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Article by Rose Buchanan Huangpu East Bank Urban Forest, design for the Shanghai Waterfront Design Competition, by HASSELL Studio in Shanghai, China Design competitions are often risky things for companies to take on. They involve a large amount of unpaid resources, tight deadlines, and design processes that forgo the useful stages of work input. One might argue then that competitions are simply not worth the time, effort, and money. This may be true, but within that tiresome work often emerges some of the most brilliant and groundbreaking ideas. Without the usual restraint of client demands and budget, designers have the freedom to think laterally, solving numerous small- and large-scale design problems. The world of landscape architect has particularly benefited from design competitions,...Read More

Article by Maria Giovanna Drago We search and explore the best Urban Design degree programs from around the world. Urban design is always a hot-button topic. We often hear discussions about overpopulation, sustainability, urban connection, and social spaces. People want to know more about cities and designed urban spaces, and the number of students who aim to become urban designers continues to increase. To make it easier for young people embarking on their careers, we have looked into 10 of the most prestigious universities in the world to see what they have to offer in Urban Design Degree Programs. (A selection of pictures were chosen to highlight projects in the countries represented by these degree programs. For further information on any of them, just click the image). The Best Urban ...Read More

Since 2002, the Emerald Ash Borer has spread across the United States, wreaking havoc on Ash trees. It has destroyed a significant amount of urban canopy, and the need for removal and replacement has placed economic pressures on many municipalities. Efforts to contain the pest have slowed but not stopped its spread. The saving grace has been that the Emerald Ash Borer has seemed content to affect only Fraxinus species.1 Unfortunately, this has been proven no longer to be true. The Emerald Ash Borer has been confirmed in another host, the native White Fringetree (Chionanthus virginicus). Ecologist Dr. Don Cipollini, Jr. of Wright State University first discovered the infestation in 2015 in Dayton, Ohio. Of twenty White Fringetrees he surveyed in the Dayton area, four displayed signs of Emer...Read More

Article by Selen Öztürk Elytra Filament Pavilion, a collaborative project in Victoria and Albert Museum, John Madejski Garden, London, England,  United Kingdom Elytra Filament Pavilion, a biomimetic installation by Achim Menges, Moritz Dörstelmann, Jan Knippers and Thomas Auer, in the Victoria and Albert Museum’s John Madejski Garden, London. Can nature contribute to architectural designs? As we look through Elytra Filament Pavilion’s design techniques, the answer is definitely: YES! The pavilion was designed by imitating the structure of the wings of flying beetles. But WHY? The practice of learning from nature is called biomimicry. In the Elytra Filament Pavilion, the construction of this biomimetic design is inspired by the fibrous structures of the fore-wing shells of flying beetles kn...Read More

Article by Win Phyo A review of the elegant landscape design at Grõnnegaarden Herning High School by Schønherr, in Herning, Denmark There are some landscapes that can be considered purely as land art, such as the glorious mounds in Northala Fields Park or the magical green carpet of Green Varnish , which provide beautiful and engaging spaces for recreation and contemplation. However, there are other landscape designs around the world that are not necessarily created as land art, but have artistic resonance that really adds to the value of the overall space. The recreational area of Herning High School in Denmark is one such example. It was created as a multifunctional space, but the elegance and artistry in the design surpass the spatial standards that we have experienced or seen in other...Read More

Article by Terka Acton We explore 10 brilliant projects and how they produced green roofs for healthy cities Picture a healthy city. What does it look and feel like? Odds are that you’re thinking of somewhere bustling with commerce, education, and events – but also somewhere that’s cool and clean, with fresh air, attractive architecture, and public spaces that are green, open, and inviting to all. If this is your vision, your instincts are accurate – and green roofs have become an important part of the strategy for achieving cities that include all of these elements. As well as protecting buildings and adding character to the urban environment, green roofs can help to manage rainfall and create diverse new habitats for plants, wildlife, and people. And as we face a future with fewer wild, ...Read More

Article by Pooja Wahane A review of the shared open space under the project name of  Ocas at Hua Hin, by Landscape Architects 49 Limited, in Hua Hin, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Thailand.  Located in the beach resort town of Hua Hin, the Ocas condominium complex is spread over a sprawling 6.8 acres, revealing something previously unseen every time you look. Ocas has been worked into a unique space that maintains its own value. It has the highest percentage of common-use grounds per unit in all of Hua-Hin. Taking a stroll through this luxurious complex is like walking into a dream, with its infinity-edged swimming pool, lush green landscapes leading to the stunning beachfront, and absolute privacy. The Unique Concept of Private Vacation Villas Ocas is a three-story condominium complex comprised of...Read More

Aritcle by Nick Shannon We explore 5 projects that show you how to use water in landscape design.  We use water every day, and in so many ways. It is such a ubiquitous resource, but we often don’t think twice about using it or how it is handled within hidden infrastructure. In the landscape, water is what sustains life and civilization. We need it to survive and thrive, and access to healthy, potable water is a pressing concern that the field of landscape architecture can really impact. Water needs to be addressed and to be regarded as a precious resource, as well as an opportunity to create sustainable landscapes that function well and are designed for humans, wildlife, and the environment. Here are 5 extraordinary projects that will inspire you to think about the many different ways to u...Read More

Article by Nour Adel Darling Quarter, Sydney, NSW, Australia, by ASPECT Studios, in Sydney, NSW, Australia ASPECT Studios has completed a transformation of the public domain of Darling Harbour South, one of Australia’s most visited destinations. This public domain project now known as Darling Quarter was commissioned by the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority (SHFA) and Lend Lease. It is a major 1.5 hectare place-making project for Sydney with a retail terrace, public park, two 6-star commercial buildings and an innovative children’s playground which acts as its centrepiece. At over 4000m2, the playground is the largest in the Sydney Central Business District and with its interactive water play facilities, this civic space has become a regional attraction for Sydney. “The time is not far of...Read More

It’s summer and that can mean a slowing down of creative interchanges in the classroom or at local professional events. Sometimes Dallas and other cities across the US seem to be in a kind of lull with the summer heat and the lessened activity compared to spring and fall. A stack of lighter books on hand will help keep that creative spark alive into the fall. While these are not novels for summer beach reading, the following five books will keep your designer mind sharp and your curiosity intrigued. In August, another set of five recommendations will finish out the summer. The Inspired Landscape: Twenty-One Leading Landscape Architects Explore the Creative Process by Susan Cohen This book comprises case studies of creative inspiration behind a project for twenty-one renowned landscape arch...Read More

Most people’s interaction with maps is on their phone these days and will continue to be for the foreseeable future. However, the landscape architect knows that mapping is one of the keys to both speculative design and its representation. A map “merges spatial precision and cultural imagination.” With data being increasingly ubiquitous, the transformation of maps into artistic visualizations has increasingly become a greater part of the design process. At the same time, data can be a crutch that eliminates “speculation and agency, while supporting a methodology that looks for projects to emerge out of an illusory objectivity.” Cartographic Grounds: Projecting the Landscape Imaginary  explores the varied methods of geographic representation and the intricacies ...Read More

Article by Erisa Nesimi In this article we explore green roof benefits, looking at 20 reasons why you should have a green roof. If I am to define green roofs, I would like to describe them as: ‘tools to reinvent our cities’. Also known by the term “living roofs”, they stand for a counteraction to the fast urbanization of our cities. As a result of urbanization and technology, we are left with cities which are often non- enjoyable environments. Sometimes considered as a pile of concrete (concrete jungles), we have the duty to come up with ways to make our cities great again. Why green roofs? What are their benefits? I’m quite sure that a lot of you out there are very tired of hearing such a cliché phrase again and again; “we should have more green roofs”. Nevertheless, is this just a buzzwo...Read More