Land Connections

Land Connections – Better with Pockets: Embracing Pocket Parks

As a mother of young children living in an urban area, I am always on the lookout for outdoor spaces where we can enjoy time together “out of the stroller.”  Three of our most well-visited parks within a 15-minute walk of my home would be classified by most districts as “pocket parks.” All are under […]

Land Connections – Hmmm, So What is This 80/20 Rule?

A Brief History of the 80/20 Principle “Okay, let me see your design.” I was fresh out of design school at the time and working on one of my first projects as a landscape designer in Boston. It was a couple days before a project deadline. The Principal Landscape Architect I was working with at the […]

Land Connections – AI in Landscape Architecture Design: Friend or Foe?

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has transcended its role as a mere buzzword and has now become a transformative force across numerous industries. Landscape architecture, as an intricate blend of art and science, is no exception to the potential AI brings to the table. The synergy between human creativity and AI-driven technologies opens up new horizons for […]

Flood Mitigation: When Landscape Architecture Meets Permaculture

Outside of the occasional earthquake and annual wildfires, California residents often have the luxury of merely reading about natural disasters rather than experiencing them. This year, however, Californians across the state were introduced to heavy rainfall which led to a stream of atmospheric rivers. After a decade of drought and uncontrolled wildfires, the unprecedented consequences […]

Land Connections–Technological Advancements in Visualizing Landscapes Through Virtual Reality

From ancient to modern times humans have evolved our communication methods from primitive cave paintings to modern computer-aided drawings; the evolution is largely attributed to advances in technology. Virtual reality (VR) is the latest advancement in technology that can aid humanity in our evolution. What sets VR apart from previous visual communication technologies is that […]

Land Connections–The Seven Tenets of Resilient Spaces

The measure of any great civilization is in its cities, and the measure of a city’s greatness is to be found in the quality of its public spaces, its parks and squares. John Ruskin Yesterday and Today There has been much uncertainty over the past two years and if that period has taught us anything, […]

Land Connections–Creating Healthy Landscapes

Healthy landscapes help create healthy communities. A healthy landscape is an outdoor space designed to promote the health and well-being of people and the environment. There are many social, ecological, and environmental benefits associated with healthy landscapes, including improving quality of life and mitigating environmental impacts. The Landscape Institute provides five principles that are believed […]

Land Connections–Homelessness in the Built Landscape: How Can We Help?

How do landscape architects address homelessness in the built landscape? What are we doing wrong? What are we doing right? What can we do better?  Architects, Civil Engineers, Landscape Architects, and Urban Planners in the public and private sectors have a responsibility to design cities that serve the entire community, including the homeless. Government policies, […]

Land Connections–Blurring the Line Between Inside and Outside

How Did We End Up Like This? Architecture and landscape architecture pursue the same aim: to provide mankind with diversified indoor or open spaces while addressing user and client needs. It is perhaps also not inaccurate to say that while many landscape architects naturally strive to create landscapes that ‘fit’ into their natural surroundings (or try […]

Land Connections–Designing for Safety

With incidents of harassment and violence commonly displayed on the news or social media, it is understandable that people may feel vulnerable in public spaces, even in the nicest of areas. Whether taking a stroll in the park during a sunny day or walking home from work late in the dark night, no one should […]