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Landscape architects work at a slow pace. While your projects and deadlines might argue, the design and construction process seems like molasses when compared to the speed of today’s world. Some would argue that to keep up with this unrelenting velocity, we have forgotten that being slow allowed us to be more methodical and precise. Others say that in order to stay relevant, we should broaden our scope to quickly fight global problems like climate change, sustainability, and social issues. Still, others worry that our unrelenting focus on ecology has made us forget the art and beauty that design brings to the built world. LAF’s New Landscape Declaration wants you to realize landscape architecture’s potential. Image Courtesy of lafoundation.org Our industry’s leading...Read More

“Each neighborhood of the city appeared to be made of a different substance, each seemed to have a different air pressure, a different psychic weight: the bright lights and shuttered shops, the housing projects and luxury hotels, the fire escapes and city parks.” -Teju Cole *This article is part 2 of a 2 part article. You can find Part I here. How does proximity to the urban core affect an urban park? “It depends on how you are defining “urban park.” Those within a 10 minute walk are most likely to use a park. A park in an urban area need not be in the urban core to be successful, provided that it serves a decent population and caters to that population’s needs.” – Landoll “Your target demographics and stakeholders can vary greatly, whether it be a city of 10,000 or 500,000. Ar...Read More

Lead Image: Maggie Daley Park | Image: Scott Shigley “You can neither lie to a neighborhood park, nor reason with it. ‘Artist’s conceptions’ and persuasive renderings can put pictures of life into proposed neighborhood parks or park malls, and verbal rationalizations can conjure up users who ought to appreciate them, but in real life only diverse surroundings have the practical power of inducing a natural, continuing flow of life and use.” – Jane Jacobs *This article is part 1 of a 2 part article. You can find Part II here. The urban park has become the object of fascination and desire of many cities across the nation and the world. Everyone wants their sleek version of the High Line. Outside onlookers fantasize of their chance to make a name for their city and reap...Read More

Seizing an opportunity to broaden its reach and significantly grow its network, Land8 is announcing the acquisition of Landscape Architects Network (LAN), a prominent online resource dedicated to highlighting the work of landscape architects around the world and spreading the latest projects, events, and news that impacts the profession. Supported by its 1.5 million Facebook followers, LAN has widely promoted the profession and provided a valuable resource for both professionals and those interested in the work of landscape architects. Land8 and LAN will initially operate as two separate websites (land8.com and landarchs.com), with strategic planning underway to merge the content of the two sites into one powerful resource and social network. Land8 has experienced immense success during it...Read More

Article by Aybige Tek – Uiliuili Bench, by Piotr Zuraw, in Wroclaw, Poland. Designers have always known that ergonomic furniture can increase creativity in the people who use it because if people are not annoyed by the furniture they are using they seem to work more smoothly. This very thought is even explained by the International Ergonomics Association, who define the word “ergonomics” as, “the scientific discipline concerned with the understanding of interactions among humans and other elements of a system, and the profession that applies theory, principles, data and methods to design, in order to optimize human well-being and overall system performance.” It was with this in mind that the Uiliuili Bench was created. Each piece is created with careful attention to detail and propor...Read More

Emily Sinclair – Read this article if you want to learn some top plant choices that can be implemented for a bee-friendly city. There are many factors to consider when planting for a bee-friendly city. After all, you want the garden to be enjoyable for the bees, but also for yourself. This will look different depending on who you are and where you live. Some places to consider engaging in some bee-friendly plantings could be your existing garden, your balcony or window boxes, and even your lawn. The Honey Bee Conservatory has outlined the different ways you can encourage bee activity in your garden, including providing spaces for them to burrow – an often overlooked component of the bee’s lifestyle. In planting, you want to avoid highly hybridized plants as they are bred to pro...Read More

Article by Monika Roy – We take a chance to list 10 of the best TED talks we could find, that we feel will inspire landscape architects.  For 33 years, the famous online platform TED has been simultaneously spreading newer and newer inspiring ideas about numerous technological and social breakthroughs going on around the world. Day by day, more people are getting interested in such passionate talks not only because of their brief lengths but also as these talks boost our creativity and broaden our perspectives. Here, we have presented 10 intriguing TED talks involved with landscape-related elements, materials, social integration, and city life. We believe these talks will inspire many landscape architects to follow their dreams in today’s challenging world! 10 of The Best TED Talks 1...Read More