Blog

Frank Bourque – In this article, we look at 4 awesome examples of how people achieved excellence in urban design. Landscape architects are broad thinkers, leaving us amazed with each project they design. The idea behind landscape architecture is to promote the natural ecosystem and the resourcefulness of people — opposed to serious global issues including climate change, water shortages, and the prevention of hunger. Therefore, designing outdoor public areas, landmarks, and structures is not a job that just anyone can do. Thanks to landscape architecture, our environment is safer, healthier, and more sustainable. With form and function as the focal points of every landscape design project, roads, parks, highways, neighborhoods, urban plazas, gardens, and even zoos have been com...Read More

Article by Emily Sinclair – We take a look at the all important landscape architecture CV, looking at 10 things you should definitely include if you are serious about getting a position in your chosen company.  So you have started the job hunting process, you have prepared a portfolio, created a list of dream jobs and have begun approaching firms, you are well on your way to a successful career as a landscape architect. Then you get a request for a CV. Where do you start? CV vs Resume The first step is to realize that a CV and a resume are two different documents with different purposes. A resume is a brief outline of your experience and abilities. A CV is a more in-depth, and at times lengthy, account of your background and achievements as they relate to your prospective job. When b...Read More

We take a closer look and examine 5 key principles to think about when designing a beautiful garden.  Are you in the middle of designing your garden? You could be making a big mistake, so think carefully about what you do next. A lot of people will think of ways to make their garden beautiful, but they soon realize it doesn’t look as nice as they thought it would once they’re done. This is because they don’t have a clue about the key principles you must stick to. We’re going to look at some to give you an idea of what you should be focusing on at the planning stage, so put down your tools and let’s get started. Key Principles in Garden Design Choosing Your Focal Points If you lived way up north in Calgary you would go outside a lot, because it has lots of sunn...Read More

Article by Emily Sinclair – Play Landscape be-MINE, by Carve and Omgeving (design) and Krinkels (contractor) in the town of Beringen, Belgium. Many of our society’s past practices have created scars in our landscape, such as post-industrial sites which are unusable due to contamination and dangerous conditions. Lately, these sites have become grounds for renewal; projects which revitalize and reinvent the site from a wasteland to a landmark – usually while keeping the historical context. One such site is the Play Landscape be-MINE, by Carve and Omgeving (design) and Krinkels (contractor) in the town of Beringen, Belgium. The Play Landscape began with a competition set out by be-MINE, a tourism and recreation organization in Beringen. The town put forth the challenge to reimagin...Read More

Article by Aybige Tek – Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, by SCAPE Landscape Architecture in USA, New York, Buffalo Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus Project by SCAPE Landscape Architecture in New York is an inspiring project for many other streetscapes that may be boring. This new linear park, which has been completed in collaboration with planners and urban designers and all kinds of other related consultants, achieved a motivational result for all its users to enjoy their walk or ride. This project has provided a relaxing outdoor walking path with its many features and unique approach. Ellicott Street, surrounding the medical campus, has been renewed. What are some ways to design sidewalks of a medical campus in the city for urban design? How can we make walking around campus or in cam...Read More

Remarkable Objects, hosted by Leda Marritz, Creative Director at DeepRoot, is a new podcast about the intersection of nature and urban design. In each episode, we will hear from leaders and innovators whose work aims to influence the way we think about, design, and build the urban environment. (Lead Photo: Marquette & 2nd Avenue Busway Project by Alyn Divine for DeepRoot) With the threat of unpredictable weather and increased rainfall intensity, officials are adapting their cities’ infrastructure to a changed climate. Similar to other parts of the country, Minnesota cities have been focusing their efforts on stormwater systems, moving away from their dependence on traditional storm sewer systems and towards a more natural approach. While the concept of accommodating stormwater ma...Read More

Article by Amrita Slatch  – A review of Fontys University of Applied Sciences by Mecanoo, in Eindhoven, Netherlands. We all wish to study at an institute that gives us a very inspiring ambiance to study in. And usually, it’s the campus area that provides for such thinking. But one always wonders; what are the nuances that help shape such spaces? Spaces that not only make students feel stimulated with ideas but also make the entire process enjoyable to come to. One such institute in the Netherlands has just done exactly that. Let’s find out how it’s done at the Fontys University of Applied Sciences. Fontys University of Applied Sciences The Boring Parking Lot Earlier, the entrance to this institute was through a parking lot. It was realized that due to this, the space became very inac...Read More

Landscape Architects Network feature a company profile for HASSELL . With social development getting more advanced than ever, projects around the globe have become more complicated. Established more than 75 years ago in Adelaide, South Australia, this award-winning company has strived to provide the best solutions in these challenging and competitive times. HASSELL has delivered over a million square metres of workplace design for over 1000 clients. At the same time, it has participated in different competitions including this one; It was also ranked 25th in the 2010 World Architecture survey of the world’s 100 biggest architecture practices, indicating the status of the company. The Expansion of HASSELL Having expanded into South East Asia and the United Kingdom, HASSELL recruits in...Read More

Article by Paul McAtomney – We take a moment to consider 10 things that need to be considered in ecological planning and design. The forces of current global conditions hovering over the human race today—population densification and growth, unbridled urbanization, changing climatic conditions, food production, and biodiversity loss to name but a few, alter ecosystems and cause environmental damage from the local to the global. To address these conditions, many landscape architects are shifting to a more systems-based and ecologically-driven approach to the design of the contemporary landscape. For those unversed in ecological planning and design, here are 10 things to consider. Ecological Planning & Design 1. Ecological Context As with any piece of design, context is everything. ...Read More

Landscape architects are skilled facilitators, listeners and translators of diverse information into meaningful action. Are we good at adaptation? The dynamic conditions that we preach about in nature also apply to our social world. Certainly, dynamic conditions revealed themselves last week with our national election. Can we adapt to the information that’s been revealed? We are proud stewards of land and communities, and alarm bells have been going off about increasing income gaps, fear between racial groups, personalized social media and the echo chamber of information, and the divisive role each of these can play in communities. How should our daily work and lives respond after seeing these issues laid out so clearly before us? There may be some answers in an organization called EcoDist...Read More

Article by Terka Acton – We take a closer look at one of Europe’s most major cities and ask the question “Why Make London the First National Park City?”. London is famously one of the world’s most crowded and frenetic cities, so it may come as a surprise that there is a growing movement to make it the first ever National Park City. In fact, the city’s habitat is startlingly diverse: More than 8 million humans co-exist with 13,000 species of wildlife living in 3,000 parks, 30,000 allotments and community gardens, 36 sites of special scientific interest, and 142 nature reserves, as well as in wasteland and the 3.8 million gardens that cover 24 percent of the capital. In total, 47 percent of London is green space. So What is a National Park City? The campaign prospectu...Read More

Article by Sophie Thiel – We take a moment to recap 10 incredible landscape architecture projects that also make great tourist spots about the world.  The combination of landscape architecture and traveling gives all of us a great opportunity to view the world from a nature-centered perspective, as well as to immerse ourselves in the many different cultures and traditions of our global family. This article is the last of our “Tourist Spots for Landscape Architecture” series. (Links all at the bottom of the article). The previous articles shared collections of 10 landscape architecture projects from each of the world’s continents that also make for must-see tourist destinations. To finish the series, I have summarized the most incredible of these tourist spots: Landscape Architecture ...Read More