Justin R. Bell

The ASLA Student Awards were announced today, and this one looks germane to the topic of Therapeutic Landscapes:

Residential Design Category HONOR AWARD
The Productive Landscape: Urban Housing for Autistic Adults
John Gough, Student ASLA, and Adam C. Nordfors, Student ASLA
Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
Faculty adviser: Kim Steele

I…[Read more]

Yes, the meeting went great! Stacy summed it up pretty good. It was fantastic to have Dominique come in and talk with us about her experiences using SSI on a project. From our discussions, we know there are a lot of kinks in SSI (as one would expect) but my feeling from her was that the document works well in establishing that necessary baseline…[Read more]

I thought it was great – especially Dominique’s experience with SSI for Lenexa City Center project. Several of the pre-requisites were un-achievable on that one. Those points were very worthy, highlighted the critical importance of proper site selction and deemed certainly worth keeping central in the SSI focus, but totally screwd the pooch (so to…[Read more]

Matt- How did the meeting go?

Hey folks in the KC area!
Just a reminder to those on Land8lounge that we’ll be having our monthly meeting this thursday (27th). If you haven’t received details, let me know!
Matt

I like new name of the group. Word healing reminds me also of the
intrinsic values of nature, and therapeutic more of practice specific for humans. So it seems this name includes both, healing power of nature by itself and horticulture therapy gardens made by human hands. Bye

Check out Land8Lounge member Jason King’s review of Esther Sternberg’s new book, Healing Spaces: The Science of Place and Well-Being. An excellent review of an excellent new book.

Great idea for a group!

I’m glad to see someone else interested in SSI! I’m working on a children’s garden project for the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. We’re designing the project to the preliminary draft SSI credits in hopes to create a sustainable landscape project, test the credits and criteria and eventually hopefully become a pilot project.

Here is another recent article from BuildingGreen.com regarding LEED changes : http://www.buildinggreen.com/live/index.cfm/2009/7/28/New-LEED-AP-Exam-Writer-Tells-All.

intheleed.com also has some good explainations:
http://www.intheleed.com/what-exactly-is-the-credential-maintenance-program-for-leed/

Go to the link below to download the “Credentialing Maintenance Program Guide” valid for July 2009 from USGBC – this is the official document addressing credentialling maintenance.
http://www.gbci.org/ShowFile.aspx?DocumentID=3665

Just got an e-mail regarding GBCI Credentialing Maintenance Program for those of us that have been accredited without specialization under the old system. Was wondering if anyone has dug deeper into what this really means for us and if upgrading to a specialization will pay off in the end?

Just slid into this group. Many of the Washington State funded building design projects require a LEED certification. I’ve been involved in the number of LEED workshops on projects for community colleges in the state. I am not up to speed on the newer landscape/site related LEED certification. I know from past projects, the landscape/site related…[Read more]

And new InformeDesign article review on Children’s Use of Accessible Playgrounds.

Conference in Dubrovnik: Resocialization-benefits from nature, I put album of photos finally on my folio, so you can see them 🙂 . I find articles send by this group really interesting, bye. Marina

Does anybody know if there are any efforts being made to cover theraputic landscapes under health care insurance?

Vance
I created a link in the comment below but isn’t working for some reason. You can catch the album I created under my profile.

Great idea Vance. Here is a link to an album I created, per your idea, of photos I have taken of the temple in my area. The Sacramento California Temple. Design Workshop was the Landscape Architect firm. Also, feel free to wander the grounds of any temples in your area or travels. Occasionally there are open houses where the public can tour the…[Read more]

That’s encouraging to hear you bring an ‘added value’ to your office and that you’re getting LEED projects (and platinum at that).Good for you!