#landscape-architecture

#landscape-architecture

This week in architecture, global recognitions and new unveilings underscored the field's growing commitment to climate awareness, cultural continuity, and adaptive reuse. From Expo 2025 Osaka's closing ceremonies to international award announcements, the focus turned to architects and designers redefining the relationship between place, material, and community. Alongside these recognitions, major new projects, from Dubai to California, illustrated how design continues to evolve across scales: shaping cities, preserving heritage, and addressing urgent global challenges through context-driven architecture.

The biennial Cornelia Hahn Oberlander International Landscape Architecture Prize was established to increase the visibility, understanding, appreciation, and dialogue around landscape architecture. The creation of the Oberlander Prize began in 2014, and the most recent laureate was architect Kongjian Yu, pioneer of the "Sponge City" concept. This year, The Cultural Landscape Foundation (TCLF) announced that Mexico City-based landscape architect Mario Schjetnan and his firm Grupo de Diseño Urbano (GDU) are the recipients of the 2025 Oberlander Prize.

Schjetnan and GDU have designed some of the most significant parks in Mexico, including Chapultepec Forest and Park, the second-largest city park in Latin America, known colloquially as Mexico's "Central Park." With a focus on equitable access to nature, the application of environmental knowledge, and the potential of postindustrial sites, GDU's work has expanded the notion of what parks can do in Mexico.

At 753 meters above sea level, Meishajian is the third-highest peak in Shenzhen, characterized by steep trails, exposed bedrock, and fragile soils shaped by erosion. The site attracts many hikers but presents significant challenges for construction due to its altitude, terrain, and limited accessibility. The project brief called for an observation station to provide rest, shelter, and viewing space while minimizing environmental impact.

Kongjian Yu, the pioneering Chinese landscape architect and urban planner credited with coining the "sponge city" concept, has passed away at 62. According to Reuters, he was killed in a plane crash on Tuesday in the wetlands of Mato Grosso do Sul state, in Brazil, while reportedly filming a documentary about his work, after being featured in the opening program of the São Paulo International Architecture Biennale last week.

"Did you walk by the grass that smells like burnt popcorn at the entrance?"

The Old City of Fongshan County, the oldest preserved walled city in Taiwan, reflects over two centuries of socio-economic change. In line with the client's goal to regenerate the site, an elevated walkway was implemented to maintain minimal visual and physical footprint while enabling modern exploration. This walkway, with its varied design, adapts to different needs along the city wall and integrates design elements into a single linear structure.

A new Museum District and Park of Arts & Culture in Podgorica, Montenegro is set to transform the city's relationship with its riverfront. Designed by Milan- and London-based a-fact architecture factory, in collaboration with LAND, Maffeis Engineering, and Charcoalblue, the competition-winning project will consolidate cultural institutions within a landscape that strengthens the link between the city and the Morača River.

Design Team: Xiang Huang, Songyan Mao，Cong Liu, Zhiyan Lin, Le Chang, Dawei Wu, Qi Lu, Zilin Tian

Golden Avenue, designed by J.AR OFFICE, has opened as a new hospitality destination for the heart of Brisbane's CBD neighborhood. The multi-level restaurant and bar precinct is conceived as a lush courtyard for the city, combining architecture, interiors, and landscape to create an urban sanctuary within a dense commercial district. The project is operated by the hospitality group Anyday, which calls for the venue to introduces a spatial typology that emphasizes openness, greenery, and climate-responsive design rather than enclosed dining environments typical of the CBD.

Yunxi Botanical Garden represents a cornerstone initiative for biodiversity conservation and sustainable development in Guangzhou, emphasizing integration within the city’s urban-park framework.

"Gardens in the city are very much an extension of how people want to live. Some people lean into romantic notions, others focus on functionality," said landscape architect Brook Klausing. He designed outdoor spaces---a front yard, backyard, and two terraces---to enhance a newly renovated brownstone, making the backyard mostly paved with bluestone for children's outdoor play.

Bidadari Park, envisioned as a 'community in a garden,' spans 13 hectares and honors its site’s heritage as a former multicultural cemetery.

"Just as a play cannot exist without an audience, a landscape exists through the eyes of those who look at it. This signifies the dynamic interaction between observers and their surroundings."

The introduction of a lift into the 19th century Montijo Municipal Gallery was pivotal, transforming accessibility and leading to the creation of an integrated 80 m² garden, enhancing public engagement.

The design approach emphasizes ecological integration, spatial efficiency, and material consistency in a way that enhances interactions between the built and natural environment.

The new Clore Garden has been carefully designed to complement the gallery's neo-classical architecture, featuring pathways, wildlife, and areas for community learning and activities.

"Privacy fencing, either along a property line or around a specific area in your garden, creates a sense of sanctuary, seclusion, and peacefulness," says Janice Parker.

Her yard is incredible-there are many unique spots, commented interior designer Christy Martin on Linda Ronstadt's Tucson garden.