Blog

Article by Lidija Šuster – A review of The Interlace, by ICN Design, Singapore In today’s world, buildings and skyscrapers sprout at an incredible pace. It’s our job as landscape architects to make sure the concrete jungle doesn’t take over our planet. Vegetation acts as the “lungs” of any city and heals humans both physically and psychologically. It enhances concentration, reduces stress, and makes people feel better. These benefits are backed up by numerous studies, but our own experience tells the tale true. That means no matter how big a residential area is or how many buildings it has, it is crucially important to always make room for nature. ICN Design made room for one such project in Singapore: The Interlace landscape brought stunning outdoor spaces to a highly residential area. Al...Read More

Article by Win Phyo – Guldbergs Plads , by 1:1 landskab in Copenhagen, Denmark Have you ever thought about (or been interested in) how simple features can be used in multiple ways? Flexibility in landscape design is a wonderful thing, and Guldbergs Plads, a neighborhood park in Copenhagen, does the job of demonstrating this. Upon first glance, this project doesn’t look very conventional, and you may even doubt whether it works as Upon first glance, this project doesn’t look very conventional, and you may even doubt whether it works as a space. However, the three elements that have been implemented teach us the value of creating unity with the existing features and coherence to the overall design. What Does it Mean When We Say a Landscape Design is Flexible? As landscape designers or ...Read More

“To engage with potential digital technologies is to understand a new language, new workflows, design processes and theory.” Landscape Architecture and Digital Technologies: Re-Conceptualising Design and Making is a glimpse behind the scenes into some of the today’s most cutting-edge design firms and a welcome, in-depth exploration of the tools that are shaping their most unique landscapes. The range of programs and techniques used to develop projects has been changing at a breakneck pace over the last decade. While most firms have reached proficiency with computer aided drafting and perhaps delved into 3D modeling, many designers might be surprised by the breadth of methods presented in this book. Form is often a direct representation of the tools used to derive it. Thes...Read More

Hooked on podcasts? So am I. Unfortunately, I have struggled to find a podcast related to my profession and passion: urban design. Thankfully, DeepRoot has stepped in and created Remarkable Objects. 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 the first episode, Barbara Deutsch, the Executive Director of the Landscape Architecture Foundation (LAF), makes a case for quantifying the benefits of landscape design. LAF is a nonprofit organization dedicated to investing in the profession through research, scholarship, and leadership programs. Deut...Read More

We review 5 ways you can get that lawn of yours and turn it into an eco-friendly landscape that is sure to inspire others to do the same.  A green yard gives more than just a green look. It adds health and sustainability to your landscape in an environment-friendly way. Green landscaping also referred as eco-landscaping, is a way to create, design and maintain your landscape to save money, time and energy. It reduces air pollution, nurtures wildlife, water, and soil to make healthy recreational spaces. One notable component of it is the use of renewable energy sources like solar for landscape lights. Below are 5 ways to turn your lawn into an eco-friendly landscape: Eco-Friendly Landscape Plants and Hardscapes For a Green Landscape Plants are a central part of a green landscape. Consider n...Read More

We take a look at 3 methods used to establishing grass for best performance and beautiful landscapes that are sure to impress. A well-designed landscape includes a variety of different plants optimized for their size, color, type, and season. Each designer and each job have unique characteristics that make them distinct from the others. But there is typically one common thread throughout all landscaping, and that is the presence of grass. There is no other option that is as affordable, durable, and attractive as various grasses for areas where larger plants can’t be used. This is not exactly news to those in the landscaping business. They understand the value and role of grass even if they make other mistakes. But what they may not know is just how many options there are for establis...Read More

Article by Agmarie Calderón Alonso – A review of Vertical Times : A Vertical Park for NYC, by 100architects, in New York City, USA We are used to seeing green spaces spread out over the landscape. Most parks and public landscape projects, even in cities where acreage is at a premium, cover only one level. When those spaces have all been used up, what’s next for our cities? How about going vertical? This question intrigued the landscape architecture group100architects, which has designed a new park for New York City that is six floors tall. 100architects specializes in architectural projects and interventions in public spaces that invite users to interact and encourage the occurrence of social dynamics. The group was founded in 2013 in Shanghai, China, and is currently led by three pa...Read More

Article by Moreira Filho – We collectively look at the past 10 years and highlight 10 inspirational projects that have become icons of landscape architecture. We stepped out and took a look at the last 10 years of projects and separated out the very best and most awesome ones from each year to show you so that you can learn how to be an awesome landscape architect with these inspirational designs. Check them out. Learn more about any of these awesome projects by clicking on any of the images or headlines. Inspirational Projects From the Last 10 Years 2015 – Know how to Link Work and Free Time with Navy Yard Central in Philadelphia This project preserves the historical aspects of its surroundings and provides sustainability. Located inside a growing industrial and business part of the...Read More

Article by Julian Bore – We take a closer look at urban hardscape design and how it’s improving our lives and making the world a better place.  Most people relate the term landscape architecture to a glorified version of gardening, which it mostcertainly isn’t! Landscape architecture is a field that caters not only to cultural appropriation but breaks boundaries. It creates objects via plantation and hardscaping that now, in this era, make for beautifully conceptualized spaces that become urban centers – groundbreaking in their abstraction as a three-dimensional manipulation of space. This allows for the maximum humanization of city centers, achieves positive interaction, and a multi-sensorial objectivity. There are several examples of this phenomenon all over the world; ...Read More

Article by Meenal Suresh – Revitalisation of the Historic Urban Center that is Castle District of Sopron, by Hetedik Műterem Ltd. Hungary. Can a city close to nowhere regain its tourist inflow just by improving the road channels? Can a city that people just passed by without giving a second glance become an eye-catcher that forces you to roll down your car windows or just step out to feel it for yourself? Is it possible to restore a small historical District overburdened with vehicular traffic over time to its initial beauty while glorifying its historical core? Find out how Hetedik Muterem did exactly that by giving a makeover to the Castle District of Sopron, Hungary. Historic Urban Center The Castle District of Sopron is a U-shaped province at the location of a water ditch, situated on ...Read More

Article by Pooja Wahane – We explore the incredible event that is Hello Wood , a hub of ideas, creativity and sustainable design practices coming together to offer a unique experience.  Has this question ever crossed your mind; how would it feel to see your crazy design ideas in reality, be it architectural or interior design? To create something tangible, which you thought was a no-win proposition. Well, Hello Wood is the answer! Hello Wood is an internationally-acclaimed award-winning summer program for designers with its studio based in Budapest, Hungary. It is a design platform cherished by many budding architects and the existing international minds in the field. Founded in 2010 as a creative camp for students who hail from various design principles, it focuses on creating desig...Read More

Article by Giacomo Guzzon – Parson Green by Cityscapers, in London, England, shows us how to escape city stress and transform a back yard.  Designing gardens is a very important aspect of our profession, because it allows landscape architects to test ideas and focus attention on particular hard and soft landscaping details that we can learn from and eventually use in the public realm. Parson Green, a small urban garden designed by Cityscapers and located in Hampstead, a wealthy area in northwest London, is a good example to analyze in order to understand what to consider when designing back yards. Urban gardens often become a refuge for people — an oasis where they can be immersed in nature and forget about the stresses of urban life. Here are some key elements to creating an o...Read More