Blog

After nearly six years as an HR professional, and three years spent exclusively in recruiting, I have a golden line that I’d like to share with you about interviewing.  Interviewing is much more of an art than a science. What, you say? How on earth could it be an art? Aren’t companies looking for the perfectly rehearsed answers? No, they aren’t. That doesn’t help anybody. Trust me, the interviewing process is an act of both planning and spontaneity. Having a rigid script won’t work, no matter what side of the table you’re on. There’s no need to be sterile in an interview. You can show who you are, highlight your strengths and skillsets, while letting your unique personality shine through. So, let’s back up. You wrote, rewrote and perfected your cover letter. Your resume is sparkling. Your ...Read More

Michelle Biggs interviews architectural photographer Patrick Bingham-Hall , gaining insight into the creative process behind his photography. Landscape and architectural photographers play a key role in the field of landscape architecture. In the digital age, perhaps this is true now more than ever. Photographs are valuable tools for designers to effectively communicate and share past projects, and good photos of a completed design can be a powerful way to promote our work. Additionally, thanks to digitization, photography has also become increasingly accessible as a creative medium in the past 25 years. Today, more and more students and professionals in landscape architecture and design are turning to photography as a way to diversify their portfolios and better communicate their work. Pa...Read More

Article by Ho Chun Kit Dennis – Orto fra i cortili (Garden Among the Courtyards) based on wooden pallets, by Piuarch, Milan, in Brera, Milan, Italy. How would you use a rooftop garden? Some people want to create a pleasant or interesting outdoor space for visual enjoyment. Others want a space in which to gather with family and friends. What makes a rooftop garden special is the way its design fits its purpose. Even better if it doesn’t break the bank and is environmentally friendly. Such challenging goals can sometimes be achieved by taking some rather drastic measures, as this garden in the Brero section of Milan, Italy, shows. In this project, two industries that seemingly share no similarities collide – landscape architecture and, yes, logistics. How did it work? Attraction of Pal...Read More

Article by Frank Bourque  – Dock Street Roof Terrace, by James Corner Field Operations, in DUMBO neighborhood, Brooklyn, New York Have you ever wondered what living with panoramic views of Manhattan looks like? Well, you don’t have to wonder anymore. The Dock Street Roof Terrace transforms the dream of many to reality, and offers a pleasant experience that will give you another view of Manhattan and its urban architecture from up above. So, What is the Dock Street Roof Terrace? Dock Street Roof Terrace The name refers to a landscape architecture project that recreates a rooftop and gives it a unique perspective. The location for this Dock Street Roof Terrace is hand-picked and perfectly nested in the urban fabric, offering spectacular panoramic views of the Brooklyn Bridge, the Manha...Read More

Article by Tahío Avila – We explore the growing trend of green roofs, focusing on the extensive green roof and looking at 10 plants that work well in this situation.  Green roofs are a big and relatively new interest for modern architecture and landscape. But they are really not that new — they have enhanced homes and buildings since prehistory. In the beginning, green roofs were known as sod roofs and were found most often in the Scandinavian Peninsula. Their purpose was practically the same as today: Besides holding the birch bark (which was the main material in green roofs at that time) in place and helping to compress the logs with the roof weight, they also offered waterproofing and insulation for the cold weather. Today, we have all kinds of systems to build green roofs, ...Read More

Article by Irene Crowo Nielsen – Constitution Garden, by SdARCH Trivelli&Associati, in Kuwait Every country has its history and its past. Some have struggled a little more than others have. Some have fallen along the road and some have risen like superheroes. Common for all countries is that they are the way they are today because of their people and their actions. Kuwait has had its tough times, but shows now, the path towards democracy. In 2012 Al Amiri Diwan, the government agency, decided to build a garden inside Al Shaheed Park in Kuwait City to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Constitution of Kuwait and to erect a monument, a titanium brass sculpture, that shows the path to democracy of the State of Kuwait. Constitution Garden With Kuwait being a country in the Middle ...Read More

Article by Mai Nguyen – Art Installation at the Nature Concert Hall 2016, by DJA (Didzis Jaunzems Architecture), in Zalenieki Manor, Latvia Landscape architecture in general is the comprehensive arrangement of different components to create a better exterior space experience. The scale of landscape design can vary from a regional forest to a simple garden or art installation. With the development of new materials, the design of art installations has achieved tremendous improvement and been gradually recognized worldwide. In general, the art installation, especially in landscape design, is usually aimed at creating an icon, to promote the identity of its surroundings. Just completed in July 2016, the Nature Concert Hall in Latvia by the young and ambitious architects of DJA (Didiz Jau...Read More

Article by Radenka Kolarov – Following up on our world series, we have selected 10 awesome projects that perfectly represent landscape architecture in Sweden today. Do you like winter? How about a cold, dark, long winter? You have to admit that it sounds like I am going to tell you a scary story. But let me introduce you to a country where you can spend a night in an igloo if you want to. You might also be rewarded with a chance to see one of nature’s most spectacular displays – the Aurora Borealis — and perhaps drive your own dog sled. Who knows? Landscape architecture at its best adjusts to its natural environment and very specific climatic conditions. So let’s take a look at the top 10 projects in landscape architecture in snowy, wintry Sweden. (Click on any of the ima...Read More

Article by Alexis Alvey  – In this article, we explore how three projects show how green infrastructure can solve our global problems. Traditionally, the management of stormwater has relied upon the use of underground pipes, pumps, and other devices used to control the direction and flow of water. However, these gray infrastructure systems require a large capital investment, costly maintenance, and can fail. Green infrastructure, on the other hand, offers a low-cost, adaptable solution that encompasses innovative design strategies used to manage stormwater and flooding while minimizing the impact of development. Strategies are diverse, and can range from permeable paving systems to green roofs to strategically planted street trees. Green Infrastructure Below are three exemplary proje...Read More

Article by Amela Djurakovac We explore 5 YouTube videos that highlight tips and tricks for drawing better so that you can enhance your ability to get your ideas across.  When it comes to drawing, it is a form of art where the learning of new techniques never ends.The fact is that there are so many different ways by which you can improve your existing talent! Beginners, and those who are already engaged in drawing, alike, are constantly looking for new tips and tricks like experimentation with making marks, lines, shapes, tones, textures, proportions and shadows, which will help their drawings be little masterpieces. To express feelings, thoughts or creativity, all you need is a few good-quality exercises that can increase your drawing skills. Some of them are very simple but they can be ve...Read More

Article by Bilal Sajjad Raised garden beds aka garden boxes are perfect to plant small plots of vegetables or flowers. Before you learn how to build these garden boxes, let me share their advantages: They prevent soil compaction. They provide good drainage for water. They protect the plants from slugs and snails. The sides of the boxes keep the soil from eroding when it rains. They are easier to tend, freeing you any back strain. They Keep the Plants Away From Pathway Weeds Raised Garden Beds How to build Raised Garden Beds? To build raised garden beds, you need some tools and materials. Here’s the list: 1. Lumber 2. Fastenings (Screws, nails, stainless screws) 3. Cross supports (Aluminum flat stock) 4. Hand saw 5. Square 6. Carpenter’s level 7. Mallet or sledge 8. Screwdriver 9. Hack saw ...Read More

Article by Eleni Tsirintani After our article 10 Great Plants for Interior Planting, we’re releasing the second part in our serious highlighting interior planting – 10 Amazing Plants to Plant Indoors . Planting design is a composition with an aesthetic, an ecological, and a practical aspect. In order to satisfy all three conditions, a designer should be able to acknowledge the compatibility of species and plan accordingly. This article presents 10 plants suitable to plant indoors. The plants have been divided in three categories according to their flowers, foliage and form: Beautiful Flowering: Aechmea fasciata, Billbergia nutans, Pelargonium odoratissimum Interesting Foliage: Caladium hortulanum, Cycas revoluta, Rhapis excelsa, Senecio rowleyanus Sculptural Structure: Aeonium ...Read More