Gardening in Edgware, North London

The garden tidy up included: weeding, clearing leaves and other debris, shaping of shrubs, cutting down and dividing herbaceous plants, shaping evergreen plants, pruning fruit trees, planting winter bedding and bulbs, turning over the soil.


A glue plastic is tied to the bottom of the tree will stop 90% of pest trying to climb the tree. This is a good practice and is usually used to fruit trees and helps them to produce better fruits without using any pesticide chemicals.



Pruning of fruit trees such as apples and pears is done in November, it is important that this is done correctly so the plants grow health and produce better fruits. There is some fruit trees such as cherries and plums (prunus spp) that usually are pruned after flowering to prevent silver leaf disease.

There are some perennial plants that like a really gently pruning, this group includes most of acid loving plants such as pieris, rhododendron and magnolias.

Two eunoumus spp planted together and shaped as a single one, looks nice doesn't it?

Me shaping plants such as sweet bay, forsythia, abelia etc. all timber posts in this garden are used to help the owner (disabled lady) move around and enjoy her garden.

Gardener or Landscape Architect?

When people ask us about our profession, we tell them that we are Landscape architects. Sometimes they think that this is type of gardening design and landscape. Well, we don't get impresed when we are called 'gardener'. We know that a Landscape Architect is more than a gardener or garden designer/landscaper, however we know that we have to collaborate with this category of people when designing.

It is important for us to know about plants, landscape materials and maintenance. I believe that when designing we should include a maintenance programme for our design. The maintenance programme and average yearly maintenance cost. This can make the design look good at all time and keep its values for long.

I hope all this will encourage Landscape Architects to learn more about plants, role in design and maintenace.

O2 Centre

O2 centre in Greenwich is a new contemporary design in East London. Landscape materials and plants used in design are unique and great to get ideas and inspiration in our designs. Focus week helped us to travel and see new built designs, learn new things, visit exhibitions. That makes this module very different from others and allows us to explore landscape and have fun.

Ghost Forest

Ghost Forest Exhibition, University museum, Oxford, July 2010 - July 2011


All those tree roots from the worlds vanishing forest have been
transported from West Africa and Brazil. They are displayed in
the front of Oxford's University Museum of Natural History. It was a

good experience looking at all those giant tree roots in the front of you. as we know trees have a great value for people and landscape. It is shame to hear and see TV programmes how people in third world countries cut down so many trees and destroy so many forests (the size of a football pitch is destroyed every 4 seconds).





Alive this trees stand 61 meters high (taller than Nelson's column).
These trees were supplied from a sustainable tree industry and only three trees of Ghost Forest were logged, the rest falling in adverse weather.

I spent the rest of the day walking around Oxford city, finishin my jurney at Oxfords Castle and having a coffeee in a roof garden.

Presentation from different practices

Arups
Arups is a multidisciplinary international Landscape Architecture practice. We had a presentation from two Landscape Architects talking about detail and design in large scale. It was nice to see how they worked, with a lot of staff specialised in different things. I enjoyed their presentation and the projects that this two Landscape Architects were involved. One of the was specialised in engineering and construction and the other one more in designing and planting.

Capita Lovejoy -Martin Kelly
Trees lecture

Martin Kelly is the director of Capita Lovejoy. He had a long term experience with land and trees. In his presentation we saw some images comparing the existing Thames water front with Plane trees and how the are could have been without trees. That was the time that i really anderstood the importance of trees. Also he showed some other projects by Capita lovejoy. I really enjoyed his presentation.


Gustafson Porter
Sam, detail lecture - Old Market Square, Nottingham

Gustafson Porter it is a practice based in Kentish Town, North London, Sam was working for the practice for the last 6 years. He discussed the landscape detail in old market square, Nottingham. He explained how the designed the square and the process of creating a detailed plan of granite paving and water feature and a model to understand the way in which the water would flow. Also Harry from level 6 is working part time for the practice. He had his say about the experience of him involved in different projects and his main tasks. was nice to hear from a student and his experience working in a practice.

King's Cross Development

During my focus week i have been to King's Cross area which is in ongoing refurbishement. The development includes up to 25 large office buildings, 20 new streets, 10 major public spaces, the restoration and refurbishment of 20 historic buildings and structures, and some 2000 homes

and serviced apartments.

1. Site panorama showing the construction area

2. Model of the site

3. Visalisation of

Regents Canal by me

London Olympics 2012

The London 2012 Games are the catalyst for transforming 2.5sq km of land in east London. What was industrial contaminated land has been rapidly transformed over the past three years.

The Olympic Park will create a green backdrop for the Games and a new green space after 2012 for people and wildlife living in and around the area to enjoy.
The southern part of the Park will focus on retaining the festival atmosphere from the Games, with riverside gardens, markets, events, cafes and bars. The northern area will use the latest green techniques to manage flood and rain water while providing quieter public space and habitats for hundreds of existing and rare species from kingfishers to otters.

Around 2,000 semi-mature British-grown trees have been hand-picked to form the roots of the Park’s green spaces, which will be enjoyed by spectators and become a home for wildlife. The will also be a further 2,000 trees planted on the Olympic Village site.

The trees have been carefully selected to ensure they are ‘future proof’ against climate change. They are mostly native species, such as ash, alder, willow, birch, hazel, cherry, poplar, London plane and lime.

More than 300,000 wetland plants will also be planted in the Park. It will be the UK’s largest ever urban river and wetland planting. It will help create a colourful riverside setting for the London 2012 Games.

Stretching for half a mile between the Aquatics Centre and Olympic Stadium will be an area of gardens that will celebrate centuries of British passion for gardens and plants. They will trace the journey of the UK’s plant collectors around the world through more than 250 species of plants, trees, meadows and herbs.

It will also be a highly accessible Park. The gradients of the paths will be accessible to everyone and views will be maintained of the new venues and landmarks in the surrounding area. ‘Henman Hills’ will be created so visitors to the Park during the Games will be able to watch live action on large screens








Visualisation of olympic park during the games








Angel Lane Bridge








Olympic village










Aerial view of the Valedrome


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Olympic Park after the games










http://www.london2012.com/games/olympic-park/index.php



King's Cross development

Paper City, Urban Etiopias, 31st July - 27th October 2009

The exhibition showcases a selection of extraordinary drawings, collages and photomontages that have been produced for Blueprint as part of the magazines back-page Paper city commissions over the past three years. Architects, designers, artists, illustrators articulate their ideas about the city, suggesting imaginative possibilities for the future. The exhibition included new commissions from Peter Cook RA, Chris Orr RA, Marc Atkins and RA schools students Inez de Coo and Rachael Champion. Also we were intended to create our own exhibition catalogue by tearing images from the wall.

Visiting Chiswick Park

Chiswick business park is built in a great location of Chiswick High Road in West London. The park is is one of the best business parks in UK with contemporary sustainable architecture and landscape. The landscape between the building is accessible to general public. I investigate the landscape and architecture of the park in detail and susutainability. I like researching and writing about the contemporary and sustainable buildings and gardens, thats why i choose Chiswick Park. By visiting the site and researching i made a repot in the sustainability of the park.

Sustainability

During the period of building Chiswick Business Park the soil and rubble was retained on site and reused in landscaping the park. Recycled still and concrete was used when possible. This reduced the waste of row materials, and carbon emission by minimising the number of lorries.

All rainwater from the terrace of the building is collected and reused in watering the plants and lakes. Also water is reduced by using dual flashing system in toilets, so this means less or more water used when needed and washroom hand basin are fitted with spray water. This can reduce 80% the amount of water used in normal taps.

The large glasses from floor to sealing can increase the temperature in the building dramatically. So buildings are fitted with intelligent external louvres which respond to sun position and create a level of shading reduce the need for cooling system.

The energy used in the building is produced by companies that invest in greener energy. Smart
lighting system is used so when an office is empty the lights turn off automatically. Solar thermal panels are mounted on the roofs of the buildings to produce hot water. Also the water and energy used in the building are monitored by building management system, so this means any high usage due to leaks or poor management can be identified on time.

All buildings use paper from the same merchant, after use the paper is recycled and sold back to
the same merchant, that reduces the waste of paper and tree cutting in third world countries. Any other product is sourced by local suppliers when possible, this is done to minimise the energy produced by transporting those products. Also the management team working with other guests have built a green list of products, for example baying non toxic products and 100 % recyclable products.

In Chiswick Business Park chemical use is reduced by 80%, this is achieved by using ultra micro-fibre technology which allows to use less cleaning chemicals. Weedkiller used in paths are replaced with weedbuner , also a friendly bacteria is introduced in the pond to control the algae.

The flower bedding plants in the pots are changed four times a year at Chiswick park, using a polytunnel to keep the plants during winter reduces the need the plant in half, which means reducing the carbon emission on transporting the plants in half.

Green waste from the site is kept in compost hips and approximately 60% of this is braked down
by warms introduced in those places and ready to be reused again. Also the lawnmower used on
site spreads the grass clipping in the existing lawn, this means less fertilise is needed for the lawn, and the carbon footprint minimises by keeping recycling the green waste within the site.

At Chiswick Park employees are encouraged to cycle at work, there are appropriate secure cycling parking, lockers and showers that get the water from solar panels. Also to reduce the carbon footprint there is a buss rout on-site and street car is introduced to use the car that can be shared with many people by using pay as you go scheme. Electric vehicles are being used on site to reduce carbon emission, noise and pollution level.

To increase the biodiversity hedgehog houses are introduced in the gardens to protect them from foxes and cats, also to prevent the being run over during migratory times. warning signs are placed ‘Toads in the road’

At Chiswick Park the make a lot of events such ‘The yellow umbrella day’ to raise money for local charities. Chiswick Park management team helped on planting and caring for 3000 trees on neighbouring Hounslow.

Tropical Extravaganza at Kew Gardens

During the Focus week the most important visit was at Kew Gardens for the Tropical Extravaganza festival. The first stop was at Princess of Wales conservatory to see orchids and tropical plants with their amazing diversity of colours, shapes and spectacular forms.

The journey carried on at Waterlily house display where the usual waterlilies have been replaced with stunning pond display of Cymbidium orchids. Also i couldn't resist to go around the gardens,

I was impressed with the river of crocus spp (bulbs) with their beautifully colours on the lawn areas. It was a great day with the sunshine following us everywhere around the gardens.

Two days Thames tour

This section shows the main features of the Gross Max design and the changes in levels in South Bank area. Top right its the map that shows where this section is taken from and bottom right its the design of South Bank Centre that indicates the exact place of the section.


First day was quite windy and a bit cold, however we were lucky with no rains during the long walking day, worth it...Starting with the famous South Bank, the landscape designed by Gross Max, London Eye and the most surprising and enjoyable was to visit Bonnington Square pleasure gardens and & paradise project. That's where we eat our healthy vegetarian launch and looked at the amazing gardens designed in 1990 by TV gardening Dan Pearsons and New Zealand garden designer James Frazer.
I loved the exotic planting and the design overall. I have been living in London for 6 years and i didnt know how many places and squares are hidden between buildings and streets.

Second day started with the Thames tour from Embankment to Canary Wharf, looking at the landscape and architecture around Thames. Arriving at cold streets and 'artificial landscape' of Canary Wharf. the best thing was to visit More London and Potters Fields, both amazing and well designed landscape...