After many phone calls and much pulling out of hair I am pleased to say that my online portfolio is now viewable online (rather than just on my laptop!).
Visit www.jamesstearn.co.uk too see for yourself.
There may still be a few teething troubles, but these should be resolved over the coming days.
The website allows you to get an overview of some of my projects, as well as being able to download some of the documents in PDF format.
Tuesday, 4 May 2010
Regenerating Blackpool
Blackpool is well established as one of the UK's most popular beach resorts, though for a number of years it has been beginning to look a little tired. Now a multi-million pound project to rejuvenate the sea wall area is breathing new life and investment into the town.
The project which began in 2005 will see the entire length of the sea wall re-built with increased access to the sea through a 3km section of 'Spanish steps'. Sloped access will also be provided for the less able and for Blackpool's famous donkeys.
The quality of the work which has already been carried out is very high, with very positive local reactions to the scheme. 
Investment in Blackpool is not limited to the sea wall either, the famous tram system (the last of the original tram networks in the UK) is also receiving a long overdue upgrade which will see the system fit for the future with a new fleet of fully accessible vehicles. Fortunately many of the heritage tram cars will also be modified to work on the upgraded system.
Investment in Blackpool is not limited to the sea wall either, the famous tram system (the last of the original tram networks in the UK) is also receiving a long overdue upgrade which will see the system fit for the future with a new fleet of fully accessible vehicles. Fortunately many of the heritage tram cars will also be modified to work on the upgraded system.A less derelict image
Derelict, abandoned buildings can be a blight on any landscape or town centre. I was interested therefore to see a novel way to make a disused structure a little less of an eyesore while on a recent trip to Swanage. Here a building in a key position next to the harbour front is out of use. However a team of local artists have intervened and turned the structure into an imaginative piece of art, which visitors are actually attracted to, rather than being repelled from the dilapidated building. It even comes complete with it's own flock of wooden seagulls!
On a similar theme schemes have recently been reported in parts of the country where empty high street shops have been given window paintings, or even posters portraying a real shop. The theory is that if the town looks less dilapidated people will feel more positive about it, which is good for business. Certainly in these times where finance is scarce, these low-cost initiatives really can make a difference.
On a similar theme schemes have recently been reported in parts of the country where empty high street shops have been given window paintings, or even posters portraying a real shop. The theory is that if the town looks less dilapidated people will feel more positive about it, which is good for business. Certainly in these times where finance is scarce, these low-cost initiatives really can make a difference.
Tuesday, 20 April 2010
Recycle Now!
It is staggering how difficult it can still be to recycle certain 'easily recyclable' items. Just this evening I was faced with an aluminium cake case. This is not a can... so surely I cannot put it with the cans? but it is the same material? And I know it can be recycled- I remember many years ago collecting it for one of the appeals on Blue Peter!
I turned to the Internet- surely that would tell me if I can put it in with the cans...
Next thing I knew I had found the wonderful www.recyclenow.co.uk This website gives country wide information on recycling centres and kerbside collections, as well has hosting an impressive amount of information about recycling. What is more, you can enter your postcode to find what your council will collect from your door, and where your nearest recycling points are. Brilliant.
Some while later I found I was still on the website, browsing information on novel ways in which big name company's are reducing their packaging- another must to help the environment.
As for my aluminium cake case... I can't put it in with the cans, and the nearest place I can recycle it is over 2km away!
We still have some way to go with recycling...
I turned to the Internet- surely that would tell me if I can put it in with the cans...
Next thing I knew I had found the wonderful www.recyclenow.co.uk This website gives country wide information on recycling centres and kerbside collections, as well has hosting an impressive amount of information about recycling. What is more, you can enter your postcode to find what your council will collect from your door, and where your nearest recycling points are. Brilliant.
Some while later I found I was still on the website, browsing information on novel ways in which big name company's are reducing their packaging- another must to help the environment.
As for my aluminium cake case... I can't put it in with the cans, and the nearest place I can recycle it is over 2km away!
We still have some way to go with recycling...
Wednesday, 31 March 2010
Bike hire comes to London
London is finally set to receive it's cycle hire scheme in the next few months, with operations set to be ready for the summer. The scheme, backed by pro-bicycle London Mayor Boris Johnson is based around the successful scheme which operates in Paris. The bicycle hire scheme will feature a number of 'cycle banks' positioned around the city from which users will borrow the bikes for short journeys, then returning them to any other cycle bank. Bicycle hire is predicted to create an additional 40,000 bicycle trips today around the capital, and of course all this travel will be totally green and environmentally friendly- a journey on a bike rather than hopping on a bus will even benefit the health of Londoners. This is defiantly a scheme which should be welcomed in the capital.
Sunday, 14 March 2010
Forgotten spaces- Brunel's Thames Tunnel
For two days only Londoners had an opportunity to experience one of the worlds engineering masterpieces close up- for the first time in 145 years. The Thames Tunnel, built by Marc Brunel and completed by his better known son Ismbard was the worlds first underwater tunnel, running beneath the Thames from Wapping to Rotherhithe. It took a mammoth 18 years to construct, with many problems along the way. Many men perished in the construction and the tunnel flooded on several occasions. When it finally opened to the public in 1843 it was an instant crowd puller, dubbed the 'eighth wonder of the world'- people flocked to the tunnel to experience the novelty of walking under the river and to visit the shops and stalls selling merchandise beneath the Thames. The tunnel despite attracting visitors was a financial disaster, and was purchased in 1865 by the East London Railway Company. Since 1869 the tunnel has been used by trains, latterly as part of London Underground's East London Line. The tunnel today is in the final stages of being converted to part of the London Overground network which will open in may.
While scheduled trains are not using the tunnel the opportunity was taken to open it to the public for the first time in 145 as part of London's 'East' festival. For two days the public were once again able to walk through the tunnel as part of guided groups. 
Credit must go to Transport for London, The London Transport Museum and the Brunel Museum for organising the event. Despite some complaints about it's organisation it is pleasing to see that events such as this can be successfully staged. Now how about some more access to London's hidden treasures?
Saturday, 13 March 2010
Can we stop being retarded please?
It is true that the inhabitants of today's society are not as intelligent that they used to be? Certainly they seem to be treated as such. Everywhere one travels there seems to be a plethora of signs and instructions advising the public how to do all of the simplest tasks. It is as if people have lost all sense of self awareness and common sense.
The situation seems to be getting more and more absurd as time progresses. Just yesterday South Kensington tube station felt the need to get out the 'Due to the current adverse weather- please take extra care' announcement... but where was the 'adverse weather' it was sunny... the surfaces were dry... there may have been some chance of rain, but really this is London. Rain is not 'adverse weather'. These announcements might be appropriate in the snow- they should not be played continuously whatever the weather- plus, as I suspect already happens, if they become too common people will stop listening to them and ignore them really.
People today are not stupid- we must stop treating them as such!
The situation seems to be getting more and more absurd as time progresses. Just yesterday South Kensington tube station felt the need to get out the 'Due to the current adverse weather- please take extra care' announcement... but where was the 'adverse weather' it was sunny... the surfaces were dry... there may have been some chance of rain, but really this is London. Rain is not 'adverse weather'. These announcements might be appropriate in the snow- they should not be played continuously whatever the weather- plus, as I suspect already happens, if they become too common people will stop listening to them and ignore them really.
People today are not stupid- we must stop treating them as such!
Decode at the V & A
'Decode- Digital Design Sensations' is a series of digital installations currently on show at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London.
Digital technology is increasingly being recognised as a design or artistic tool, with this exhibition aiming to showcase examples of work under the titles of 'Code', 'Interactivity' and 'Network'. The installations range from those which process data to create a visual outcome to those which require full audience participation.
I personally unconvinced by many of the digital applications on show at Decode- I see very little value in a screen displaying a number of dots while making occasional squeaking noises- this apparently being an interpretation of random data. This does nothing to aid my understanding of this data, or to engage me.
However it is easy to see that the digital technology has clearly got an appeal. Even the briefest look around the exhibition room revealed that, on a Friday afternoon, it was positively busy. People were clearly drawn in by this exhibition more so than others in the museum- despite the entry fee. Maybe this was in due in part by the fact that people moved more slowly- taking time to understand the exhibits- or maybe it was just more interesting. 
Where the exhibition really began to interest me was in the second half, where the interactive installations were to be found. I do believe that interactive elements in design, when they work well, can be very effective at engaging an audience, and also promoting connections. The works at Decode certainly seemed to be achieving this. People were happy to interact with the pieces, however it made them look- and began to talk to other users also. This for me is how technology could influence my design. I have no interest in a 'computer graphic statue' or an image pieced together from incomprehensible data- but if there is a way to use technology to inspire people, and attract them, surely this is the use we should be looking for within design.
Where the exhibition really began to interest me was in the second half, where the interactive installations were to be found. I do believe that interactive elements in design, when they work well, can be very effective at engaging an audience, and also promoting connections. The works at Decode certainly seemed to be achieving this. People were happy to interact with the pieces, however it made them look- and began to talk to other users also. This for me is how technology could influence my design. I have no interest in a 'computer graphic statue' or an image pieced together from incomprehensible data- but if there is a way to use technology to inspire people, and attract them, surely this is the use we should be looking for within design.Tuesday, 9 March 2010
Traffic Lights
Traffic lights- like it or not they are a feature on our roads which are unlikely to go away. There are many locations where traffic lights are essential to the smooth flow of traffic, many busy junctions, narrow tunnels and busy pedestrian crossings. Are there too many traffic lights though? Or are they just unintelligent? Speaking both as a motorist and a pedestrian, some of the most annoying traffic lights are the 'ineffective' crossings. As a pedestrian you press the button... wait... and wait... but before the lights have stopped the traffic you manage to cross anyway, resulting in the motorist then having to stop... for nobody to cross the road. These crossings can work... when they stop the traffic quickly, but too many are ineffective.
There are too many traffic light controlled junctions as well- it always pleases me to see, as a motorist, that on the occasions where the lights stop working at junctions- life usually continues- people remember rules of courtesy, and the traffic flows. So are the lights really necessary?
The final nightmare with lights is driving at unsociable hours of the night or early morning... you are the only car on the road, yet you have to stop at string of red lights. Surely we should have more 'part time' traffic signals... or introduce a 'flashing amber' signal advising motorists to 'proceed at caution' at times when the road is quiet. Such a signal is used in other locations around the world.
It needs to be remembered that drivers can exercise common sense at junctions- we really don't need all the traffic lights we have. Removing or altering lights to aid the free flowing of traffic could cut carbon as well!
There are too many traffic light controlled junctions as well- it always pleases me to see, as a motorist, that on the occasions where the lights stop working at junctions- life usually continues- people remember rules of courtesy, and the traffic flows. So are the lights really necessary?
The final nightmare with lights is driving at unsociable hours of the night or early morning... you are the only car on the road, yet you have to stop at string of red lights. Surely we should have more 'part time' traffic signals... or introduce a 'flashing amber' signal advising motorists to 'proceed at caution' at times when the road is quiet. Such a signal is used in other locations around the world.
It needs to be remembered that drivers can exercise common sense at junctions- we really don't need all the traffic lights we have. Removing or altering lights to aid the free flowing of traffic could cut carbon as well!
Thursday, 4 March 2010
EcoBuild 2010
On 2nd March I attended the annual EcoBuild convention at London's Earls Court exhibition centre.
Ecobuild has become established as the worlds largest event devoted to sustainable design and the built environment, with thousands of suppliers featuring innovative products for use within the construction and design industries. Across the three day event there are also a wide variety of seminars and talks on all subjects relating to sustainability within the built environment.
During my time at the convention this year I attended three talks:
-What makes a sustainable community: discussing the most important factors of sustainability within communities both culturally and environmentally. The talk featured guest speakers including Peter Head (a director of ARUP, with responsibility for designing the eco-town of Dongtang in China) and David Blunkett (MP). The talk discussed issues of why people live where they do, and what makes people stay in a place. The implications of transport as well as the provision of facilities within local areas. The talk concluded with a discussion about the practicalities of the new eco-town movement.
-Retrofitting SUDS: Hosted by Paul Shaffer of the CIRA. This interesting talk gave an introduction to SUDS (Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems), their uses and applications before looking in detail at a project to retrofit SUDS into an area of Bristol known as 'The Dings' and another example of SUDS being used successfully in a brownfield development in Sheffield.
-Streets for People: A riveting talk hosted by Ben Hamilton Bailey discussing the upcoming tred for 'shared space' streets and the removal of street furniture to better integrate streets into our urban environment. After an in depth introduction to the topic several schemes were presented, firstly the scheme in Ashford presented by Lindsey Whitelaw of Whitelaw Turkington Landscape Architects and concluding with a presentation on the re-designing of Oxford Circus.
Altogether EcoBuild 2010 was a very full interesting and inspiring day.
EcoBuild 2011 will be hosted in March at the Excel Centre.
Ecobuild has become established as the worlds largest event devoted to sustainable design and the built environment, with thousands of suppliers featuring innovative products for use within the construction and design industries. Across the three day event there are also a wide variety of seminars and talks on all subjects relating to sustainability within the built environment.
During my time at the convention this year I attended three talks:-What makes a sustainable community: discussing the most important factors of sustainability within communities both culturally and environmentally. The talk featured guest speakers including Peter Head (a director of ARUP, with responsibility for designing the eco-town of Dongtang in China) and David Blunkett (MP). The talk discussed issues of why people live where they do, and what makes people stay in a place. The implications of transport as well as the provision of facilities within local areas. The talk concluded with a discussion about the practicalities of the new eco-town movement.
-Retrofitting SUDS: Hosted by Paul Shaffer of the CIRA. This interesting talk gave an introduction to SUDS (Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems), their uses and applications before looking in detail at a project to retrofit SUDS into an area of Bristol known as 'The Dings' and another example of SUDS being used successfully in a brownfield development in Sheffield.
-Streets for People: A riveting talk hosted by Ben Hamilton Bailey discussing the upcoming tred for 'shared space' streets and the removal of street furniture to better integrate streets into our urban environment. After an in depth introduction to the topic several schemes were presented, firstly the scheme in Ashford presented by Lindsey Whitelaw of Whitelaw Turkington Landscape Architects and concluding with a presentation on the re-designing of Oxford Circus.
Altogether EcoBuild 2010 was a very full interesting and inspiring day.
EcoBuild 2011 will be hosted in March at the Excel Centre.
Thursday, 11 February 2010
Chemical Darkroom
Those of you who know me will know that one of my passions in life is photography. In fact, photography was my door into the world of Landscape Architecture, for it was this subject which inspired me to turn my skills in the direction of art and design.
Knowing this it should come as no surprise that I have long planned to spend some time immersed in the photography facilities that Kingston University has to offer. Having finally found my way to the black and white darkrooms last year I turned my attention to a longer standing goal- to conquer the colour darkroom.
As part of a focus week the opportunity did finally arise. I film which I had shot over the summer was duly developed at Jessops so that I had some negatives ready to process, and some sample pictures to give an idea of how the final image should look.
The pictures came back from Jessops and were not entirely satisfactory- I however selected a photograph to try to replicate, and was assured that I could personally reduce the yellow tint which the shop printed image contained.
The process of colour developing is somewhat more complex than that for black and white. Rather than just controlling the amount of light reaching the photographic paper, one also has to control different levels of light using a series of Cyan, Magenta and Yellow filters. The only way to get the combination of levels right is a lot of practise, and countless test strips.
The photos below show some of my prints from the day and detail the progression from test strips to a final print.
Test strip to gauge exposure time:
First exposure:
Second Exposure- Increase yellow filter:
Final exposure- Reduce aperture, Reduce exposure time, increase yellow filter:
Knowing this it should come as no surprise that I have long planned to spend some time immersed in the photography facilities that Kingston University has to offer. Having finally found my way to the black and white darkrooms last year I turned my attention to a longer standing goal- to conquer the colour darkroom.
As part of a focus week the opportunity did finally arise. I film which I had shot over the summer was duly developed at Jessops so that I had some negatives ready to process, and some sample pictures to give an idea of how the final image should look.
The pictures came back from Jessops and were not entirely satisfactory- I however selected a photograph to try to replicate, and was assured that I could personally reduce the yellow tint which the shop printed image contained.
The process of colour developing is somewhat more complex than that for black and white. Rather than just controlling the amount of light reaching the photographic paper, one also has to control different levels of light using a series of Cyan, Magenta and Yellow filters. The only way to get the combination of levels right is a lot of practise, and countless test strips.
The photos below show some of my prints from the day and detail the progression from test strips to a final print.
Test strip to gauge exposure time:
First exposure: Second Exposure- Increase yellow filter:Final exposure- Reduce aperture, Reduce exposure time, increase yellow filter:
Monday, 4 January 2010
Elements and Values
A day's project using the Royal Festival Hall on London's South Bank as a base.
Two (roughly 60 second) films produced on the theme of 'Elements and Values'.
Unedited film.
Edited film.
Two (roughly 60 second) films produced on the theme of 'Elements and Values'.
Unedited film.
Edited film.
Sunday, 3 January 2010
Barcelona- Public Spaces
The scope of public space in Barcelona is huge. There are literally hundreds of parks dotted around the city, most of which ooze a sense of quality. Here I shall present a small selection of photographs from some of the spaces I enjoyed most during my visit to Barcelona.
Ramblas Del Mar
Barcelonetta
Parc de Josep Maria Serra i Marti
Parc Central du Nou Barris
Parc dels Auditoris
Barcelona Forum
Ramblas Del Mar
Barcelonetta
Parc de Josep Maria Serra i Marti
Parc Central du Nou Barris
Parc dels Auditoris
Barcelona Forum
Barcelona- EMBT
One of the most interesting landscape and architectural practises that have been working in Barcelona in recent years is EMBT (Enric Miralles- Benedetta Tagliabue). During my time in the city I visited their huge 'Parc Diagonal Mar' as well as taking in some of their other their architectural work at one of the cities historic markets and at the futuristic headquarters of Gas Natural.
St Caterina Market Building
Gas Natural Headquarters
Park Diagonal Mar/Lungomare Bench
Park Diagonal Mar
Parc Diagonal Mar
St Caterina Market Building
Gas Natural Headquarters
Park Diagonal Mar/Lungomare Bench
Park Diagonal Mar
Parc Diagonal Mar
Barcelona- Architecture
Barcelona is famous for it's architecture- especially that of Antoni Gaudi who designed several exquisitely finished buildings in the city, including the epic unfinished Cathedral 'La Segrada Familia'. Gaudi is also responsible for the fabulous 'Park Guell'. 
Park Guell
Barcelona Pavilion
Barcelona does contain other noteworthy architecture- particularly the reconstructed 'Barcelona Pavilion' by Mies Van De Rohe, often referred to as one of the most beautiful modernist structures.
La Segrada Familia
La Pedera
Park GuellBarcelona PavilionBarcelona- Overview
This years Landscape study trip was to the vibrant Spanish city of Barcelona.
During our week in November we enjoyed beautiful weather- perfect for exploring the city.
Barcelona is a city with almost every element one could wish for- a historic city centre with narrow streets, a well planned urban area, the Mediterranean Ocean and rolling mountains beyond. Added to this is a good public transport system, clean streets, fabulous architecture- not to mention a plentiful supply of well planned public spaces!
One can easily wander the streets pleasantly discovering interesting features while every now and again stumbling across a great park, or maybe even one of the buildings by the famous Gaudi.
During our week in November we enjoyed beautiful weather- perfect for exploring the city.
Barcelona is a city with almost every element one could wish for- a historic city centre with narrow streets, a well planned urban area, the Mediterranean Ocean and rolling mountains beyond. Added to this is a good public transport system, clean streets, fabulous architecture- not to mention a plentiful supply of well planned public spaces!
One can easily wander the streets pleasantly discovering interesting features while every now and again stumbling across a great park, or maybe even one of the buildings by the famous Gaudi.
Milton Keynes- A Brief Visit
I made a prel
iminary visit to the 1967 new town of Milton Keynes in November ahead of plans to write about planning of this new city for my extended essay module.
iminary visit to the 1967 new town of Milton Keynes in November ahead of plans to write about planning of this new city for my extended essay module.Milton Keynes is almost alone in the UK for following a 'grid road' system which informs the layout of the city. The city was designed at a time when the car was seen as the future answer to transport needs, and segregated paths for pedestrians and cyclists 
exist away from the roads. As well as the futuristic road layout the city also incorporated many radical new architectural designs into it's buildings, including the city's original shopping centre which is still flourishing today. Incorporated within this is a large indoor public space which was currently housing Christmas amusements.
exist away from the roads. As well as the futuristic road layout the city also incorporated many radical new architectural designs into it's buildings, including the city's original shopping centre which is still flourishing today. Incorporated within this is a large indoor public space which was currently housing Christmas amusements.Knollmead Permaculture Centre
Knollmead Permaculture Centre occupies a small site adjoining an allotment site on the banks of the Hogsmill River in Tolworth. Here a small group of enthusiasts practise gardening through the permaculture movement.
Permaculture is defined as 'a system of cultivation intended to maintain permanent agriculture or horticulture by relying on renewable resources and a self sustaining eco-system.' (definition from http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/permaculture?qsrc=2446). This theory means that plants should only be grown in substances placed upon the soil, rather than the ground being disturbed, dug up or ploughed. To fertilize the soil, for example, leaves and manure will be left on 
the surface to leech into the ground rather than being dug through.
the surface to leech into the ground rather than being dug through. On this small site there are a variety of projects ongoing. As well as fruit and vegetable production there is also an active willow coppicing scheme where the material is used to make furniture and sculptures. Also there are areas where the group are growing mushrooms and producing honey- there is even a sustainable composting toilet!
As well as the sustainable attitude the volunteers here area put an emphasis on the idea of community- everybody comes together on Sunday working days to improve the site while there are less regular social meetings for the members.
Thanks to Michael Herrmann for organising the trip, and to members of the Knollmead Permaculture Centre.
Camley Street Natural Park
As part of a focus week study visit I went to the Camley Street Natural Park site. This small park is located on the southern bank of the Regents Canal at Kings Cross. Initially the site feels like an urban oasis, between the Midland and East Coast railways and opposite the huge Kings Cross development site. The ethos of the Camley Street site is to encourage and introduce nature back into the urban area of London. Information is available on some of the species which have been found on this former brownfield area. A range of activities engaging members of the public and local schools are run throughout the year and the area provides a perfect escape from the bustle of the Euston road just minutes away. The park attempts to be as sustainable as possible and makes use of processes such as composting and recycling to reduce it's waste. 
Over the years the site has grown in popularity and is now looking for ways to expand further into the community through it's volunteering schemes and possibly with links across the canal to the Kings Cross development site.
Wednesday, 16 December 2009
Sir Harold Hillier Gardens
I took a trip with my family down to the Harold Hillier gardens in Romsey (near Southampton). The season was certainly turning quite Autumnal, yet the gardens still had plenty to offer. The gardens feature several different areas, all with the wonderful specimen trees which the Hillier name has become so famous for. Some trees looked particularly special at this time with leaves just beginning to turn to shades of yellow and orange.
Other features include an ornamental pond and several areas which have been given a more 
contemporary feel. There is also an ongoing sculpture exhibition throughout sections of the gardens. While this does provide added interest, and a fantastic opportunity for local design graduates to display their work, I can't say I found the installation entirely beneficial to the area. It seemed to me that the sculptures had been packed in far too tightly- certainly the feeling of 'belonging' (achieved so well with the Henry Moor exhibition at Kew) was lacking from many of the sculptures.
Certainly these gardens are well worth a visit, and are also much quieter in terms of footfall than many others such as Kew and Wisley. The gardens are owned by Hampshire County Council and managed as a charitable trust.
Other features include an ornamental pond and several areas which have been given a more 
contemporary feel. There is also an ongoing sculpture exhibition throughout sections of the gardens. While this does provide added interest, and a fantastic opportunity for local design graduates to display their work, I can't say I found the installation entirely beneficial to the area. It seemed to me that the sculptures had been packed in far too tightly- certainly the feeling of 'belonging' (achieved so well with the Henry Moor exhibition at Kew) was lacking from many of the sculptures.Certainly these gardens are well worth a visit, and are also much quieter in terms of footfall than many others such as Kew and Wisley. The gardens are owned by Hampshire County Council and managed as a charitable trust.
Monday, 23 November 2009
Jardin du Luxembourg
In contrast to Parc Andre Citroen the Jardin du Luxembourg is one of Paris' most established and most popular parks. It's layout is based on a cross between the French and English classical garden. The park boasts large lawns alongside avenues lined with trees creating a great variety of space for all Parisians as well as the large number of tourists who flock here.The park features a large number of statues, a bandstand, several fountains and ponds including the famous medincinal fountain. The design here puts a very different focus on maintenance to Parc Andre Citroen, with planting here being the main subject of attention without high maintenance surfaces and features.
Parc Andre Citroen
During my stay in France there was little time to visit landscape projects, however I did make some exceptions, one being a visit to Parc Andre Citroen. This is a contemporary park on the banks of the River Seine by Alain Provost and Gilles Clement and one which I remember visiting some years ago on a family holiday to the city.
The two large greenhouses at the northern end of the sight were the feature I remembered best, and these still provided an obvious and beautiful focal point to the site. Other features however were somewhat less impressive- the many many water features for example, of which almost all had clearly been out of use for some time. Even the greenhouses provided disappointment on closer inspection- they were locked out of use and one of the two was completely empty.
Despite these disappointments the park has a lot to offer and appears to be well used. The large central lawn area is a wonderful space (with or without the giant helium balloon which currently occupies it and offers visitors birds eye views of the city). There are also a series of tranquil themed gardens.
It is such a shame that the park has been subject to a lack of maintenance- maybe the design was too ambitions and contained too much water initially which has made costs spiral. Either way there must surely be some cost effective solutions to bring this park back up to the standard it should be. These issues have contributed to my decision to look at this park in detail as part of my Management Plans module at University this year.
The two large greenhouses at the northern end of the sight were the feature I remembered best, and these still provided an obvious and beautiful focal point to the site. Other features however were somewhat less impressive- the many many water features for example, of which almost all had clearly been out of use for some time. Even the greenhouses provided disappointment on closer inspection- they were locked out of use and one of the two was completely empty.
Despite these disappointments the park has a lot to offer and appears to be well used. The large central lawn area is a wonderful space (with or without the giant helium balloon which currently occupies it and offers visitors birds eye views of the city). There are also a series of tranquil themed gardens.
It is such a shame that the park has been subject to a lack of maintenance- maybe the design was too ambitions and contained too much water initially which has made costs spiral. Either way there must surely be some cost effective solutions to bring this park back up to the standard it should be. These issues have contributed to my decision to look at this park in detail as part of my Management Plans module at University this year.
Ecole Nationale Superieure du Paysage
I was lucky to be able to a
ttend a weeks Landscape Architecture workshop at the French Ecole Nationale Superieure du Paysage (school of Landscape), based in the former kitchen gardens at the Palace of Versailles during September. The subject of the workshop was based around the publication of the greater Paris plan, which included proposals for urbanising additional land surrounding the city of Paris. Our task was to look at a site at Rungis, close to Orly Airport to the south of the city. Currently this land is put to agricultural use, but it is clear that the city's relentless growth will make this unsustainable.
ttend a weeks Landscape Architecture workshop at the French Ecole Nationale Superieure du Paysage (school of Landscape), based in the former kitchen gardens at the Palace of Versailles during September. The subject of the workshop was based around the publication of the greater Paris plan, which included proposals for urbanising additional land surrounding the city of Paris. Our task was to look at a site at Rungis, close to Orly Airport to the south of the city. Currently this land is put to agricultural use, but it is clear that the city's relentless growth will make this unsustainable.Working in groups amongst students from many parts of the world with different skill bases a number of schemes were developed to incorporate this agricultural land into the urban plan for Paris. The group which which I was involved would aim to p
reserve the current landscape of agricultural fields by lifting the land and placing housing units beneath it, thus preserving the use of the land above and the view down the fields. The proposal not only created an interesting space but also instigated a new idealistic image of life in the fields without cars and with outstanding sustainable credentials- precedents for the project included the BedZed development near Wimbledon, London.
reserve the current landscape of agricultural fields by lifting the land and placing housing units beneath it, thus preserving the use of the land above and the view down the fields. The proposal not only created an interesting space but also instigated a new idealistic image of life in the fields without cars and with outstanding sustainable credentials- precedents for the project included the BedZed development near Wimbledon, London. Giverny- Claude Monet's Garden
Less than a week after my return from Canada I found myself driving towards Paris with three of my student colleagues. We were on our way to Versailles to take part in a weeks Landscape workshop- more on that later...
It occurred to us that a natural place to stop on the journey was at Claude Monet's garden, Giverny, on the outskirts of Paris. Despite a slow drive giving us less than an hour to enjoy the spectacle of this site it agreed that it was all well worth the effort.
These gardens are spectacularly maintained despite the huge number of visitors who flock here. The gardens are arranged either side of the main road through the town of Giverny, on one side are the formal gardens, while the other side of the road are the more famous 'water Lilly ponds'.
For me personally the formal gardens had to be the highlight of the visit, particularly with the huge blooms sunflowers which dominated the garden. The combinations of vibrant colours, all of which were meticulously placed, made this sea of beautiful flowers quite special.
Friday, 13 November 2009
The Dunes of Prince Edward Island
The dune landscape has to be one of the most fascinating to exist. In just a few hundred meters one can travel from solid land to the ocean and witness all the stages of land development in between.
Created by the winds movement of sand, dunes by their very nature are fragile structures, first colonised by species such as lime grass and marram grass- one human footstep can literally set back dune development by many years. It is for this reason that the dune landscape must be managed if it is to survive.
On Prince Edward Island, Canada, Boardwalk paths have been built over the dunes to access the beach, while the dunes themselves are clearly fenced off from the public to discourage entry. Behind the pioneering line of the dunes dedicated footpaths and cycleways have been set up to allow people to enjoy the environment responsibly without damaging habitats. The use of natural materials in these projects hugely aids their aesthetic quality.Education is important too of course- if people do not realise the ecological value of the dunes or the damage they can do to them it is unlikely they will respect this fragile landscape.
Sunday, 18 October 2009
Toronto Wavedecks
In 2006 West8 and DTAH won the competition to redesign Toronto's waterfront. The key aim of the project was to reconnect the Canadian city with Lake Ontario, an area of the city which had seen many years of neglect and had been cut off by the railway and the monstrous two-story Gardener Expressway.
The first Wavedeck I discovered was Spadina, a rolling surface with a peak in the middle which dips at each side. It was clear to see that the structure was very solid and of great quality, however it did not seem to attract peoples use by being somewhat isolated from the adjacent land by not finishing with a level interface with the dockside.
The next Wavedeck heading east is at Rees. Here the edges to meet up with the adjacent harbourside land, making the foot traffic much higher. The shape of the Wavedeck too is more interesting while retaining the quality feel. Along the waterfront is a long bench (though not quite as long as the one West8 produced at the Scheuburgplein in Rotterdam!), allowing people to connect with water.
The final Wavedeck to be opened is Simcoe, and it is the most dynamic of them all. This deck features two very large peaks creating a very playful and exciting undulating surface. Access again is good which allows people to alter their journey to cross the wavedeck. Cyclists alter their path to take in the gentle hills of the lower section, adding interest to their journey. Also skateboarders, skaters, walkers and runners all choose new paths across the deck. Children are encouraged to play on the area providing great free entertainment. I would say that I have never seen an area interacted with in so many ways in such a short time than on this small area of Simcoe Wavedeck.
The Toronto Waterfront project has clearly got off to a good start- it will be exciting to see how it develops.
The first project was to reinvigorate some of the former dock areas by creating a series of Wavedecks along dockfronts. The first three Wavedecks at Simcoe, Spadina and Rees have now been completed, and while in the city I took some time to explore them.
The first Wavedeck I discovered was Spadina, a rolling surface with a peak in the middle which dips at each side. It was clear to see that the structure was very solid and of great quality, however it did not seem to attract peoples use by being somewhat isolated from the adjacent land by not finishing with a level interface with the dockside.
The next Wavedeck heading east is at Rees. Here the edges to meet up with the adjacent harbourside land, making the foot traffic much higher. The shape of the Wavedeck too is more interesting while retaining the quality feel. Along the waterfront is a long bench (though not quite as long as the one West8 produced at the Scheuburgplein in Rotterdam!), allowing people to connect with water.
The final Wavedeck to be opened is Simcoe, and it is the most dynamic of them all. This deck features two very large peaks creating a very playful and exciting undulating surface. Access again is good which allows people to alter their journey to cross the wavedeck. Cyclists alter their path to take in the gentle hills of the lower section, adding interest to their journey. Also skateboarders, skaters, walkers and runners all choose new paths across the deck. Children are encouraged to play on the area providing great free entertainment. I would say that I have never seen an area interacted with in so many ways in such a short time than on this small area of Simcoe Wavedeck. The Toronto Waterfront project has clearly got off to a good start- it will be exciting to see how it develops.
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