Representing Trees 2

Figure 1: Sketch in pen

Figure 2: Sketch in pen

Figure 3: Sketch in pen

Figure 4: Sketch in pen

Figure 5: Sketch in pen

Figure 6: Sketch in pen

Figure 7: Sketch in pen

Gardens by the Bay competition film

An idea is important but what is equally important is communicating that idea. Most times its how well an idea is communicated is what leads to it being realized or in the case of designers and architects in it being executed.Further, effective communication is important to understand the thought behind a project for it to be truly appreciated for what it is .

I came across this competition film by Grant Associates showcasing the thought behind the design for Gardens by the Bay, Singapore.

Underground Bicycle Parking in Japan

In a time when we are fast realizing that space is a finite resource, landscape architects are constantly faced with a challenge to make the most of the limited area available.

It is in this context that i thought this innovation in Japan was interesting.(I wouldn’t say the same for the presenter and the way the video is made but this was the only one i could find in english!)

The difference between landscape architecture and garden design

Some definitions of Landscape break it down into six main compositional elements: Landform, Vertical Structures, Horizontal Structures, Vegetation, Water and Climate 

Landscape Design then is the art of arranging these elements to create outdoor spaces and acts as a bridge between landscape architecture and garden design. The distinction between the two can sometimes be blurry as they often tend to overlap. Broadly they are distinguished on the basis of size and utility of the space.

Garden design, a branch of Landscape design usually relates to creating smaller, intimate outdoor spaces that suit the specific needs and personality of the client. Usually an enclosed space, the garden may not be related to its immediate environment. 

 Landscape Architecture on the other hand is defined by The American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) on its website as: “Landscape architects design the built environment of neighbourhoods, towns and cities while also protecting and managing the natural environment, from its forests and fields to rivers and coasts. Members of the profession have a special commitment to improving the quality of life through the best design of places for people and other living things. In fact, the work of landscape architects surrounds us. Members of the profession are involved in the planning of such sites as office plazas, public squares and thoroughfares. The attractiveness of parks, highways, housing developments, urban plazas, zoos and campuses reflects the skill of landscape architects in planning and designing the construction of useful and pleasing projects.”

The activities of a landscape architect can range from the creation of public parks and parkways to site planning for campuses and corporate office parks, from the design of residential estates to the design of civil infrastructure and the management of large wilderness areas or reclamation of degraded landscapes such as mines or landfills.

Both Landscape architecture and Garden Design are  multi-disciplinary fields, incorporating aspects of: botany, horticulture, the fine arts, architecture, industrial design, geology and the earth sciences, environmental psychology, geography, and ecology to varying degrees.They involve “hard” (built) and “soft” (planted) material, while integrating ecological sustainability. Though Landscape Architecture has more scope for “hardscaping” owing to the scale it serves.