Is The André Citroën Park Really One of The Worst Parks in Paris?

André Citroën Park, Paris, France by Gilles Clément and Alain Provost. The modern Parisian park André Citroën, located in the 15th arrondissement on the left bank of the river Seine, has been for the past two decades an attractive space of interaction for the city’s residents, a hot spot for tourists, and an influential object of study for both landscape architecture and architecture students. But let’s not get hasty and call it a success, for it has been also criticized by many and even labeled by some as one of the worst parks in Paris. So does that make it a failure? In the following article, we look at the different aspects of the park with the intention of producing an insight rather than drawing sharp judgments on its extent of failure or success. André Citroën Park and the War The n...Read More

North Bethesda Market, by Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects, cooperating with sculptor Jim Sanborn. Rockville, Maryland. Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects has struck again, this time with its landscape design for the mixed-use urban development of North Bethesda Market. Together with HKS Architects, the firm transformed a former suburban parking lot into a small but extraordinarily good-looking urban center. This project in the Washington, D.C., metro area is not only aesthetically pleasing, but also convincing on a sustainable level, providing extensive green roofs, a rain garden, and the nearly exclusive use of native plants. Can a project be too perfect? Nothing seems to be left to chance, which in my opinion makes the design a little bit too perfect. However, a plaza surround...Read More

A review of Simon Beck’s unique art of geometry on snow. Land art often is associated with sandy or stony coasts or deep green hills and hollows. Simon Beck, however, is the founder of a very different and special kind of land art: snow art. His drawings in the snow go far beyond our snow-angel childhood memories. He produces geometrical art works that cover areas the size of multiple soccer fields. They are reminiscent of crop circles or huge, beautiful mandalas in the endless, white landscape of winter. Snow Art Designs Mirror Mathematical Equations Beck’s design process starts with a sketch on paper, which he then creates in nature on a much larger scale — one to four hectares per work. His designs are influenced by the world of complex mathematical forms, geometry, and sometimes ...Read More

Amazing landscapes to inspire your mind. In the words of Frank Lloyd Wright – “Study nature, love nature, stay close to nature. It will never fail you.” The natural world is full of fantastic wonders. Since the dawn of time Man has drawn inspiration from the natural environment. Here we share with you some of the world’s most amazing natural landscapes that you won’t believe aren’t photoshopped to inspire you in your work and studies as landscape architects. Take a couple of minutes now to check out these beautiful landscapes. Go on. You deserve it. 10 Amazing Landscapes 1. Lower Antelope Canyon Lower Antelope Canyon or Hazdistazí (meaning Spiritual Rock Arches) as it is known to the local Navajo people who own the land, is part of a spectacular slot canyon system in Ariz...Read More

An Exclusive review of Yanweizhou Park by Turenscape, in Jinhua City, Zhejiang Province, China. In the Chinese culture, water is one of the five elements – the other four being metal, wood, fire, and earth – but water is one that is held especially close. One theory is that due to China’s mountainous topography, Chinese cities were built in the valleys close to the many rivers that flow through the land. For this reason, the Chinese people came to view the rivers as the heart and lifeblood of their culture. So, it comes as no surprise that the latest Turenscape project, Yanweizhou Park, is built around not one, but three rivers. Location of Yanweizhou Park Yanweizhou Park is located in Jinhua City where the Yiwu River, Wuyi River and Wujiang River converge. At more than 250,000 squar...Read More

Sponsored article from www.iotagarden.com.au Garden Pots and Planters for Design Build and Landscape Professionals. Container gardening is a great tool for landscape designers. It helps to add that natural style to your outdoor or indoor space. Green aesthetics is the keyword here. Imagine a busy city street where concrete and pavement is the all-encompassing material. It may look dull and is probably an eyesore by itself. There is no hint of plant life or foliage. Container gardening brings green aesthetics to these kind of environments. The Benefits of Container Gardening Let’s look at some of the benefits of container gardening: Adding foliage to concrete and hard paving. In places where planting is impossible under normal circumstances, container gardening makes it possible. Indoor pla...Read More

Vanke-Shoukai Retail and Leisure Centre, By SPARK and BAM Landscape, Daxing in Beijing, China   Vanke-Shoukai is a new leisure and business center that combines a shopping mall, offices, and apartments. The center is a project of the SPARK office, in collaboration with the BAM landscape office. This is a new urban development center in the city of Daxing in Beijing. Its main priority is functional diversity, but with prime concern for business, given its proximity and connection to the new airport south of Daxing. It was necessary to create a park welcoming these activities within the same space. An interrelationship between interior and exterior The building is innovative and focuses on the interrelationships between interior and exterior spaces. The architects broke with conventional con...Read More

LAN writer Win Phyo reviews Planetizen Courses and reviews their “Healthy Urban Food Systems: Planning Retail Facilities” course. Last week, I had the privilege of trying out one of the online courses from Planetizen. These days, there are many online resources available that allow you to take classes at your own leisure to further expand your skills and your mind. As indecisive as I can be, I do often spend time trailing around multiple websites, getting excited about topics that may not even be related to landscape architecture or design, but more on the idea of getting the chance to learn something new. Online Learning At a time of transition from being a student to joining the workforce, I would much rather benefit from expanding my knowledge about topics that relate to des...Read More

Digital Drawing for Landscape Architecture: Contemporary Techniques and Tools for Digital Representation in Site Design second edition – Bradley Cantrell and Wes Michaels, published by John Wiley & Sons, 2005. Paperback, 317pgs. In today’s technological society computer programs and design seem to go hand in hand, but in a profession that once revered the art of hand drawing, or analog design, new technology can be hard to embrace, much less learn. Authors Bradley Cantrell and Wes Michaels, both working landscape architects, realize this and in Digital Drawing for Landscape Architects attempt to bring readers up to date with some of the latest and greatest computer-aided drafting software. Digital Drawing for Landscape Architecture The book relies on examples for each of the traditiona...Read More

10 Outstanding Landscape Architecture Projects of 2014. Every year, the world becomes home to new, innovative projects in landscape architecture. And every year, the designers behind these projects eagerly await recognition for their hard work. Looking at new technology, public attitudes toward the space, and awards received, the following list is a showcase of some of the best of 2014. Landscape Architecture Projects of 2014 10. Segment 5, Hudson River Park, A Resourceful and Resilient Space for a Park-Starved Neighborhood, New York, NY – Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates Segment 5 is quickly becoming the most popular spot in the former “parkless” New York City neighborhood of Chelsea. This was no mistake: Designers worked closely with neighborhood residents to develop a plan that met th...Read More

The Red Ribbon Park, Qinhuangdao City, Hebei Province, China, designed by Turenscape At the beginning of the 21st century, the eastern area of Qinhuangdao city, along the Tanghe River, was engulfed by an intensive urban expansion, being quickly surrounded by new developments. Despite its difficult access and unhealthy conditions, the river area was one of the few options for outdoor leisure for residents of nearby communities. The place was an important green area, since it maintained the vegetation supporting wildlife habitats, but there wasn’t any effective structure for the people who came to swim or fish. The landscape featured native plants and animals sharing the space with a garbage dump, challenging the professionals to create a solution to meet residents’ needs while revitalizing ...Read More