my job is analyzing other people’s designs in order to make fun of them1 and feel superior.   I know it is a sacrifice that I must make for my profession, but I feel that I am the ideal person for this challenge.  As a designer I am fully qualified to be anything and everything to my clients.  I can design their facility from A to Z and save them money in the long run.  I do not need to hire consultants, I know everything and know what is best for them.  The only hiccup to my design dominance is when the client asks questions like, “Why is our warehouse surrounded by boxwoods and turf grass?”  Obvio...Read More

Set against a scenic and historic backdrop, the Florence Institute of Design International will again offer a unique four-week architectural learning experience for aspiring and professional architects. The course, which will run from June 1 to 30, will usher students though different architectural periods to discover the key to the evolution of Italian architecture.   The course will be held mostly in the form of walking tours combined with on-site discussions, photometric analysis, as well as hand sketching. However, classes will be also held in Florence Institute’s elegant Baroque style palazzo, located in the historical center of the city. During which, students will also be treated to feature lectures on architecture and urban planning. Basically, the short program is designed t...Read More

 Was involved in my own business for 27 years of landscape design in Florida Specialized in high end garden /outdoor features. Medium size firm ,max of 20 person staff. Self taught , magazine work, shows.It just evolved as I do have great talent,environmental awareness/common sense plus business sense. Ended up being bought out 100%.  Now living in Colorado(2yrs) experiencing the new horticulture/environment and love the fresh connection to the land.   I want to go back to work and be part of a team .This would help complete my passion more than I could do before by having my own firm and managing all ends. .   Without a  LA degree  where do you think I could fit with a challenging company.???                                                                                                  ...Read More

Why Invest in Landscape? – the new campaign from the Landscape Institute, shows how towns around the UK are seeing a positive bottom line benefit by investing in landscape.  From revitalising a small public square to planning for massive new estates, the economic benefits are clearly demonstrated.  Landscape Institute president Jo Watkins said, “High streets, squares, parks and other public spaces should be special places.  Getting them right is the best investment you can make. Getting them wrong often has people voting with their feet.” He continued, “When landscape is placed at the heart of the development process, developers profit while businesses and communities reap the economic benefits. Our campaign focuses on the positive impact on business and communities of investment in ...Read More

Our firm, Craig Design Group, Inc. has been selected to design the Site Plan and Lanscape Plan for the Extreme Makeover Home Edition which is coming to Chattanooga Tennessee. We have been feverishly designing the project and all the ammenities in secrecy until the press release yesterday, and today our phone is ringing off the hook with volunteers. This should be a fun project.  You can check us out on our website at www.craigdesigngroup.biz or facebook me glen craig. If anyone is in the Chattanooga area and would like to volunteer, go to www.extremevisonhomes.com we need all the help we can get.  

Washington, D.C., January 26, 2011 – The fourth quarter of 2010 represented a mixed bag for landscape architecture firms, as firm leaders reported fewer billable hours but increased hiring opportunities, according to the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) Business Quarterly survey. The findings echo the results from the 4Q 2009 survey, though billable hours, inquiries and hiring all strengthened from this time last year. Six in 10 respondents reported stable or higher amount of billable hours (59.6 percent) and inquiries for new work (59.4 percent) in the fourth quarter of 2010 – a decline of six and ten points, respectively from the third quarter survey. At this time last year, 45.5 percent reported stable or rising billable hours, and 53.7 percent reported stable or rising i...Read More

A few weeks ago I posted a blog asking for critiques on some 3D models components I had made.  I posted it on IGN, WordPress, and Land8Lounge.  The response was fairly low, and I tried posting it as a discussion thread on Land8Lounge as well.  This got some helpful comments, but it also possibly inspired a thread that brought up the issue of rendering VS. design in Landscape Architecture.  This question came up a few weeks ago at a networking event for NYC landscape architects, and I talked to a few different people about it.  It made me wonder: Why is it that designers often have a negative reaction to “high end” renderings?   If I said I had never seen a rendering and assumed that the graphic quality was hiding something I would be lying.  I think this often comes from past e...Read More

Land8 will be there….will you?   It is getting close to that time of the year again when landscape architecture students from across the globe throw down their pencils and eraser shields (do students even know what these are any more?), in complete disregard for the huge deadline looming over their heads, and come together to celebrate their love/hate relationship with this fantastically misunderstood profession!  This year the students of Purdue University will have the honors of hosting this special conference which has been passed from school to school since 1970.   What is in store in 2011: The focus of LABash 2011 will be celebrating cultural landscapes and landscape architecture worldwide. They have a great program lined up which will include lectures and demonstrations from tw...Read More