GeoEstates Alabang Project

Boutique developer GeoEstate Development Corp. puts huge emphasis on the importance of a well-designed landscaping. During the planning stages of Sonria, its latest foray into Alabang housing, GeoEstates senior management team put much thought into the projects landscape design.

The advantage of working in a smaller firm is that we can afford to be meticulous with every aspect of our project so that we can come up with an entirely distinctive offering, explained president and COO Miriam Katigbak.

This obsession for details is evident in Katigbaks vision for Sonria, which is a modern enclave that retains the character of the Alabang suburb. Because its prospective buyers belong to that sophisticated market that advocates appearances and green space, GeoEstate teamed up with a design firm with capabilities to make that goal tangible.

Crearis Environmental Design, the landscape architectural agency tapped for Sonria, integrated concepts that are modern yet, sympathetic to the environment.

The design we will implement is more sensitive to the land. For instance, instead of cutting down full-grown trees within the property, the hardscape intends to accommodate those trees, Crearis managing director Michael Espiritu said.

Sustainable practices will be the focal point in Sonrias landscape design. A storm water retention system will be erected to prevent flooding and erosion caused by heavy rains. The terrain where the property sits was also considered during the planning process.

For its softscape features, indigenous plants that are compatible with Alabangs soil quality and Philippine weather will be used.

Despite its eco-friendly undertones, the aesthetic merits of the scheme cannot be overlooked. Katigbak revealed that the projects landscape design was carefully planned to blend seamlessly with the blueprint of the entire project.

The faade below will showcase a shrub-lined driveway that ends at a veranda drop-off, instead of the customary canopied entrance. The veranda is a perfect convergence point for friends and neighbors as it provides a great view of the garden and reflecting pool with fountain.

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Sonria aims to be Gem of the South

Turns out Thomas Wolfe was wrong: you can go home again.

So declared Frances Mayes, who returned to the South in 2007 to live in Hillsborough, N.C., after decades of exile in California and Italy (the latter serving as a beguiling setting for several memoirs, including Under the Tuscan Sun).

Its changed drastically, in most ways for the better, Mayes said of the South, counting greater racial and gender equality among them. But I feel a deep familiarity, too.

It is the past, not the present, that fuels her new memoir, Under Magnolia, which poignantly recounts her upbringing in Georgia.

Recently Mayes talked about places that played significant roles in her childhood, from her hometown, Fitzgerald, to Georgias verdant barrier islands. The following are edited excerpts from the conversation.

Q: Is there any place from your childhood you return to often?

A: That whole string of islands, the Golden Isles of Georgia, is a favorite of mine. Theyre spectacular: marshes on one side, wide sandy beaches on the other. As a child I loved Jekyll Island. It was a playground for Northern robber barons, but after World War II it was largely abandoned. So there were all of these beautiful, deserted, shingled mansions, which were oddly enough called cottages. It was a mysterious place for a child to explore. Now a lot of the houses have been restored, and the Jekyll Island Club, which was private, is now a hotel. Its a very gracious place to stay, with croquet courts, a swimming pool, enormous moss-strewn oak trees.

I absolutely love Little St. Simons Island, which is a private island, and has only one place to stay, the Lodge on Little St. Simons Island. Id say its comfortably rustic, but what makes it so special is that its a 7-mile beach with no one on it. To paddle around in the marshes, alone privacy is the ultimate luxury to me.

Q: You grew up in Fitzgerald. Any reason for a tourist to pass through?

A: Im not sure if it would hold as much interest to a tourist as it does to me, but its nice just to ride around and see how its laid out. It was built by soldiers, Northern and Southern, after the War between the States, as a colony dedicated to reunifying the country. Many of the streets in the town center are named for Northern and Southern generals, and the towns four borders are named after Southern and Northern battleships. Even the cemetery is laid out like the Battle of Gettysburg. It has one bizarre aspect: This particular breed of exotic chicken roams the town freely, which means you cant sleep beyond 6 a.m. because theyre making so much racket.

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Celebrating the southern landscape

Venice as architectural laboratory

By Joe Piasecki

If anything defines Venice architecture, its that creativity is contagious.

Like nowhere else in Southern California, homeowners color outside the lines of traditional design to fashion dwellings that reflect individual lifestyles and tastes. But rather than clash, these various styles somehow mesh together into a cohesive landscape.

Take the Superba Avenue home of architect Doug Pierson and designer Youn Hee Choi (featured on the cover) a 1,500-square-foot structure defined by sloping trapezoidal roof lines and walls of white metal and hardwood that floats above 600 square feet of ground tucked behind a 1950s stucco bungalow.

Two doors down stands an early 1900s wooden carriage house that had once operated on Venice Boulevard, markedly different in design from the palette of high concept contemporary and more conventional homes in the immediate neighborhood.

The nice thing about Venice is that as long as people take care in expression and sense of place the design of the house tends to fit in. So you can have an historic carriage house right next to a contemporary house, and it makes perfect sense, said Pierson. Its much more of a vibe than a physical description [that defines Venice architecture].

While its true that Los Angeles city codes dictate the size but not the architectural style of homes, what makes Venice special is that homeowners tend to be more willing to use that freedom, said architect Ron Radziner, a partner in the firm Marmol Radziner.

Ultimately its the people who live in Venice, influenced by eclectic and interesting architecture, that give us the ability to visualize how homes can be unique statements, Radziner said.

The Pierson-Choi residence, completed in 2012, is one of 30 homes on display May 3 during the 21st annual Venice Garden & Home Tour, an event benefitting the local Neighborhood Youth Association.

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Designing Up

KUALA LUMPUR - Holiday rentals are an ideal choice of accommodation for family vacations and travellers love them for the space, privacy and amenities they provide.

Take a look at some of the lovely family-friendly holiday rentals in Malaysia, all available from TripAdvisor, to consider for your next staycation.

1. Hibiscus Villa Sabah

- Three bedrooms

- Starts from RM2,787 per night

Nestled amongst a former coconut plantation on the stunning north coast of Sabah, Hibiscus Villa blends harmoniously into the natural landscape of exotic Malaysian Borneo. Built with relaxation in mind, this 3-bedroom villa boasts large open living spaces both inside and out, and offers a spectacular 18 meter infinity pool which extends into the villa. Set in over 2 acres of landscaped tropical gardens, it overlooks the azure waters of the South China Sea - truly an idyllic nature-themed family hideout!

2. Coastal Tower, Penang

- Two bedrooms

- Starts from RM1,629 per week

Coastal Tower is a beautiful 2-bedroom condominium that's located in Tanjung Bungah, within the vicinity of the Penang tourist belt. With a spacious balcony overlooking picturesque views of the green hills and local fishing boats docking by the beach, this modern condominium is an ideal accommodation for family getaways. Complete with facilities such as a large swimming pool, jacuzzi and a well-equipped gym,families can relax in the pool, under the stars, while taking in an outdoor flick.

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10 family-friendly holiday rentals for your next staycation

Richard Bergmann Architects, of New Canaan, received a Connecticut Design Award for a project on Hollow Tree Ridge Road in Darien.

The design, which was for the "Bend-in-the-Road Landscape" entry, focused on engaging an historic house with the land and the land with the house, according to Bergmann, whose office is at 63 Park St. The house "had the appearance of being arbitrarily plopped down on the land."

The awards, presented by the American Society of Landscape Architects, Connecticut Chapter, recognize excellence in landscape architecture design. Eligible applicants must be a licensed landscape architect either living in Connecticut or with a project in the state.

A specific challenge was to draw visitors to the front door, instead of entering through the kitchen. The original driveway led straight to a detached barn/garage and guest parking area behind the house, near the kitchen entry. The problem, according to Bergmann, was solved by creating a four-foot-high fieldstone linear wall and planting a row of tall columnar Hornbeam trees, which reinforce the architectural features of the home with its row of pillars framing the front porch. The wall and trees separate public and private spaces, screening the kitchen entry and creating an obvious path to the front door.

"The overall design is an incredible improvement, straightforward and a terrific upgrade," according to the competition's jurors.

"This shows what a creative landscape architect can accomplish."

Bergmann said another major goal was to solve safety issues, entering and departing from a blind driveway on a major bend in the road. This was resolved by relocating the driveway. A new semicircular drive was created, incorporating a large area for guest parking and a turnaround area near the front door. Honoring "green" design guidelines, the pre-existing asphalt was replaced with gravel, allowing storm water to recharge the site. Overhead wires were buried underground. A redesigned swimming pool and terrace completed the landscape project.

"The overall design is an incredible improvement, straightforward and a terrific upgrade," according to the competition's jurors. "This shows what a creative landscape architect can accomplish."

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Bergmann receives state landscape architecture award

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Yard Doc by Carol Cloud Bailey updated April 20. Remove no more than 30 percent of plants growth when pruning

April is National Landscape Architecture Monthjust in time for the Historic Preservation Association of Coral Gables spring event at the Venetian Pool.

HPACG, a 501c3 nonprofit whose mission is to promote the understanding and importance of historic resources and their preservation, is hosting a spring fundraiser on Saturday April 26th at the historically-designated landmark Venetian Pool included in the National Register of Historic Places. The Venetian Pool was opened in 1924 as the Venetian Casino, which was part of the Grand Plan George Merrick had for the City of Coral Gables. Completed in 1925 it was designed by Phineas Paist with Denman Fink.

In 1989, the pools first historical renovation was completed. Between 2009 and 2010 the pool underwent a second renovation. The pools original rich history can still be observed as you walk through the entry fountain room and gaze upon its historic photographs, reminding patrons of an era long gone by.

Oh, about the Opera.

The first national opera troupe performance in Miami was in the drained Venetian Pool on February 2, 1926. The million-dollar production had a cast of 30 singers and 28 ballet dancers who arrived on three special trains. The opera was sponsored by the developers of CG and Miami Shores. A year earlier, in 1925, the celebrated Paul Whiteman Orchestra played in the Venetian Pool to help George Merrick promote sales in CG.

History repeats itself. Help preserve it.

Help support the Venetian Pool and its historical significance in Coral Gables and beyond. Sponsors to date include (Founders Level) Keyes Real Estate and the Elizabeth L. Perez Team; Myrna Mayor/Zamora Group; City of Coral Gables. (Artist Level) Chef Luis/Paella Grill; Calypso. (Architect Level) Realtor Cary Avila/ EWM; Joan Thompson/ Summer House Interiors; Coral Gables Museum.

For more information about HPACG and sponsorship opportunities please email HPACG President Karelia Martinez Carbonell at kmartinezcarbonell@historiccoralgables.org

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First Opera at the Venetian Pool in 1926 with a Cost of $1 Million

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MIAMI (CBSMiami) The electrocution of a 7-year old boy in the familys North Miami swimming pool apparently due to faulty wiring to the pools light has served as a lightning rod drawing attention to pool safety.

Master electrician Walter Sanders was at a Coral Gables home Friday where he immediately noticed a potentially, very dangerous issue with the pools underwater light.

As you can see, theres water in the light, Sanders said, pointing. You can see the water line inside of that light fixture.

There can be no overstating the obvious, Sanders said.

Water and electricity dont mix, without possibly deadly consequences.

Swimming pools are to South Florida as canals are to Venice. Theyre everywhere. And most pools built before 1984 have a full 120 volts of electricity going to their lights.

I would suggest those people would want to look into hiring an electrician to change that system over to a twelve volt system, Sanders said.

A 12-volt power system for pool lighting uses a transformer to step down a potentially deadly 120 volts to just twelve.

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Pool Electrocution Highlights Wiring Safety Issues

YAKIMA, Wash. Grass, maple trees and a water fountain will be installed at the west end of the Yakima County courthouse this summer the final touches on the structures recent exterior upgrade.

Those finishing upgrades will cost about $50,000, and a request for bids for the work was advertised Wednesday.

A roughly 3-foot concrete pool and waterfall will accompany the grass and maple trees that will replace the old planter box at the west end of the building along First Street. A small strip of sidewalk near the corner of First Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard also will be completed, said county Engineer Gary Ekstedt.

It will be kind of a little park, he said. There will be some grass and a couple of maple trees in there.

Work is expected to begin in June and take about a month.

So far, the county has spent roughly $4.3 million on upgrading the exterior of the courthouse, which included a new facade over the entire building improving weather resistance and newly paved sidewalks and parking lots, said Director of Public Services Vern Redifer.

Were styling and profiling, he said.

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Yakima County courthouse to get finishing landscape touches

1 hour ago by Rob Jordan Researchers at Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment are examining conservation plans for wild tigers that would promote gene flow among populations. Credit: Prasenjeet Yadav

(Phys.org) New research by Stanford scholars shows that increasing genetic diversity among the 3,000 or so tigers left on the planet is the key to their survival as a species.

Iconic symbols of power and beauty, wild tigers may roam only in stories someday soon. Their historical range has been reduced by more than 90 percent. But conservation plans that focus only on increasing numbers and preserving distinct subspecies ignore genetic diversity, according to the study. In fact, under that approach, the tiger could vanish entirely.

"Numbers don't tell the entire story," said study co-author Elizabeth Hadly, the Paul S. and Billie Achilles Professor in Environmental Biology at Stanford and senior fellow at the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment. She is a co-author of the study, which was published April 17 in the Journal of Heredity.

That research shows that the more gene flow there is among tiger populations, the more genetic diversity is maintained and the higher the chances of species survival become. In fact, it might be possible to maintain tiger populations that preserve about 90 percent of genetic diversity.

Rachael Bay, a graduate student in biology at Stanford's Hopkins Marine Station and the lead author of the study, said, "Genetic diversity is the basis for adaptation."

Loss of diversity

The research focused on the Indian subcontinent, home to about 65 percent of the world's wild tigers. The scientists found that as populations become more fragmented and the pools of each tiger subspecies shrink, so does genetic diversity. This loss of diversity can lead to lower reproduction rates, faster spread of disease and more cardiac defects, among other problems.

The researchers used a novel framework, based on a method previously employed to analyze ancient DNA samples, to predict what population size would be necessary to maintain current genetic diversity of tigers into the future. The authors believe this new approach could help in managing populations of other threatened species.

The results showed that for tiger populations to maintain their current genetic diversity 150 years from now, the tiger population would have to expand to about 98,000 individuals if gene flow across species were delayed 25 years. By comparison, the population would need to grow to about 60,000 if gene flow were achieved immediately.

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Diverse gene pool critical for tigers' survival