World Landscape Architect

Landscape failed in eco-town plans, says Landscape Institute

The importance of landscape is neglected in the Government’s eco-towns plans, the Landscape Institute said this week.

Chair of the Landscape Institute Policy Committee Jon Lovell said eco-towns provided “an outstanding opportunity” but warned that the sustainability of the proposed eco-towns depended on the integration of landscape planning, design and management. He said that green space needed to be viewed as essential infrastructure – as equally as important as roads, services and other ‘grey’ infrastructure’ components.

SOURCE: Landscape Institute – Landscape failed in eco-town plans, says Landscape Institute.

Fight for Waterfront design hots up : Express & Star

First glimpses of how the multi-million million pound Walsall Waterfront development could look have been revealed after developers announced the final shortlist of designs.

We’re looking for a defining piece of architecture for Walsall and now have a shortlist of seven really powerful concepts to choose from.” The London-based contenders are Flacq and Featherstone Associates in a joint submission, Jacobs Architecture, Woods Bagot, Piercy Conner Architects and Type_O. In addition moh Architects (corr) from Vienna and Kirkland Fraser Moor Aldbury are in the frame.

SOURCE: Express & Star – Fight for Waterfront design hots up

Auckland students win by sustainable design

Open to University of Auckland Civil and Environmental Engineering students, the competition brief was to re-design a system that reduces stormwater runoff and pollution in new housing developments, while contributing to good urban design.

The competition was jointly sponsored by the Auckland Regional Council, the Hobsonville Land Company - a subsidiary of Housing New Zealand Corporation - with support from The University of Auckland.

The proposed re-design area covered 25 hectares of land in north-west Auckland currently being developed by the Hobsonville Land Company, and was to “set new benchmarks for sustainable development” using a Low Impact Design (LID) approach.

The winning team were Alex Cheah, Jonathan Church and Andrew Hope. They received a prize of $1,500. Runners up were Jade Gibson, Rachel Kelly and Julia Wells, who received $1,000. The third place went to Nick Hohaia, Sam Reed and Leon West, who received $500.

SOURCE Scoop.com.nz: Auckland students win by sustainable design.

Government delays eco-town design competition - Building Design

Government plans for a competition to “set the design standards” for its eco-towns programme have been delayed by at least a year amid mounting hostility to the 10 proposed developments.

The contest, announced last October by then housing minister Yvette Cooper, was set to involve “leading creative thinkers” in architecture and landscape design, as well as a so-called citizens’ panel. It was due to name winning proposals early this year.

But the competition, run by Cabe, the RIBA and the Prince’s Foundation, has now been mothballed until this October.

SOURCE: Building Design – Government delays eco-town design competition -

New York City’s Green Real Estate Blog - greenbuildingsNYC

Times Square is about to receive New York City’s first green-powered electronic billboard. Tokyo-based Ricoh Company, Ltd. will install a 47 by 126 foot sign on the Reuters Building (3 Times Square, at the northwestern corner of 42nd Street and 7th Avenue) that will draw power from 45 solar panels and 4 wind turbines. In what should be an interesting twist, if the photovoltaics do not receive sufficient sunlight or winds are not strong enough to drive the turbines, the sign will simply not illuminate. According to Ricoh, the installation should account for a reduction of 18 tons in carbon dioxide per year.

SOURCE: greenbuildingsNYC: New York City’s Green Real Estate Blog.

China quake prompts call for back-up copies of urban files-Xinhua

The Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development has urged cities across the country to keep extra copies of local urban planning files in other localities to preserve data against emergencies and disasters.

In the devastating May 12 earthquake in southwest China, such files in many regions, including Wenchuan, Beichuan and Pingwu, were either buried, destroyed or severely damaged.

SOURCE: Xinhua – China quake prompts call for back-up copies of urban files

Working Architecture Group wins ‘fast architecture’ competition

Working Architecture Group (WAG) has won this year’s Workspace Group Urbantine Project competition for fast architecture, part of Tent London, the London Design Festival show for emerging talent.
The London-based practice’s Open Tables Ecology – ‘a study in contemporary interaction theory’ – will be constructed and displayed on-site at the Truman Brewery in Brick Lane, East London, from 18-21 September.

SOURCE: Architect’s Journal: Working Architecture Group wins ‘fast architecture’ competition.

Star architects bid to design new center for South Korean capital as 21st century model city - International Herald Tribune

An all-star group of international architects bidding for the chance to design a new urban center for the South Korean capital said Tuesday the vast site offered a rare chance to create a model for 21st century cities.

Five top architecture firms behind many of the world’s recent iconic structures are being given US$1 million each to propose a master plan for the 28 trillion won (US$27 billion) Yongsan business district.

SOURCE: International Herald Tribune – Star architects bid to design new center for South Korean capital as 21st century model city 

LandDesign and Audubon Lifestyles Join Forces for Sustainable Development

LandDesign Inc. and Audubon Lifestyles, LLC, today announce a new strategic partnership aimed at helping businesses and municipalities to implement green design and development and build more sustainable communities.

The partnership will offer comprehensive, practical and timely assistance for clients that are committed to environmentally responsible green design and sustainable development, and creating long-term quality of life within their communities.

LandDesign has incorporated environmental sensibilities and stewardship into its projects for many years
Staff members of the two organizations have worked together on high-profile sustainable design projects such as The Sanctuary, a nature reserve lakeside community in Charlotte, North Carolina, and Hasentree Golf Community in Raleigh, North Carolina.

SOURCE: PRWeb – LandDesign and Audubon Lifestyles Join Forces for Sustainable Development.

ASLA launch Annual Meeting and EXPO website

 The ASLA Annual Meeting and EXPO web site is now open for business and I’d like to invite you to join us in Philadelphia, October 3-7.  In the next few days, you will be receiving the print registration brochure in the mail as well.  These contain all the info you need to register for the meeting, plan your travel, and book your hotel room.

The theme of our meeting will be Green Infrastructure: Linking Landscapes + Communities.  Now more than ever, the landscape architecture profession is leading the process that connects environmental, social, and economic health: green infrastructure.  Our annual meeting will celebrate the contributions of landscape architects in the design, planning, management, and research of the life support system for the planet.

This year’s event offers the unprecedented opportunity to earn 31.5 professional development hours through more than 120 exceptional general sessions, education sessions, field sessions, and tours.  We have recruited the very best experts from the U.S. and abroad to serve as our faculty.  The ASLA EXPO—the largest product display in the industry—will feature nearly 450 exhibitors, many of whom will be new to our show this year.  We’ll recognize current and future leaders of the profession with honors and awards.  We’ll connect with our colleagues from across the country and around the world at special events throughout the weekend.  And as our legacy to Philadelphia, we’ll introduce area ACE Mentor Program high school students to careers in landscape architecture in continuation of our “Each One, Reach One” campaign. 

Special thanks to our good friend Edward T. McMahon, Hon. ASLA, and to Island Press for allowing ASLA to use the book title, Green Infrastructure: Linking Landscapes and Communities as the theme for our meeting.  It’s inspiring reading and you may purchase a signed copy through the registration form for pickup at the annual meeting in the ASLA/ULI Bookstore.  Sales of the book support The Conservation Fund’s Green Infrastructure Program.

SOURCE: American Society of Landscape Architects.