Category Archives: Streetscapes
Urban Parkway: Tips & Considerations
We often point out the value of planting and maintaining the city-owned parkways in front of their homes when clients redesign their residential landscape. Aside from the obvious improvement to the curb appeal of your property, it extends the pleasure of your garden space as you look out the… Read More >
Cities Under Siege: When Green Thumbs Attack
Every year, thousands of people stir up chaos, vandalize cities and promote full on anarchy without consequence. The majority of the public is unaware that this urban revolution is even occurring, but if they are conscious of it – my guess is they wouldn’t mind more of it happening in… Read More >
A Spring Like No Other on Michigan Avenue
I know this Spring is different from all other Springs, with five consecutive days at 80 degrees or higher here in Chicago alone, but nothing illustrates this to me quite as concretely as what’s happening on Michigan Avenue. Exactly one year ago, we posted a ‘Never Fear, Tulips are Nearly… Read More >
When Designing Planters, Remember the Plants
Every now and then in our travels we get a kick out of finding design solutions that are at the opposite pole of how we approach something. So as a firm that prioritizes horticulture in the public realm – and by the way, Lynden Miller’s book called Parks, Plants,… Read More >
Uptown Normal Wins Smart Growth Achievement Award from U.S. EPA
We are very pleased to announce that our firm’s project, Uptown Normal Circle, has been recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency with a Smart Growth Achievement award, which identifies the Uptown Normal project as a national model for urban development that respects the environment, fosters economic vitality, and… Read More >
Through the Eyes of a Landscape Architect: Seattle’s Best
Over time, I’ve gradually learned to perfect my summer travels – meaning A LOT of walking, experiencing a city to the fullest by compiling a list of the best local neighborhoods and parks ahead of time, seeing as much as possible while I’m there and did I mention… Read More >
New Designs and Landscape Emphasis for Buckhead Atlanta Development
Several weeks ago we posted about what makes a great urban street. This week, partner Douglas Hoerr had the chance to show some of these ideas to press gathered to hear about designs for the new six-block, eight-acre luxury mixed-use project located in the heart of Atlanta’s upscale Buckhead… Read More >
Don’t Park Here: It’s Park(ing) Day
Did you see anyone participating in Park(ing) Day today, the annual event where participants take over a metered parking space to create a mini-park (or something like it) for a day? It began in San Francisco in 2005 and quickly spread nationwide. By Parking Day 2010 there were 850… Read More >
Civic Landscapes: Places for People
Last week, the city of Toronto mourned the death of a prominent and beloved political figure, Jack Layton. The expression of that sorrow transformed Nathan Phillips Square, the vast, modernist, public plaza adjacent to City Hall into a civic ‘living room’ of grief. Rick Reineke of our office forwarded… Read More >
What Makes a Great Urban Street?
We recently had the opportunity to think about what makes a streetscape feel or be urban. As part of the exercise, several people from our office collected images of what they thought were landscape characteristics of a vibrant urban street and we started developing an ever evolving list: bold… Read More >
Michigan Avenue Medians: Decepticon-proof
If you can sit through it, you’ll get some great views of the Michigan Avenue planters during the final fight scene of the movie at the end of Transformers 3 (okay, so maybe we’re the only ones that would go to this movie just to see that…), which turned… Read More >
Michigan Avenue: The Garden In the Street is Blooming
As you may know, each year the staff at Hoerr Schaudt straps on our construction vests and heads off to Michigan Avenue to layout the summer annual installations we have become known for in the median planters. We just completed this year’s layout a few weeks ago and we’re… Read More >
What’s Out There Weekend: Celebrating Chicago’s Landscape Heritage
Landscape architecture is by nature, ephemeral. As designers we plan for this, designing for the moment of installation as well as for the changes that will occur as living things reach maturity. At times, however, we don’t get to experience the latter, as the sobering June 5 article by… Read More >
Michigan Avenue: Tulips on the Magnificent Mile
THEY’RE HERE! Enough said – it was a long wait this year for spring in Chicago. The tulips on Michigan Avenue are designed to be vivid swaths of color that herald spring with a ‘bang.’ No pastels – this city needs something bold after its winters! The varieties are… Read More >
Michigan Avenue: Streetscape Growing
If you’ve looked quickly, you don’t see much at the moment in the Magnificent Mile’s medians. The sod that protects the planting beds through the winter is off and most of what meets the eye is soil. But look closer and you’ll be amazed by the growth of spring… Read More >