21-September-2015 The Latest News in Landscape Architecture 2015 is sponsored by ZinCo – Life on Green Roofs – Ecological and Economical Green Roofs, worldwide. In this week’s Latest News in Landscape Architecture we feature the groundbreaking of a dynamic park in Indianapolis known as Tarkington Park, showcase a green roof award winner in Alberta, and explore the meaning behind Park(ing) Day, which was held on Friday, September 18th. Did you know that Park(ing) Day 2015 was celebrated in over 35 countries from Singapore to the US and the Netherlands! 6 Stories In The News This Week:
- This Vietnamese School Is About to Become a Massive Urban Jungle in the Heart of Ho Chi Minh City
- Tarkington Park “Catalyst” Improvements
- Helen Schuler Nature Centre and O2 Planning + Design Win Award for Green Roof Design
- New South Wales Public Spaces Championed for Ground-Breaking Designs
- Transformation of an Old Agricultural Farm into an Urban Destination
- Can Eliminating Parking Spots Make Cities More Efficient?
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Latest News in Landscape Architecture
- This Vietnamese School Is About to Become a Massive Urban Jungle in the Heart of Ho Chi Minh City: GOOD
FPT University located in Ho Chi Minh City is about to receive a major makeover! Designed by Vo Trong Nghia Architects, typical buildings will be covered with leafy foliage in an effort to lower the need for air conditioning. In addition, each new building will feature staggered floors complete with a variety of trees to bolster air quality, provide shade, and improve insulation, while ultimately reducing the urban heat island. “To engage the city in a different way, FPT University appears as an undulating forested mountain growing out of the city of concrete and brick. This form creates more greenery than is destroyed, counteracting environmental stress and providing the city with a new icon for sustainability,” said Vo Trong Nghia Architects. Related Article: Kontum Indochine Café Takes Bamboo to Whole New Level
- Tarkington Park “Catalyst” Improvements: Midtown Indianapolis, Inc.
Rundell Ernstberger Associates (REA) was commissioned by Indy Parks & Recreation to create a master plan for improvements to Tarkington Park in the Butler-Tarkington Neighborhood in Indianapolis. As part of the planning process, REA facilitated a community design workshop, incorporating input from diverse stakeholder groups in the planning process. REA’s design incorporates and celebrates the park’s connection to Booth Tarkington, the Indiana author after whom the park is named and renowned Indiana architect Edward Pierre, who advocated for the park’s creation and designed the original tennis shelter in 1957. Based on input gathered at the community design charrette, the proposed design will serve the surrounding urban neighborhoods, creating a place for all to enjoy and take pride in and support planned community redevelopment initiatives. REA is leading a multidisciplinary team of architects, engineers, and water feature consultants in the design of Phase I, a $5 million project phase, which includes an interactive playscape, spray plaza, café, restrooms, shade structure, farmer’s market pavilion, and performance stage. The space intends to serve a wide variety of visitors, promote activity and community engagement, and provide accommodations for both active and passive uses. Phase I completion is expected in late spring 2016.
(Left image) Master Plan of Tarkington Park Renovations, (Right image) Phase I Project Extents.Credit: Rendering courtesy of Rundell Ernstberger Associates
Situated in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada, The Helen Schuler Nature Centre was selected as a recipient for the 2015 Green Roof and Wall Award of Excellence in the Intensive Institutional category. Led by the Calgary-based O2 Planning + Design, the design team and the client created a species list for the intensive roof that includes 65 natives including perennial forbs and grasses. “We imagined them as living classrooms and natural gathering spaces for our visitors,” said Coreen Putman, Helen Schuler Nature Centre Coordinator. Related Article: Why You’re Losing Money By Not Using a Green Roof
- New South Wales Public Spaces Championed for Ground-Breaking Designs: Architecture And Design
On Friday, September 11th, landscape architecture projects and professionals were recognized for innovation and design at the 2015 Australian Institute of Landscape Architecture Awards Night. From the vibrant Parramatta City River strategy designed by McGregor Coxall to the newly opened Barangaroo Reserve envisioned by Peter Walker and Partners (PWP), both accepted highly acclaimed accolades and it will fascinating to see each project matures. Related Article: How Can Redesigning a Public Space Change People’s Behavior WATCH: Sydney’s new Barangaroo Reserve officially opened
Led by Sparch Architechts and a combination of collaborators, consultants, and students—the design team plans to transform a former agricultural farm into a lively urban destination. Through a flexible development program the central outdoor area will have various functions that blends the old and the new. In addition, the new building is partially concealed, yet the form of the square gives the farm an urban feel. It appears that this project is a study at the moment as the site location is not identified.
To celebrate Park(ing) Day 2015, which is a global event where metered parking spaces are turned into temporary parks, we explore an article by Tom Vanderbilt (a New York Times bestseller for his book Traffic: Why We Drive the Way We Do). Tom highlights how removing parking spots would be good for cities. From a critique of parking minimums to the negative effects of unused parking—a point is made for parking maximums. After all, cars spend, on average, 95% of their time simply parked! Related Article: 10 Ways to Design Climate Sensitive Cities WATCH: Cities for Tomorrow 2015 – City Visions – Parking Day
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Latest News in Landscape Architecture 2015
News report by Brett Lezon
The Latest News in Landscape Architecture was brought to you by Landscape Architects Network and our sponsors ZinCo – Life on Green Roofs – Ecological and Economical Green Roofs, worldwide.
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