[Mitch Howard]

Hello Marc –

Jessica Terdeman wrote the Architecture for Humanity article for this project. She is on LinkedIn as… Jessica Terdeman Designer / Project Manager. She may be able to help you with questions.

http://architectureforhumanity.org/updates/2014-01-27-learning-from-via-verde-ny-team-takes-a-trip

[Mitch Howard]

Center for Creative Land Recycling also has a lot of useful info and case studies…

http://www.cclr.org/case-studies/design-remediation

[Mitch Howard]

Gosia

Sounds like a very “dynamic” site. I believe Jason’s response is a great start. Finding locally sourced used (recycled) firebrick may be a good choice. Of course any recycled material potentially comes with it’s own set of contaminants. Actual sustainability is very difficult to implement… but we must believe it’s possible.   

Many source links to pertinent info…http://www.wbdg.org/design/env_preferable_products.php

A large community of like-minded and helpful people on an ad-heavy and visually inelegant website… http://inhabitat.com/mission/

A pdf from University of Michigan with great info on “sustainable building materials” manufacture and application. It also includes a short bibliography of useful sources… http://www.umich.edu/~nppcpub/resources/compendia/ARCHpdfs/ARCHsbmIntro.pdf

Persevere

Mitch

[Mitch Howard]

Great graphic work Ellen. Are those actual shadows used as a graphic element on the “plan of mid elevation conservatory”?

[Mitch Howard]

There are so many…this subject could be a great research paper. Good luck.

http://www.west8.nl/news/sandy_success_stories_the_little_island_that_could/

http://www.fieldoperations.net/

http://architectureforhumanity.org/node/4875

http://www.arup.com/Projects/Hong_Kong_West_Drainage_Tunnel.aspx

[Mitch Howard]

A few places to start…

http://www.landscapeinstitute.org/PDF/Contribute/LIClimateChangePositionStatement.pdf

http://www.asla.org/climatechange.aspx

http://www.toposmagazine.com/previous-issues/magazine/topos-76.html

[Mitch Howard]

Stephen

Here is a link to the Vectorworks folks. They do free webinars on a regular basis. This link is for a VW Landmark Demo that should be a good look at the basics. If you join the newsletter, you also get free access to a wealth of past demos. Well worth the time.

Good luck.   

http://www.novedge.com/webinar/83

[Mitch Howard]

Pete Nelson at Treehouse Workshop…..original photo by Michael Matisse

[Mitch Howard]

Hello Mindy

Without access to the original creator of the Dynascape file, my knowledge says your options are pretty thin.

1. If you did have that access, they of course would be able to re-export as a dwg or dwf… or at the very least they can create a PDF from within Dynascape that you can import to AC and then draw over. You may be able import the PDF into Corel Draw, Ungrouped (exploded, if it was a vector-based PDF), then re-save as a dwg. This would save the long drawing over step.   

2. You may try to find a free trial version of Dynascape. These are not easily available but they are out there. fileguru.com is one source for dynascape v4.3. As always, exercise caution with any free download site.

Probably not much help, but good luck. If you find an interesting solution, it would make a great post.

Mitch

  

[Mitch Howard]

An added note…You will have an easier time accessing the above mentioned article by googling…
FACILITIES MANAGEMENT RESOURCES
SUSTAINABILITY
Natural Landscaping and Artificial Turf: Achieving Water Use and Pesticide Reduction
By Alex Wilson and Jessica Boehland

[Mitch Howard]

There could be a huge discussion brewing here on the topic of artificial turf. Another one of many questions that needs to be asked is “what effect does artificial turf have on the health of the soil beneath the installation”? While it is true that most living turf-grass installations in large scale urban spaces cannot be called natural or environmentally sound, my understanding is that large-scale artificial turf installations create dead-zones in the soil beneath them. Any future soil remediation of these areas would be another large expense passed on to future stake holders. This may, or may not ever be an issue with your particular site, but intuition, not to mention professional creed, dictates a “stewardship” of the land. Does installing a large expanse of artificial turf by reason of immediate cost savings fit the definition?
Here is a great article (which quotes Kim Sorvig) from a Facilities Management advocacy group that offers options beyond the two obvious choices.

http://www.fmlink.com/ProfResources/Sustainability/Articles/article…

I look forward to reading view-points from other land8 folk. One last thought…could your professor be testing your resolve by playing playing “devil’s advocate”?

[Mitch Howard]

A couple more books to add to what is becoming quite a comprehensive list …
Designing California Native Gardens by Glenn Keator and Alrie Middlebrook.
The California Garden by Jere Stuart French.
The California Landscape Garden by Mark Francis and Andreas Reimann

[Mitch Howard]

No

[Mitch Howard]

Just a quick search, and I came across this….. a link to a non-profit called the Alliance for Water Efficiency. This paper discusses water quality of, and some uses for A/C condensate. Maybe a good place to start. I’ll keep an eye out for more detailed info.
Good luck.

http://www.allianceforwaterefficiency.org/Condensate_Water_Introduction.aspx

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