Trollstigen lookout point by Reiulf Ramstad Architects

An exhibition exploring works of Norway’s two most prominent and pioneering architectural practices, Reiulf Ramstad Architects and Jensen & Skodvin Architects, is currently on show at London’s Royal Institute of British Architects. On view until 15 June 2012, ‘Contemporary Norwegian Architecture – Landscape and Intervention’ surveys projects realised by both offices through a series of exhibits such as richly detailed models and images. A number of accompanying events such as film screenings are also scheduled with the fist one titled Knut Åsdam: Urban Transformations taking place this coming Sunday (29 April). (more…)

La Ronde: A New Path to the Castello di Rivoli by Hubmann Vass

Located less than 20 kilometers outside Turin, Castello di Rivoli is a home to an internationally renowned museum of contemporary art. Now, to create a closer link between the city and the castle, Erich Hubmann and Andreas Vass, the architects behind Vienna-based practice Hubmann Vass have redesigned the path to this monumental 18 century building designed by the Italian Baroque architect Filippo Juvarra. (more…)

Jardins de l’Arche, Images: © AWP, Sbda

Earlier in July, AWP, Office for Territorial Reconfiguration (Marc Armengaud, Matthias Armengaud, Alessandra Cianchetta), was named the general contractor for the landscaping of the public spaces and follies situated at the foot of the Grande Arche. The site, located near the future Arena 92 in the Jardins de l’Arche neighborhood, serves as a space for genuine interchange between La Défense and Seine-Arche. The urbanists at AWP are also responsible for guide plan for Defacto that will enhance the urban area of La Défense’s business district. (more…)

'Minimize Intervention and maximize Return' - a rational description of the very poetic project 'Red Ribbon Park'

Prof. Kongjian Yu, founder of Turenscape Landscape Architects, is one of the world’s leading landscape designers. His concept of functional landscape architecture shows astounding parallels to the contemporary definition of Swiss agriculture, the main aim of which long ago went beyond simply supplying the country with agricultural produce. Ecology and custody of our cultural landscape, which is by us perceived as nature, are becoming ever more important. (by Susanne Fritz)

to Susanne Fritz’s IFLA World Landscape Architecture Congress report

'ORQUIDEORAMA' - Botanical Garden of Medellin, photo by Sergio Gomez

The Colombian architects Camilo and J. Paul Restrepo realised together with Plan B Arquitectos this highly functional canopy for the Botanical Garden of Medellin, Colombia – a roofing which manages to create an especially good climate for the sensitive flora underneath. The honeycomb like metal structure is covered with slats made of pinewood and provides shading from direct sunlight – a necessary substitute for the shade provided by large trees in the open jungle. Extensive polyester tiles collect the rainwater that gets conducted by a pipe system into the ground.

(more…)

The disused High Line before the architectural intervention

The New York High Line was constructed in the 1930s and is a 1.5-mile-long historic elevated rail structure on the West Side of Manhattan, passing the famous Meatpacking District. The today disused High Line was the object of an international competition, which was organised by the City of New York and the Friends of the High Line (FHL), a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation and reuse of the High Line.

Landscape architecture by Field Operations

The team of Field Operations (landscape architecture) and Diller Scofidio + Renfro (architecture) were finally selected to begin design work on the High Line. In June the first section of the green promenade will be opened.

Architecture by Diller Scofidio + Renfro

Diller Scofidio + Renfro:

“Inspired by the melancholic, unruly beauty of this postindustrial ruin, where nature has reclaimed a once vital piece of urban infrastructure, the new park interprets its inheritance. It translates the biodiversity that took root after it fell into ruin in a string of site-specific urban microclimates along the scratch of railway that include sunny, shady, wet, dry, windy, and sheltered spaces.Through a strategy of agri-tecture – part agriculture, part architecture – the High Line surface is digitised into discrete units of paving and planting which are assembled along the 1.5 miles into a variety of gradients from 100% paving to 100% soft, richly vegetated biotopes. The paving system consists of individual pre-cast concrete planks with open joints to encourage emergent growth like wild grass through cracks in the sidewalk. The long paving units have tapered ends that comb into planting beds creating a textured, “pathless” landscape where the public can meander in unscripted ways. The park accomodates the wild, the cultivated, the intimate and the social. Access points are durational experiences designed to prolong the transition from the frenetic pace of city streets to the slow otherworldly landscape above.”

"1.5 miles variety of gradients from 100% paving to 100% soft, richly vegetated biotopes"

to the Diller Scofidio + Renfro website

to the Field Operations website

to the Friends of the High Line website

'Reef benches' by Remy & Veenhuizen

At the beginning of this year the Dutch designers Remy & Veenhuizen presented an impressive seating landscape for a high school in Zoetermeer, Netherlands.

The stylized dunes are placed on the gray tiled roof top and form a contrast to the rather confined atmosphere of the building.

“We wanted to give the students their own escape area”.

'Reef benches' by Remy & Veenhuizen

Contrary to all expectations the wooden structure isn´t computer generated but a result of experiments with spatial models.

By stacking their materials in a certain way the designers discovered a method that allowed the slats to move slowly while the construction as a whole still remains solid. Thus, the wooden skeletons look like organic, almost living elements, offering a warm contrast to the school building.

'Reef benches' by Remy & Veenhuizen

to the Remy & Veenhuizen website