5 Top 3D Modeling Software Programs for Landscape Architects

For a number of years, the landscape architecture profession has seen a rapid increase in the adoption of three-dimensional modeling to aid the creative process and express design intent. As a result, this increase has fueled a surge in the slew of 3D modeling software programs on the market, with the majority bearing a hefty price tag. Whether you’re a penniless newbie or a seasoned professional, choosing a new and foreign piece of software can often prove bemusing. Here are five programs to consider, both gratis and costly. 3D Modeling Software 1. Blender Ultimately aimed toward the 3D artist market, Blender makes the list because it presents a free, open source application for learning the art and craft of the 3D modeling world. The latest version of Blender features a slick interface c...Read More

Field House, by 81.WAW.PL., in Poland. The world functions based on stereotypes. It is an effective way to perceive and comprehend reality. Stereotypes apply in most cases; therefore they are valuable. Field House in Poland, designed by the dynamic and young office 81.WAW.PL challenges the common stereotype known as a “house with garden”. Exterior and interior spaces are usually clearly distinguished. They are places that are separated and handled differently during the design process. The garden surrounds and contains the built volume, and it separates it from the general context. There is a linear element, such as a fence, which defines the garden and the property. Not the Usual House with Garden This is what “usually” happens. However, this description does not apply to the project in q...Read More

A look at how the green roof can have a positive influence on your bank balance. In the world today, it seems like everyone is talking about how we should become more “sustainable”. With the pressing issues of climate change and in an attempt to treat the Earth in a more respectful manner, people have implemented green infrastructure into the fields of design and construction. One of the most compelling ways that we have been making buildings more environmentally friendly is through green roofs. An otherwise unused part of a building can become a functional addition that can save you money in the long run. There are several cost-saving advantages to having a green roof that can increase the efficiency of your roof. Benefits of having a Green Roof 1. Reduced Energy Use [contextly_sidebar id...Read More

The Peninsula at Burswood, by Hassell Landscape Architects, cooperating with artist Stuart Green, Perth, Western Australia As a country that features several world-class projects,  Australia has set a high standard in the field of exceptional landscape architecture. The Peninsula at Burswood in Perth by Hassell Studios is another project meticulously designed to the highest perfection. More than 2.5 hectares (six acres) of the new residential development includes parks, gardens, and community recreation areas. Thanks to a generous injection of 700 million Australian dollars, this leading-edge community is setting a new benchmark for residential projects, not only in Western Australia, but worldwide. What kinds of public spaces have to be provided for a residential development of 3,000 peop...Read More

A book review of Urban Acupuncture: Celebrating Pinpricks of Change that Enrich City Life by  Jaime Lerner. A review of Urban Acupuncture: Celebrating Pinpricks of Change that Enrich City Life, by Jaime Lerner. Translated from the Portuguese by Ariadne Daher, Mac Margolis, and Peter Muello. Published by Island Press, 2014. Hardcover. 143 pages. Through the telling of hundreds of little urban stories, Urban Acupuncture was created to be an inspirational guide. Jaime Lerner wants us to rethink our cities and take a look closer at all of the small details and people that make up our urban landscapes. The Structure of Urban Acupuncture At 143 pages, with illustrations on nearly every second page and a font size even my mother could read without difficulty, Urban Acupuncture is kept simple and ...Read More

An Interview with talented plantsman Adam Woodruff. Let yourself be fascinated by planting design, and discover a particular discipline that is very important for landscape architecture practice. This specialized area of landscape architecture includes plant selection ability and horticultural knowledge about the growth requirements of plants, but also a visual touch. Adam Woodruff, owner and founder of Adam Woodruff + Associates, is a young, talented plant designer based in Clayton, Missouri, who is starting to affirm a new view of visual and botanical attention in planting design. Woodruff shares with us his knowledge and his approach as a plant designer. Here you can find some information about his practice and advice to help you be a better landscape designer. Interview with Adam Woodr...Read More

Learn how to put a stop to the things that are stopping you! Would you like to get more done in a shorter time span? Would you like to have more free time to spend doing things you love? Perhaps you would like to be more financially competitive by spending fewer hours on projects? There are many incentives to increase your productivity in the studio. Here we share with you the top productivity killers in the studio and show you how to avoid them. Productivity Killers 9. Lack of inspiration Chefs constantly taste their food. They also regularly taste other chefs’ food. Would you want to eat a meal prepared by a chef who never tastes any food? With impending deadlines and a work culture that praises long hours spent in the studio, it can be tempting to never venture outside. But it is ...Read More

Have you ever heard of the word tūndar? Tundra derives from the Russian word tūndar, meaning treeless plain. Tundra is the coldest of all the biomes, with the lowest temperatures and shortest growing seasons. It is characterized by extremely harsh conditions, poor nutrients, wind, and drought. Still, some unique plant species not only survive in the tundra, they bring beauty to the modest scenery. Tundra landscapes may be technically divided into three biome regions: arctic, alpine, and antarctic tundra. Generally, those three tundra types cover parts of the northern hemisphere, including the northern parts of Russia, Canada, and Alaska, as well as American Cordillera, the Alps, and other mountains worldwide, reaching to several Antarctic islands. Tundra Plants With Unique Characteristics ...Read More

Mulini Beach, 3LHD Architects, Rovinj, Croatia. Well-executed public park projects are not created solely at the large-scale master planning level or the detail-oriented design development phase. Successful projects are a result of a cohesive planning and conceptual development process carrying through to the final details. The attractiveness of Mulini Beach in Rovinj, Croatia, is due to the strong conceptual and detail development by an interdisciplinary team of architects, landscape architects, and engineers. Designers were faced with the challenge of creating a public park along the waterfront on a piece of ever-changing real estate. One of the biggest design obstacles influencing all aspects of the project was the change in topography due to the tides. Taking on this challenge, designe...Read More

A deeper look at the possibilities of using SketchUp for ipad. SketchUp is known for being the most user-friendly 3D modeling software on the market. Add that to its compatibility with CAD and other drafting software, and there really is no reason why offices shouldn’t use it. And now, with two new SketchUp Apps for Apple iPad, the accessibility of the program has grown. SketchUp for ipad The first app, called “SketchUp Mobile Viewer,” was developed by Trimble Navigation Limited. It allows users to explore and share millions of free 3D models in the 3D Warehouse from their iPads. Easy to Use! The app is fairly easy to use and operates much like the actual program, in that you are able to zoom in and out of models and use the camera menu to adjust any of the standard camera views. The app a...Read More

Charlotte Garden, by SLA, Copenhagen, Denmark. Charlotte Garden in Copenhagen, Denmark, is located on the site of a former factory that produced cryolite aluminum. Today, the factory has been replaced by a modern residential complex with 178 apartments. Its facade is covered with bricks in multiple shades of blue. The building’s square structure follows the current composition of other buildings in the city. Objective of the Charlotte Garden Thanks to this square structure, the center of the residential complex appeared to SLA — a large landscape office in Denmark — as a place full of life. SLA wanted to design this space as a meeting place for local residents, but it is obviously open to all. SLA has built this place to allow people to discover a new experience in the la...Read More

Stadtlounge, St Gallen, Switzerland, by Carlos Martinez Architekten and Pipilotti Rist If you think the color of landscape architecture is green, you had better think again. Stadtlounge plaza design by Carlos Martinez Architekten, in collaboration with the artist Pipilotti Rist, is an astonishing project designed to contrast with many of our preconceptions. Form, Scale and Material in this Stunning Plaza Design The plaza design tackles with form, scale, and material in an extraordinary way and appears to be very well received by the citizens of St. Gallen, Switzerland. St. Gallen is the capital of St. Gallen Canton in northeastern Switzerland, and has approximately 73,000 inhabitants. The Raiffeisen bank and the municipality of St. Gallen held an architectural competition to reorganize the...Read More