According to biographer Anthony Flint, Le Corbusier (seen here in an undated photo) once proposed razing Paris' historic Marais neighborhood in order to give the dilapidated district a fresh start. AP hide caption

According to biographer Anthony Flint, Le Corbusier (seen here in an undated photo) once proposed razing Paris' historic Marais neighborhood in order to give the dilapidated district a fresh start.

What do an Ikea showroom floor, urban housing projects and Kanye West have in common? They've all been inspired, at least to some degree, by the Swiss-born French architect Le Corbusier. Though his name has fallen out of the popular imagination Frank Lloyd Wright is much more likely to ring a bell Le Corbusier's influence is visible nearly everywhere you look in the landscape of the modern world, sometimes for better, and sometimes for worse.

Anthony Flint has written a new biography of the architect called Modern Man: The Life of Le Corbusier, Architect of Tomorrow. As he tells NPR's Rachel Martin, today Le Corbusier is either derided or revered.

"He's blamed for urban renewal ... urban freeways, even countless suburban office parks with their horizontal strip windows," he says. "But what he was trying to do at the time, if you go back to the 1920s, was he was challenging the status quo. He believed that the city wasn't up to its full potential. And this spirit of innovation, I think, is something that can be applied in today's developing world cities in the 21st century just millions and millions of people streaming into cities and many of them moving directly to slums. So, those challenges are very much before us, in the same way that Le Corbusier faced them."

On Le Corbusier's shifting World War II alliances

He was nothing if not an opportunist. And during World War II, he rather aggressively sought to join the [collaborationist] Vichy government after the Nazi occupation of France, and he wanted to be the sort of urban czar for the Vichy government, and he consorted with some quite unsavory characters. ... He did say some things about Hitler in a letter to his mother that suggested that there was inherently a grand vision for Europe in what he did. And he was saying all the right things, if you will, to kind of ingratiate himself in the administration of the Vichy government.

Now, he did give up on this pretty quickly. And so, he ends up getting himself back to Paris. And by 1944, and of course 1945, he switched sides again and starts advising [French resistance leader Charles] de Gaulle about post-war housing and urban policies.

On the building that best exemplifies Le Corbusier's work

I guess I would say Unit d'Habitation in [Marseilles, France,] might have been the most inspiring and the most emblematic for how he thought about housing and efficient housing design. ... It's straight out of an Ikea catalog when you walk into some of these apartments. They're arranged over 12 floors, essentially, like "bottles in a wine rack" that was how he described it and it makes very efficient use of space. There are sliding doors that, you know, have chalkboards on them to write down grocery lists, built-in shelves. There's also a balcony that looks over the Mediterranean and makes things feel open. But it's just a terrific, efficient use of space. And within the building itself: theatre; shops; on the rooftop a gym; a school. So, it was a new approach to living.

Excerpt from:
Like It Or Not, Architect Le Corbusier's Urban Designs Are Everywhere

Welcome to a battle of the galas.

In one corner: New York City Center, for 70 years a Midtown theater with two stages and Moorish decor left over from its original tenant, the Shriners, who built the place in the 1920s.

In the other corner, Park Avenue Armory, for seven years an ever-morphing stage and arts space inside an Upper East Side building created circa 1880 for the Seventh Regiment of the New York militia.

Both organizations present theater, dance and music, and did so at their galas this week. Both run education programs for school children, which were highlighted at their galas. Both have leaders in finance on their boards and as patrons, who came out for the galas. Only one will win this battle.

Who was there: At the Park Avenue Armory were Bill Ackman of Pershing Square Capital, Dan Stern of Reservoir Capital, Thomas H. Lee of Lee Equity Partners, Alexander Navab of KKR, Len Blavatnik, Lyor Cohen, Mortimer Zuckerman, and so many more so spread out in that vast drill hall it was hard to keep track.

At City Center were Peter J. Solomon, Mark Kingdon of Kingdon Capital, Stacy Bash-Polley of Goldman Sachs, and Nancy Peretsman of Allen & Co. Pablo Salame, whos on the management committee at Goldman Sachs, was a bit self-conscious about wearing a tuxedo when everyone else was in suits (poor guy, he had to wear a tux the next night too to Elton Johns AIDS foundation gala).

Eric Mindich of Eton Park Capital sat with theater producers Robert and Mindy Rich, who are bringing the new musical Honeymoon in Vegas to Broadway, and his wife, Stacey Mindich, co-chairman of City Center, whose credits include Annie. (By the way, their three sons loved Annie and spent a lot of time with Sandy the dog, she said.)

Id call this a draw -- as props must be given to all people who go to galas, period, including the 500 guests at City Center and 800 at the Armory -- but I am giving the point to the Armory. The reason: Ackmans hoot of a disclosure that he once dressed as SpongeBob SquarePants to a Halloween street party with his kids. According to his wife, the kids ran away in embarrassment.

Ackman also gets a point for generosity: Pershing Square Capital and the Pershing Square Foundation signed on as a sponsor of the Armory for the next three seasons, a $1.5 million commitment.

On the matter of showcasing arts education: Director Peter Sellars, who was honored by the Park Avenue Armory, spoke of meeting kids from Brooklyn whove attended his performances at the venue. He also spoke of the importance of art education in a rather grand manner.

Read more here:
Scene Last Night: In Battle of the Galas, One Triumph

HORT 120 RealTime Landscape Architect Master Plan Day Time View
RealTime Landscape Architect Day Time Walk Through.

By: Joshua Dunay

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HORT 120 RealTime Landscape Architect Master Plan Day Time View - Video

Quicklinks: Debate - History articles - Theory articles -Design Theory and Methods - Careers and jobs - Landscape Planning & Urban Design - London Landscape Architecture

Landscape architecture is one of the world's most important professions.

Neglecting the architectures of the world's fast-changing landscapes will result in endless highways lined with endless blocks of endless tedium - dreary expanses of housing, industry, forestry and agriculture - our natural landscapes buried under repetitive building and planting. Instead, we should design the architecture of 'new landscapes for our new lives' (Fairbrother, N. 1970). The engineering of anti-landscapes should make way for an enlightened landscape architecture. With the death of engineer's modernism, it is time for a twenty-first century approach. See:- 20 Essays on Landscape Architecture & Urban Design + 750 illustrations.

Landscape architecture is the professional skill of composing man-made structures, including buildings and paving, with the natural landscape and with designs for landform, water and planting. See also: Definitions of landscape, landscape design, landscape architecture, landscape planning and EID.

Landscape architecture and garden design are separate arts with a shared and ancient heritage. The distinction is that gardens are usually enclosed and private. Landscape architecture is concerned with public goods and public spaces. Societies require landscape architectural policies for each land use category - to conserve what has value and and to create new public goods. See the policies for: urbanisation, greenways, cycling, forestry, mineral extraction, transport, water storage, river reclamation, new towns and green towns.

The name "landscape architecture" was invented by a Scotsman in 1828. It uses the ancient skill of garden designers (to compose landform with water, vegetation, structures and paving) and applies this skill to the man-made landscape. As Sir Geoffrey Jellicoe wrote in The landscape of man (1975): 'It is only in the present century that the collective landscape has emerged as a social necessity. We are promoting a landscape art on a scale never conceived of in history'. Landscape architecture is set fair to become the mother of the arts.

Landscape architects share with garden designers a concern for the planning and design of outdoor space. Like vets and doctors they have similar knowledge and similar skills. The key difference is that landscape architects normally work for public clients (business and governmental) while garden designers tend to work for homeowners. The range of work undertaken by landscape architects extends from detailed design to the broad scale landscape planning. It includes:

Though they require similar skills, the garden design and landscape architecture professions offer different career and jobs. Landscape architecture jobs often involve working with other professionals (engineers, planners, environmental consultants etc) and have typical career paths from assistant to associate to partner or director. Garden designers are more likely to be self-employed and to work with builders and craftsmen. The illustrations to the right are of landscape architecture.

over 3 years by garden design sydney 5 / 5

about 4 years by Gwenneth Raybould 5 / 5

See the article here:
The Landscape Architecture Profession - design and planning

Three sites in California the Watts Towers, Noah Purifoy's Outdoor Desert Museum in Joshua Tree and the"Bay Lights" installation on the Oakland-Bay Bridge have been named to a list of 11 "at-risk" sites by The Cultural Landscape Foundation in Washington, D.C.

These places join eight other at-risk sites around the United States, including the Wells Petroglyph Preserve in northern New Mexico, which is facing problems of erosion, as well as the garden at the Frick Collection in New York City, under threat due to proposed expansion plans at the museum.

"Landscapes often die quiet deaths when you're dealing with the elements," says foundation President Charles Birnbaum. "It can be wind or it can be earthquakes. Unless landscapes are cared for, they can reach the tipping point. What this list does is to try to prevent that from happening."

Begun in 1998, the foundation raises awareness about issues of landscape design.

"Lots of institutions will have information on their websites about the architect of their building or their collections, but when it comes to landscape there often is nothing," Birnbaum says. "What we want to do is teach people how to see and value landscape and the people who shape those landscapes."

The at-risk list was launched in 2003 as a way of drawing national attention to places that are threatened with neglect, demolition, poor maintenance or lack of funding. This year's theme revolves entirely around land-based art and includes art installations and other projects in California and New York, as well as Iowa, Washington and Michigan.

Watts Towers and Purifoy's outdoor museum were included because they face preservation challenges and for the unique qualities they bring to the landscape.

"What's so inspiring about Noah Purifoy and [Watts Towers creator] Simon Rodia is that they're driven, they're unrelenting, they're passionate," says Birnbaum. "What they created was of a singular vision."

The Watts Towers are under the conservation stewardship of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, which has been overseeing repairs and maintenance on the site in conjunction with the city of Los Angeles and the Department of Cultural Affairs. Last year, the museum secured a grant to bring in engineers from UCLA to study the stability of the structures, which have been plagued by cracks and loose bits of mosaic elements.

Purifoy's Outdoor Museumpresents its own challenges. Namely, weather and vandalism damage to the sculptures, which are on 10 acres of open land in Joshua Tree.

Read more from the original source:
California's 'at-risk' cultural landscapes include Watts Towers

MLA Applications

We are still accepting applications for the Master of Landscape Architecture program.

Eight University of Minnesota members of the ASLA-MN Student Chapter visited Toronto, Canada August 24 through August 29th.

Although Toronto is double in size compared to the Twin Cities, there are important similarities, including a cold climate, post industrial waterfront urban city. It boasts of new world-renown landscape architecture projects by leading international firms.

The students visited these projects, varying in scale, form, and type, rural to urban. They researched these sites prior and made a booklet including the history of Toronto, and background information on each site to be visited.

Firm and site tours by professionals added to the excitement of the trip. Janet Rosenberg, from Janet Rosenberg & Associates, gave the students a firm tour and explained her HTO Park, one of the waterfront projects the students had visited. Roberto Chiotti, principal of Larkin Architects, generously offered a tour of his off-the-grid straw bale house, and his expertise as he walked the waterfront with the students. Dennis Winters, principal of Tales of the Earth, gave a tour of Evergreen Brick Works Park and explained his recent project associated with the Don River Valley.

Check out the blog the students kept each day: http://www.aslamnsc.tumblr.com.

Thanks to the many donors who made this trip possible: ASLA-MN, Metropolitan Design Center, donors to the GoFundMe website, and all who participated in the two fundraisers at Damon Farber & Associates and the lovely home of Chris Behringer.

On Sunday, March 10 students of the University of Minnesota MLA program made their Netherlands rendezvous to commence their field studies for The Cultural Ecology of Water in the Netherlands traveling studio. With backpacks and bikes, sketchbooks and snapshots, for the next four weeks students are immersed (get it?) in a direct experience of how the Dutch landscape is a symbiosis of culture and water. Follow their blog to experience daily narrative and photographic accounts of their progress.

Nearly three years after traveling to Itasca State Park and commencing their MLA program of study, 25 MLA students are currently focused on their capstone studio projects. The spring semester LA8555 Capstone Studio is the culmination of the MLA educational process and is the first step in transition from the academy to a professional role in Landscape Architecture. The studio allows students an opportunity to pursue an independent course of inquiry into a variety of contemporary issues and project sites, of their choosing, within the discipline of Landscape Architecture.

Originally posted here:
Department of Landscape Architecture

Artist Janet Zweig will reveal her plans for the Westmoreland Museum of American Art's Bridging the Gap project at two public meetings this week.

The museum is working with Zweig, landscape architect Fred Bonci, PennDOT and the city of Greensburg to renovate the North Main Street and North Maple Avenue bridges in tandem with an $18 million renovation and expansion of the museum building between the two streets.

The fences on the bridges will be rebuilt to include viewing windows, which will allow pedestrians to look out toward the museum.

We're working with (Zweig) to incorporate her artwork into our landscape, said Bonci, who is heading landscape architecture for the museum. We want to make those bridges kind of a highlight as people drive by.

The public meetings revealing the artwork will be held 6-7 p.m. Tuesday and 3:30-4:30 p.m. Wednesday in room 003 of Greensburg Salem Middle School.

Zweig, a Brooklyn artist whose work can be seen at the Mellon Park Walled Garden in Pittsburgh, said she was given a clear mission by the museum.

They want to bridge the gap between downtown Greensburg, local residents and the museum on the hill, she said.

Two of the viewing windows on the bridges will look out onto anamorphic illusions artworks on the museum grounds that will appear in their intended form only when viewed from the bridges. They will look different from any other perspective.

You're going to notice some kind of three-dimensional imagery that draws your eyes to the museum, Bonci said.

Zweig is keeping the nature of the works secret until next week's meetings, but she dropped a few hints.

View post:
Artists plans to bridge the gap in Greensburg to be shown this week

LITTLE ROCK A landscape architect and an auto refinish technician who performs shows as Elvis Presley are challenging Arkansas incumbent land commissioner.

Republican John Thurston, 41, of Little Rock has served as state land commissioner since 2011. He was formerly employed as a staff member at Agape Church in Little Rock and a certified religious assistant in the Arkansas prison system. He and his wife, Joanna, have five children.

Democrat Mark Robertson, 60, of Little Rock is the head of MESA Landscape Architects. A landscape architect and land planner, he previously worked as a surveyor for the U.S. Forest Service and in the construction industry. He and his wife, Le Ann, have one child.

Libertarian Elvis D. Presley, 48, of Star City is an auto refinish technician at Camps Custom Paint and an entertainer who performs shows as Elvis Presley. He legally changed his name in 2006. He ran for governor as a Libertarian in 2010. He and his wife, Valerie, have five children.

Candidates were asked three questions and allowed up to 150 words for each answer. Each responded via email.

What in your background qualifies you to be land commissioner?

Presley: I will answer your question with a question. Are there any qualifications for the office? I think if a person can balance a checkbook, then he or she could be qualified in a sense. I do believe that honesty is a start.

Robertson: I have over 35 years of experience working with Arkansas lands and land-based issues across Arkansas as well as globally. I have a real understanding of the communities within our state, and how our land can be used as an asset to help communities, and public education, thrive. As a citizen advocate Ive worked with the state Legislature on issues with significant importance to our local communities, bringing both sides of the aisle together to get things done for Arkansas. This experience will be invaluable in establishing policy to benefit Arkansas.

Thurston: I am the current land commissioner and have served since 2011 with a proven record of honesty, integrity and transparency. I set out four years ago to make this office a leader of ethics and transparency and I have done just that. Aside from my duties in the office I also serve as president of the Western States Land Commissioners Association and have received support from the Arkansas Realtors Political Action Committee.

If you are elected or re-elected, what plans to do you have for the office?

Read the rest here:
Q-A: Democrat, Libertarian challenge land commissioner

LITTLE ROCK A landscape architect and an auto refinish technician who performs shows as Elvis Presley are challenging Arkansas incumbent land commissioner.

Republican John Thurston, 41, of Little Rock has served as state land commissioner since 2011. He was formerly employed as a staff member at Agape Church in Little Rock and a certified religious assistant in the Arkansas prison system. He and his wife, Joanna, have five children.

Democrat Mark Robertson, 60, of Little Rock is the head of MESA Landscape Architects. A landscape architect and land planner, he previously worked as a surveyor for the U.S. Forest Service and in the construction industry. He and his wife, Le Ann, have one child.

Libertarian Elvis D. Presley, 48, of Star City is an auto refinish technician at Camps Custom Paint and an entertainer who performs shows as Elvis Presley. He legally changed his name in 2006. He ran for governor as a Libertarian in 2010. He and his wife, Valerie, have five children.

Candidates were asked three questions and allowed up to 150 words for each answer. Each responded via email.

What in your background qualifies you to be land commissioner?

Presley: I will answer your question with a question. Are there any qualifications for the office? I think if a person can balance a checkbook, then he or she could be qualified in a sense. I do believe that honesty is a start.

Robertson: I have over 35 years of experience working with Arkansas lands and land-based issues across Arkansas as well as globally. I have a real understanding of the communities within our state, and how our land can be used as an asset to help communities, and public education, thrive. As a citizen advocate Ive worked with the state Legislature on issues with significant importance to our local communities, bringing both sides of the aisle together to get things done for Arkansas. This experience will be invaluable in establishing policy to benefit Arkansas.

Thurston: I am the current land commissioner and have served since 2011 with a proven record of honesty, integrity and transparency. I set out four years ago to make this office a leader of ethics and transparency and I have done just that. Aside from my duties in the office I also serve as president of the Western States Land Commissioners Association and have received support from the Arkansas Realtors Political Action Committee.

If you are elected or re-elected, what plans to do you have for the office?

Continued here:
Q&A: Democrat, Libertarian challenge land commissioner

Landscape Architect Carolyn Ramsbottom has graduated from Lincoln University but a special piece of design work she did while studying there two years ago will be coming to fruition on Labour Day.

While at the School Of Landscape Architecture (SoLA) in 2012 she and fellow student Gerrard Thomson won a competition to design reflective, cultural-based gardens for the Places of Tranquillity project.

These will being publicly unveiled next week at 3pm by project partners Lincoln University, Healthy Christchurch and Greening the Rubble. It has taken time to find suitable land, but they have finally been built on the corner of Manchester Street and Cambridge Terrace.

Both former students have gone on to careers as landscape architects but the design was their first public project and they are excited to see it come to reality.

Ms Ramsbottoms garden has a South East Asia theme and she has been involved in the layout right down to digging holes and putting in the plants.

"It had to be (at the time) a 'temporary garden', able to be done by hand where possible and to be transferable to a permanent site later down the line. Working within these constraints as well as trying to create a tranquil space, and a great design was a challenge," she said.

"It's amazing really and I still can't quite believe it. The prospect of seeing a design placed in the city centre is a real privilege and I can't wait to see it completed."

"I just hope that it does what it says on the tin and gives a feeling of tranquillity, whatever that may be for an individual. The proof of the pudding is in the eating, so time will tell whether it's a success," Ms Ramsbottom said.

She now works as a landscape architect and nursery assistant at a tree nursery and has free rein to design projects.

Mr Thomson said his design was for a South Pacific Garden with a brief to create a tranquil place for both native and immigrant Maori and Pacifica people to relax and reflect.

See the rest here:
Former Lincoln students' garden plans finally bear fruit