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Article by Radenka Kolarov Following up on our world series, we have selected 10 awesome projects that perfectly represent landscape architecture in Italy today. “You may have the universe if I may have Italy.” This sentence by Giuseppe Verdi gives us a powerful reason to stand for a moment and admire what a beautiful country Italy is. Whether we are lovers of fine wines or expensive sports cars, fashion or enchanting art and culture, we can find our personal heaven in any corner of this outstanding country. With all of this, can you imagine the breathtaking landscape architecture projects Italy has to offer? So, let’s take a look at the top 10 projects from Italy, representing periods from the Renaissance to the present day, and find out something you might not already know. Project...Read More

Article by Terka Acton Lighting is about more than path lighting, cross-lit buildings, and uplights trained on trees. Here are 10 inspirational projects showing you lighting design and application in order to create engaging, imaginative designs with real impact. Lighting Design and Application in Landscape Architecture 1. Undulating Bridge Hoofddorp by Lodewuk Baljon landscape architects, Hoofddorp, The Netherlands This Dutch pedestrian bridge won the 2015 Lamp Lighting Solutions Award. Lighting transforms it – from day to night, it’s a different project. How? The stainless steel railing is punctuated with perforations. By day these perforations read as a low-key graphic pattern, but when evening approaches they are lit from behind with LED lamps, revealing a stunning tracery of branches ...Read More

Article by Agmarie Calderón Alonso We take a look at 10 common mistakes beginners make in Photoshop and how they can be avoided to ensure more efficient use of the program.  Photoshop CC is an amazing program for anyone who wants to be creative in a different way, such as making design boards for presentations or playing around with digital media. Either way Photoshop is a unique tool to use, it is the new way of drawing. Don’t get me wrong; drawing with pen and paper is always good (never miss a classic), but trying to apply new techniques in any design is a thrill and an achievement. In the first place, I suggest you take a course on the subject at hand; it is always good to have a tutor, someone who knows the program and what it can and can’t do. Also search different tutorials on the i...Read More

I have recently taken the opportunity to take a critical look at Vectorworks, one of the many drafting programs on the design/engineering market. Fellow Land8 writer Benjamin Boyd covered the Vectorworks Design Summit in his recent post. Its user base has been rapidly growing. In 2015, the company sold a record number of new licenses. With so much growing interest, it is worth taking a closer look at Vectorworks. In this post, I will address why landscape architects should take note of Vectorworks.  From diagrams and concept drawings to specifications, construction drawings, and presentation graphics, delivering high quality products is constantly on the minds of landscape architects. Every firm must find its own solution, which often evolves into a multi-faceted process. The resulting wor...Read More

Article by Andrea Robezzati Following on in our world series we have selected 10 awesome projects that perfectly represent projects in Thailand today. Take one of the poorest and most problematic countries in the world and imagine finding some of the best examples of landscape architecture. Welcome to Thailand! The place where the worst natural catastrophe in history happened; the place where growing urbanization and climate change problems are the most significant. The tsunami disaster of 2004 left a deep mark on Thailand’s culture and people, and the motto “Build Back Better” became a strong and amazing reality in just a few short years. Let’s check out these excellent examples! Projects from Thailand 10. Ladprao Condominium Garden, Shma Co. Ltd, Bangkok, 2011 Situated ...Read More

Article by Luis Guísar Windlicht artwork by Studio Roosegaarde, in Eneco wind farm at Sint Annaland, Zeeland, The Netherlands Studio Roosegaarde, founded by Dutch artist Daan Roosegaarde and located in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, “creates interactive designs which explore the dynamic relation between people, technology and space” – Studio Roosegaarde. The studio is concerned about sustainability and art, which has led it to create a series of projects such as The Windlicht artwork and a smog vacuum cleaner in Rotterdam that is designed to improve the city’s air quality. To create the Windlicht artwork, Studio Roosegaarde wanted to transform the Dutch landscape by adding playful values. They also wanted to show how beautiful green wind energy could be. The inspiration came from ...Read More

How to Let Nature In; 10 Amazing Suggestions of plants for interior planting for lush, vegetated, indoor spaces.  Do plants grow indoors? Definitely Yes! Do all plants grow indoors? Definitely No! If you aspire to create an amazing indoor garden or simply have a pot on your desk, choosing the right plant is of vital importance. As argued in the article: 8 Common Mistakes in Interior Planting, “We could never expect a palm tree to thrive in Antarctica. Why should every plant grow indoors? Site specificity is a “must” when planting in an interior space.” This article presents 10 plants that grow beautifully in indoor spaces. There are several others that could be included as well. Plant selection depends on many factors whether discussing interior or exterior spaces. Plants for Interior Plan...Read More

Article by Nick Shannon In this article, we will explore how you can start making awesome 3d models in Rhino, a useful tool in conceptualizing and testing designs. The field of landscape architecture requires a broad range of tools to communicate the analysis and design of a site. One of the most effective tools we have is the visualization of the landscape, through perspective drawings, sections, models, or plans. Many ideas are thrown out on trace and through sketching, but computer programs take the initial idea to the next level. 3-D modeling software is becoming a key communication tool for landscape architects to collaborate on projects with interdisciplinary teams and clients. Rhino is one of the most user-friendly programs out there, and there are plenty of helpful tutorials to hel...Read More

Article by Cristina Ferrara Cultural Corridor Chapultepec by FR-EE, in Chapultepec Avenue Mexico City. How many times, strolling on the street with your head held high, have you felt upstaged compared to the surrounding vehicles and buildings? Who, at least once in their life, desired to freely walk in the urban center, without worrying about one’s safety from cars, dangerous crossings, and the traffic noise? Well, something is going to change now in Mexico City because there will be a solution that is going to make the difference; a two-level green corridor running from Chapultepec Park down to the Glorieta de los Insurgentes, dedicated to pedestrians, bikes, skaters, wheelchairs, and strollers at the street level, in specifically designed lanes. It is the CCC– The Cultural Corridor...Read More

Near my office, in one of the wealthiest neighborhoods in Cambridge, MA, there are major street improvements taking place that include new curbs, walks, road resurfacing, and street trees. I find it ironic that the city chose to make this already verdant and beautiful neighborhood even more so while other far less wealthy areas have so little of the type of outdoor spaces that make cities livable. This isn’t a political statement meant to exclude the rich—everyone deserves to enjoy the gifts that landscapes offer—but more of an appeal to be more ambitious in our efforts to acknowledge and use nature’s unique ability to uplift every human being, regardless of their zip code. We have known the importance of landscape in the modern metropolis for many years now.  Frederick Law Olmsted and Cal...Read More

This year’s annual Vectorworks Design Summit brought together an international mix of landscape architects, architects, engineers, lighting designers, and hosts of other professionals from around the design industry. They gathered here to first, learn more about Vectorworks’ comprehensive range of products, but they also came to be inspired by a bevy of industry leaders who utilize their software to create and design innovative spaces around the world. Land8 was fortunate enough to have a presence at the conference, and we will be bringing you a few separate articles about this year’s event. WHAT IS VECTORWORKS? Vectorworks is a collection of software under the umbrella of Nemetschek based out of Munich, Germany. Created in the mid-1980’s as Diehl Software, the soft...Read More

Article by Irene Crowo Nielsen We take a look at a selection of our top 10 books for hand drawing, helping you to get better at this wonderful skill. Always wanted to grip a pencil and draw beautiful drawings? Have you looked at others and thought, “wow, that looks easy”, but when you try it is so hard! If yes, keep reading! Because here are some seriously inspiring books to improve your hand drawing skills whether you are just starting out, think you suck at hand drawing or are a more experienced drawer looking to take your drawing skills to the next level. Whether you want to draw realistic cityscapes, lifelike trees, or completely master the art of perspective drawing. It’s time to embark on your creative journey. Pick up your pencil and begin today! Books for Hand Drawing 10. Drawing T...Read More