Planning for Wildlife

Some useful pointers for encouraging wildlife in your designs.



Dael Warrell

High Line Urban Park

Inspired by Zac's post I found this video of James Corner talking about the High Line Project.

And if you find that interesting you may want to sit back and watch this in depth presentation which goes into much more technical detail, and is a lot higher quality. V. Interesting!

The High Line pre-park. Photo from Flickr by Wallyg

Information is Beautiful

I went to a DO STUFF event last night. There was some very provocative discussion and presentations under the title 'sustainability v progress'. One of the speakers [Paul Iddon at Kernel] used some graphics from a wonderful website: information is beautiful is produced by David McCandless whose cites one of his passions as 'visualizing information – facts, data, ideas, subjects, issues, statistics, questions – all with the minimum of words'. 


It's well worth having a good look around - dare I hope that MMU landscape architecture students might produce analysis in such a sophisticated and dandy way?

Whilst having a good delve around on that site I stumbled across what I'm sure is destined to become my latest nerdy informational motherlode, Google Insights. It allows anyone with web access to 'compare search volume patterns across specific regions, categories, time frames and properties.' The JOY. 


A few seconds later and I can confirm that people google socks for christmas: the peak each year is just a little before the 25th of December. It's enough to warm the cockles of one's very toes. And on a more serious note, this could be an interesting addition to all kinds of projects. What do you think?

Malmo Western Harbour (Vaestra Hamnen)


The ecological district was built for a housing exhibition in 2001 it is part of the first phase in an ongoing plan to brand Malmo as a pioneering city in sustainable living. It's aim is to lead the way in environmental adaptation and social sustainability. It was transformed from a former industrial site into a trend-setting ecological district.

The Turning Torso is an iconic piece of architecture which acts as a magnet for initial attraction drawing people to the district.

Ecological sustainability - The architecture is a mix of styles as different firms were employed onto the project. Many people criticised this and felt that it caused a lack of order and felt no connecting link. I felt that this actually strengthened the landscape design, as a running theme of water became the strongest linking element.  However, whatever the opinion of the facades it is the underlying principles that  are most interesting. The buildings are competing against one another to be the pioneer of the newest and greenest technology. All the energy used in the area is produced locally. Renewable forms of energy are used, such as wind and solar power and ground and seawater heat extraction.

The housing opens out to the sea front revealing a fantastic view over to copenhagen. However, my criticism would be that the housing is designed in such a way that the tallest buildings are on the sea front, in the aim to create pockets of shelter within the housing complex. This is successful but obviously disastrous if you would like to sit on the sea front where now a vortex of wind is created and on a cold wet day can be rather uncomfortable. 

Grey-water and surface run-off was collected and moved through a system of open reed beds. This feature ran through the district linking the spaces together in a very attractive and innovative way. 


Laura Parsons

Sequential Journeys

Taken from a recent final yr presentation and based on a journey through an imaginary city, I drew these simple line drawings with fineliner pens of different thicknesses depending on what was to be accentuated in the drawing..

Terence

Intelligence Treatise Blog

http://www.landscapearchitectureintelligence.blogspot.com/

Here is the link to our 'Intelligence' blog. We have used it to record ideas, research and precedents during the treatise brief. You can see our presentation on here too!

We will be continuing to update our blog as we progress into the personal proposition stage of the brief.

We hope you find it interesting!

Laura, Kate, Zach and Tony.

Good Blog and MMU Alumnus

Two good sites to look at, the first is a blog on landscape, architecture and urbanism:

http://landscapeandurbanism.blogspot.com

The second has lots of interest and great graphics, but is especially relevant as James Corner is an MMU alumnus:

http://www.fieldoperations.net/

Zac

Copenhagen X

I had a really interesting lecture this week with a lady from Copenhagen X. They are not architects or city planners but a gateway to integrate the community with what is happening in the city. They want to celebrate and present the new developments "open people's eyes to the changes in the city"

CopenhagenXvideo

I really recommend looking further into their website and blog. http://www.cphx.dk
Below is a small selection of photographs from a tour around the university buildings.

The curved shapes of the foyer reflect the landscape surrounding the building breaking the boundary between internal and external space.

This I.T school was quite a sight. The playful and innovative design made a very comfortable and inspiring environment for study.

If you look closely you can see a small garden inside the building. The glass gives the illusion that the interior is not separate from the exterior.

Tietgenkollegiet,  Student accommodation at Universitetet
The most amazing student halls I have ever seen. The circular courtyard, where all communal activities face, creates a sociable and exciting living space.

A few more photos of copenhagen, just in case your interested.

Laura

ELASA - Latvia 2010


ELASA is an association formed by Landscape Architecture students around europe. Once a year they organise a trip to a different country in. This year it was in Latvia from the 23rd of Sept to 2nd Oct.

The trip started at Latvia's University of Agriculture in Jelgava.   

 After two days of workshop and lectures by Erik Skärbäck and Friedrich Kuhlmann we moved onto Mazirbe “Siliņi” national park.

The Dzintari Forest Park in Jurmala was an example how you can successfully create a relationship between the developing city and existing nature. A place where people were able to enjoy and engage with the environment.

Workshop with  Ģirts Runis Public Space designer and City Structure planner of Sigulda. Thinking about connecting the urban and natural parts of the city. 

We ended the trip in Riga with a party on a boat learning Latvian dance. I definitely recommend the trip its the perfect way to travel and meet other students with similar interest. The workshops and lectures are really interesting and make you consider the landscape your visiting in a whole different way .  

The next trip will be in germany, you should all really consider going! look at www.elasa.org.

Laura 

Alderley Edge visit

I think this picture shows the unique qualities of the areas landscape due to the texture, colour and land form. (Martins)

Mariana Moreno - Natural composition?

I like how the path accentuates the shape of the ground and the combination between the curve lines (the path) and the straight ones (the fence).

Maria Wejbro, Dreamy

The winding roots and the line with ferns contrast the faded wood in the background.

christina hammerschmid, domesticated nature

I like that photo because it shows the contrast between "wild" nature in its structure [the form of the site and its enclosing trees] and the texture of the hayfield [because it's plain surface as smooth as a golf course with the lawn-mower-lines].
Although it invites to step on it and enjoy the lawn, you are not allowed to do that. Instead you have to stay in a cramped path and just watch this picturesque scene.

Maisie Irlam, Green Fairy Tale

I like how the strong vertical lines of the tree trunks dominate this picture and the way the muted colours emphasises the eerie atmosphere.

Sophie Lewis, Cow Field.

I like the composition of this print as it shows different aspects of the countryside.

Chantel Wynn, Nature at it's Best

Vikki Ellenbogen: "Life will find a way", Jurassic Park

These tree roots had forced their way out of the wall of a dug out pathway.
I love this photograph because to me, it says, no matter what the human input on the landscape, if left, nature will always take over.

Rob Ware, 'Road to success! monopoly'