A review on the book “Leonid Rubtsov – a prominent landscape architect” by O. L. Rubtsova and N. V. Chuvikina

A monograph devoted to the life and work of the outstanding landscape architect Leonid Ivanovich Rubtsov has been recently published. The book provides information about the projects developed and implemented by professor Rubtsov, as well as the main theoretical principles of landscape architecture, which were proposed by him.

Frederick Tschopp, Landscape Architect, OE in New Zealand 1929-32

Frederick Tschopp was a naturalised American of Swiss birth who had trained as a horticulturalist specialising in landscape architecture. He and his wife arrived in Auckland in September 1929 and he soon found work with some of the local bodies there. Works and Development in Wellington later employed him in designing gardens for several important government properties. This was not a permanent position however and about July 1931 he moved to Rotorua with a major contract to beautify the city, including extensive street plantings and an upgrade of the lake shore. Most of this work was well-received but there were some dissenting voices. The contract was terminated in November 1932, but with several goodwill gestures. While in Rotorua, Frederick had visited both Hamilton and Tauranga, commenting on landscape design aspects. The family (now with the addition of a son) left New Zealand for home in Los Angeles in late November 1932. Frederick had a subsequent career with the Department of Water in California and died at Laguna Hills, Orange, California in February 1980.The reasons for Tschopp's visit to New Zealand can be interpreted in two ways. Clearly the newspapers regarded him as an overseas expert with a talent for landscape design, still a fairly new concept in the country in the late 1920s. He undoubtedly stood out as an American with drive and initiative. But he was only 24 when he first arrived, and his motives may well have been to gain overseas experience (OE) to help his chances of obtaining a lucrative job on his return to America. One paper described him as being in the course of a world tour but there is no conclusive evidence for him having spent long in other countries at this time.

HOUSEHOLD GARDENING AS PREFERENCE ACTIVITIES TO SUPPORT COMMUNITY RESILIENCE DURING PANDEMIC COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 affected countries across the world and sudden disruptions to everyday life and impact well-being. The implementation of exceptional procedures of social distancing includes working places and schools’ closures urged people to stay at home to reduce the number of close physical interactions and decrease the spreading of pandemic. With the long hours of family members staying at home, people prefer to do some activities at home. Doing gardening is seen as one of the preferences of urban inhabitants. However, few studies have measured the preference of urban gardening, particularly during household gardening in Jabodetabek, Indonesia. This paper examines people preferences on household gardening during the pandemic of Covid-19, comparing it with their activities before and predict it with possibility after the pandemic. We explore how type of gardening varies between vegetable or ornamental plants, community or household garden type, and the persons involved during gardening. Using google form, 148 respondents in Jabodetabek were answering between July-Dec 2020. Our study examines the emotional well-being (EWB) using Qualitative Content Analysis (QCA), applying codes and categories. Gardening as one of the favorable activities considered to generate happy time with family and they would like to continue the activities after the pandemic. However, landscape architect was not yet chosen as the gardener when they need professional assistance. This might rise a future research about the role of landscape architect in gardening movement in urban community gardening

When There's Nothing but Nature: The Danish Experience with Natural Playscapes

In this article I provide an overview of my natural playground and sensory garden design practices and theories. I discuss how I was inspired by the landscape architect, Carl Theodor Sørensen, and the key role his work and writings played in Denmark and beyond in the development of natural playscapes and in the setting up in 1961 of the International Play Association. I reveal how my first project, while still a student, to design a sensory garden for a special school was to influence my future career and thinking. My time working for the City of Copenhagen began with the design of the first public sensory garden in Denmark, which I describe here. I then highlight another Danish concept: the manned playground and its manifestation in the Nature Playground in Valbyparken for whose design I was responsible, and which I present here. I go on to discuss the dangers of standardized playground equipment designed by adults with no input from children, who prefer to make their own play and benefit from so doing. I describe my design for Murergaarden Daycare Centre and Afterschool Club playground which has no fixed play equipment. I then emphasize further the benefits of 'green' playground design and present the example of the Skovstjernen Daycare Centre, where 'there's nothing but nature and loose parts'. In short, my message is that Nature is the best place for children to play and develop their creativity.

Drawing the Line on Oil in Petrochemical America

Petrochemical America, an art book and atlas cocreated by photographer Richard Misrach and landscape architect Kate Orff, is a rejoinder to commonplaces about oil’s invisibility and evasion of representation. The book’s visualizations produce a narrative atlas that depicts the oil industry’s transformations of US landscapes and communities. Central to this depiction is Orff’s use of the line, a form essential to visualization technique. Orff’s lines go deep rather than “look across” surfaces to tell stories of growth, fragmentation, toxicity, and displacement. Detailing the affordances of the line as a tool of atlas making and mapmaking, this article argues that Petrochemical America employs lines in ways that stage the oppositional logics at the heart of the petrochemical industry, that is, its tactical recruitment of vertical and horizontal, natural and human made, visible and invisible, proximity and dispersal, and containment and contamination. Without purporting to expose the hidden and without reproducing deterministic narratives of petrochemical dominance, Orff promotes ways of apprehending oil’s pasts, presents, and futures.

Driving Through the East

This intervention asks how the people of Porirua can feel empowered and included in the decision-making processes that will shape the future of their city. I draw on my experiences as a life-long resident, activist, artist, architect, landscape architect, and urban designer in Porirua to find answers. I have found that young Pasifika are very concerned about whether their cultural values will be represented in housing and development in Porirua. This speaks to an issue facing the country as whole: while the Pasifika population continues to grow in size and importance in Aotearoa New Zealand, they are subject to flawed cultural assumptions, and are frequently overlooked or misunderstood in decision-making processes that will have profound impacts upon their future. There is room for more talanoa between Pasifika in Aotearoa New Zealand, and between Pasifika and the wider population. It is only when architects and planners expand their cultural kete that they will provide suitable housing and neighbourhoods for Pasifika.

“La Belle Liégeoise”, the new footbridge in Liège

<p>The newest footbridge in Liège, known as "La Belle Liégeoise", was opened on 2nd May 2016. Located upstream of the landscape window created by Guillemins esplanade, this bridge provides a connection for soft transport modes from the railway station across the Meuse to La Boverie park, maintaining clearance for navigation.</p><p>The main span over the Meuse is 163 metres for a total length of 294 metres. The 5.5 metre wide decking is positioned laterally to the supporting structure.</p><p>Bureau Greisch, in association with the landscape architect Corajoud, was responsible for the complete design mission for the bridge.</p><p>The aim of this article is to detail the whole process of the conception of the bridge, from first sketches to erection control.</p>