American Society of Landscape Architects’ Post

Check out Urban Design Practice Lead Cindy Zerger, PLA, ASLA in this American Society of Landscape Architects video series, where she shares how Toole Design is making streets and paths safer, greener, and more connected. 🌿 Our work on Jackson Street, the first segment of the Capital City Bikeway in Saint Paul, MN, combines green infrastructure, public art, and wayfinding to enhance community well-being and reduce emissions. See more photos and details on our project page: https://lnkd.in/e38nmz9F

☀️ Cities are heating up, but Nature-Based Solutions can help cool them down. Shaded walkways, green facades, and tree-lined streets create comfort while reducing energy use. 📏 Architects and builders, it’s time to lead the charge for urban resilience. 🌱 Design smarter, live better! #UrbanDesign #NatureBasedSolutions #GreenBuilding #ArchitecturalDesign #EcoLiving #ResilientCities #purelysourced

Many of our team members come from unconventional backgrounds and we embrace that with our transdisciplinary ethos. Today, Diana Anda tells us about her unique #careerpath. Got a question about careers in landscape, planning, and/or urban design? Share in the comments and we’ll get back to you! #WLAM2024 #asakurarobinson #landscapearchitecture #urbandesign #planning #nationalasla #texasasla @texasasla @nationalasla

Did you know that bird collisions with buildings cause around 600 million bird deaths each year in the U.S. alone? It's crazy. Thankfully, building design firms are stepping up to change this reality. Check out this new piece by CannonDesign’s Urvi Pawar on the importance of designing buildings that prevent bird collisions. https://lnkd.in/gcK-xPqc #BirdSafeBuildings

Were the property lines drawn by someone spinning a wheel? 😀 A development like this scream for better understanding of urban design principles. Not only does it fail to prioritize functionality, but it also impacts community connectivity, infrastructure efficiency, and even property value. Good design isn’t just about fitting plots into a space, it’s about creating harmony for the people who live there. 📢 Let’s hope future developments learn from this masterpiece. #RealEstateDevelopment #UrbanPlanning #UrbanDesign 

"In a downtown, the sense of belonging is always rather difficult because 𝗮 𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻𝘁𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗲." – Conrad Kickert, associate professor University at Buffalo School of Architecture and Planning How do we revitalize Detroit and build a more inclusive downtown? Last week during the Sustainable Urban Design x Purposeful Forum, Kickert, Marthijn Pool, founding partner of Space&Matter, Chelsea Rauck Sanderson, director of architecture and design, Bedrock Detroit, Roberto Otero, associate principal, SHoP Architects, Dan Pitera, FAIA, dean of University of Detroit Mercy's School of Architecture & Community Development, and Ivana Kalafatic, founder of Detroitisit, shared open dialogues around these conversations. These conversations are meant to cross-pollinate between borders, working collectively towards sustainable urban design solutions and its challenges. Watch the full Forum at https://lnkd.in/gqywVwYG. If you are a sustainability leader interested in participating in the next Forum and/or becoming a member, sign up at https://lnkd.in/g7yawT9R. #purposefulforum #sustainableurbandesignpurposefulforum #sustainableurbandesign #detroitisitsustainability #purpose #sustainability #action #urbancities #urban #urbanplanning #circulareconomy #architecture #bedrock #spaceandmatter #shoparchitects #universityofbuffalo #uofd #urbandesign #sustainablesolutions #forum #action #activation #cityofdetroit #detroit #detroitisit

🌱 Planting the Seeds for a Visionary Future: The Bluestone Community – Tse' Doo'lizh 🌱 Though the Bluestone Community in Houck, Arizona, remains an unbuilt vision, it stands as an inspiring concept rooted in the rich Navajo traditions and values. Tse' Doo'lizh, envisioned as a community centered around home, tradition, and culture, offers a glimpse into what could be a bold model for indigenous planning—designed to preserve Navajo values while paving the way for future generations. The Bluestone design team captured this perfectly, stating: "Being respectful of traditional values and ceremonial sensitivities, the Bluestone Community team expresses the vision to commit to the Navajo Community Experience. We will create a sustainable community with the centered values of home, tradition, and culture that is uniquely Navajo for generations to enjoy and preserve our values going forward. Bluestone will plant a seed that our children will harvest." The Bluestone plan imagines a community that lives in harmony with nature, embracing an overarching philosophy of sustainability and balance. A thoughtfully designed mix of 200 single-family homes, apartments, and duplexes would offer diverse housing options, all interconnected by pedestrian trails, parks, and public spaces. This model emphasized community connectivity while preserving the landscape through minimal site disturbance. Although never realized, the project incorporated cutting-edge energy-efficient design principles. From high-performance building envelopes to the use of sustainable materials, the community would have reduced energy consumption by 30%, aligning with modern environmental goals. It was to be a beacon of sustainable living, with innovative approaches like reduced HVAC loads and expanded net floor areas. One way of preserving the rich culture was to purposefully name roadways and streets after traditional Navajo names such as Corn Pollen Way, Sheep Way Drive, and Medicine Berry Circle—in addition to having the Navajo Hogan-inspired homes’ doorways face east to align with the rising sun. While the Bluestone project may remain unbuilt, the vision endures—a blueprint for indigenous community planning that future developments can draw upon to preserve cultural heritage while embracing modern sustainability. Bluestone Community is one vision SPS+ Architects assisted with planting the seeds…where the community would Harvest Beauty. At SPS+, we’re proud to have been part of this journey. 🌎💚 #IndigenousDesign #Sustainability #CulturalPreservation #NavajoNation #ArchitectureForTheFuture #spsplusarchitecture

At HW we strive to create great places in balance with nature. The Woonasquatucket Greenway project is a great example of this work. Recently awarded a CNU NE urban design award, this multi-use trail is a way to connect people to neighborhoods and nature. 🎧 Listen to our new video and learn about our approach. 👀 If you enjoy the video let us know by liking the comment! A few key takeaways: 👉Good planning = good design. We seek to define the problem before we begin the solution. 👉Comprehensive planning? Start with strong community engagement and add inspiration, vision, listening, and collaboration, and you have a solid recipe for a great plan. Nathan Kelly 👉Our planners can help you apply your vision to zoning so your community can understand what is profoundly important. 👉Our LA’s are designing sites with green stormwater best practices. We would love to share our examples with you. Reach out today! #design #sustainability #planningthroughdesign #naturebasedsolutions #urbandesign #Providence #comprehensiveplanning #landscapearchitecture #stormwaterbestpractices #storytelling #civilengineering #zoningmatters

In Los Angeles, a modern home standing relatively untouched, the sole survivor in a street of fire-ravaged homes, could point the way for how building design will determine which Australian properties will be insurable in our climate-changed future, writes Leon Della Bosca. Read the full article here | https://zurl.co/mX1Bz Amanda McKenzie Justin Rooney Karen Cox Suncorp Group Greg Chasen