landscaping Designs

landscaping and design

Rising Star Yu Kongjian’s Radical Vision

Design firm Turenscape in concert with Peking University Graduate School of Landscape Architecture virtually swept this year’s ASLA awards, winning an unprecedented three of the twelve design awards, including the prestigious Award of Excellence and two Honor Awards. The group beat out the hugely popular Highline, New York’s elevated rail park, anticipated by many to win this year’s top award.

All three of the winning projects were large scale, regenerative landscapes that transformed formerly degraded sites into lush, public parks. “This is very powerful,” wrote the Awards jury for the Shanghai Houtain Park, built on a former brownfield. “It’s full of the right messages of our profession. The scope is exquisite. The presentation is excellence. Shanghai never has a blue sky, and recognizing this kind of sustainable project in that context is important.”

Lead designer and professor of landscape architecture Yu Kongjian has long worked to bring attention to China’s impending environmental crisis. Yu views landscape architecture as “the art of survival, not an art of entertaining and gardening.” Awarded ASLA awards eight times since 2002, Yu is a rising star in the world of landscape architecture. In 2007, Yu won an Honor Award for The Red Ribbon in Tanghe River Park, a project that Conde Nast Traveler named as one of the seven modern architectural wonders in the world.

A Different Kind of Park

Yu has long advocated for a different kind of public park: “Why can’t we use agricultural plants, crops, wild grasses, and fruit trees to decorate cities and parks? They are equally beautiful but yield fruits and demand little attention."  Yus love for wildness is balanced by an appreciation for the agricultural and industrial heritage of a site.  The winning projects frequently use the concept of agricultural terraces and rice fields to create ecologically productive landscapes.


Shanghai’s Houtan Park uses wild grasses and crops as a water-filtering machine, cleaning 2,400 cubic meters of water a day. “There is a beauty in wild grasses,” says Yu. “We don’t see it because we have a twisted aesthetic, taking natural things to be lower class. We are addicted to city beautification: uprooting agricultural crops and trees on the land, building cities, and importing expensive and fruitless garden plants.”

Yu goes on to make an analogy: “It’s kind of ludicrous and harmful feudalistic aristocratic aesthetic. Like when we bound women’s feet and still viewed it as beautiful and elegant. We now are binding the feet of nature.”

To view more about the winning projects click the links below:

Shanghai Houtan Park: Landscape as a Living System

The Qinhuangdao Beach Restoration: An Ecological Surgery

Tianjin Qiaoyuan Park: The Adaptation Palettes

When you plan your new House Design it is also a good time to consider Landscaping around your House and property. Just like choosing the right House Design, Landscaping decisions will ultimately affect how your new home will look and affect your property value. A well Designed garden will also Complement your indoor/outdoor flow, save you time in your garden, and of course add value to your new home. Here are some tips for Landscaping your new home. Some people choose to use a professional landscape Designer when planning their new garden. We recommend this if it is an affordable option. A professional landscaper will understand your vision for your new garden and give you drawings and options about what plants and features will work best to realise that vision. They will also be able to recommend what plants do or dont grow well in particular climates, locations and soils, which can save you time and money in the long run. A professional landscape Designer will make sure you meet ground level requirements and be able to advise you when Council permits may be necessary. If you plan to undertake the work yourself have a checklist in place for all the key items in your garden such as clothesline, shed, rubbish bins, and compost. After this take some time to think carefully about how you want your new home to flow into the outdoors. Decking will often be needed for entertainment areas, you may like to continue this decking around the main part of the House, or have separate private decks for where you have doors opening from bedrooms. Garden boxes and paths help keep your property tidy, and for easy maintenance you may wish to use raised garden beds for your vegetable garden too. Water features can include fish ponds, solar powered fountains or a spa pool. Just like a House Design, with Landscaping there is no end to your imagination. Country cottage, formal, modern, or native - your garden plan can express your personality as well as be an extension of your new home. If you dont have any fixed ideas, or a struggling with your plan, try gardening magazines and books to stimulate ideas. You will often find layouts and features that you had not thought of, as well as being able to see photos of finished gardens. Once you have decided your Design you can then plan the materials you want to use. For paving and pathways you have wooden decking, tiles, stones, pebbles etc. Lighting can include effect lighting using solar powered lights as well as security lights. Plants can be low maintenance plants or flowers such as roses. Dont forget to add interesting sculptures and art for a point of difference. By having a garden plan in place, when you move into your new home you will have peace of mind that the dirt surrounding your House will soon be a perfect setting for you to enjoy.

Epilobium

Epilobium angustifolium ( Fireweed )
A fast growing to invasive perennial, that in the wild colonizes sites left bare after forest fires and rapidly forms a thick mat of spreading roots that prevent erosion by binding the soil. It often forms pure stands covering large areas.
Fireweed, reaches a maximum size of 8 x 8 feet, and is native over large areas in the Northern Hemisphere.
The alternate arranged leaves are narrow and willowy.
The purplish-pink flowers are borne on racemes during summer into early autumn.
It thrives in full sun and is soil tolerant. Propagation is from seed or division and this plant often reproduces itself.
Fireweed is edible and the leaves and stems are rich in Vitamin A and C. The young shoots can be snapped off at the base and cooked a few minutes like Asparagus or chopped and used in salads. The older leaves and stems are bitter.
The flowers and flower buds can be added to salads.
The natives in Siberia made a drink considered to be somewhat between LSD and Gin that was made from brewing a drink with the hullucinogenic mushroom ( Fly Agaric - Amanita muscariai ) and the pith of the Fireweed stems.
Being very rapid growing, the Firewood is useful for Green Manure.
Epilobium hirsutum ( Hairy Willow Herb ), E. latifolium ( River Beauty ) and E. montana are all similarly edible.

* photo of unknown internet source


* videos found on Youtube



Epilobium fleisheri
A long-lived, mat-forming perennial, reaching a maximum size of 32 x 20 inches, that is native to the European Alps.
The rose-red flowers are borne on flat-topped clusters during late summer.
Hardy zones 3 to 7 in full sun.

Epilobium hirsutum
A rhizomatous perennial, reaching a maximum size of 7 x 6 + feet, that is native to Eurasia.
The leaves are up to 4 inches in length.
The deep red flowers are borne on clusters all summer long.
Hardy zones 2 to 7 in full sun on moist soil. It is not drought tolerant.

Ready to finish fire pit frame.

The hottest trend over the past few years has been the addition of a custom fire pit to your backyard living space.

Landscapers have had the pleasure of helping homeowners and commercial businesses increase the aesthetic quality and ambiance of their outdoor living spaces by adding fire and water features to the surroundings.

Warming Trends is proud to unveil this submersible water burner for spring 2013. The control module is actually submerged IN the water and 2 lbs. of pressure running to the valve allows the release of natural gas or liquid propane into the water. The ignitor, which is constantly lit, then ignites the gas as it reaches the surface of the water. The flame is created as it follows the gas bubbles around the water and creates this amazing fire on water effect.

Warming Trends also offers standard Crossfire Burners as well as a slew of custom outdoor burner designs. If you can dream it up, we can build it.

If you are in the market to warm up your backyard and bring a warm glow to your patio this spring, please contact us online or call today! 1-877-556-5255.

Technology has contributed a lot to the art of landscaping design. Nowadays landscaping is much easier using landscaping design software. If you are having some difficulties on what design to use, landscaping design software can give you loads of ideas in creating your lawn or yard. Using this tool, you can carefully plan your design including the dimensions and the type of materials that you will need. After you have created your landscape plan on the computer, you can simply have it printed and then you are good to go.

By using landscaping design software, you will be able to get a clear view of how your landscape will look like. Your landscape design will be shown on the screen as it would when you have actually finished construction. All landscaping design software contains easy to follow step-by-step instructions for creating your plan. The instructions are clear from the beginning to the end of the design. It is considered the perfect option for people who would like to complete a landscaping project on their own but lack skills in drafting, for instance.

Landscaping design software is also helpful even for those who are venturing into professional landscaping. Using this tool, you can easily show other people your creativity in designing lawns and yards. For those who are in the business of landscaping, using landscape design software allows them to quickly show their designs to customers.

Designing your own landscape can be completed in the privacy and comfort of your own home. Finding landscaping design software is very easy. You can buy them from any electronics warehouse or outlet and computer shops. Some landscaping design software is available through catalogs or online sources. There are different kinds of landscaping design software. The key in choosing the right software for your use is to carefully study the features of each product.

The price range of landscaping design software varies considerably. The more expensive ones are, as you can expect, more comprehensive and yet easy to follow. The cheaper ones are more of the basic software in landscaping design.

If you are going to purchase landscaping design software for either business or for personal purposes you will find that using them for your design is much easier. You will be able to project the outcome of your design immediately, letting you know if it is the right one for you or for a customer. You can get more information about landscaping design software but simply researching about them online where you can also get some tips and advice on what software to buy.

Milos Pesic is an expert in the field of Landscaping and Gardening and runs a highly popular and comprehensive Landscaping web site. For more articles and resources on landscaping designs, landscape ideas, garden landscaping and much more visit his site at:

=>http://landscaping.need-to-know.net/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Milos_Pesic

The aim of this article is to assist you in finding the appropriate Landscape Design Software for your unique situation whether you are a do-it-yourself house owner or a qualified Designer. Below are a number of the items youll want to think about before selecting a landscaping program. 1. Features Most Landscape Design programs contain hundreds of features for both the professional Landscaper and the person who just Landscapes their own yard. If you are a professional, you probably would seek out the more professional programs for your business. If you are a home Landscaper doing it for yourself, then you want to find very easy programs with features you can work with. You definitely want to seek out programs that give you a more true to life or realistic vision of your Landscape job. 2. Usability All of the other features basically being identical, we all prefer a program thats simple to use. Sample some of the test programs or trial based programs for user friendliness and adaptability to what your project is. Choose a program that doesnt possess an extreme learning curve. One criterion that is particularly important is the GUI of the Software program. The user interface should not be difficult and complicated for even the most average user. 3. Cost Even though the Software programmers wish you had an infinite sum of money to shell out on Landscape Design Software, it is never the case and unless it is a top program that contains features no other program includes, the more expensive programs are mostly passed over. You should do a comparison of cost, item features and quality of Software. 4. Assistance In a perfect universe your Landscape Design Software program would do everything you wanted it to do. It would be free of bugs and it would install efficiently. Sad to say, this isnt a perfect world. There will be instances when you need support because you wont be able to delete an object, or the application locks up, or you cannot print your blueprint. In times such as these, youll want to work with a good Software company that provides excellent support. Locate a company that offers many different types of assistance including instruction materials, live online chat, on-line forums, frequently asked questions, Information base, Phone support, and electronic mail support. Most people enjoy easily looking up a solution online, but they also want the availability of calling the company if they cannot find an answer to their problem. Summary There are several important characteristics to consider when you decide to purchase Landscape Design Software. Always download the trail Software first to be sure you can manipulate the Software easily and it contains the features you basically were looking for. Good luck to you in your new purchase of Software.

Create your Own Landscape Design : Transplanting Plants for Landscaping

Transplanting plants properly is crucial to their survival, get expert yard and landscape design tips in this free video. Expert: Gale Gassiot Bio ...

Landscape design is an important aspect of designing your property. If you have land surrounding your house you fundament program and design a beautiful landscape to give you superfluous sustenance space or total aesthetics to the building. Landscape design can be done for homes public places and embodied establishments. amp well-designed landscape send away raise the value of the property.

Before going in for landscape design plan and influence out the design atomic number 49 detail. If you seat visualize your contrive using software it can give you a good idea of how the landscape bequeath look. The landscape should coalesce well with the building around it. You can economic consumption a formal style informal style English garden or an Oriental operating theatre forest look depending on the architecture and look of the main building. Then prioritize what operational this landscape design should serve. It can be a new area for toy Beaver State leisure to blockade sun idle words or street noises operating theatre to improve the facial expression of the property.

Analyze your site to see how you terminate implement your ideas. Decide on the plants statues steps and lighting you

will need. Finally see that your project matches the climate of the area American Samoa well as your budget. looking at into all the details beforehand behind save you very much of effort and money in stressful out various ideas.

If you cannot handle this job on your own you could hire group A landscape designer. Or if you have decent interest in the subject you could learn all the tactics in antiophthalmic factor landscape designing course. On the net at that place is vast entropy on landscape designing available if you want to put Indiana the time and effort. There are loads of forums and associations of landscape design that have come up to bring together multitude to share views and experiences on landscape designs. any room you go it is bettor to work Hoosier State for such a plan that involves minimal employment of pesticides inwards the long go and does not postulate ampere great deal of maintenance.

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