Blog

With a growing interest in sustainable travel and ecotourism, landscape architects are playing a bigger role in the tourism industry than ever before. While this is by no means an exhaustive list, we here at Landscape Architects Network want to showcase some of the coolest landscape projects in tourism today. Highlighting the diversity of what landscape architects are contributing to the realm of tourism, these projects were selected for their uniqueness, their contribution to tourism, and their respect for local and environmental context. Tourism Projects in Landscape Architecture 1. The National Tourist Routes of Norway Stunning landscapes come together with stunning design along Norway’s National Tourist Routes. In fact, here at LAN we love this project so much that we have previously f...Read More

Gubei Gold Street, by SWA, Shanghai, China. Shanghai is recognized as one of the most important Chinese cities, being considered as China’s gateway into the world. At the same time, it is often presented as the biggest urban construction site, with more than 640 skyscrapers. As the skyline of Shanghai reaches new heights, the need for pedestrian areas becomes imperative. Gubei Gold Street appears as a rare hidden gem; the pedestrian promenade is not something you can often come across in bustling Shanghai. In conceptualizing the project for the pedestrian mall, the talented landscape architects at SWA wanted to come up with a truly unique design. Shanghai becomes more and more crowded with each day that passes. For this reason, finding a place to develop a pedestrian promenade proved to be...Read More

We take a closer look at the surge of interest in the revitalization of industrial landscapes bringing about some of the world’s best landscape architecture.  Parks created on former industrial sites are becoming a recurring theme. Dumping grounds, abandoned factories, industrial ports, and mines are being turned into vibrant public places that celebrate these sites’ industrial past. Traditionally, industrialized spaces have been considered polluted and unappealing zones that must be hidden and tucked away from peoples’ everyday lives. So what changed? In this article, we explore four reasons why industrial sites are becoming a favorite to work with for landscape architects. The Revitalization of Industrial Landscapes 1. They Represent a Large Number of Vast and Unused Spaces The ind...Read More

Australian Institute of Landscape Architects Calls on Federal Government to Lead the World in Green Infrastructure for a Healthier Nation. The Australian Institute of Landscape Architects is on a mission to help change the landscape of an entire continent in order to improve the health of its citizens. To do this, they are urging the federal government to come forward and acknowledge that the urban landscape of Australia is in need of improvement. They hope these improvements will come in the form of green infrastructure. To start their mission, AILA developed a National Green Infrastructure Strategy with four key recommendations and has submitted it to Australia’s 15-Year Infrastructure Plan for Australia. What is it, though, that has led AILA to push this plan? Surprisingly, it is adult ...Read More

NEO Bankside, by Gillespies, in London, United Kingdom. Lush native plantings, an orchard of fruit trees, and a thriving beehive are all things one might expect to find around a country home, but how about in a former industrial area in a bustling city? Well, that’s exactly what one will find when visiting the luxury residential development NEO Bankside, located adjacent to London’s Tate Modern, a modern and contemporary art gallery. More than 200 residential apartments housed in a set of contemporary, hexagonal buildings that border the River Thames surround these lush and sustainable gardens designed by London-based landscape architects Gillespies. The buildings, designed by Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners, are unique in their external bracing system, which distinguishes them from other ...Read More

With climate change being an increasingly hot topic, we give an overview of some startling facts on the subject today.  Climate has always changed and it always will. But in the past few decades, the climate has changed quickly, making it less predictable and leaving humans less able to adapt. There are many reasons for this climate change behavior, from natural factors such as the sun’s energy output to human activities that increase the release of gases into the air, contributing to the greenhouse effect. Some say climate change is just another Internet hoax or a political invention. Others believe it is really happening right now and that it will become even worse over time. What are the scientific facts? 10 Fascinating Climate Change Facts 1. There is More Carbon Dioxide in the Atmosph...Read More

We take a closer look at how landscape architecture is influencing architecture. Architecture and landscape architecture pursue the same aim: to provide mankind with diversified indoor or open spaces while addressing individual needs. However, landscape architects in most countries are paid less than architects for the same number of working hours. It is also too seldom the case that a landscape architect is consulted early in the design phase whenever architects and landscape architects work together on a project. This is in spite of the fact that early cooperation could lead to a successful merger between landscape and structure and provide the best outcome. “My belief that all good architecture begins with the land makes me value and appreciate landscape architects.” – Architect Frank H...Read More

Georgswall & Mayor Muller Plaza, by POLA in Aurich, Germany. There are projects that one can appreciate and comprehend their merits right away. Georgswall Park & Mayor Muller Plaza is definitely one of them. It presents very special qualities that catch one’s attention straight away. The city of Aurich, Germany, held a design competition for the area in 2008. The area contained the Mayor Muller Plaza, where the old harbor used to be, and Georgswall, the trace of the old city canal and part of the old city wall. The canal ends right on the plaza, creating a complex that demanded an overall design. Georgswall & Mayor Muller Plaza POLA won the competition, and its proposal for Georgswall Park & Mayor Muller Plaza has been constructed. The plaza and the adjacent area of the can...Read More

ICD/ITKE Research Pavilion 2014-15, by The Institute for Computational Design (ICD) and the Institute of Building Structures and Structural Design (ITKE) of the University of Stuttgart (Germany), in Stuttgart, Germany. The Institute for Computational Design (ICD) and the Institute of Building Structures and Structural Design (ITKE) of the University of Stuttgart (Germany) are known for their full-scale bionic research pavilions’ experiments, computational design, robotic fabrication strategies, functional integration, and material efficiency. One of the most recent structures at the university is the 2014-15 Research Pavilion, which demonstrates the architectural potential of a novel building method inspired by the underwater nest construction of the diving bell water spider, Agyroneda aqu...Read More

Zhengzhou Vanke Central Plaza, by Locus Associates, Zhengzhou, China.  If you think that social media is the best way to bring people closer together, you might want to think again. Places are what really help people interact and build connections. It has long been a trendy idea to design meeting points. But designing places where people want to be, modeled in a way to offer something for everyone, depends mainly on the quality of the design and remembering the needs and preferences of the people who will be using the place. In other words, those people should be involved, somehow, from beginning to end when it comes to conceiving public spaces. There are many projects out there that can illustrate what a great plaza could look like. Here, we are spotlighting a landscape project in China d...Read More

Plaza Victor J. Cuesta by DURAN&HERMIDA arquitectos asociados, in Vargas Machuca, Cuenca, Ecuador. What is the significance of public space? Many things can be said with regard to this particular question. In general, people perceive public space with a social connotation; others see it as an essential element in the sustainability of cities for political, economic, public health, and reasons of biodiversity. Public spaces include a variety of different places, from old historic city centers to suburban development sites. Residents of many countries have seen how local authorities are giving priority to open green spaces, urban renewal, and the revaluing of historical buildings. However, there is still a lot to be done. In South America, several countries face similar mobility problems...Read More