The Lahnaue Framework Plan revitalizes a dead riverscape

On The New Shores – The Lahnaue Framework Plan by A24 Landschaft and Landschaftsarchitektur Gmbh, Gießen, Germany. “You don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone”.This ballad from the late 1980s came across my mind and is so true when we see the appalling states of waterfronts in countless cities around the globe. More than seams between water and city, waterfronts are metaphorical links to our past, present, and point the way to our future. Over the years, we have neglected these waterfronts without knowing the potentialities they could offer in the urban realm. It has been the recent public demand for waterfront accessibility that has triggered the transformation of once-neglected river edges into the heart of the city. From an industrial heritage of the Lahnaue ...Read More

Grorudparken by LINK Landskap, Link Arkitektur, Oslo, Norway Grorud Park is a newly constructed neighborhood park in the periphery of Oslo, Norway. It’s aim is to tie together this part of the city separated from a main road. The atmosphere is wild even though it is situated in the heart of urban center. What makes this place unique and valuable is the thoughtful design and creative solutions used by LINK Landskap, from which everyone could learn. Grorudparken in the city context There are 10 rivers running through the urban body of Oslo. In the past they were considered problematic because of sewage systems as well as were seen as obstacle for efficient use of the land. However, in the recent years, The City of Oslo had shifted attention to preserving its blue-green structures. The main o...Read More

As cities are growing and a lot of people being displaced, one of the strategies that can be used to prevent displacement and unwillingness to relocate, especially those who are economically struggling, is to look at affordability of and accessibility to basic life necessities–housing is one of them. In order to make housing affordable, one of the ultimate goals is to reduce associated development costs as much as possible while maintaining the good quality. Costs can be eliminated in a number of ways, for instance, by streamlining regulatory and financing processes, and by the architectural approach itself. This post provides an example of the “architectural approach” component (including design concepts and construction techniques) and how it can reduce costs. Design flexibility is...Read More

Qunli Stormwater Park, by Turenscape, in Haerbin City, Heilongjiang Province, China. These days, with cities growing, life taking on a faster pace, and resources strained by the demands of the developing human race, it can be difficult to determine the importance and ability of natural ecosystems to fit into the urban context. Nature takes its time to grow and develop, and seems to be nowhere as demanding as people. When it comes to dealing with water, urban environments can lack resilience. In China’s Haerbin City, 30 hectares of wetland was on the brink of extinction. With a little bit of help, Turenscape was able to turn a bleak situation into a green oasis filled with the abundance of nature and life, while addressing the problem of stormwater management and providing aid in the city’s...Read More

We preview the Thai Landscape Architecture Award (TALA) 2015. The Thai Association of Landscape Architects (TALA) is a group that, according to its own objectives, “aims to raise the standards of landscape architecture and to promote the fellowship of ethics and honor.” One way the association is doing this is through the TALA Awards, which are aimed at honoring the excellence of Thailand’s landscape architects with hopes of promoting the many landscape innovations within Thailand’s landscape and architectural design industries while inspiring the next generation of Thailand’s landscape architects. Each nominated project stands out for its innovation in lighting, planting design, and overall beauty and functionality in the space. Each project also represents the landscape of Thailand and a...Read More

Zoetermeer Vivaldi Care Home, Zoetermeer, Netherlands, by HOSPER. Nowhere could be more pleasant and re-energizing than a residential complex that reminds us of an island. That is the type of landscape in the place where the Zoetermeer Vivaldi Care Home is located in the Netherlands. The home provides a safe environment for its residents away from the stressful routines of the city. While this stress-free environment is healthy, the isolation may prevent residents from enjoying the benefits of keeping connected with the neighborhood. When asked to create the outdoor spaces for this care home, HOSPER designers envisioned an environment that balances isolation and connectedness, aiming to merge them with the surroundings while preserving the residents’ privacy. To achieve this result, they t...Read More

The concept of natural play has been steadily gaining popularity in recent years and is now one of the main “buzz words” bandied around by architects, planners, and developers. But what are the main principles of natural play, why is it considered better than conventional play equipment, and what role does landscape architecture have to play in the creation of natural play areas? What is natural play? Natural play refers to interacting with natural elements of the environment in an imaginative way. Broadly, natural play includes activities such as climbing trees, building dens, and cooking outdoors. Today, children are becoming ever more environmentally insular, often spending many hours a day in front of televisions and computer monitors. The natural play movement aims to encourage childr...Read More

Thinking of using solar power for landscape lighting – Read this article first. The only thing better than having a beautiful garden is enjoying your home’s landscaping even after the sun goes down. With solar powered outdoor lighting, you can showcase your gorgeous gardens and landscaping at night without running up your power bill. With sun-powered greenery in mind, here are just a few benefits of using solar power to light your landscaping. Landscape Lighting Using Solar Power How Solar Landscape Lighting Works Although it may sound strange that something powered by the sun would have a use at night, solar powered landscape lighting is actually quite effective. Just like rooftop solar panels collect the sun’s energy during the day, so do landscape solar panels. The mai...Read More

Vinterbad Brygge, by BIG in Copenhagen, Denmark. People in Scandinavian countries have a very special perception regarding physical contact with water. The most common ritual is known as the “Nordic Bath” and it originates from Finland. The ritual of a “Nordic Bath” involves alternately taking a dip in cold then hot water. It is an activity that has social, health, and cultural aspects well founded in Scandinavians’ perception of life. The use of thermal baths goes a long way back in the history of these countries, as well as in other countries worldwide. Winter swimming seems to also be a very popular activity in Northern Europe, although the climate would suggest otherwise. Vinterbad Brygge The Harbour Baths in the island Brygge in Copenhagen, Denmark, are a landmark for both the citizen...Read More

We take a moment to explore the delights of the exotic Xilitla garden. Inspired by great architects and artists such as Antoni Gaudí, Giovanni Baptista Piranesi, and Maurits Cornelis Escher and his surrealist friends Salvador Dalí, Leonora Carrington, and René Magritte, Sir Edward James found in Mexico, in the middle of the jungle, an opportunity to build a living dream — nearly 80 acres of paradise waiting to become a surreal garden. The construction took almost 40 years (until James passed away), and yet remains unfinished. A new visitor can’t tell what the purpose of the edification was: stairs leading to nowhere, infinite paths, arches, and sculptures all around. WATCH: An Incredible Overview of the Xilitla Garden Xilitla Garden The Castle of Edward James has become a landm...Read More