Blog

The Landscape Architecture Foundation (LAF) Summit on Landscape Architecture and the Future is over. Landscape architects have returned home all over the country and all over the world. Over 715 landscape architects convened on the campus of the University of Pennsylvania on June 10th and 11th. Attendees came from as far as China, Argentina, and Australia. Many of the world’s preeminent designers, scholars, teachers, advocates, technologists, humanists, feminists, naturalists, and urbanists whom align with the field of landscape architecture were present. They gathered to build upon and redefine the 1966 Declaration of Concern. But, will their efforts make a difference? Will this summit cause any significant change in our profession or our world? While following the #LAFSummit hashtag on s...Read More

Article by Giacomo Guzzon St James Park, by  ASPECT Studios, in Woolley Street, Glebe, NSW, Australia As a landscape architect, I am always intrigued to see new projects. More importantly, I want to find out how a place has been transformed to embody the design. James Park and John Reserve in Sydney, Australia, are the perfect examples of how design can transform a place. They occupy a formerly degraded plot of land in the middle of a suburb that needed to be to be updated in order to address the current needs of the local community. Now the question is: What were the key design aspects that were fundamental in transforming this place? Engaging with Key Park Users It is very important to understand who is going to use the space and how the design can accommodate the users’ needs and desire...Read More

Article by Radenka Kolarov Following on in our world series we have selected 10 awesome projects that perfectly represent landscape architecture in Germany today. Let me ask you, have you seen those astonishing German landscapes? In case you haven’t, don’t waste any second more, and give you self the trip of a lifetime. You won’t regret seeing the projects in landscape architecture too, they are equally marvelous. From beautiful pavilions through a garden of remembrance to great public-square solutions, you will find out just how awesome Germany actually is. Landscape Architecture in Germany 10. KALA Square, by Rehwaldt LA, in Berlin The site used to be the residence of industrial employees before the Second World War. Now this public-square solution is multifunctional as...Read More

Article by Frank Bourque We take a look at 10 Qualities of Great Landscape Architects. “Heroes of the design community.” This is a common definition of landscape architects. They are responsible for bringing us the future of design. But even more than that, they are creating art with every structure they design and bring to life. Some landscape architects work alone, and some are part of a team. Working collaboratively with other professionals is important, however, it is not the most vital thing when it comes to the role itself. But what defines a successful landscape architect? In other words, what qualities do great landscape architects have? Great Landscape Architects 10. Their Knowledge Base Extends Beyond Their own Profession A professional landscape architecture degree i...Read More

Article by Frank Bourque We take a closer look at how to become a landscape architect and start innovating today. Want to become a landscape architect and start designing beautiful outdoor spaces? The whole world will pat your back. Landscape architecture is one of the fastest-growing types of architecture in the world and the real future of architecture. We see green spaces everywhere from roofs to terraces and even in remote areas. What is Landscape Architecture all About? In case you are interested in a career in landscape architecture, you should know that the industry is more than just creating private gardens for luxurious clients. The reality is actually quite different – the best landscape architects work on public areas and spaces. These may include parks, trails, sporting f...Read More

Review by Samia Rahman An eBook review of Green Roof Construction – the Essential Guide, produced by LAN and ZinCo. In a sustainable city, the expression of architecture itself is expected to be an eco-friendly response to the environment that provides comfort to people. With the pace of rapid urbanization in a modern era, every day we are losing our natural green spaces by constructing new structures for fulfilling our needs. This affects our climate and environment and makes the city gray rather than green. As every cloud has a silver lining, the awareness of the need for green is rising. We, the designers, are trying to return back that lost nature with amazing ideas including green roofs, green walls, street trees, and parks. “Green roof” concepts are not new but have flourished ...Read More

Article by Yang Su We explore the 10 best books for landscape architecture. Continuing on from part 1 of our series – Top 10 Books For Landscape Architecture we launch the second in our series of top landscape architecture books, to help guide you in this ever demanding and increasingly complex profession. Best Books for Landscape Architecture (Click on the headline to explore any of the books in greater detail) 10. Returning to Nothing: The Meaning of Lost Places, by Peter Read Losing the places we love arouses our deepest feelings. What does it mean for us to lose a place forever in our memories? Why do we need to return? Returning to nothing indicates how essential living places are and how unforgettable they are to us. This book provides examples of many lost towns, suburbs, and ...Read More

Article by Sophie Thiel We take a closer look at landscape architecture in North America that also makes for great tourist destinations. Every person interested in the field of landscape architecture knows and wants to see prestigious projects such as The Highline when visiting New York City or newly hyped ones such as Sugar Beach in Toronto, Ontario. However, these cities — along with all of the other more or less touristic places on this diverse continent — have so much more to offer than the obvious projects of landscape architecture that get maniacal attention anyway. Therefore, the aim of this article is not to create a compilation of the 10 best-known tourist destinations in North America, but to surprise you with hidden spots of landscape architecture to visit during you...Read More

Whether they are called breezeblocks, screen blocks, cinder blocks, textile blocks or even Besser blocks (here in Australia) the hollow concrete block has long been a popular construction material for both architecture and landscape. The manufacture and use of hollow concrete blocks can be traced back to the 1860s in both the United States and Britain, where they were created as a more viable option than blocks of solid concrete. Developments in machinery to manufacture these blocks also lead to a range of finishes.  This included smooth, raised margins, rock-faced or with other ornamentation to the face panel (Lewis 2015). While the use of hollow and decorative concrete blocks occurred throughout the late 1800s and early 1900s it was the Californian textile block houses of the 1920s (incl...Read More

Article by Samia Rahman Bridges are often seen as great functional feats of engineering. We take a look at the bridges that change this perception and show us that they can be so much more. “Bridges are among the most ancient and honorable members of society, with a background rich in tradition and culture. For countless generations, they have borne the burdens of the world and many of them have been great works of art.”  — Charles S. Whitney, Bridges: A Study in Their Art, Science and Evolution, 1929 In this era of modern technology, we are amazed every day by new innovations. As an integrated part of the natural landscape, bridges are among those innovations. Environmental issues and technological structure are integrated into the proliferation of design concepts. Here, we have put...Read More

Article by Lidija Šuster MassArt Residence Hall, by Ground Inc., in Boston, Massachusetts, USA Before developing any design, landscape architects are always faced with unavoidable questions that are crucial for the success of the project. Who will be using that space? Where is it located? What kind of people are most likely to come there? You probably have guessed some of these questions, and there are a lot more I did not mention. All of this brainstorming is a natural part of the creative process that happens during designing, and the more you do it, the more it is worth it in the end. Taking this fact as a guiding star, the Ground Inc. designers managed to confidently invent a new landscape for the country’s only free-standing public college of art and design. After intense social resea...Read More