Landscape Architecture

Jan Gehl talks about the problematic history of architecture, landscape architecture and yes, planning, when it comes to building cities for people rather than celebrating form for its own sake.

April 15, 2011 - ASLA's The Dirt blog

Grist points to a new series of blog posts offering step-by-step instructions on how to get a crosswalk installed in your neighborhood.

April 15, 2011 - Grist

Sidewalks in Holland have for years utilized piped-in waste heat to melt snow. Now, they've added an additional sidewalk amenity: a hearth.

April 14, 2011 - Metropolis

Gordon Douglas, writing for Good Magazine, explains that there has been an increase in the "unauthorized, creative alteration of public spaces for the common good" by enterprising citizens.

April 13, 2011 - GOOD Magazine

This episode of 99% Invisible explores public spaces and their role in political change, and how over hundreds of years, riots have defined New York's Tompkins Square Park -- despite efforts to design unrest out.

April 9, 2011 - 99% Invisible

Elms, oaks and poplars- trees are an important part of our landscape, but their anonymity means that preservation can be challenging.

April 8, 2011 - The Cultural Landscape Foundation

Volunteers in Detroit recently performed a community cleanup in an unlikely location: the old Tiger Stadium.

April 6, 2011 - The Detroit Free Press

New outdoor, publicly accessible ping pong tables are taking hold in New York City, adding an extra element of health and activity to some of the city's public parks.

April 5, 2011 - The New York Times

This piece from The Vancouver Sun looks into the controversy surrounding the removal of trees in the city, and what would have to be done to begin encouraging more tree plantings in the city.

April 5, 2011 - The Vancouver Sun

Water shortages are on the rise, and effective management of this dwindling resource is becoming increasingly important to cities. How architects and planners visualize water in the landscape plays a big role in how it is understood and managed.

April 3, 2011 - Places

As green spaces and public areas increase in demand, more and more projects are being awarded to landscape architects rather than architects, some foresee a potential professional turf war.

March 30, 2011 - The Architect's Newspaper

Landscape architect and designer Ken Smith talks about some things that inspire him, such as William H. Whyte's classic book The Social Life of Small Urban Spaces.

March 26, 2011 - Fast Company

Following trends seen in Europe and China, a public park in New York City has installed a ping pong table.

March 25, 2011 - DNAInfo

The City of San Francisco is expanding its program of "parklets" -- small public patio-like spaces built on parking spots.

March 25, 2011 - The San Francisco Examiner

Are parks landscapes or infrastructures -- or can they be both? This question is broached in this wide-reaching interview on the role of parks in cities with landscape architect Gerdo Aquino.

March 18, 2011 - Archinect

America's first public parks were cemeteries. But over time, they've moved from the center of town to the edges. A new book looks at the history of these places of the dead.

March 18, 2011 - The Atlantic

Our annual list of the 10 best planning, design, and development websites represents some of the top online resources for news, information and research on the built environment.

March 17, 2011 - Abhijeet Chavan

Neighbors across the country are clashing over whether or not to build sidewalks in their neighborhoods.

March 10, 2011 - The Wall Street Journal

NYC is reusing materials from a construction site in Queens to redesign the area's streetscape with pedestrian safety in mind.

March 9, 2011 - THE DIRT

The city of lakes ironically gets a redesigned riverfront, as was unveiled by the city's Park and Recreation Board. Click for more and the video of the winning design.

March 9, 2011 - THE DIRT