February 4, 2010 • 10:36 AM
Two of my greatest passions are soccer (football) and architecture and when you put the two together, there is this moment of bliss. By now, most people know that 2010 is a World Cup year. South Africa will play host to the world and hopefully put on a great show. What is so awesome about the World Cup and other major sporting events such as the Olympics is that there is always going to be innovative designs in landscape and architecture to be shown around the world. In 2008 it was the Water Cube, designed by several companies, and the Bird’s Nest in Beijing, China by Herzog & de Meuron. This year it will be all the new stadiums on display in South Africa.
If anyone reading this watched the Confederations Cup 2009 when the USMNT made a crazy run to the final, you will know the sound of the World Cup 2010 and how passionate the people of South Africa are about staging such and event as this one. June 11th is the first match, South Africa v Mexico. USA plays its first match on June 12th against England. Click here for times of matches for US viewers.
World Cup 2010 wiki
Green Point Stadium – ArchDaily
Soccer City Stadium – ArchDaily
Moses Mabhida Stadium – ArchDaily
Filed under: architecture, design, modern architecture , archdaily, architecture, design, south africa, usmnt, world cup 2010
February 1, 2010 • 11:53 PM
Tucked away in downtown San Francisco is Mint Plaza. You may have nonchalantly walked through it on your way to work or spent the time to sit and have your coffee from several of its neighboring cafes. The name comes from the fact that a branch of the United States Mint is located at the building adjacent to the plaza. Mint Plaza, designed by CMG Landscape Architects, have crafted a unique, passive space, but once within its confines, there is a sudden calming effect.
What was Jessie Street and Mint Street is now Mint Plaza. This pedestrian-only space is another public space for a city that has so many of them. Made mainly of hardscaping, with a very cool arbor cover with vines, Mint Plaza is simple, a minimalistic space, but is achieves so much.
Filed under: california, landscape architecture , california, cmg landscape architects, landscape architecture, mint plaza, san francisco
January 30, 2010 • 10:33 PM
A unique project, combining the new with the old. Taking a renovated structure and adding a space-like entrance on the west side, plus a pleasing plaza space has made the Jewish Contemporary Museum successful. Since its opening in May 2008, the museum’s adjacent space complements the building and its design very well. The entrance with the blue structure is profound and pronounced, making its point of contemporary. Daniel Libeskind’s design, from the exterior, is a joy to view. To get a better understanding of its interior, click here for more information and images.
Filed under: architecture, art, california, modern architecture, photography , architecture, california, daniel libeskind, jewish contemporary museum
January 28, 2010 • 2:16 PM
Over at Bustler, they have posted the winner of the Big Blue Bus Stops in Santa Monica, California. The City of Santa Monica has selected the design work of Lorcan O’Herlihy Architects (LOHA) and Bruce Mau Design. Click the link here to read the article.
Filed under: architecture, california, competition, design , architecture, big blue bus, bruce mau design, california, city of santa monica, competition, design, loha, santa monica, southern california
January 27, 2010 • 5:18 PM
Something that has befuddled me for the longest time is the maintenance needs of a landscape. When in college working on projects, students were asked to disregard the issue of maintenance of a design so we could let our creativity shine. That’s understandable, but the more I visit buildings and landscape designs, the more I realize that the upkeep of these places is not occurring. This could be because its another way to cut costs in such economic times, but in hindsight you would think that the client and the designer would have agreed on how to fund maintenance of the site.
When I was in Los Angeles earlier this month, I went to visit the Los Angeles River Garden Park designed by Ah’be Landscape Architects. On their website the project looked great, something I wanted to see. When I got there it was such a let down, I felt depressed about what I saw and the decrepit condition of the site. If something like that is going to be built, the maintenance and upkeep of it should be as important as the design itself.
Before
After
Filed under: california , ahbe landscape architects, cost of a landscape, landscape architecture, los angeles, los angeles river garden park, maintenance
January 21, 2010 • 2:28 PM
The Pacific Coast Highway through Santa Monica, CA is incredibly beautiful. Just off of the PCH is the newly built (April 2009) Annenberg Community Beach House which sits on Santa Monica State Beach. The landscaping and outdoor public space designed by Mia Lehrer and Associates, while the architecture was done by Frederick Fisher and Partners. I love this project because of the detail that went into the design. From the intricate art work in the pool, to the sustainable aspect of the project, the colors, the children’s play area, and the enjoyable beach cafe. This is the epitome of the southern California experience: relaxing by the beach, having fun, and enjoying some fantastic design work.
Filed under: architecture, california, design, infrastructure, landscape architecture, modern architecture, photography , annenberg community beach house, architecture, california, frederick fisher and partners, landscape architecture, mia lehrer, santa monica, sustainability
January 19, 2010 • 3:13 PM
Regarding the high speed rail system that Spain has built, America could follow Spain’s plan to build such a project. I have been on the Spanish rail system (RENFE) and I can tell you that it is extremely efficient, clean, fast, and affordable.
Here is the link to the video.
Filed under: infrastructure , high speed, infrastructure, renfe, spain, train
January 18, 2010 • 3:11 PM
When walking around Larchmont Village a while ago in Los Angeles, I passed by a home on Gower Street that I thought was amazing. The entire front yard is covered in succulents, natives, and drought tolerant plants. This is the type of landscape that people in southern California should incorporate into their yards. If you haven’t heard, LA County is still paying its residents $2000 to have their grass removed and replaced with native plants. Times have changed, and people rarely, if ever use their front yards to run around. So if you aren’t doing so, do something not only to help out your pocket and save resources, but because native plants and succulents are the coolest plants.
Filed under: california, environment , california, gower street, la county, landscapes, los angeles, native plants, southern california
