Grand Park’s landscape architecture and architecture by Rios Clementi Hale Studios creates a distinctive, interconnected, and inviting space. The design is inspired by the diversity of the people of the region, both explicitly and implicitly, in the variety of its lawns, terraces, plazas, and gardens. Although Grand Park is a significant marker of the county, it is not meant to be a static monument, but rather act as the “front- and backyards” for the community. Continue reading Grand Park | Los Angeles USA | Rios Clementi Hale Studios
ASPECT Studios with Choi Ropiha Fighera have been chosen by Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority to design and deliver Sydney’s Ultimo Pedestrian Network (UPN). The linear elevated public space will be a highly anticipated and activated city space with many of Sydney’s key cultural and educational institutions located along its edges. The UPN project will provide improved pedestrian and cyclist access and circulation from the Railway Square bus and train interchange into the south-west corner of Darling Harbour. Continue reading Ultimo Pedestrian Network | Sydney Australia | ASPECT Studios
The previously isolated Kievit district has developed into an international entrance area for the city due to the new TGV station. After earlier realization of the first phase with mainly high-rise offices, the city of Antwerp made an urban plan for the second phase containing a mix of homes, offices and public facilities, and with more space to create a green public domain. For the design of the public space of the Kievit phase 2 area, five design teams were selected to provide a vision and sketch design. Continue reading Kievit in Green | Antwerp Belgium | BUUR and Hosper with ARA
The shortlist for AECOM’s Urban SOS: Frontiers open ideas student competition has been announced. This years competition was seeking integrated design, planning, environmental restoration and engineering responses that address border, gateway and edge/fringe conditions in cities worldwide. Proposals had to address urban sites currently facing chronic liveability challenges that are largely the result of a city’s location on a physical, political, cultural or economic border. Proposals should be implementable.
Since the beginning of the 21st century, Beijing has made huge strides to solidify its position as one of the world’s great cities. It is a city that is modernizing rapidly— skyscrapers are rising out of fallow fields, a new transportation system is extending the reach of the city, and environmental initiatives are improving air and water quality. Fresh ideas are also emerging, while still embracing the rich traditions of the past. Near Songzhuang, a quiet village on the outskirts of Beijing, a unique opportunity exists to create a new urban district dedicated entirely to the cultivation of new ideas. The National Creative Cluster (NCC) is envisioned as the country’s preeminent knowledge hub, making the district a center for China’s innovative home-grown talent, and a destination for the world’s most creative thinkers. Sasaki’s master plan for NCC – selected in May 2012 for implementation – focuses on five structuring principles that underscore and support the overarching philosophy of the district: to bring industries with shared values and complementary skills and technologies together to help spark new ideas.
