When urban sites fall into disrepair due to years or even decades of underfunding and neglect, landscape architects who focus on urban regeneration see these sites not as eyesores but as opportunities.
Known worldwide
On April 5, Colorado State University will host a landscape architect known worldwide for her urban regeneration projects: Martha Schwartz, a professor of landscape architecture at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design and principal at the design firm Martha Schwartz Partners. The LA Days series runs April 3-7, with an additional speaker on April 13.
Schwartz’s firm describes its work as “situated at the intersection of landscape, art and urbanism” and “committed to the design of urban landscapes and the public realm as the foundation for sustainable cities that are healthy across all aspects and sectors of urban life.” With projects throughout the United States and around the world, the firm’s work can be found in parks, corporate spaces, and residential communities. Projects have included the Monte Laa Central Park, in Vienna, Austria; the Beiqijia Technology Business District, in Beijing, China; and the Moscow Children’s Route, in Moscow, Russia. The firm has also won a number of awards, including the British Association of Landscape Industries Award in the Regeneration Category, the Chicago Athenaeum Award for Best New Global Design and the Urban Land Institute Award for Excellence.
Schwartz will be joined at LA Days by other industry leaders who will be featured during the series.
LA Days speakers
Eliza Pennypacker, department head and professor at Penn State University (April 3)
One of Pennypacker’s research tracks focuses on “artful rainwater design” (ARD): stormwater management that not only mitigates quality and quantity of runoff but celebrates rainwater in a design that educates or entertains visitors.
David Gouverneur, associate professor at the University of Pennsylvania (April 6)
Gouverneur teaches landscape urbanism studios, cross-disciplinary design studios and case study courses with an emphasis on developing countries.
Chris Grubbs, architectural illustrator (April 7)
Grubbs stopped practicing architecture in order to start describing it, with art and through illustrations and design consultation for his clients.
Gerdo Aquino, CEO and principal of SWA (April 13)
Aquino’s design studios focus on landscape infrastructure and its application to urban areas challenged by issues related to density, environmental degradation, health, and accessibility.
“Our annual LA Days lecture series allows our students to meet and see the built work of many renowned landscape architects,” said Associate Professor of Landscape Architecture Kelly Curl, who is the faculty advisor for the CSU Student Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects. It has continually been such a rewarding event planned by our Student Chapter of ASLA.”
About LA Days
The LA Days lectures will be held each evening from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in Clark A104 and are open to the public. The series has run for 24 years and has featured other prominent speakers, including Peter Walker and Laurie Olin. For more information visit the website.
