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In this article, we take a look at the urban scene and look at the many benefits of urban agriculture.  While urban agriculture has enjoyed a recent surge, it is nothing new. Ancient societies, such as Egypt and Machu Picchu, had systems in place to recycle water and waste to use on their vegetable plots. Fast forward a few millennium, and you’ll see the allotment gardens of 19th century Germany, which provided space for citizens to produce their own food. In the 20th century, residents of the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada established victory gardens to help relieve the stressors on the agriculture industry during World Wars I and II. Considering the long history of urban agriculture, having the freedom to produce fruit, vegetables, eggs, milk, and even meat for one’s famil...Read More

Have you ever wondered what the benefits of ductless HVAC systems are? Wonder no more. In this article, we discuss exactly just that!  The technological advances in HVAC have made the ductless system the most preferred choice for new homes and office buildings. The ductless system comprises of an outside condenser or compressor and an indoor air handler. As they are small in size they are much quieter than the traditional HVAC systems. The ductless systems are truly versatile and this can enable you to easily cool and heat areas that are usually hard to reach. You may be able to choose different temperature zones in each room. It means that each zone is customized to meet the expectations of the occupant. This is one of the reasons why they have become a popular choice not just in new home...Read More

We take a deeper look at the best rooftop kitchens and terraces to help you get the most out of this otherwise wasted space.  If you are lucky enough to have a beautiful rooftop, you may wonder how you can best utilize and design it so it ends up being a fabulous space you can enjoy. Two of the best ways to use this space are rooftop kitchens and terraces because these spaces add additional entertaining space to your home and take advantage of the gorgeous view. Rooftop Kitchens and Terraces Here are some amazing rooftop spaces to get you inspired and help you create your own at home: The Terrace Fit for a New York Penthouse This terrace is meticulously styled and is something dreams are made of. The deck has wood planking that invites you out onto the main terrace from the living room. Pl...Read More

We take a look at what is entailed when putting together a complete home security plan for you and your loved ones.  There’s nothing scarier than having your home broken into. Most people think it will never happen to them and become complacent about home security. The unfortunate truth is in 2014 alone 10.4 million households experienced property victimization. It’s up to each homeowner to protect their household and family from criminals that are looking to do harm. Taking a few essential home security measures can mean the difference between staying safe and becoming a victim. Home Security Plan Security System Simply having a security system installed is enough to make most burglars bypass a home. They’re looking for easy targets so they don’t want to run the risk of triggering an alar...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. In Episode 2, The Mighty Green Street, we hear from Robert Goo, an Environmental Protection Specialist in the Office of Water for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Goo’s work centers on changing the way we design our cities and manage our water resources. Goo has spent nearly 30 years promoting green infrastructure approaches for water sensitive design. Green infrastructure is a stormwater management approach that manages the hydrology of a site more naturally. The conventional method o...Read More

Article by Mai Nguyen – We explore 10 useful landscape architecture websites, some of which can be used as a tool to present yourself and others can be used as a source of inspiration. Keeping up with contemporary trends and projects is important for landscape architects. It is always profitable to have good references for specific details and inspiration. The following resource can be a very helpful online library, providing practical knowledge and inspiration for any designer. Indeed, you can find in the following websites detailed information about appropriate plants to be used for a landscape project. One of them is recommended by BCA – the Singaporean Building and Construction Authority (BCA); others are worldwide-recognized landscape magazines recommended by many architects and...Read More

Landscape Architects Network Features a Company Profile of Turenscape. Turenscape is one of the biggest landscape architectural firms in the world. Based in Beijing, China, it boasts about 600 professionals, including architects, engineers, urbanists, and biologists. The company provides global services in architecture, landscape architecture, urban design and city planning, ecological infrastructure, and green way. If that’s not enough to impress you, it was recently awarded the 2016 ASLA Honor Award for its Quzhou Luming Park in Zhejiang, China, by The American Society of Landscape Architects. This was the last of a sequence of awards started in 2001. Turenscape The Concept Turenscape President Kongjian Yu said he was inspired by the rural village where he grew up when he established the...Read More

Article by Kamil Rawski – Green Ladder, by Vo Trong Nghia Architects, in Sydney, Australia Green areas have always been important to the environment of our cities. But in the future, their importance will be even greater. Most people associate such areas with recreation and relaxation, which is correct — this is one of their basic functions. In addition to leisure, green areas have many other purposes, which we can divide into ecological, environmental, and esthetical aspects. Are you able to imagine a city without natural elements? Unfortunately, there are still a lot of places where people ignore the role of greenery planning in urban spaces. This problem has been noticed by architect Vo Trong Nghia, who designed Green Ladder, which can be seen on the Sherman Contemporary Art...Read More

Article by Eni Çeka – We take a look at 6 awesome campus designs from around the world that have contributed to happier, healthier and more productive environments.  A campus — the grounds and buildings of a university, college, school, office, or hospital — is an academic, social, or spiritual entity. It is crucial that this space be attractive and functional, because it is a place where most of us spend a considerable amount of time. A subtle integration of this outdoor space with the natural environment, physical activities, social meetings, and relaxation enables diverse experiences. “First life, then spaces, then buildings – the other way around never works,” says Jan Gehl, an urban design expert. Here are six great campus projects that demonstrate how exceptional la...Read More

We take a closer look at safety in landscape design, discovering its importance and how it helps the profession of landscape design be what it is today.  Landscape Architecture is much more than a drawing board with creative ideas. It encompasses many aspects of proper planning and design with implementation of those plans wrapped up with proper follow through to ensure the customer is completely satisfied with the finished product and service. Often overlooked in the name of profits is safety, and while it outwardly appears that this is an area a Project Manager can easily skimp on, the inward reality is this is not so. Let’s look at a scenario that is commonplace, that being shoring. What should be of utmost importance when undertaking a job that requires workers to be in a trench is pre...Read More

Article by Irene Crowo Nielsen – We explore some of the best ways you can get on the professional ladder and enjoy the benefits of securing your own landscape architecture internship.  You have made it this far. You are studying landscape architecture and you are now a step closer to your first job as a landscape architect. One of the smartest things you can do now to advance your career, get real-life experience, and prepare for the future is to land an internship with a landscape architecture firm, whether it is just for the summer or compulsory for your course. It is always a little overwhelming to step out into the real world, and a question that most surely will pop up in your head will be “where do I find one?” We at Landscape Architects Network (LAN) want to give you some tips...Read More

We look at techniques to make a small backyard look bigger so you can get the most out of your private outdoor space. Working with a small backyard is both easy and tricky at the same time. The limited space is actually easy to work with, since you don’t have to add a lot of elements to fill it. It is also easier and more affordable to create different landscape designs for a small backyard. On the other hand, the limited space means you have to be extra creative with what you add to the yard. There are actually so many things you can do to make a small backyard look bigger. While it’s fun to talk about the different design ideas and tricks to try, we’re going to focus on the top three tips that will help you get started. Small Backyard Use Diagonal Lines It is not a secret that diagonal l...Read More