Calvert Vaux

Best known for his role in Central Park as a partner to Fredrick Law Olmsted.  Most Olmsted purists don't like to acknowledge his role in the design.  I'm not really sure what to make of him.  I'm currently reading Country, Park and City.  Can't say when I'll finish though.      

"After beginning his architecural career in England, Calvert Vaux came to America in 1850 at the invitation of... Andrew Jackson Downing. In 1856 he moved to New York City and asked Frederick Law Olmsted, the landscape architect, to join him in preparing a design for Central Park. During the next thirty-eight years in New York, Vaux defended and refined his vision of Central Park and pursued a distinguished architectural practice. After the Civil War, he and Olmsted led the nascent American park movement with their designs for parks in many American cities. And as a pioneering advocate for apartment houses in American cities, Vaux designed buildings that mirrored the advance of urbanization in America, including early model-housing for the poor. His works also include many Gothic and Palladian style dwellings, the original portions of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the American Museum of Natural History, and a stunning proposal for a vast iron and glass building to house Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia. Most notable, perhaps, are the many bridges and other structures that he designed for Central Park." (1)

-from Country, Park & City: The Architecture and Life of Calvert Vaux by Francis R. Kowsky

(1) http://www.calvertvaux.org

Photo http://www.buffaloah.com/a/archs/vaux/time.html

Paul Walker and Partners

BERKLEY, CA      

        I just finished Paul Walker and Partner's Book: Landscape Architecture: Defining the Craft, and loved it. If I had the time I would highlight every project and gush to you everything that I love about all of them.  My time is short however, and I can only give you a few insights and a few pictures.  Hopefully you are as inspired as I.  

 

One North Wacker Drive
Chicago, IL

Favorite:  The nature of the site prevented the planting of the trees very deeply so the root balls were left above ground and covered in ornamental groundcover.  It creates a modern and natural shape that is appealing in the stark city walls.

Pixar Animation Studios
Emeryville, CA

Favorite: This landscape is so suited for the client.  The playing fields and extensive grounds, foster the creativity of the animators, and the space is well utilized while acknowledging the company's potential to grow.  The grass amphitheater is the ideal meeting place for the company, as well as a good place for the individual to retire and sketch.

Nasher Foundation Sculpture Center
Dallas, Texas

Favorite: This project corresponds to one of JJR's projects in the last post.  They are both in the Dallas art district.  The garden functions as an outdoor art gallery, housing several sculptures.  Trees and shrubs create the walls and backdrops for the artwork.

Saitama Plaza
Saitama, Japan

Favorite: The firm released another book on this project.  The most stunning feature of the plaza are the trees.  They are planted and supported by steel pillars under the surface of the hardscape.  This is an amazing way to integrate the natural into the man-made.

World Trade Center Memorial: "Reflecting Absence"
New York, New York

Favorite: I'm not sure what to say about this, other that it is appropriate and tastefully done.  It demands a certain amount of reverence, and silence filled with the soothing sounds of the waterfall.  Modern without overwhelming the bounds of traditional art.  Simple, yet meaningful.       

Source:

Peter Walker and Partners, Landscape Architecture, Defining the Craft

Picture Credits:

All PWP projects 

http://www.pwpla.com/projects/all 

Book Cover

http://www.amazon.com/Peter-Walker-Partners-Landscape-Architecture/dp/097468001X 

 
  

SmithGroup, JJR

MADISON, WI

 

Crosswinds Marsh Interpretive Preserve  

        The past few projects and firms that have been highlighted here, it is clear the there is a common thread among them: Harvard Design School.  It appears to churn out masters, and such is the case with SmithGroup JJR.  Trained by the masters of the Harvard Design School William Johnson returned to his home state of Michigan and started his own firm with his brother and Clarence Roy in 1961.  The firm has expanded for nearly half a century and withholds its prestige. 
        A unique aspect of this firm the concern with city and campus planning.  The firm's first and oldest client: The University of Michigan is a paramount example of this.  Johnson and partners designed a flexible and practical model of framework that revolutionized the field of development planning and has become familiar to many in the field.
        The firm centered it's design concepts on fitness, harmony and community involvement; concepts that are apparent in the firm's more recent designs.  The firm merged with SmithGroup an engineering and architectural firm in the 1970's, but retained these values.  The variety of professionals present in the current firm allows for better collaboration and more affective spaces.
        In 1999 Fred Klancnik became president of JJR, and has lead the company to new successes despite the economic downturn.  In an interview for the Wisconsin State Journal Klancnik states: "If you're working in this office, you can feel a buzz.  There are people here well before starting time and on weekends, because they love to do the work. They know they are actually making a difference in quality of life (1)."  The typical employee has changed from the firms inception say Klancnik: "It's not unusual for us to have civil engineers who have degrees in art or landscape architecture or planning," he said, "or to have landscape architects with degrees in environmental science or political science. You mix all that together, and you get various points of view, and you can bring all of that to the table (1)."  There are not several offices spread around the Midwest that employ 130 people.  The company has worked in several nations including: South Korea, China, Qatar, Panama and Canada (2).
        In 2011 the firm was awarded the National ASLA Landscape Architecture Firm Award, one of the highest honors in the industry.  This is in addition to 250 other awards (2). 
        This astounding firm has worked on many diverse and varied projects.  Just to highlight a few:

UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN

        This was the firms first client and represent a significant change in development planning.  The original campus plan was conceived by William Johnson in 1963 and has been used for four decades to guide the development of the campus. JJR has done several projects for the campus since then, demonstrating a deep and lasting connection with the client (3).   

AT&T PERFORMING ARTS CENTER: DALLAS CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS FOUNDATION 

        This is the first public park in the Dallas arts district, and is a dedication to Elaine D. and Charles A. Sammons.  The park connects attractions within the district, housing several pieces of art and water feature (3).

WAYNE COUNTY AIRPORT AUTHORITY: CROSSWINDS MARSH INTERPRETATIVE PRESERVE

         After the construction of the  Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport and the subsequent disruption of the wetlands present there JJR was commissioned to replace the natural wetlands.  The property was 1000 acres and required extensive study and environmental consciousness (3).   

Sources

 1. Wisconsin State Journal Interview 

http://host.madison.com/wsj/business/article_373b6d68-d41f-11e0-a2f3-001cc4c002e0.html     

2. Landscape Online
 http://www.landscapeonline.com/research/article/15658

3. SmithGroup JJR website
http://www.jjr-us.com/?id=4 

Photo Credits:
All photographs from http://www.jjr-us.com/?id=4