I'm sorry to say I did not find out about this in time or I would have 100% gotten a group of people together and we could take shifts a) sitting and having a blast b) feeding the meter! Parking day started in 2005 as a revolt again the city of San Francisco and its lack of public green space and abundance of private and public parking space! It have to say, it isn't to late to have a PARKing Day of our own and I would really like to try. I think it would be a wonderful exercise in creativity as well as an attention grabbing scheme to make people aware of the value of green space! I'm gonna post the link for you all and recommend you all follow the Understory ASLA page on facebook, it's how I heard about this and there are some great pictures where students help their own personal parking protests.
http://parkingday.org/about-parking-day/
Monday, September 24, 2012
Saturday, September 22, 2012
Green Takeover
I posted about living walls not long ago, but today I have come across a new form of expression...Moss Graffiti!
http://inspirationgreen.com/moss-art.html
I was looking for images on haint blue glass for design inspiration and I came across this website and I was sucked in! I had once seen an idea where moss was basically glued to a wall to show a quote and I was thoroughly impressed, but this was just plain funky and fun and I couldn't help but share.
This website is full of pictures of creative uses of moss and plant materials.
http://inspirationgreen.com/moss-art.html
This website is full of pictures of creative uses of moss and plant materials.
Friday, September 21, 2012
Rain Gardens
In our own town, even our own department there is an excellent resource for learning how to deal with water. Cory Gallo has worked very hard on a project with the Oktibbeha County Heritage Museum so set an example for the rest of Starkville to see how in a small space you can take big steps in reducing the amount of rainwater in the storm drains there for reducing channelization of streams in the area making a better environment for plants, fish, insects, and wildlife.
I am pointing this out because the project site for our first Design project doesn't appear to have any drainage issues, but it can be beneficial to make sure all the rainwater running off of the roofs is managed on the site. It will be good for the landscape and good for the surrounding environment. More to come on my site plan and placement and plantings in the rain gardens. but for now here is a shot of the infiltration basin that handles the rain water from the Museum's roof.
I am pointing this out because the project site for our first Design project doesn't appear to have any drainage issues, but it can be beneficial to make sure all the rainwater running off of the roofs is managed on the site. It will be good for the landscape and good for the surrounding environment. More to come on my site plan and placement and plantings in the rain gardens. but for now here is a shot of the infiltration basin that handles the rain water from the Museum's roof.
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
in the words of the gestalt gardener
Today while presenting my ideas for this first design project I am working on since over a year ago when I took a sabbatical from the design world and all of its intricate directions it can pull you in I learned about a history that connected to my design that I had no idea about and I want to share it with you. Something I decided to incorporate into my design was refraction of light through colored glass. Well the cheapest means of obtaining colored glass is by gathering empty wine bottles, something there is no shortage of in my life. Then it was brought to my attention that some of the elements I designed were a bit melancholic and though it was not my intention I am not one bit surprised by that considering the last 11 months of my life. I had looked at them a whimsical and colorful, but am realizing a deeper meaning and that I am not opposed to a heavier feeling associated with them.
I first want to define Melancholy - 1. a gloomy state of mind 2. sober thoughtfulness
Well definition 2 is exactly what is was wanting out of the space, I wanted the user to enter a place of reflection by passing under a free standing portal or by gazing through a floating window. I don't wish a gloomy state of mind, but in a peaceful setting I should hope the user might be lifted out of that state.
I googled the history of a bottle tree and the first site that came up was Mr. Felder Rushing's page. For anyone who has met this man he is about 50 shades of green and everything in between. He hosts a MPB radio show called the Gestalt Gardener and for anyone interested in what he means by gestalt gardener I understand it to be one person who uses many techniques, or basically there's no one right way to do something.
Back to the history and lore I discovered I was incorporating into my design without quite knowing!
Glass, particularly blue glass has had meaning in the outdoor environment for as long as glass has existed. Glass was meant to contain imps or spirits expelled from people through sneezes. If someone sneezed they were blessed to prevent the expelled evil from re-entering and bottles were used to contain them. Legends told of roaming night spirits being trapped in opaque bottles and that's where the stories of genies in bottles. Bottle trees were made in Africa by hanging bottles on tree branches to trap "haints" or spirits. Before interning a house. The cobalt blue glass was even used in windows around doorways to repel the haints and became known as "haint blue." In respect to the ideas of glass in the garden, another idea was reflective surfaces such as gazing balls would repel witches.
So long story short I'm really happy with my decision and use of colored glass and in tact bottles in my design as a deeper mean for this place of thinking.
I first want to define Melancholy - 1. a gloomy state of mind 2. sober thoughtfulness
Well definition 2 is exactly what is was wanting out of the space, I wanted the user to enter a place of reflection by passing under a free standing portal or by gazing through a floating window. I don't wish a gloomy state of mind, but in a peaceful setting I should hope the user might be lifted out of that state.
I googled the history of a bottle tree and the first site that came up was Mr. Felder Rushing's page. For anyone who has met this man he is about 50 shades of green and everything in between. He hosts a MPB radio show called the Gestalt Gardener and for anyone interested in what he means by gestalt gardener I understand it to be one person who uses many techniques, or basically there's no one right way to do something.
Back to the history and lore I discovered I was incorporating into my design without quite knowing!
Glass, particularly blue glass has had meaning in the outdoor environment for as long as glass has existed. Glass was meant to contain imps or spirits expelled from people through sneezes. If someone sneezed they were blessed to prevent the expelled evil from re-entering and bottles were used to contain them. Legends told of roaming night spirits being trapped in opaque bottles and that's where the stories of genies in bottles. Bottle trees were made in Africa by hanging bottles on tree branches to trap "haints" or spirits. Before interning a house. The cobalt blue glass was even used in windows around doorways to repel the haints and became known as "haint blue." In respect to the ideas of glass in the garden, another idea was reflective surfaces such as gazing balls would repel witches.
So long story short I'm really happy with my decision and use of colored glass and in tact bottles in my design as a deeper mean for this place of thinking.
Sunday, September 9, 2012
Interesting Find
While researching garden cities I was reminded of something I had been told about the original concept behind Epcot Center at Disney World in Florida. Walt purchased a chunk of land in Florida roughly the size of the island of Manhattan. He had a dream of recreating his Disneyland park there and was very excited with the luxury of not being land locked like he was in Anaheim. He began working on Plans for the Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow, EPCOT. He saw is as a city center of commerce and expanded into rings of different levels of density and outward into more green space. That plan never came to be but I couldn't help but notice the way it followed Ebeneezer Howard's plans for a garden city or city of tomorrow. No Journals I have found seem to draw that correlation, but I thought I'd let you all be the judge.
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| Garden City |
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| Original Plan for Epcot |
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Bridging the Gap
http://www.npr.org/2012/09/04/160533790/bridging-the-gap-between-two-neighborhoods?sc=17&f=1001
The link above is to an NPR story I heard yesterday and felt inclined to share. I'll let you read it but I found it interesting based on the fact that I posted an article from earlier this summer about an Eco village development in a section of Washington D.C. The fact that they were talking about Washington caught my attention and then when they mentioned the development I was hooked, I missed the end because I would have been late for work, but the main gist is repurposing an old bridge in D.C. into a park that links a high income neighborhood with a low income neighborhood. The possibilities are amazing: green spaces, playgrounds, a community market, parade grounds, outdoor fitness!
And it would give recreational space to the city without taking up precious real estate.
The main concern from citizen surprised me a little and I realized how valid a fear it is. The people on the low income side are afraid it will better the area so well that their property values will rise and they will have to move. I am not from a wealthy family, my parents were a farmer and a teacher, but my thought process lead me to worry that the high income folks would be upset about the possibility of perhaps crime or anything associated with low income housing. How pretentious of me? I should be of the mindset of the people concerned with having to uproot because they feel the area they live in would be above their socioeconomic stature. I hate the thought that people are made to feel that way and all the more reason to design and believe in open spaces and green common grounds to bridge the gap between people.
The link above is to an NPR story I heard yesterday and felt inclined to share. I'll let you read it but I found it interesting based on the fact that I posted an article from earlier this summer about an Eco village development in a section of Washington D.C. The fact that they were talking about Washington caught my attention and then when they mentioned the development I was hooked, I missed the end because I would have been late for work, but the main gist is repurposing an old bridge in D.C. into a park that links a high income neighborhood with a low income neighborhood. The possibilities are amazing: green spaces, playgrounds, a community market, parade grounds, outdoor fitness!
And it would give recreational space to the city without taking up precious real estate.
The main concern from citizen surprised me a little and I realized how valid a fear it is. The people on the low income side are afraid it will better the area so well that their property values will rise and they will have to move. I am not from a wealthy family, my parents were a farmer and a teacher, but my thought process lead me to worry that the high income folks would be upset about the possibility of perhaps crime or anything associated with low income housing. How pretentious of me? I should be of the mindset of the people concerned with having to uproot because they feel the area they live in would be above their socioeconomic stature. I hate the thought that people are made to feel that way and all the more reason to design and believe in open spaces and green common grounds to bridge the gap between people.
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Technology in Landscape Architecture
Due to a recent motherboard loss on my personal computer I decided to look into the use of technology in Landscape Architecture. I found an inter view with Daniel Tal on the ASLA website.
http://www.asla.org/ContentDetail.aspx?id=20096
He says that the dive for use of technology is from the profession, not the client. From my personal prospective a client is impressed and can see a clearer picture thanks to the graphics, but there is almost a competition between professionals to put together the best designed poster or most state of the art model. When truly that is a different craft. I wonder if though I am not as proficient with the computer software am I any worse of a designer? I spend more time trying to draw my design in a computer program than I spend actually designing it on paper. I get hung up in the technology. This loss of my computer for a few days should have me down, I'd like to freak out and yet the only thing I'm worrying over much is the money. I know I am at a point in my current project where I can simply draw things out, and honestly prefer that so I don't loose my cool.
Anyway my challenge to you is to look into the advent of technology over our field and decide for yourself what it's worth. I am not an artist in the sense that I am not a runner. I run, but it isn't my profession. I paint and draw but It isn't how I make my living. I am a designer and the art behind my designs is something I will have to continue to work very hard at. And I surmise, I am not alone.
http://www.asla.org/ContentDetail.aspx?id=20096
He says that the dive for use of technology is from the profession, not the client. From my personal prospective a client is impressed and can see a clearer picture thanks to the graphics, but there is almost a competition between professionals to put together the best designed poster or most state of the art model. When truly that is a different craft. I wonder if though I am not as proficient with the computer software am I any worse of a designer? I spend more time trying to draw my design in a computer program than I spend actually designing it on paper. I get hung up in the technology. This loss of my computer for a few days should have me down, I'd like to freak out and yet the only thing I'm worrying over much is the money. I know I am at a point in my current project where I can simply draw things out, and honestly prefer that so I don't loose my cool.
Anyway my challenge to you is to look into the advent of technology over our field and decide for yourself what it's worth. I am not an artist in the sense that I am not a runner. I run, but it isn't my profession. I paint and draw but It isn't how I make my living. I am a designer and the art behind my designs is something I will have to continue to work very hard at. And I surmise, I am not alone.
Monday, September 3, 2012
JJ
While reading my assigned chapters in Suburban nation I will admit it was starting to feel a bit like a book of standards and I was loosing interest in street widths and garage placement when a name appeared on the page, Jane Jacobs. Never has a named caused an image to instantly pop into my mind as if I had stalked a name on wikipedia as seeing her name. I can't help but see the bangs and bob haircut, the wide framed glasses and the slightly hunched posture. And I hate admitting physical appearance was the first thing I thought of, though it is an image that makes me smile. The next thought of course is the firm opinion and words she held toward urban development. She felt strongly about her home neighborhood and fought against what she saw as poo planning.Jane wrote a book called "The Death and Life of Great American Cities" where she attacked City's Policies toward urban renewal. I am embarrassed to admit I have not read her book, I have seen interviews about her passion and stand and I am interested in learning more.
I read an article once called Attack of the Butterfly Spirit, it was about community gardens and how an unlikely voice spoke out to save hundreds of community gardens throughout the Burroughs of NYC. Bette Midler stood up to Mayor Giuliani in order to keep empty lots that had been used as community gardens from being turned into city owned parking garages and concrete structures instead of open green space or edible landscape for the common good of the neighborhood.
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