Blog

At the 2014 American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) Annual Meeting in Denver, a group of landscape architecture practitioners and academics convened a rousing panel entitled Social Justice: The New Green Infrastructure. Moderated by Kathleen King (Design Workshop), the panel included Ann Whiston Spirn (MIT), Randy Hester (UC Berkeley), Diane Jones Allen (DesignJones), and Kurt Culbertson (Design Workshop). Culbertson was the impetus for the session focused on the need for social, economic and environmental equity to be considered as a key element of the design process. He felt this had not been adequately addressed by the profession, and that more needed to be done by planners and designers to empower affected communities. Others have written about this remarkable session and its b...Read More

Having a backyard is a true blessing for every home owner. Having a nice small outdoor space just for yourself is something many people don’t achieve their whole lives. And if they do, they rarely appreciate it completely. These spaces are often neglected, overgrown with weeds and full of dangers. But if you decide to take care of it, you can turn your backyard into a real oasis by only incorporating a few interesting landscape features. Here are a few ideas you can try. Lawn mowing and care. Many lawns situated in small backyards are poorly maintained and neglected, due to lack of time or will. So, before you do anything, you should just go around the lawn and determine all the possible problems in it. For instance, sometimes there are weeds growing in particular places, or maybe th...Read More

Article by Rose Buchanan Aqua Soccer and Dymaxion Golf, by Topotek1, in Hamburg, Germany The International Garden Show is held every 10 years and features the world’s largest display of plants and flowers. Each selected venue chooses a specific theme and uses a variety of gardens and installations to echo this theme, while creating exciting landscape experiences. In 2013 the show was held in Hamburg, taking its inspiration from Jules Verne’s novel “Around the World in Eighty Days”. The result was a series of imaginative gardens, representing different themes from around the world which not only stimulated the senses in innovative ways, but also involved the users in a hands-on manner. One of these gardens was Garden 73 which featured two temporary installation by Topotek1; Aqua Soccer and ...Read More

Article by Kurt Longland We explore some useful YouTube videos to give you a crash course in AutoCAD, a staple of Landscape Architects all over the world. AutoCAD is one of the fundamentals of our design industry, and will continue to be used as part of the industry standard. So it is only a matter of time before you will be introduced to the program. While on the surface it looks plain, simple, and just waiting for your paper-based project to convert into a digital design, the hidden complexity underneath makes AutoCAD hard to master. While practise, time, and exploring will allow you to understand the quirks of AutoCAD, time is of the essence. So to speed you along or to introduce you to the program, here are a collection of YouTube videos/series that we recommend as we take a Crash Cour...Read More

Article by Caitlyn Bell We explore 3 considerations one should take when selecting a crane hire company. When preparing yourself for a massive project, you need to be able to trust that you have the ideal tools for the job. But with so much to deal with and such a varied selection, it’s hard to know where to begin, and most importantly, what to look for in the machine of your dreams. While not too long ago reviews of commercial hiring were largely left to word of mouth, the age of information has made it quick and simple for you to find a business to trust. Crane Hire Company 1. Variety There isn’t just one type of project, so why would there be one kind of crane? To be able to make an informed decision on which company is the ideal fit for your project, knowing exactly what you need from ...Read More

Article by Miriam Judith González Bolívar Kungsbacka Square , by White Architects, in Kungsbacka, Sweden Some places embed strong roots in the memories of their inhabitants. Unfortunately, over time, these important places may be replaced and forgotten. The memory remains dormant, waiting to resurface to help new generations understand the meaning those places once held for their community. Awakening this history and restoring it to the social and visual environment is no easy task. Kungsbacka Square How do we revive the nostalgia of the past? Kungsbacka is a municipality in Halland, located in southwest Sweden. It is a picturesque town characterized by its wooden houses from the Nineteenth Century. In the heart of Kungsbacka, a church that had once been the heart of the community had been...Read More

Article by Eleni Tsirintani We explore 5 ways to integrate planting with interior design so that you can achieve optimal results and a sustainable planting scheme.  There is an increasing tendency in architecture to connect and integrate vegetative elements into designs. Green roofs and vegetated areas around built volumes become important ingredients in the creative process. The environmental benefits of this approach are great in terms of energy consumption, noise filtration, and air purification. Real estate assessment is also affected. The “greener” the approach, the higher the sales or rental prices are. Allowing vegetation to thrive indoors is an emerging expression of this tendency. This article presents five creative ways to incorporate plants with interior design. The ...Read More

The Future of Landscape Architecture – Landscape Architects Network team member Brett Lezon reflects on “The New Landscape Declaration: A Summit on Landscape Architecture and the Future“. It’s been 50 years since Ian McHarg and other leading landscape architects composed the Landscape Architecture Foundation’s (LAF) seminal Declaration of Concern, which decried the burgeoning environmental crisis and heralded landscape architecture as critical to help solve it. Much has changed since then, and on June 10-11, 2016 the LAF met again at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia to reflect on the past and look forward to the future of landscape architecture. Titled “The New Landscape Declaration: A Summit on Landscape Architecture and the Future”,  this symposium feature...Read More

Article by Domenico Pistone Urban Design Projects – We explore 8 urban design projects that have transformed communities, giving people hope and prosperity. Society changes and with its needs. The desire to unplug from the daily chaos pushes city residents to look for small or large urban oases where they can relax and recharge their batteries. Urban design consultant Jan Gehl has said that the urban landscape must be considered through the five senses. German philosopher Martin Heidegger says the concept of a living space is similar to wearing a dress. And the architect Richard Rogers said, “You cannot think of architecture without thinking of the people.” Here are 8 people-friendly urban design projects that have transformed their communities. Urban Design Projects 1. Gas Works Par...Read More

Article By Aybige Tek Baan Plai Haad Pattaya Resort by The Beach, by T.R.O.P Terrains + Open space, in Soi Naklua 16, Wong Amat Beach, Thailand Living by the beach is a dream. Most of us that are in big cities dream of living in a beach resort at work or under the pressure of daily life. So, how do you create a global beach resort with a sense of creativity within a fabulous landscape for people who dream to live by the beach breeze? Baan Plai Haad Pattaya Resort’s landscape architects and architects found exactly the right solutions to this question. As a matter of fact, they have created such a great place that- this project even brought them a recognition from “TOP TEN Architects in Thailand 2013”, by BCI Asia Award. Baan Plai Haad Pattaya How is the Natural Landscape and Landscape Arch...Read More

Article by Jeanne Connolly Planting design have you stumped? Take a minute to consider these essential components of planting design that should be applied to EVERY project! When used correctly, plants can create an empowering design that evokes all of the senses and draws the viewer in for more. To say that planting design is complex would be an understatement. This combination of both plant science and the artistic vision can be challenging to both the botanist and the landscape architect. What we want to do is find the place between these two worlds that creates a scene pleasing to both sides of the brain. But where to start? And out of the endless species of plants, which ones to use? There are 10 important considerations that need to be made in order to create a successful planting de...Read More

Article by Andrea Robezzati Steelyard Square in Belval Ouest district, by Alles WirdGut Architektur, in Esch sur Alzette, Luxembourg Establishing the right grade of frequency and relation between landscape architecture and neglected spaces of the cities is both the most exciting challenge but also the most difficult one, for an architect. These places always have negative impacts on the environment and their surrounding communities but at the same time they are full of potential and are, anyway, part of our cultural heritage, with a strong significance. Mostly, in these cases, the battle is in the middle, and what Alles WirdGut architects made here in Luxembourg is really extraordinary. If you are planning to visit Luxembourg, make a sign on your map to visit the second-largest city of the...Read More