Designing the Sustainable Site | Book Review

A book review on Designing the Sustainable Site: integrated design strategies for small-scale sites and residential landscapes, by Heather Venhaus; Matt McCaw.  At this time, we want to introduce you to a complete, practical guide to facing the challenge of sustainable design beyond simply “doing no harm”. Through a holistic perspective, author Heather Venhaus draws attention to the landscape we are most exposed to: the outdoor small-scale sites we pass by every day. Her wide background working on multidisciplinary teams, always in search of better standards and strategies, was key in her writing of Designing the Sustainable Site. The book takes a look at sustainable design through the lens of experience, offering practical tips and methodology. Designing the Sustainable Site Clues After t...Read More

Foundation Jeantet by Agence Ter and Domino Architectes, in Genève, Switzerland. What can we consider as mastery in Landscape architecture? Would it be creating places that bring people together by introducing nature in the built environment, is it the most creative way to do that? Or is it the complexity of thought and creativity required by landscape architects to bridge the gap between the diversity and complexity of the built environment? Or to provide a variety of uses depending on the context? I would say an overlay of all the above is required to create a masterpiece of landscape design no matter the scale of intervention. The Jeantet foundation project is a great example of timeless design and mastery of the tools available to landscape architects. How did they achieve it and what ...Read More

König-Heinrich Platz Averdung, by Agence Ter, in Duisburg, Germany. In the heart of the city of Duisburg, Germany, lies a large, grassy, park space in front of the theater. The König-Heinrich square is a busy gathering place for the city’s residents, made even more popular by the addition of a shopping center, casino, and pedestrian street right next to Konigstraat. It became necessary to rethink this public space in light of the new uses, while maintaining its urban park appearance. Thus, the French landscape architecture firm Agence Ter proposed a project inspired by the existing green space, claiming that the development of a wide lawn would not be a hindrance in making the square a central site for the city. Instead, a simple lawn can provide a meeting place where everyone can settle a...Read More

 A beginners guide to ArcGIS and some important things a landscape architect should know about it. Geographical Information System (GIS) is a great aid to landscape architectural works, especially for meso- and macro-scale projects such as town and regional planning. GIS helps you capture, store, manipulate, analyze, manage, and present all types of spatial and geographical data in the landscape architectural work flow process. ArcGIS, developed by ERSI, is one of the popular GIS tools used worldwide. ArcGIS helps you when working with maps and geographical information. It is used for creating and using maps, compiling geographic data, analyzing mapped information, sharing and discovering geographic information, using maps and geographic information in a range of applications, and managing...Read More

Botanica Khao Yai, by T.R.O.P: terrains+open space, in Khao Yai, Thailand. Nature has always served as inspiration for architectural projects and Botanica Khao Yai is the best example that can be offered. In creating this unique landscape, the architects working on the project have borrowed elements from nature, using Khao Yai, one of the largest rain forests in the entire Thailand, as inspiration. Architecture has the power of creating amazing things, with nature serving as a supreme source of inspiration. This project was based on the natural landscape surrounding the area, on the quality of sunlight and also on the elements of forest. In the end, the final result can be presented as a blend between nature and architecture, with residents enjoying its unique features. Botanica Khao Yai F...Read More

Public Space in Góra Puławska, by 3XA, Góra Puławska, Poland. Undeveloped lands in villages and cities are like air bubbles or holes in a dense net. These “free space bubbles” harbor great potential for transformation into well-designed urban spaces that meet the needs of residents and visitors. A great design invites people to relate to and use the environment as a stage for human interrelation and communication. In the Public Space in Góra Puławska, Poland, 3XA designers Ewa Czerny, Maciej Kowaluk, and Łukasz Reszka have created a recreational space where village residents can meet and pursue a variety of leisure activities. Góra Puławska The location for the project was thoughtfully chosen. It provides isolation from the busy and noisy arterial route of Radomska Street, creating a pleas...Read More

Bassil Mountain Escape, by Vladimir Djurovic Landscape Architecture in Faraq, Lebanon. Designers face different challenges with every project they make, but these do not stop them from being innovative and putting a soul into every work they do. Designers never stop thinking out of the box, in order to create something new and refreshing. There are different factors and aspects in every design, but they all lead to the same goal: Providing spaces that are livable and functional. For landscape architects, the goal is to create spaces that will help people relax, contemplate, and reconnect with nature. In a fast-paced era like today, people often experience stressful days that make them want to escape from their busy city lives. Some people want to run away from the noisy streets, from the b...Read More

Pier 55 Floating Park, Heatherwick Studios, New York City, United States. Some cities don’t have room anymore to create completely new public spaces, even when they need them. That’s when it’s time to come up with something completely new, something gutsy, something people might call crazy: You have to build new land. In New York City, Heatherwick Studios has designed the new Pier 55 floating park on the Hudson River. The 2.7-acre park over the water – described as a “treasure island” — will serve as a space for cultural events and leisure activities. The design has the backing of power couple Barry Diller, chairman of IAC/InterActiveCorp and former head of Paramount Pictures and Fox, and his wife, fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg. They have earmarked $113 million through a fam...Read More

We look at ways to make the urban landscape a productive landscape through the concept of edible planting schemes. Traditionally, the urban landscape has existed as an isolated, hardened core that relies heavily on the surrounding farmlands for fresh produce. As cities began to grow, they started to encroach on fertile, productive land, placing greater strain on the environment to support large populations. The result is the need to start growing food within the urban landscape, allowing people to have greater personal food security while providing more nutritional organic options. With this in mind, we look at 9 ways to incorporate edible planting into the urban landscape, looking at options from small-scale residential to large urban spaces. Edible Planting 1. Vertical gardens Vertical g...Read More

Coyoacán Corporate Campus, by DLC, in Mexico City, Mexico. DLC is an interdisciplinary studio that describes their approach as following both the principles of aesthetics and of environmental design to create spaces that, according to owners Maria Domínguez and Rafael López, “blur the edges between design, architecture, and landscape.” This approach can be seen in one of their latest projects, the Coyoacán Corporate Campus, completed in 2013 and located in one of Mexico City’s oldest neighborhoods. Unlike some of the more modern areas of Mexico City, the neighborhood of Coyoacán, located in the Federal District, is characterized by its old world charm and low-rise buildings, which the design team sought to emulate through their thoughtful design. Coyoacán 1622, a corporate building, is u...Read More

 Ansières Residential Park by Espace Libre Paysage et urbanisme, Paris, France What is the common thing between urban fabric, college and high school? Nothing, perhaps. But that “nothing” seems to be the missing link which needs to establish the connection between those unrelated elements. As you can guess, the best way to create this bond is certainly landscape design, and the best color for filling that gap – green. This is exactly the case we’re going to explore: A square surrounded by different institutions in the French commune of Ansières-sur-Seine, which needed to be redeveloped. This is where the exceptional work of Espace Libre Paysage et urbanisme landscape firm flourished. Espace Libre To get to the heart of the Ansières Residential Park project, first we need to examine the ide...Read More

Public Realm for NOMA Site, by Mecanoo, in Manchester, United Kingdom. NOMA represents a 20-acre regeneration of Manchester’s urban land which is owned by The Co-operative Group and Hermes Real Estate. This area is not only for living but also for the work, creativity, recreation and entertainment. Receiving the award for the highest-ever BREEAM rating of 95.32 %. It creates a new image for the city center of Manchester with a complete reconstruction and mixed-purpose neighborhood. Public Realm for NOMA Site The site is located on the northern fringe of Manchester’s city center, bounded by Angel Street to the north, Rochdale Road to the east, and Miller Street to the south. This public space around the Co-operative Group’s new headquarters on Angel Square – one of the world’s most su...Read More