Blog

In last month’s tutorial on Advanced Blending we took a look at the Blend If section in the Layer Style dialogue box. We discussed the difference between the two sliders in that section. These are: This Layer: Controls the current or active layer and how it blends with what is below it and, Underlying Layer: Controls the layer below the active layer and how it blends with the active layer In the previous tutorial we focused on the top section labeled “This Layer:” This month, as Part 2 of the series on Advanced Blending, we will now look at the lower section labeled “Underlying Layer” and see how this can be used. I’m going to start with two images. One is of a steaming coffee cup and another of a girl dancing on a desk at work. Something I often like to...Read More

AN INTERVIEW WITH ELLEN FETZER Ellen Fetzer is a dynamic player on the international landscape architecture community scene. In this interview, we talk about how she found the profession, her road trip across Romania, and how she plans to reshape the structure of the traditional university system. What is your background with regard to Landscape Architecture? I studied landscape architecture at the University of Kassel. Kassel is located in the centre of Germany and is known for hosting the documenta – a principal art exhibition taking place every fife years. Studying landscape architecture in Kassel is inspiring because of the integration with architecture and urban planning and the strong studio-based teaching. I enjoyed it a lot! How did you find the profession? What lead you to L...Read More

Education is one of the most important things in my life, and I believe that an individual should never stop going to school, adapting their ideas and beliefs, and ultimately becoming as knowledgeable as possible. The relationship between people, and the spaces and environments that surround them have always been of upmost interest to me. There are so many different ideas and technologies that are constantly being invented, adapted and readapted, which provides an individual like me endless opportunities to express myself in unique ways, while pleasing others at the same time. For me, Landscape Architecture, and Environmental Design are not only forms of science, but of art as well. Office spaces, homes and buildings of all sorts are needed for everyday life in modern society, and are the ...Read More

Congratulations to West 8 for winning the Almere Hout Noord competition. The competition entry for Almere Hout Noord West 8 prepared for housing corporation Ymere was unanimously chosen by the municipal assembly of Almere as the winning design. Promoting small-scale networks of the different residents, the design for the new development of Almere Hout Noord envisions a socially sustainable residential and office neighborhood. While a partnership between Ymere and the local government will be responsible for the development, the management and exploitation of the new neighborhood, residents will be encouraged to join and bring about different initiatives. Alderman Adri Duivesteijn of Almere stated: “We are convinced by the quality of the plans and like the idea that the corporation – especi...Read More

‘Mermaid’ is a private development-project designed by JDS Architects which aims to establish a large dolphinarium and wellness-center, together with hotel and holiday-apartments. The goal is to make ‘Mermaid’ the frame in which sea, air and light converge to stimulate the experience of health and wellness. With dolphins as the primary attraction, ‘Mermaid’ will offer a unique experience for the new ‘health tourists’ with focus on life quality, time, personal development and plenty of space for the individual. To achieve this goal, ‘Mermaid’ has four main functions; dolphinarium in the caves beneath the hills, wellness-center within the smallest hill, holiday-apartments in the medium hill and hotel in the largest hill; a unique co...Read More

I’ve been working on getting ready for my spring LARE review classes. I’ve put together some new overheads for the most recent section C vignettes I’ve developed. C19s parking problem has been fixed, and there’s a few minor fixes here and there. I’ve also developed a brand new vignette based on one from the December 08 exam. It’s a passive solar condo cluster with parking, stream setbacks and height limitations. All trees are sacred here. I’ve also been organizing/codifying some general principles that apply to getting built items organized correctly on a site. The process has got me brushed up on the material for tomorrow. On the E front, I’m heavily modifying an old vignette to change the parameters of how an athletic field is graded. The p...Read More