Trace One

I think the point of this concept being too ‘programmatic’ for a playground is also being missed.  Lets assume we can judge in the concept phase – sometimes you have to, right? I see in this design  a ‘play-ground’ that is dictating it’s use.  I would like a  more passive, natural area, to let the kids brains cool off and wander, for once, loo…[Read more]

I did not mean “conversely” re: polio. That was an  incorrect use of word  due to brain entanglement. I mean more like, did ya hear this one about germ exposure and lack thereof… FDR got polio because of cleaner water..

Really, Rob? I agree, I won’t criticize any more until I have used one, but the use of plastic, plastic grass, plastic ball rooms at McDonalds – it just grosses me out. That is not to say I object to plastic grass, or even plastic (Martha Stewart) in the right place.(please, can we use plastic for ornamental plantings on the highway, instead or…[Read more]

Hm.Oh, well, not where I live.  Which is the land where all the children are below average.  But I work for a huge gov. organization, and we have to jump through hoops and end up spending lots and lots of taxpayer money on intricate in-house designs to avoid the single product spec problem.
But still, as a parent, this idea of a playground base…[Read more]

Also, dear Calico, most spec processes make it very hard, in fact illegal, to make a design that requires the use of one product.
Do I need to say that again? You cannot, especially for government, write specs that require the use of a single manufacturer. and the private contractor should not want to..
As I said, Calico, my world is not yours!…[Read more]

?? I stand by my contention that -farm out the design? I have never seen it happen. The opposite,  dear,IMHO. LA are so f-ing egotistical, so confident and competitive. No, buddy, there is another reason. I challenge you to find some fact to buttress your case – and by that I mean a history time line – I distinctly remember when cedar modular p…[Read more]

but a tree or a swing is not the same as a piece of Styrofoam. These guys live outside. Styrofoam, or whatever, is this weird inert thing..OK, how do you think they clean these giant  pieces of nanoplastic. Do we know?

While I am softening on this concept, Calico, your interpretation of reality is not the world I live in. LA’s were never squandering away their chance at the design. where in the world did that ever happen?
The story of the stamped out play structure playgrounds  is not one of LA’s being lazy and thoughtless.. Might be a good topic for a thesis,…[Read more]

Yeah, Roland, but  this kind of stuff is for home. Seems like such a dirt and disease attractor, for the public space. I don’t know. Maybe not. I need to go see one. As soon as I win the lottery.  

You don’t seem to be lacking in confidence, but I have to say, I  love this topic. Nothing like a; well designed frolf hole – I have mostly played ‘guerrilla’,in Prospect Park. It was wonderful..) But the hills of Winterthur in Delaware have given me my favorite throws – green mounds with steep sides, totally grass covered, with some gorgeous a…[Read more]

New York city Planning has four really interesting planning jobs – you would be in the heart of cool, the Borough of Brooklyn, home to Patrick Stewart, Jonathan Safran Foer, Michelle Williams the actress…I LOVE brooklyn…
http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcp/html/about/joblist.shtml

wish I was younger – you meet everybody who is controlling land use,…[Read more]

and you mine, Henry>
: )

Yes, andrew, du hast recht. I should just get a PhD, that would work even  better…Actually any letters you can put after your name help, in anything – CSEA, IRT, BMT, USA…DOD…and of course, the ever-useful DNILE.
: )

Lets see, soils, geology, vegetation, aspect, community, good design good design good design, engineering, (many different types – irrigation, grading and drainage)….They SHOULD teach history of design, and contemporary design..
I am not saying they shouldn’t teach AutoCAD, but I can see why they don’t Plus, my own firm has gone through four…[Read more]

Thank you, in your spare time since you probably work no overtime at all  as a lowly technician, I recommend some history of art or literature courses. Then perhaps you will be as exalted as me.
Heck, man, the guys I work with might as well be called plumbers – all they do is irrigation plans for designs like everything is  an entrance to a s…[Read more]

I think it is an age thing. Professors probably grew up without computers. As soon as this crop dies off or retires, the landscape will change, and computers will be all over the university course load. They try, the universities, but if the professors are like me, they think computers are an evil that stymies good design, and that you can learn…[Read more]

I have a divergent view than most posters here. I am not interested in being registered – I am not a detail oriented person, and prefer to retain control at the design level and have a registered LA to stamp plans for me. I know many successful Landscape Designers, including Edwina Von Gal and I think Debra Nevins, who do not have stamps, and…[Read more]

Thank you for  posting! many significant’ LA’s pass without notice..I did not know him, but his  works and reputation influenced my idea of our profession. – Rest in peace, Mr. Van Sweden – your life influenced many many others towards a good ideal.

go for the money. You will learn on the job. IMHO.

seems like an opportunity to run the whole building off solar power.