Landscape Architecture

Backyard Transformed Into Pocket Park

Downtown Nantucket has acquired a Main St. residents backyard in a prime spot for a pocket park. Landscape architect David W. Bartsch dug in to create an historically correct park style.

November 17, 2008 - The Inquirer and Mirror

How Frederick Law Olmsted Got the Central Park Job

If the Frederick Law Olmsted of 1857 offered to plan and manage your city’s central park, you probably wouldn’t hire him. The 35-year-old then was a farmer, journalist and former sailor with no formal training in architecture, engineering or any related field. Though he didn’t have much technical expertise, he had great leadership skills. Those gave him the opportunity to succeed, and helped him become successful, according to Leonardo Vazquez.

November 10, 2008 - Leonardo Vazquez, AICP/PP

Americans Less Green Outdoors

The American Society of Landscape Architects has released a study revealing that while most adults practice energy-efficient strategies at home, they are considerably less green in their yards and lawns.

November 6, 2008 - Land Online

Van Der Rohe Plaza Adapted to Ward Off Skateboarders

In a privately-owned plaza designed by Mies van der Rohe in Toronto, owners have sliced into benches to dissuade skateboarding. Some call it an affront to the legendary designer's work.

November 3, 2008 - The Globe and Mail

Vancouver Seeks Identity Through Public Square

A contest sponsored by the Vancouver Public Space Network asks the public to find Vancouver's heart, a civic square that best defines the city. Sean Ruthen ponders the city's relationships to the each its primary squares now.

October 30, 2008 - re:place Magazine

Transforming Landfill Into Landscape

A project to transform a municipal landfill into a terraced landscape wins high honors at the 2008 World Architecture Festival in Barcelona, Spain.

October 27, 2008 - CNN

Is it 'Over' for the American Landscape?

In this review of Alex MacLean's new book, "Over: The American Landscape at the Tipping Point," Hervé Kempf of Le Monde describes MacLean's book as a photo essay on a nation at the end of an era.

October 23, 2008 - Truthout

Rebuilding Underway in Sichuan Province

A California-based architecture firm has been selected by a Sichuan planning department to rebuild the city of Dujiangyan after the deadly earthquake in the province earlier this year.

October 23, 2008 - Architectural Record

The Experts' Picks for Prettiest Towns in America

Travel writers, photographers, and an urban designer selected by Forbes have named the 20 prettiest towns in America; their varied definitions of "prettiness" are reflected in their choices.

October 22, 2008 - Forbes Traveler

Public Art Project's Impact at $69 Million

Olafur Eliasson’s "Waterfalls" public art installations around New York Harbor's waterfront generated an estimated economic impact of $69 million, exceeding the initial estimate of $55 million.

October 22, 2008 - The New York Times

Legislations Rewards Affordable Housing with Parks

A new piece of legislation rewards local governments in California that build affordable housing with money to build and maintain parks.

October 22, 2008 - Marketwatch

Humanizing Spaces

That's how landscape architect Edward L. Daugherty sees his job. “I think if there is a thread in my work, it’s to help people use the space that is available,” he says in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution as a retrospective of his work opens.

October 17, 2008 - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

When A Road Is More Than Just A Road

Brooklyn’s Ocean Parkway is one of America’s most 'elegant' roads. Designed by landscape architects Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux to replicate the grand European Boulevards; opened in 1876, it was designated a landmark by NYC 100 years later

October 13, 2008 - The New York Times

Will Praise Mean Anything for Central Park?

New York's Central Park was recently named to the APA's list of the country's 10 best public spaces. Sewell Chan wonders if the designation will really mean anything new for the park.

October 13, 2008 - The New York Times

What Copenhagen's Parks Can Learn From New York

Park planners from Denmark recently toured some of New York's parks and found much to be jealous of.

October 10, 2008 - The New York Times

Farming in Skid Row...Vertically

Around Los Angeles' Skid Row, vertical farms have been installed on walls. Its project leaders note that it not only promotes locally grown foods, but it also beautifies areas that "would otherwise just be concrete and steel."

October 10, 2008 - Architectural Record

The Fight for the Front Lawn

Greg Beato looks at self-expression via the front lawn. In places that lack homeowners associations, he suggests, individualized lawns have great potential to strengthen the surrounding community.

October 8, 2008 - Reason Online

Bench Urbanism

Christopher Hume looks at the welcoming power of benches in seating-heavy Montreal, and argues that other cities need to take the simple step of planting more benches to make urban areas more lively and attractive.

October 6, 2008 - The Toronto Star

'Growing Water' Project Gets a Hand

The architecture studio that won The History Channel's City of the Future competition last year has gotten some help making its ideas possible.

October 3, 2008 - Architectural Record

New Heights for Seattle's Public Art

Going beyond traditional approaches to public art, Washington's transit authority has launched a program that provides the city with art that expresses Seattle's "core identity."

October 3, 2008 - Seattle Post-Intelligencer

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