MA Study Tour in Budapest

MA Landscape Architecture and Garden Design students went to Budapest between 8th-12th March 2017 for our study tour. Our tour started with a guided site visit at the Danube River Embankment  by the Landscape Architect Istvan Steffler who designed the Lagymanyosi Bay Revitalization Waterfront Park. Istvan explained us the history of the Danube embankment and the recent park development in the post-industrial era of Budapest. The designed park became a destination of recreation  for families who want to escape the hustle and bustle of the city, especially in summer months to enjoy the cool and peaceful atmosphere along the River Danube.                       

Landscape Architect Istvan Steffler is showing the masterplan for the embankment park



Entrance of the park in a grey Budapest day

MA Study Tour group in Budapest




Another fascinating guided tour was with Landscape Architect Peter Balogh who explained us the Parliament Square contemporary design concept. We explored the urbanscape through a series of public spaces and architecture interlinked in the socio-political history of the city.



Landscape Architect Peter Balogh is explaining the streetscape design in the historic town.

Dr Saruhan Mosler, Lecturer at WUC



Visit to the Beth Chatto Garden, Essex

On the first sunny, spring-like day of March the Masters students and I went on a visit to the Beth Chatto Garden to recharge our plant batteries just after our trip to Budapest, Hungary and before the final push to the end of the academic year. We were greeted with a ‘pool’ of blue flowering  Chinodoxa sardensis in the Gravel Garden, which was so well associated with the upright golden-orange foliage of Libertia peregrinans.

The Gravel Garden at the Beth Chatto Garden, Essex

Chinodoxa sardensis and Libertia peregrinans, in the Gravel Garden

We had a great tour with Marc, from the Nursery Team, who explained so much about how ecological ideas had informed the planting and how sustainability informs their work, behind the scenes on the nursery we admired soils, mulches and compost heaps - all vital for plant production and the gardens.



Masters students listen to Marc from the Nursery Team, at the Beth Chatto Garden and Nursery; explain the techniques used to keep the soil mulched and drained

It was the perfect visit - learning combined with the beauty of the garden - we left inspired and informed. In addition being a keen composter I am pleased to report that we returned with the tea bags from our refreshments to add to the compost heap - Marc would be proud of us!

Dr Jill Raggett, Lecturer in Gardens and Designed Landscapes

 

 

 

 

Channels Landscape Design Workshop

MA Landscape Architecture and MA Garden Design students were invited by the JTP Architects from London to attend a landscape design workshop and contribute to the design strategies for the Channels Housing Development and Country Park in Chelmsford. The workshop aimed at creating a new vision to link social and ecological aspects of the environment for a strong community and ecological infrastructure. Students worked with architects, planners, landscape architects and ecologists in a 3 hours workshop to create a sustainable landscape development strategy.

The  workshop visited the site and learned about the landscape.

Each group worked within a team to plan a specific area. Our students had the opportunity to present their group's proposal and explained their vision for the future landscape strategy.

MA Landscape Architecture students Oliver Bond and Kieran Linale are presenting their proposal to the group.

The workshop has been a great start of the collaborative work between WUC MA Landscape Architecture Programme and JTP Architects and there will be another workshop opportunity at our university in the near future.

 

Dr Saruhan Mosler, Lecturer at WUC