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Article by Nour Adel Jubilee Square Leicester, by LDA Design, in  Jubilee Square, Leicester, UK Every day new, modern, beautiful public parks are being constructed, unfortunately, they don’t always relate to the old historic buildings and cultural assets which give a city its identity and uniqueness. In the early 1970’s, a new inner ring road and the construction of St Nicholas Circle destroyed the medieval urban grain of St Nicholas Place, turning it into a peripheral space, and isolated the river and castle area from the city centre. Jubilee Square in Leicester city is a dynamic new piece of public realm which has succeeded in re-connecting the heart of the city of Leicester to its heritage. Jubilee Square, designed by LDA Architects, has been created on the site of a car park. The aim o...Read More

School is starting again. In the next few weeks, the hum of professional networking events will return and clients and fellow consultants will be back in town. But there is still a little time left to fit in one or two more summer reads. Following up from my previous article “Five Recommended Reads for the Summer,” below are five more recommended books to keep creativity sharp. Art’s Principles: 50 years of hard-learned lessons in building a world-class professional services firm by Arthur Gensler and Michael Lindemayer The 62 lessons are each several pages and accompanied with playful hand sketches to illustrate concepts in a total of 318 pages. Any lesson stands alone, but the book is also a nice read cover to cover. The distilled wisdom is readable, but profound in a way tha...Read More

Article by Elisa A.M.Varetti Discover our top-ten selection of urban design firms from around the world. Who knows maybe they’re hiring. Have you ever stopped to think about the meaning of urban design? Well, working with urban design is not as easy as one could think and is not just about towns. Incorporating several disciplines, such as landscape architecture, architecture, civil engeneering and urban planning, to say a few, it relates to people and their connection with spaces. The following is our top 10 selection of the best urban design firms from all over the world which better develop this subject, creating joyful and interesting designs. Urban Design Firms 10- SANALarc , Turkey Based in Istanbul, Turkey, this fourteen-year-old firm can be considered among the most interestin...Read More

Article by Alexis Alvey We explore the amazing benefits of trees , the benefits of trees that go unnoticed, beneath the surface but yet affect us all. The Beatles once said, “All you need is love.” But they were wrong – all you really need are trees! As we continue to learn more and more about trees – how they grow, the integral role they play in our lives, and their life-sustaining support of the global ecosystem – it becomes increasingly obvious how amazing trees really are. Most people think only about the environmental benefits of trees, but did you know that trees can also make a great positive impact socially and economically? Below are some little-known facts about trees that will transform you into a full-blown tree-lover… if you aren’t one already! 8 Amazing Bene...Read More

Article by Sophie Thiel We explore 10 f the best tourist spots for landscape architecture in Africa and see what adventures await us. The word Africa conjures an image of vast landscapes of yellow savannas, the moist essence of broad rain forests, and the hot, dry air of the Sahara Desert. Africa is a continent with enormous natural abundance and richness in various ecosystems – some of them unique in the world. However, despite the fact that there are more than 300 national parks on this continent, most of Africa’s countries are still developing and are not known to be appreciative of the young profession of landscape architecture. Even though you probably wouldn’t travel to an African country because of its well-known landscape architecture projects, you might be surprised to find aspect...Read More

Article by Win Phyo. We explore for the concept for going on a landscape architecture inspired road trip, this time in the land of Queen Elizabeth II in England. Since we are nearing the end of summer, what better way to make the most of it by squeezing in a road trip before autumn approaches? If you find yourself answering yes to the following questions, you should head down to England and venture on our two-day road trip; you will not be disappointed! Are you interested in the grandeur of English gardens? Do you want to experience how traditional British gardening has evolved into modern and sophisticated landscape architecture? From a castle grounds to a beach, with an array of Grade I listed buildings, historic gardens, and Sites of Scientific Interest (SSSI), the amount of diversity o...Read More

Article by Erisa Nesimi The innovative design of the Jewelry District Public Realm by !melk landscape architects in Providence, Rhode Island, USA Rethinking the design of a public space is not at all easy. You are confronted with a complexity of aspects to be considered, where one of them is sure to be the historic layers the site holds. This is the case of the Jewelry District in the heart of Providence. !melk landscape architecture & urban design shows a first-rate model on how to deal with a comprehensive design in an innovative way. The relocation of Interstate Highway 95 created an opportunity for the Jewelry District to reinvent itself, while also offering a chance for Brown University to expand its Medical School from their current college hill campus into downtown Providence, e...Read More

Curating Change in the National Parks – Rodman For over a thousand years, we have been creating maps. As children we are fascinated by pirate maps where ‘X’ always marks the spot, theme park maps which take us to our favorite amusement rides, maps of the stars, old school fold out road maps on family vacations, and apps which route our runs. From the Babylonians and Magellan to Ian McHarg and Jack & Laura Dangermond, the story of the map and map making is dynamically evolving. But how are Landscape Architects utilizing maps and how does ESRI’s mapping applications fit into this picture? Here’s the low-down on the history and progression of mapping, ESRI, the use of mapping by landscape architects, and some tips for equipping yourself with ESRI’s suite of tools so that...Read More

Article by Mai Nguyen Burasiri Beuing nong kod is a design for better living, by Shma Company Limited, in Khon Kaen, Beung NongKod, Thailand Another project by Shma Company was just completed in Khon Kaen, one of the four biggest cities in eastern Thailand. By making good use of topography and other traditional images, the project has enhanced the value of the residential project and made it an interesting destination. As constantly highlighted in many urban design theories, the importance of public spaces in a residential arrangement is undeniable. A well designed public space fosters a good quality of living. In this project, the Burasiri park is ideally placed at the heart of a residential zone, maximizing its accessibility for its citizens. Moreover, with a unique and interesting lands...Read More

Article by Jeanne Connolly Thinking about a career in Landscape Architecture ? Are the years of studying, research, and projects worth it? Yes! And this is why it will pay off! As we move into a future of sustainability and the need for energy-efficient resources, landscape architecture has become a key to the future of design. Trained with a wide range of skills that combine art and science, the opportunities are endless for landscape architects. With a creative eye and environmental awareness, landscape architects design to improve everyday life. Still wondering if landscape architecture is right for you? Or need more assurance that you are going in the right direction? Maybe these 10 reasons will make you more confident with choosing landscape architecture! Career in Landscape Architect...Read More

Article by Alexis Alvey We explore 10 flowering perennials to brighten up any rain garden, enabling you not only to create sustainable landscapes but beautiful ones too.  Rain gardens can beautifully enhance a variety of landscapes, from homes to parking lots to street curbsides. Created in low spots in the garden, rain gardens mitigate localized flooding and enhance local water quality by collecting and filtering excess rainwater. Plants for rain gardens must therefore be carefully selected to grow and thrive under both saturated and dry conditions. Appropriate flowering herbaceous perennials work well in rain gardens and can add bright pops of color seasonally or year-round. Suitable ornamental grasses — and even trees and shrubs, if enough space is provided — can also be inc...Read More

Article by Aybige Tek What’s out there in terms of a landscape architecture app for the profession ? We take a closer look at Pl@ntNet and explore its capabilities. The smartphone application Shazam has solved a lot of problems for those of us trying to identify the name or artist of a song we hear playing when we are out and about. What if there were a Shazam for plants? These is – it’s called PlantNet. Download the application with its tiny green leaf logo and get started. What is Pl@ntNet? Pl@ntNet is a crowd-sourced data application for iOS and Android systems that features the collaboration of both horticulture experts and regular people who just want to know what plants they are looking at. Farmers, foresters, hikers, mountain climbers, ecologists, researchers, botanists, lands...Read More