Where Wildflowers Bloom

To gain a better understanding of the urban-rural fringe, I have explored precedent projects that successfully integrate urban and rural elements Although not directly on the fringe, the Cheonggyecheon Stream Restoration Project in Seoul demonstrates the possible synergies between the urban environment and the natural world. Transforming an unsightly and polluting elevated free way into a re-naturalised stream. The project not only restores the site's ecological balance but also exemplifies the multitude of benefits that arise from designing with nature such as the positive environmental impacts of reintroducing ‘non-urban’ elements back into cities, including pollution control, water management, and enhanced ecological value. Moreover, it highlights the socio-cultural and economic advantages, such as job creation, sustainable tourism, diverse recreational activities, and improved health and well-being! Principle objectives that we aspire to achieve from the transformation of Alney...

The project for Alney Island requires us to design an accessible ecological park on a floodplain within high-risk Flood Zone 3. During a very rainy visit to the island, it was clear that most of the site is flooded by the River Severn - including the primary footpath that runs through the middle of the site. There are several ways to develop on floodplain areas, and as I continue researching suitable measures, I will investigate precedents that have successfully created safe, enchanting trails and destinations that ensure the protection of the valuable habitats. Designing with nature is an ideal solution to alleviating flood waters, providing flood water storage and enhancing biodiversity. The island already hosts a range of wetland areas that can certainly be expanded with created wetlands, scrapes and even riparian marshes that absorb and store excess water during periods of high rainfall whilst stabilising riverbanks and preventing erosion. Wetland areas offer recreational opportuni...

Building Design Partnership (BDP) is a huge, global multidisciplinary company with specialists in all areas of design, engineering and planning, working together to make places for people. Their portfolio features huge masterplans and restoration projects such as the New Pujiang Centre in Shanghai and the Jakarta River Development in Indonesia, recovering these cities from the damaging effects of rapid urbanization. The Jakarta project was supposedly completed in 2019 but there aren’t finished photos available, a running theme throughout their online portfolio, it seems. However, I have selected an image from the proposed eco-district development in Les Gargues, Aubagne, France. Chosen for the ‘natural landscape’ and wonderful variety of trees. The plan for this landscape reveals what looks to be a successful integration of the natural and built environment. We can see a variety of habitats within the image along with sustainable measures to manage water, including vegetated swales...

The OLIN Studio have a distinctive attitude towards landscape design, one that is traditional in a sense and unconventional in others. Many other landscape practises today, rightly place emphasis on climate mitigation measures and put them at the core of their company values and strategy, whereas OLIN takes it back to the basics. That landscapes are intended to look beautiful and are paramount to the recreation and interaction of human beings, with craft as the seminal component to that delivery.   There are a few projects in their portfolio that display a wonderful array of colourful, curiously all located in the City of Dreams!! The City Market of Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Convention Center and the West LA Courthouse are all renovation projects, giving new life to the surrounding neighbourhoods. Bright colours, mixed patterns and vibrant planting schemes inspire excitement and fun in all three projects, something I intend for the eco and creative quarter at North Place. W...

PWP Landscape Architecture are “constructing landscapes that refine nature, engage culture and sustain them both.”  Their design for The Quzhou Sports Centre Park is a project that piques my interest the most. With buildings that are truly disguised as a landscape. This picture provides a precedent for the ‘dome building’ (probably not called this) in my design for North Place. Featuring both the sloped, hilly sides that lead to a dome crown that sits atop – I guess my ideas are proving unoriginal, but I am pleased to be able to see something similar, being executed so beautiful. I particularly enjoy the disguised access points, the magical enigma of ‘what’s inside’ and a real-life depiction of what feels like a futuristic fantasy world, where man lives inside the mountains. It is the landform (or built form?!? Both, I guess?) that I admire most about this project, along with the dramatic and slender pine border.

Grant Associates, perhaps best known for their design of the nature park Gardens by the Bay, Singapore, are a landscape practise that are exploring what regenerative design and the circular economy means to landscape architecture. They are involved in both grand global projects and those that are small scale and local with the intention to take action against the multitude of environmental and economic crises we face today.   Of course, Gardens by the Bay is an outstanding project. Yet I struggled to find much else from their website portfolio that inspired me. Their designs are varied in style, at different scales and for commercial, residential and public domains and it appears that their hearts are in the right place – their focus on a circular economy is particularly admired and appreciated. But there are only 15 projects on their website, with the majority kind of.. dare I say… basic? I have selected some images of the Barangaroo South Public Domain, Sydney due to the mate...

SLA are a well-known nature-based design studio with a mission to ‘design places for life. All life.’ Reinvent Paris – Ternes Villiers is a project on top of the Boulevard Peripherique ring road. The project intends not only to bring a new, public green-realm but to combine nature-based ecosystem services with over 200 plant and tree species that improve the micro-climate, absorb water and clean the air from pollutants. All facades are covered by climbing plants while trees perch on every floor. I have chosen this project, not particularly for how it looks but for its services. It is a clear representation of how green we can go with our multi-story buildings, something I plan for the multi-storey residential building in my design for North Place. Another similarity, is that they have a tea plantation and a tea café! This is an idea I had at the beginning of our project, a sustainable alternative to imported coffee. The tea rooms are one of my favourite features in my design – and ...

STOSS use landscape to ‘right the wrongs’, transforming neglected or abandoned spaces into climate resilient places that aim to protect and generate new, educational experiences. Their strategy for climate adaptation primarily focuses on water management by ways of storm water storage and infiltration, water conservation a coastal flooding prevention. Their other strategy is to increase tree canopies by creating urban forests. The project that I have chosen is one that is currently under construction.   Triangle Park is a ‘left over’ space that will be planted with almost 400 new trees. I am going to attempt to adopt this approach with my design for North Place. Infilling the gaps with flowering groves and increasing an almost non-existent canopy over the site. Trees are the vital design component of Triangle Park, paired with subtle paving choices and seating as not to emphasize the wonders of nature.

Mutabilis is a landscape design practise that focuses on the long-term output of their projects, following a "change what needs to be changed" approach.  They are imaginative and playful in their designs, which can be seen particularly in their Garden of Giants, Lille. Throughout their portfolio there are several projects that display abundant flora in urban areas. Despite the surrounding multi-storey buildings, there is a real wildness, one that favours green space and soft surfaces over hardscaping. Although most of my floor plane is resided by buildings, I will attempt to encourage this approach for my design at North Place. The “40 Journals” Project is a residential district in Bordeaux with striking pines, rooftop trees and productive land – the trees are a dominant feature throughout the project. They’re enchanting, appearing almost ‘in charge’, overseeing and all knowing. Another project that piques my interest is the Fluvial Eco-District. Much like North place, ...

BAM Biblioteca degli Alberi - Studio Giorgetta  The first precedent explored this week is Studio Giorgetta’s ‘Biblioteca degli Alberi’ / Library of Trees. The design intention was to bring a new type of park to the City of Milan, a modern take to a Botanic Garden – each plot of the park focusing on different species and growth programmes. As the park is still relatively new (completed in 2018), the slender saplings in the circular forests have a while until they reach maturity, which will of course alter the spatial surroundings.  This review is via desktop, so without the real experience of being within the park – but it seems bare?  In the conceptual stages it appears that there are more circular forests than in the final construction and recent aerial photographs reveal areas of wide-open space. To me there is no mystery, or hidden treasure around the corner, it is all just there… straight and flat. I appreciate the intent to encourage users from all areas vi...

My research into precedent studies continues...  Mary Bartelme Park - Site Design Group Mary Bartelme Park is a 2.3-acre city park located on a brownfield site in the heart of a revitalized warehouse district.  There are strong diagonal paths that connect the distinct zones throughout the park, identifying transition throughout the space – for someone who is frightened by dogs, I personally appreciate the separation of the Dog Park and the attention paid to the differing desires of the park users. In the same way, the Contemplative Garden has been positioned at a distance from the Sculpted Playground, revealing a variety of spirits within the site – almost different parks as part of a whole. Although I appreciate the notion that the site will be used by different people for different things , it leads to me wonder whether there is a lack of unity. For me the design boasts practicality and makes positive use out of a once forsaken place – there are bright, colourful visual...

Adriaan Geuze is a cofounder and design director of Dutch firm West 8, a leading practise for landscape architecture and urban design. A project that piques my interest within the West 8 portfolio is the design of the San Pellegrino Flagship Factory, a joint project with BIG.   The natural landscape bodes abundant views in all directions such as flowing rivers, forested slopes and vast open skies. The designed landscape fuses classical features with a modern refinement, a combination of rustic, Italian heritage with a clean, simple elegance.  What I like: ·        The material choices mimic that of the surrounding geology, flecked with natural tones of grey and white.  ·        There is a powerful geometric juxtaposition between the squared outer form of the factory to the internal archways.   ·        The variation and repetition of timeless arches creates an enticing and ...

Exploring precedents ahead of North Place design development. Ocean County Library Plaza   mikyoung kim’s design of Ocean County Library Plaza uses lighting concepts in the landscape. The sculptural installation guides visitors to the entrance of the library and symbolises knowledge and community heart.    The size of the lighting sculptures boasts a proud and enchanting statement supported by the liner paving design - both of which are representative of the concept. The multi route footpaths indicate considerations to the flow of visitors and approach routes to the site, they open up the front entrance to the street entirely, welcoming all visitors. The sculptures add ambience to the night street scape and a sense of safety.    I admire the concept and approach but personally feel uneasy with the aesthetics. The form of the sculptures and paving choices against the existing surroundings provoke unsettlement and tension to me.  Though they may represen...

  Field Operations are Landscape Architects and Urban Designers, committed to designing places for people with local culture and authenticity.  Due to complete this year, NBCUniversal Campus Project provides new green space intending to bring people closer to the outdoors and to one another. Comprising of shaded lawns, plaza, outdoor activity space and flexible gathering areas for markets and events. This project reveals that outdoor space is becoming essential to everyday productivity and responds to the provision for multiuse landscapes.  The colour palette is what I particularly like about the project. Neutral shades for both the paving and the building bring brightness and warmth to what could have been a dreary grey landscape. Sandy tones initiate a relaxing aura and integrate with the surrounding vegetation creating an earthy characteristic, while contrasting the green features, making them the focal point.  Again, I find myself in favour of the minimalist desi...

Christopher Bradley-Hole is considered to have a modernist design approach, reducing furniture and structures to essentials only - following the principles of ‘form follows function’. Though often minimalist in form, his well-considered planting schemes create a sense of 'wild' and liveliness to his landscape designs. The use of upright, expressive planting palettes and dramatic trees bring drama and fascination to the modest surroundings, amongst the intrinsic pleasantries and calming ambiances of nature. Bradley-Hole’s palette at Bury Court uses abundant grasses in grid like beds to integrate the gardens with the landscape beyond. In addition to the formal planting beds, from within the gardens, the landscape is framed in every direction by the timber structures, confirming the modernist garden approach. But the meadow like perennials and mixed grasses defy the formality of the garden, inviting vibrancy into the framework.  With vivacious, eye catching planting schemes, the f...

The vision of Studio Dreiseitl is to solve urban challenges via blue-green infrastructure that increases resilience, protects natural resources, and provides desirable green spaces for pleasure, learning, health and wellness.     Kampung Admiralty, Singapore, designed in 2013 is a community-residential development bringing together a multitude of programmes under one roof. The project not only provides an integration of greenery within the built environment but encompasses edible and medicinal plants that supply the onsite food and medical centres. The ‘one-stop’ development explores the possibilities of localised living and creative land use that supports people, wildlife, and the environment.    The design features rainwater harvesting for irrigation, sustainable drainage systems and a wealth of trees - just look at the green oasis amidst the developed city!! It is a vibrant and attractive ideal of future city landscapes and has provided inspiration for my des...

Sir Geoffrey Jellicoe considered landscape design as "the mother of all arts". He was one of the leading Landscape Architects of 20 th  Century and a founding member of the Landscape Institute with a successful career spanning almost 70 years. Jellicoe regenerated towns wounded by the war and explored the relationship between design and the subconscious.  Jellicoe recognized the experience of a landscape and the effects of time on a place. He also understood the powers of nature on the human mind and designed gardens free from the constraints of formal architecture to engage the subconscious. The subconscious of course, being different and unique to every individual.  The gardens at Shute House were originally designed between 1969 and 1988 and revitalised again by Jellicoe in 1993. There is a wonderful enigma to the garden, a mysterious adventure with flourishing findings around each corner. There is a restricted colour pallet and emphasis on evergreen planting to provid...

Roberto Burle Marx is seen to have revolutionised garden aesthetic, breaking the boundaries of formal European through modernist design. The four-kilometre-long promenade at Copacabana Beach, designed by Burle Marx in 1970 and the Safra Bank Roof Garden reveal his recognisable abstract and colourful pavement designs.     Although in Landscape Architecture we explore the vertical planes and multidimensions of a place to create a fully immersive experience, we must not forget that we spend most of our time looking at the floor. I used Burle Marx works as inspiration for St James Park in DP1, exploring rhythmic geometry and coloured paving to enhance colour, culture and expression in the landscape. Using the floor as a canvas provides a multitude of potentials from the obvious expression of creative and cultural art to dividing and integrating spaces that enhance flow and movement. I have chosen these two precedents as I intend to integrate Burle Marx’s decorative ground style in...

Hargreaves Jones venture to ‘set landscapes into motion’ via enduring, evolving, and adaptable design. The Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park is a project in their portfolio that brings colour, vibrance and excitement to a once bleak landscape. The project is extremely successful, not only does it encourage wildlife back into the city but it has encouraged a network of surrounding community growth, carrying creativity, youth and energy to the banks of the River Lea.       The lowland meadows and bright, dramatic planting are what peak my interest the most. The array of colour, texture and stature provide delightful displays that ultimately set the tone of the park - if not disrupted by West Ham fans.  Similarly to Hargreaves Jones, I intend to propose a rich planting scheme for North Place. Plants represent the beauty of the natural world and the diversity of its form and they enhance fulfilment, passion and gratification. I believe that the planting scheme is th...