Now that we are experiencing more warmer spring weather, there are trees blooming just about everywhere you look throughout Mid-Michigan! As we are approaching mid- to late-spring, the flowering trees are primarily shades of pink and purple, with still some white blooms to break up the color. While these flowering trees are beautiful for us […]
People Places
Introducing: Sensory, a Placemaking Installation!
There will be a new creative space at the East Lansing Art Festival this year! On May 19-20, 2018, with the American Institute of Architects Mid-Michigan Chapter, we will be unveiling a placemaking installation that celebrates architectural and landscape architectural design. We have teamed up with three local architects to develop a structure that can […]
What is that Flowering Tree?
Spring has finally come to Michigan! Some trees are leafing out while others are in full bloom. And we want to tackle the question: What is it? Differentiating between various flowering trees and shrubs opens our eyes to the unique and beautiful nuances of nature. But these plants can be tricky! There are some look-alike […]
What is Innovation in Landscape Architecture?
Innovation is a popular buzzword these days. I hear it all the time when I watch Shark Tank or read books about business. And this got me thinking, what is innovative about the way that we design outdoor space at Elements Studio? Creating People Places Elements Studio exists in order to create places that people […]
Is A Site Visit Really Necessary?
Doing a site visit is a fundamental part of the design process for us as landscape architects. We visit a site (at least) once for every project we design as one of our first steps in the design process. So, you can imagine my surprise when I saw a drafting/aerial imagery software company promoting their […]
Aesthetic Functions of Landscapes
As we move into a discussion on the aesthetic functions of landscapes, we begin a more intuitive conversation of plant functions that are more familiar. Unlike the architectural functions and engineering functions that we discussed before, the aesthetic functions of landscapes are primarily pleasing to the eye. This is the beauty aspect of landscape architecture. […]
People Places – Town Square Design in SW Lansing
Last night we had the pleasure of presenting three concepts at a community visioning event for the Town Square design at the corner of Pleasant Grove and Holmes Roads here in SW Lansing. The new Town Square will be transforming an existing expanse of asphalt parking lot into a pedestrian-friendly open space celebrating the community’s […]
Engineering Functions of Landscapes
In the Architectural Functions of Landscapes blog post, we took a first look at how landscape elements can be used to serve very specific functions that in turn create interesting people places. These functions fall into 4 categories: Architectural, Engineering, Aesthetic, and Ecosystem Services. This post will explore the engineering functions of landscapes and plant […]
Architectural Functions of Landscapes
We’ve discussed the value of placemaking and creating people places before, but not based on the values that landscape elements provide. The functional uses of landscapes fall into 4 categories: Architectural, Engineering, Aesthetic, and Ecosystem Services. I find the nuances of each of these functions to be very intriguing. When I see landscape elements in my day-to-day […]
People Places – Designing Comfortable Spaces
We’ve all been there. We’ve experienced places that seem to have been designed for something other than humans. Think of the typical bathroom at a shopping mall – designed almost as an afterthought with some leftover space down a forgotten utility hallway. This is the last place where you want to go with your new purchases. […]