Brandon Reed, CVO, ASLA / Rooftop and Urban Designer / Landscape Architect

please visit my account and look for my gallery, i used ad chartpak markers for my renderings.

to justin, u were refering to the brownfield site. a master thesis by ledrew s.p from the university of calgary, an ecological design approach to urban landscape reconstruction might be helpful.

Good idea Brandon. I’m in!

I’ve been aware of SSI but hadn’t seen their latest report. Go to: http://www.sustainablesites.org
You’ll find a link to the report on the first page. I must say, the “documentation” requirements suggested in this report read like an undergraduate studio assignment for a year-long class. My recent work on a small LEED project looks like a total of…[Read more]

i think i agree with you..then we can evaluate each other…

I have an idea for all of you graphics enthusiasts…..maybe we should all render the same graphic using our techniques and compare and contrast all of our different styles and influences…..Does anyone have any thoughts on this idea? I am open to any suggestions as well!

Elif;
All the ideas written to you are good/great. I would also like to add how important relationships are, especially the more involved/complicated/pricey a job goes.

History shows that the great designers were also people who were great “relaters”. Be personable, be authentic, be passionate, and be honest with your clients . . . it’ll carry…[Read more]

Hi Elif,
Glad that you found my comments helpful. 🙂

Thank you very much. It’s always nice to get suggestions from experienced Landscape Architects as yourselves. I’ll try to follow and let you know about the result.

Hi Elif,
I have always maintained that there is a profound difference between ‘planning’ a space and ‘designing’ a space. A good design trancends a good plan, but a good design must be based on a good plan.

Part of what makes a design a good design is its uniqueness or as you call it, its identity.

In my opinion the first person to whom you need…[Read more]

Hi there,

I’m new to land8lounge and this is my first group to have joined.
Hope to explore all of these web-site’s features and to get in touch with a lot of new collegues…

Greetings from Croatia

Mark,
There is a website with an irrigation tutorial created by a landscape architect. It is a good overall primer for understanding the fundamentals of irrigation design. I’ve read through parts of it and find it easy to follow. Jess Stryker, the LA who wrote it, is also very humorous throughout making the subject a bit more engaging. Go to…[Read more]

Hi Elif,
Now this is an interesting discussion, and I agree with a lot of what Michelle has to say, and I would like to add some of my own comments just as soon as I have time , perhaps over the week-end. Greetings from Ireland.
Hugh

Elif,
Not all well healed clients speak the language of art or architecture.
If you use stories to relate your design charrettes then you have to speak to them in a language that they understand.
If your client is a doctor use medical metaphors. In essence you are meeting your client at a level that they feel comfortable and knowledgeable in.

In…[Read more]

Mark,
Are you looking to get into designing irrigation systems? If so, I would recommend taking a class that is taught by the Irrigation Association, or a local community college.

Hello, I’m looking for some education advice. How important is it to take an irrigation course? The LA program I’m in doesn’t offer anything regarding irrigation.

Thank you very much Chris. I probably share a common problem with other Landscape Architects. Hopefully in time, it will change!
Greetings from Istanbul!

Thanks for the suggestion.
I also prepare images and perspectives. What I wanted to ask was: Generally the client doesn’t know what they want and when you come up with new ideas rather than the usual concepts, they don’t understand it. Therefore I develop a story for them. For example, I say ” It’s a Mondrian Garden and the design structure is ……[Read more]

Elif,
I hope I understand your question, here’s goes. When I present a project to a client I bring pictures of plants and I try and draw quick perspesctives or elevations of the job. A lot of people can not visualize a plan view into a real life project. They have not had the training we have and don’t look at plans as we do. When I go to their…[Read more]

I have a question!
Each time I prepare a project, I write a story for it. I try to present it telling this strory. I don’t simply say “Here a group of shrubs you like and some other here!”
My clients are quite high level people but I don’t know why they don’t understand much when I try to give an identity to the design I prepare for them.
I would…[Read more]