Sheldon Dean

Great design is what is around us ,the natural environment.. the Japanese landscape artists were tryig to copy and paste it their own home environment..there are aslo a lot of superb details in nature.. every single thing could be taken as a sample.. a good design should inspire arstists, poets, composers, and manipulate people’s mind in a way…[Read more]

Info about the LEED Credentialing Program:
http://www.gbci.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=83

Info about the LEED 2009 Greenbuild Update & the LEED 2009 Exam:
http://www.intheleed.com/the-leed-2009-greenbuild-update-the-leed-2009-exam/

No rush, best of luck on the exam.

Note: Buildings are “certified”, people are “accredited” – a possible question on the test according to a USGBC study group I went to. I am taking the test in December.

Here’s an example of the political aspect of planning and landscape architecture:

Nrschmid:
“However, some of them [landscape architects] struggle to find the underlying meaning in the ordinances and what has been established by plan commissions as precedent. For example, one community’s ordinance might allow Betula nigra (River birch) but the r…[Read more]

The greatest designer is normal people—the best cities in the world were not designed.

Zoning is way to control activities, which is important for a city. But as we all know cities are dynamic, some people even suggest that the city is a living organisim. froming this point of view, “zoing” should work in different ways comparing with exisiting and conventional “zoning” practices.
I think “zoning” is also a tool for the authority to…[Read more]

Well, that wasn’t he part of the quote that I was trying to emphasize, I’m not going to stand here and say that the government has cornered the market on corruption, the argument really isn’t about morality, its about social functions.

You are entitled to your assessment of Jane Jacob’s work but her contribution to urban design theory is…[Read more]

Good points, I suppose another important distinction to draw as we continue the conversation is that a planner’s role will vary greatly depending on if he or she is employed by a municipality or by a private sector consulting firm.

I suppose what I meant in my earlier post is that I have been impressed by the work of the private sector planners…[Read more]

nrschimid,

I know a few LA/Planners. AICP is a cool credential to have behind your name, a good friend of mine (who is a planner) says it stands for “Any Idiot Can Plan”.

Planning is an interesting subject. There are many professions that recognize the importance of good planning in our built environment but we take many different avenues to…[Read more]

Maybe I shouldn’t greatest designer cause it is very subjective….How about who is your favorite designer……I would have to Jeffery Gordon Smith is a pretty great designer….He is a member of our group…You should check out his work…..

Very nice! I thought I was the greatest designer on the planet…..hehehehehe…j/k….

I will say…..Burle Marx maybe…..

Who is the greatest designer of all time besides the obvious answer of Olmsted….?

For me great design is:
1. Creating memory places
2. Creating a sense of place (genus loci)
3. Guardian of identity
4. Interest of users health, safety and welfare
What Mack mentioned is true for me as one who has had the experience on both sides, as the one to experience and admire and the one to create

Something that moves people, makes them stop and think “I wish I could do that, But even though I can’t… I am glad some one did it for me.”