Landscape Architect Articles

LASN Letters June 200606-01-06 | News

Editor?EUR??,,????'?????< When the El Toro Marine Base in Orange County, Calif. closed, the tract of land, about a 45-minute car trip south of Los Angeles, was positioned to be a new international airport. Since that idea was voted down in lieu of a park, anticipation has mounted. In the March LASN, we presented ?EUR??,,????'?????<

landscapearchitect.com news item:

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

What a debacle! With all of the capable and talented landscape architecture firms in Orange County and California they go to New York for a designer. ?EUR??,,????'?????<Klaus W. Ahlers, President
ASI Golf, Inc.
Pinehurst, N.C.

Postscript: When queried, Ken Smith, OCGP master plan architect, assured LASN that security concerns were being managed on every level through the design, the city and the public activities and institutions associated with the Park.

landscapearchitect.com news item:

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

Pretty outstanding that 7 of the 32 awards went to firms in Massachusetts. Congratulations to all…it shows there are some really great things happening in New England! Well deserved!

John LaRue, Play Consultant
Kompan/Big Toys
Westport, Mass.

landscapearchitect.com news item:

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

Editor?EUR??,,????'?????< Washington Post contributor Roger Lewis, a practicing architect and professor of architecture at the University of Maryland, took a look at the landscape architecture profession.

I would suggest that the best landscape architects would do well to earn considerable and hands-on experience with plant materials. It is important to understand the subtleties of maintenance and be able to recall from actual experience how specific plants grow and respond to differing conditions. If a landscape architect were to visit a previous installation 3 years later and the design and palette are clearly recognizable in connection with the original drawing, then the design is a success. If not, the plan, as such, has failed. The landscape architect has failed to calculate all of the variables of maintenance limits or of plant characteristics and requirements.

Joseph Parr, Project Manager
OneSource Landscape and Golf
Tampa, Fla.

Editor?EUR??,,????'?????< Joe Parr and his crew are responsible for the beautiful landscapes at Busch Gardens in Tampa. We had the opportunity to visit with him on site in Nov. 2004, just two months after Hurricane Jeanne hit Florida and briefly forced the park to close. See ?EUR??,,????'?????<

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

I?EUR??,,????'?????<
Kent Watson, Principal
Kent Watson & Associates
Missoula, Mont.

In LASN March 2006 issue and landscapearchitect.com:

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

This lighting design on this project is truly amazing. When you approach from either direction on the 10 freeway at night, the visual is pure artwork. But when you actually drive by the casino all is lost because of an overlit animated billboard right out front. The computer-controlled screen is bright enough to view clearly in the desert sun. But at night, the sign is so blinding that is hurts the eyes and the traffic actually slows considerably. It is unfortunate that in our beautiful dark desert sky that the Indian reservation does not have to conform to night sky ordinances.

Greg Davis, Owner
Gregory Davis & Associates
Culver City, Calif.

In LASN March 2006 issue and landscapearchitect.com:

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

This is a great article on an exhilarating project. As a designer I appreciate these types of articles to ignite my imagination. As a garden lover, the article causes me to want to visit Morton Arboretum again. Perhaps some readers would also benefit knowing the location of the Morton Arboretum. Did I miss mention of the location? Or, could it be that with the increase in membership, the Arboretum now wants to remain elusive?

Karen Klaassen
Landscape Architect
Stantec
Las Vegas, Nev.

Editor?EUR??,,????'?????< Thank you, Karen, for your comments. ?EUR??,,????'?????<