EDCO Design- First Sights Profile Practise
Having spent some time looking for an appropriate landscape architecture practise to look into I discovered London based EDCO Design. Originally I had looked at several practises, including David Jarvis Associates http://www.davidjarvis.biz/, but found the available resources on their website limiting, and I could not find enough information to locate any of their projects in the London area. Having decided that local projects I could visit myself would be an important part of my practise profile I searched for landscape architecture projects within London, and hence found EDCO Design.

The company's website http://www.edcodesign.com/ instantly gave me a good first impression of the practise. It has a simple, yet pleasing layout setting out clearly the contents of the website, giving an overview of the company and displaying a slide show of photographs from some of their successful projects. Reading the company overview I appreciated many of the company values already. The company states they are 'dedicated to landscape and urban design' and made it clear that they are interested in both creative solutions, their implementation and the following maintenance they would require.
The company is lead by two directors- Tony Edwards and David Coombes, who are said to take a personal approach to leading each project the company undertakes. Their credentials also appealed with the pair collectively having attained qualifications in landscape design, architecture and geography. In line with most landscape architects the company pride itself on the positive moves they are making towards sustainable environments and social well being.
The company usefully has a large number of its projects based in London and around the London area, as well as having it's offices in Raynes Park.
Some of this practises projects I am most interested in include:

• Regents Place Masterplan (under construction), London
• Fairlands Valley Park (under construction), Stevenage
• Ramsgate Seafront, Kent
• Triton Square, Regents Place, London
• Longford Square, London
• Greenwich Riverfront (under construction), London
• Merchant Square, Paddington Basin, London
• Heart of Slough (planning stage), Berkshire
• Euston Circus (planning stage), London

Files in PDF format are available to download from the website with further details on most of the projects the company is involved with.

Site visit- Triton Square

While in London I made a site visit to Triton Square, part of the Regents Place development along the Euston Road. This is a fantastic area to visit for anyone interested in this practise as along with Triton Square itself- which was my reason for visiting, Longford Square, and Euston Circus (a future project for EDCO) are both within a few minutes walk. I entered the site through Longford Square- where I was quickly picked up on by the security personnel for taking photographs. Having ascertained that I needed permission to take photographs, and that they were 'not about to give permission having just turned up' and that I would actually need to write to them, explaining exactly who I was, why I wanted photographs and exactly what of... I was released back into the site. I shall complain further about the security of these supposedly 'public' sites on another occasion. Having progressed underneath one of the modern office buildings on the development (managed by The British Land Company Plc) I entered Triton Square. The square is a very interesting contemporary space- which won a 2004 Civic Trust award. It is dominated on three sides by modern office developments, and on the fourth by the Euston Road. EDCO Design have kept a largely angular approach to the main aspects of the site, including continuing the lines of the buildings by using LED lighting set into the floor. One particularly interesting feature is a raised planer containing trees. This is raised significantly above the square and looks quite surreal. As well as the harsh angles of much of the site, curves are introduced with an interesting sinuous grass structure along the border with the Euston Road. Lighting is a key element of this site- which was beginning to really show at the time of my visit, as the days light was slowly fading from the sky. A selection of different lighting methods have been used, including a stunning elevated lit artwork, adorned to the side of one of the buildings. EDCO Design describe the square as 'a high voltage space' which 'buzzes with interaction between users and the built environment'. I would certainly agree that these statements are correct as the space did seem to be well used by a range of people, and the lighting does certainly add interest. I would anticipate the site takes on rather a different atmosphere during the day, when I intend to re-visit in the future [perhaps with permission to take photographs?!].

Gardenvisit- The Garden Landscape Guide comment that 'The square is visually dramatic. It opens to the sun and the south but it is engulfed by noise from the Euston Road and battered by gusting winds generated by the high buildings.' Other than the inescapable noise from the Euston Road, the sunlight and wind factors were not ones which I considered on my own visit due to the nature of the weather. I would certainly agree about the dramatic nature of the space.

It is clearly a testament to this space that EDCO design have the contract to produce the Regents Place Masterplan, expanding Triton square and it's themes into the growing surrounding office development. It will be interesting to see how this, and other schemes of this forward thinking company develop.

Before leaving the site there was just time to take a few more photographs (from the public pavement of Euston Road- where I was untouchable to the sites security!).

First Sights Week- East London

1st November 2007
My Birthday!!!
And also the date of our second visit of First Sights Week. This time our destination was London's East End- could it possibly be more fun that Kew?
The day started interestingly at Knights Park with a grand total of three turning up to accompnany Simon for the journey up to London. We hoped some more would be meeting us at the Barbican. Sure enough a further small group of students was assembeled with Ed and the days entertainment could begin (I think I had already driven Simon mad by this point).
The first destination was the monolythinc Barbican Centre. I am in two minds about this construction. On one side I think it is possibly one of the most ugly building complexes in London- but at the same time I can see it's purpose, and within it's structure there are some very interesting spaces. I guess it must fall into the category of places that 'nearly' work- with good ideas... but it's just not all there. The walk round london then continued towards St Paul's and the 'wobbly bridge' and on into the city, stopping at various landscapes along the way. Many of these were great contrasts to eachother and each was inspiring in it's own way. I was dissapointed to discover that one site did not like me with my camera. Surely public spaces should be public- and if I want to take a photograph of the space, it should be my right to do so. Apparently not- acording to the security man. Who then followed me just incase I started snapping again as soon as he turned his back (which admitedly I would have done had he gone away!). The journey took us on through the heart of the city past inspiring buildings including the Lloyds Building and the 'Ghurkin'. Outside Liverpool St Station we paused for lunch and enjoyed an 'interesting' inpromptu performance of street dance- and my Dad turned up randomly. The afternoon took us on through Brick Lane to the 'City Farm' which was a breath of freash air from the bustling city. With the days entertainment almost concluded we retired to a bar in Hoxton. And stayed there for a little while. Finally on to an interesting piece of landscape at Old Street- which did not seem to be working very well.
A trip back to Waterloo on the bus and goodbye to another fun day in London. On to the festivities of my birthday...

First Sights Week- Kew

30 October 2007
Our first destination of 'First Sights Week' was to the Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew. Despite some initial frustration at having to pay the unearthly fee of £5 to park my car, the day settled down to prove valuably interesting.
The gardens are simply vast in size, and as one wanders through paths the atmosphere is ever changing from areas of formal planting to secluded woodlands. Also in the park at the time was a large collection of sculptures by Henry Moore- adding even greater interest to some of the scenes through the vegitation.
Autumn, while not the best time to visit for flowers, the colours afforded by the leaf fall season are truely spectacular with all shades from green to yellow, orange into red and brown in abundance both on the trees and carpeting the floor.
The environment of the glass houses is also quite spectacular, providing unique tropical climates on the inside, and a huge beautiful landmarks of iron and glass from the outside.
Of course the weather behaiving itself did aid the days visit, from which the entire group surely benefited.
Pictures to follow.

The first blog post

It seems an awful long time since I last used good old blogger.
It is an awful long time. A year and three months acording to the date on the last post of my old blog.
Well, this is about the most fun I have had in the last 10 minutes. Sitting in the CAD lab at the wonderful Knights Park contemplating changing my template.
I may write something slightly more useful later, but at least this will give me the oppertunity to see how the posts will appear within the template.
What the hell- lets have a random photo as well?