Landscape Architect Articles

LASN April 2010: Best of LASN Letters03-25-10 | News

Best of LASN Letters

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As a long-time reader of your fine publication, I have observed over the past few years what seems to me a continuing lessening of the quality of design. It is a disturbing trend and I cannot help but wonder why. My practice spans 53 years and I don not consider myself a casual observer of
this trend.

I can refer to two specific examples in your magazine. In the January 2010 issue, page 81 (above), is an example of the kind of design I refer to. Any student of mine who presents such an unfortunate mix of colors, textures, forms and materials, all screaming for recognition and having little to do with each other, would be sent back to the drawing board. (Excuse me, the computer.) I hesitate to use the term, but I can think of none other
than ?EUR??,,????'?????<

Then, on the cover of the February 2010 issue (below), another example of total disregard for color, texture, spatial relationship. True, there is plenty of color and load of texture, but harmony is totally lacking.

This same issue touts the life and work of Lawrence Halprin?EUR??,,????'?????<

Where, oh where, are we headed! Who is teaching design?

Richard Vogel, Landscape Architect Philadelphia

Plastic grass?EUR??,,????'?????<Re: ?EUR??,,????'?????<

Thank you for publishing this information. I am a volunteer with the San Francisco Ocean Edge, a group of people who are trying to prevent the installation of over six acres of artificial turf in Golden Gate Park. This artificial turf will replace a natural grass meadow in an area of the park designated to remain pastoral by both the Golden Gate Park master plan and the National Register of Historic Places. The prior flawed study has been quoted as a reason for installing this artificial turf?EUR??,,????'?????<www.sfoceanedge.org. We would appreciate
any support.

Also re ?EUR??,,????'?????<

Dear Landscapeonline.com:

I?EUR??,,????'?????<

Perhaps you can provide a link to Dr. Rufty?EUR??,,????'?????<

In calculating gas emissions for ornamental grass in Irvine, a researcher would have to calculate the amount of energy (carbon emissions) that is required to pump six acre-feet of water a year to irrigate one-acre of grass. Over 20 years (avg. life of a lawn) that?EUR??,,????'?????<

A factoid to consider: The state of California spends 19 percent of their energy (carbon emissions) budget on pumping water.

Editor?EUR??,,????'?????< FYI, Mr. Stivers, re your comment?EUR??,,????'?????<

The research paper citation at Geophysical Research Letters, a journal of the American Geophysical Union, is: A. Townsend-Small, C. I. Czimczik (2010). Carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas emissions in urban turf. Geophys. Res. Lett., 37, L02707, doi:10.1029/2009GL041675.

To view a short preview of the research Click Here. A link to the full article is there also. If you are not a subscriber to the American Geophysical Union, it will cost you $9.

Re ?EUR??,,????'?????<

Although attractive looking as I can see from the small photo (above), this design will allow for cans, bottles and other trash to be placed within the ?EUR??,,????'?????< found confines.

Do we really have to redesign the wheel?

I was a former New Yorker who owned his own construction company in New York. This looks like an expensive design whose cost will be ultimately passed on to the end user. There are many other more serious problems that need more attention than this.

I wonder how much money was wasted on this project?

Re Hardscape ?EUR??,,????'?????<

www.landscapeonline.com/research/article/13004

The architectural firm for the WGV Building was Ronald Scalisi Architects, P.A. The construction company was lead by Tim Young, E.C. Kenyon Construction Co. Interior design was by Connie Turner Interiors, Inc.