Peter Walker

 

Tanner Fountain

I was immediately drawn to this landscape due to its unusual nature. It is a very interesting and unusual way to explore a fountain feature using water as mist rather than jets. I like how the mist has been used to create cloud like form that almost appears as if it an object floating over the ground creating an exciting illusion. The rocks laid in a circular pattern overlap the grass and tarmac making the fountain seem like it has just fallen into the landscape from space adding successfully to the mystery. They are also clearly well used in their function as a place to sit or lean against. The uniqueness, creativity yet simplicity in Walker’s design is something I am very impressed by and I get a lot of inspiration from to do the same. ___________________________________________________________________________________

PWP Landscape Architecture (no date) Tanner Fountain, Harvard University. Available at: https://www.pwpla.com/projects/tanner-fountain-harvard-university (Accessed: 24 February 2026).

Jacques Wirtz

 

Alnwick Castle Garden

I selected Alnwick Castle as it is a garden of Wirtz’s that I have visited myself. Whilst it was when I was younger, I remember being impressed by the grandeur of the cascade. Looking at it again I am impressed curvaceous flowing shape that despite the large use of hard materials in its constriction creates a soft appearance when combined with water. Also, the evergreen archways alongside creates a year-round backdrop and structure to the landscape with windows out differing views to visitors as they travel through them. And I like how behind this this is mature trees breaking the well-maintained formality of the fountains. I like how the garden also nods to the symmetry of historic French gardens whilst breaking away from the straight lines instead having gentles curves throughout.

___________________________________________________________________________________Sandomir, R. (2018) ‘Jacques Wirtz, innovative landscape designer, dies at 93’, The New York Times, 2 August. Available at: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/02/obituaries/jacques-wirtz-innovative-landscape-designer-dies-at-93.html (Accessed: 24 February 2026).

Martha Schwartz

 

Jacob Javitts Plaza

At a first glance I enjoy how bright green colour is striking and contrasting strongly with the dark paving below clearly showing an element of fun in the plaza.  It is clear a lot of the intention with this design is for it to be viewed from above due to the large scale and length of the benches and due to their only being two colours in the plaza. The bench appears as a line drawn on a blank canvas which could perhaps be representing how the immigrants visiting the immigration office have a chance to start from a fresh slate and draw their own path. However, due to the absence of planting the plaza feel very exposed to wind and rain not offering any place to shelter and overall feels very cold. So, whilst I do think it succeeds somewhat in providing a place for people to site in groups and talk, I don’t think it is designed on a human scale to encourage this.

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fity.club (no date) Martha Schwartz landscape architecture , fity.club. Available at: https://fity.club/lists/suggestions/martha-schwartz-landscape-architecture/ (Accessed: 24 February 2026).

Geoffrey Jellicoe

 

Shute House

It is hard to find a photo that best represents Geoffrey Jellicoe ‘s work because a lot of his design was to force subconscious reactions on people in his spaces. So, whilst I have not explored this garden to be able to experience this, I can see how he has been successful in achieving it. I am impressed how throughout this garden Jellicoe has used water in a variety of ways to instil feelings and emotions in its visitors. I particularly like how he has used small waterfalls each with copper shaped in different ways to create different sounds as you walk through the space. Jellicoe has also used hedging in the garden to create vistas as well as rooms each I feel have a strong atmosphere. Looking around the garden it make obvious Gellicoe’s huge knowledge of garden history that he has drawn upon as well as his use of philosophy.

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The Garden Museum (2026) Archive. Available at: https://www.gardenmuseum.org.uk/visit/archive/ (Accessed: 14 February 2026).

North Place Initial Reactions

Below are my first sketches on top of the base plan for North Place Car Park. I was mainly looking at how people can move through the space and the shapes that creates. 

Claude Comier

 

18 Shades of Gay, Montreal

This art installation by Comier shows how a simple idea can truly transform a whole neighbourhood. Whilst the street below remains the same just seeing the bright colours of the thousands of suspended balls brings me a sense of joy and I can imagine completely changes the atmosphere of what would otherwise look like normal street. Not only this I can see how the installation has attracted many visitors to view them which has inevitable caused the neighbourhood and its businesses to prosper and grow. The minimal intervention to the ground also appears have done well in still allowing the street to perform a wide variety of functions below. I really enjoy how the changing colours throughout the space make me want to explore the entire street. Drawing my eyes along the linear space. However the huge number of plastic balls is concerning as I am unsure if they will be able to be reused after the installation is removed.

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CCxA (no date) 18 Shades of Gay. Available at: https://ccxa.ca/en/projects/18-shades-of-gay/ (Accessed: 11 February 2026).

Laurie Olin

 Apple Park, California

I like this photo of apple park by Laurie Olin as it showcases very well the interaction between the building, people and the landscape. People are using the landscape to travel, exercise and rest. It is not just something to look at out the window of the offices. The reflective surfaces on the building mirrors the planting helping the smooth modern office to appear more settled in the rough landscape. Another feature I believe has been successful is how the landscape has been formed to hide the surrounding urban areas instead the landform and planting give the illusion the building is set in the middle of open countryside. However, considering California can be a very hot place there seems to be a lack of trees to provide shade to cool the paths or availability of seating for resting.

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Foster + Partners (no date) Apple Park. Available at: https://www.fosterandpartners.com/projects/apple-park(Accessed: 11 February 2026). 

Dan Kiley

 

Fountain Place

I picked this landscape by Dan Kiley as I am instantly drawn to how it creates a refuge within a busy city environment as well as his creativity in doing this. Kiley has used reflections extremely well here, firstly by creating what looks like a swamp but a much cleaner and inviting urban one at that. The reflection with the building’s windows have also been used to give the space a good illusion that makes it feel much wider than it is. To me, it looks like the perfect place to take a break from work, and I would like to sit beneath the cool spot created away from the Texas sun If I was there. I also find the simplicity of the composition very appealing as it creates a very tranquil environment.

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The Cultural Landscape Foundation (no date) Fountain Place. Available at: https://www.tclf.org/sites/default/files/microsites/kiley-legacy/FountainPlace.html (Accessed: 11 February 2026).

Sust Tech Planting Initial Ideas

In yesterday's lecture we began to look at planting plans for our designs of barnwood arboretum. My plans will be focused on the green roof for the orangery that is at the back of my amphitheater. Whislt I haven't yet explored individual plant species I looked at how drift of colour could be used to create drama which I want as it will be at the end of the park's central avenue.

Quick Concept

In yesterday's lecture we had a quick task to develop a concept for a courtyard garden with a simple brief and a starting object. There was a selection of objects and I chose a rectangle. From this I developed an idea that the rectangle had landed from space hundreds of years ago and for some reason had an infinite source of water and was a source of life on earth. The object would be a dark black smooth stone contrasting with a damp and misty surrounding temperate rainforest environment that is contained by the courtyard walls.

Gilles Clement

 

Jardin du Tiers Paysage

I believe this photograph is an excellent example of Gilles Clement’s concept of Third Landscape which is the idea that all the spaces which are neglected or unexploited by man, present more natural riches in terms of biodiversity than forest or agricultural spaces. Clement has shown this well here by successfully creating a design that is visually, very interesting on what most people, including myself, would think is a place that would be near impossible for plants to grow, an abandoned concrete roof. I really enjoy how he has used the gap in the concrete to create a viewpoint along the garden as it offers small glimpses of each of the spaces making me want to explore the place more. It also creates frame for the shallow water where I appreciate how the shadows create a striping pattern in the composition which matches with the rings found on the aquatic planting.

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Atlantic-Loire-Valley.com (no date) Jardin du Tiers Paysage – Gilles Clément. Available at: https://www.atlantic-loire-valley.com/visits/gardens/jardin-du-tiers-paysage-gilles-clement (Accessed: 11 February 2026).

placing the Object

What if I took this mysterious object and placed it into a landscape, how would it change it? I chose to place it in stourhead, perhaps one of the most famous landscapes in the world. It definitely changes the landscape taking it from being calm and balanced to an uncomfortable and contrasting place. 

Dan Pearson

 

Dan Pearson's Garden, Hillside

This photo shows Dan Pearson’s garden sitting in perfect harmony with the landscape it is apart of, running along the hillside slowly rising to the side of the house with a gentle path that looks comfortable winding slowly upwards towards his house. Instead of being a usual up and down garden found on hills the design instead guides you along the contours of the land surrounded by an enormous mix of planting that feels like it would make a one minute walk for me into a twenty minute stroll. Everywhere you look in the garden there is interest, whether it be in the plants colour, form or texture. In this photo I am particularly amazed by how the purples running throughout the garden are almost reflected upon in the sky’s pink-blue hue.

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Garrett, F. (2025) Discover designer Dan Pearson’s own personal garden, Hillside, Gardens Illustrated, 15 January. Available at: https://www.gardensillustrated.com/gardens/country/dan-pearson-hillside (Accessed: 11 February 2026).

simple composition

In lecture we were given a quick task to creat a composition using just an A4 piece of paper and post it notes. I arranged these vertically along the centre of the page with the notes rotated 45 degrees. I chose to go this to create emphasis on the central yellow note that has the brightest colour but also is arranged to be on the top layer.

Object

I recently watched a documentary on the art design group Hipgnosis who are responsible for creating some of the most well known album covers ever for artists such as Paul McCartney, Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin amongst many others. One of their designs I like most is the Object for Led Zeppelin's album Presence. This object is found in many image within the album art leaving a mysterious shape that represents the band's force and presence at the time. I think it could be interesting to apply this idea within landscapes. And it also reminds me of the standing stones I was looking at the other week. I did a quick sketch of one of the photos. 

Roberto Burle Marx

Edmundo Cavanellas Residence, Petropolis, Brazil, with landscape design by Roberto Burle Marx, 1954

My first reaction to Burle Marx’s design here is that it perfectly integrates the house with Landscape, making it feel a part of the valley. Curving and swaying planting guides my eyes towards the building where it makes me feel as though the house is rising out of the ground. The simplicity of the curvaceous blocks of a single type of plant, with one colour and texture, contrasting with the complex rainforest behind helps to achieve this. Rather than hundreds of different species and colours of trees behind fighting for my attention I am focused on the stark red running throughout the composition. The uncluttered design gives a feeling of tranquillity nestles with it  a noisy forest making me feel as if I was there, I would feel I would be able to refuge in the calm of the house and garden after travelling through the forest.

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Filler, M. (2016) The Builder of Jungles, The New York Review of Books, 2 June. Available at: https://www.nybooks.com/online/2016/06/02/roberto-burle-marx-builder-jungles/ (Accessed: 11 February 2026).

 

Collage

I realised I never posted my collage we made in a lecture but better late than never! It has been a long time since I've done a collage and it was a process I really enjoyed so I will definitely try again soon. I chose the colour green as my theme and stuck a wide range of photos out of magazines together to creat a wild garden with lots of fun elements such as as tree house with a slide into a pool and a man with a huge onion.

More Stones

I drew some more stones, this time I focused how they contrast with the surrounding landscape. They enormous statue creat an eerie and somewhat frightening atmosphere that I imagine would be especially scary at night.

Standing Stones

Last night I was listening to an classical album made by Paul McCartney, the music explored the mysteries of the origins of life and ancient civilization. The album is called 'Standing Stone'. Listening to it gave me a great sense of mystery but also excitement as I thought about what it would of been like coming across the remains of an ancient civilization such as standing stones. I thought about how many modern landscape projects will last thousands of years into the future if any and how in my designs I would like to include more features that creat a sense of mystery. I did a quick sketch of the Standing Stones of Stenness but instead of colouring them with what I see I imaged what if they didn't really look how humans see them but what if they were seen by an alien. What if grass is really blue? Sea is green and the sky is white? 

Christopher Bradley-hole

 

Christopher Bradley-hole's show garden for The Telegraph at RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2013

Whilst initially the garden seems a very simple, minimalist design, as I look closer and for longer my interest for the design continues to grow. The garden is made up primarily of simple rectangular box hedges. Normally, this would lead to a very static design however Bradley-hole has varied the height of each of these hedge blocks slightly, creating a more flowing and dynamic space. Furthermore, he has provided more interest through carefully thought-out contrasts. My favourite example of this is the hedge blocks made up of individual species contrasting with a dense matt of random planting in between. The differing textures reminding me of neat English countryside fields with their messy hedgerows and woods between. Another contrast I feel really helps to round of the overall garden is the black wood backdrop to the garden itself. This allows the differing greens shaded to become much more noticeable than they normally would. 

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Patton, A., 2013. Chelsea Flower Show 2013. [online] Amanda Patton. Available at: https://www.amandapatton.co.uk/blogs/chelsea-flower-show-2013-2/ [Accessed 5 February 2026].

Topher Delaney

 

A home garden in Napa Valley by Topher Delaney

My initial reaction to this garden is it makes me instantly feel relaxed, even with just looking at a picture. I think this comes down to a few factors. Firstly, there is a warm and harmonious colour pallet reflecting the hot climate of California. Not only does this make me feel a strong sense of warmth but having no starkly contrasting colours just deepens the sense of relaxation as nothing is fighting for my attention. Secondly, despite randomly located plants, the designs composition respects the rule of thirds vertically and horizontally leaving me feeling pleased. And finally despite the very satisfying form of the design it also has a function that will be very useful. The small pool cools the air as it flows over and into the kitchen window which I think is a simple but smart idea that also provides visual interest to the space. 

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Western Art & Architecture, 2009. Art of Landscape. [online] Western Art & Architecture. Available at: https://westernartandarchitecture.com/features/art-of-landscape [Accessed 5 February 2026].