Comments on: Postmodern landscape architecture by Peter Walker and Partners?

By: Hans Turner

Hans Turner — Wed, 04 May 2011 18:48:25 +0000

Hi Tom,
Big fan of your work and book Garden History! To an inspiring Landscape Design student at Montana State University, any suggestions for me to follow to become a successful designer? I’m under the instruction of Yousef Zadegan, a brilliant professor and M.L.A, and currently gaining hands-on experience as a landscaper for Alpine Building Company. I’m just a 20 year old kid with a dream of producing creative solutions in a modern world. It would mean a lot to me to hear some advice from someone of your expertise. My e-mail is hans.turner@msu.montana.edu. Thanks!

By: Ayabulela

Ayabulela — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 14:08:04 +0000

i just want to ask what was the estimated bugdet and who was client of this project

By: Tom Turner

Tom Turner — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 05:58:34 +0000

It is VERY difficult to know who knows best, because there is no consistent answer. one would expect landscape architects to be best at landscape architecture, architects to be best at architecture etc etc. But it is not always the case. My own view is the best hope of improving the built environment is to have better clients. We had an interesting discussion of Castleford on this blog and my conclusion was that the clients were much more sensible than the designers - but only when they were 'real people' (rather than government officials).

By: Tom Turner

Tom Turner — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 09:19:13 +0000

Adam, I think part of the problem does indeed lie with the design philosophy used by the design team but for public landscape architecture projects one can never discount the significance of clients, planners, health and safety folk etc in mucking up projects. They all think they know best and they rarely do know best.

By: Adam Hodge

Adam Hodge — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 08:00:55 +0000

As Tom has identified, the space is whimsical. As Adrian has reported, it’s impractical.

What one surely must ask is how such nonsense comes to be designed by trained professionals, and how are those who commission these projects so hoodwinked at the presentation stage.

Is this a case of ‘bullsh*t baffles brains’ How much more of this carry-on happens in our urban neighbourhood ?

By: Tom Turner

Tom Turner — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 07:19:11 +0000

Melanie: yes- I think it WAS meant to be fun for children.
Adrian: I am sorry to hear about Picadilly Gardens rotting away (do you have a recent photo?) and I suspect the general problem (pace EDAW) is that they did not have an ecological strategy for the space. It was a visual and social design without the support of a vision as to how the materials would weather or how the space would change in time or how the space would function in varied climatic conditions. It was, in other words, a Martini approach to urban design.

By: Adrian

Adrian — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 14:12:35 +0000

Picadilly Gardens is looking somewhat sorry for itself these days. The benches seem to be rapidly rotting away and the expanses of grass have been reduced to dust by a multitude of desire lines. Some of this could be the product of low (or no) maintenance but I suspect the original design may also be at fault – should it all have been paved?

By: Melanie

Melanie — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 09:44:40 +0000

I don’t get it?! Is this playscape ment to be build as fun for childeren?
It looks dangerous to me…