DESIGN AREAS « World Landscape Architecture – landscape architecture webzine

Hong Kong to set up dedicated office to boost local creative industries – Xinhua

Hong Kong’s Chief Executive Donald Tsang said Wednesday that the government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) will set up a dedicated office to promote the development of creative industries.

Read more @ the SOURCE: Xinhua– Hong Kong to set up dedicated office to boost local creative industries_.

Street furniture – a balancing act between design and revenue

Street furniture in the modern city is a balancing act between creating revenue stream from advertisers and a clean design element that has good design and function.

As reported by the Ottawa Citizen – Ottawa is currently facing this issue and using a $275,000 study to look at design, aesthetics and function and also a public consultation process which ends in December. Ottawa residents are invited to provide input at www.ottawasimplicity.ca

The Ottawa Citizen has reported “Ottawa landscape architect John Wright says street furniture should be quiet and harmonious, with good proportions and materials. Standard pieces should not be used in key places like Festival Plaza, he adds.”

Read more at the SOURCE: Ottawa Citizen – Mayor launches plan to rid sidewalks of ugly street furniture.

Dutch flood control experts to present ideas to city officials today – Breaking News from New Orleans – Times-Picayune – NOLA.com

A four-day intensive planning event on the future of flood protection in New Orleans will culminate today when experts from the Netherlands and local urban planners present their flood control ideas to city officials.

Rethinking The Makeover of Urban Villages – EEO.com.cn

The term “urban village” has often appeared in the media, especially in the newspapers of Shenzhen and Guangzhou (coastal cities in southern China where migrant population congregate). In recent years, a “makeover” for these urban villages has become urgent task for local authorities.

read more @ the SOURCE: Economic Observer Online – Rethinking The Makeover of Urban Villages.

Tsang: HK to upgrade living environment through sustainable development – Xinhua

Hong Kong’s Chief Executive Donald Tsang said Wednesday the government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) will press ahead with sustainable development, in order to upgrade the quality living environment for residents in this “modern world city”.

When delivering the 2008-09 Policy Address at the Legislative Council Wednesday, Tsang said the local government achieved substantial progress in striking a balance between economic development and environmental conservation last year.

read more @ the SOURCE: Xinhua – Tsang: HK to upgrade living environment through sustainable development_