Tag: Urbanism


Recommended Reading: Growing benefits of Green Walls

There are many innovative ways to introduce more greenspace into the concrete jungles of urban areas. Though there may not always be enough land to cultivate a community garden, landscape architects are starting to think more vertically. Green walls, or a vertical garden, can have a positive impact on cities from improving the aesthetic to…

Recommended Listening: Think About Getting Back to Nature

There have been increasing amounts of studies and literature linking improved mental health with being in touch with the natural world. Doctors, authors, and artists all seem to be searching for ways to quantify and describe how beneficial nature is for one’s well-being and health. The Canadian Broadcasting Company/Radio Canada produces a regular podcast that…

Trees in Cities: A Breath of Fresh Air

It’s a fact: living in a city or other urban environment means dealing with pollution. But while it may seem unavoidable, there are untapped ways to improve the air quality of our cities. New research from a team including David Nowak and Robert Hoehn from the USDA Forest Service and Satoshi Hirabayashi and Allison Bodine…

Open Voices News Roundup: July 22

Every week, we bring you the latest news in placemaking, landscape architecture, the nature-mental health link, and much more. Check back each week for new roundups and items. The Bay Area’s Healthy Parks, Healthy People Movement “Healthy Parks, Healthy People (HPHP) is a national movement afoot in the Bay Area, bringing people out to the…

Making Cities Livable: Q&A

The International Making Cities Livable Council is an interdisciplinary, international network of individuals and cities dedicated to making our cities and communities more livable. Board member, Suzanne Lennard, Ph.D. (Arch), is one of the co-founders of the International Making Cities Livable Conference and has held many academic posts from University of California, Berkley all the…

Announcing Our National Awards Recipients: Six Projects That Demonstrate the Healing Power of Nature!

Today, we are proud to announce our National Awards Recipients! We are awarding $4.5 million in grants to six unique projects across the nation that will demonstrate the healing power of nature. These projects will demonstrate how nearby nature in the city can provide sacred and spiritual experiences. We are also happy to announce that…

Naval Cemetery Landscape — Brooklyn, N.Y.: An Escape from the Built Environment

Six projects received this distinguished national award for researching the transformational power of nature in urban settings. Each project was chosen for combining the creation of tranquil, restorative spaces with rigorous study of their impact on users’ well-being and resilience. See the full list of projects here.  Print version of poster.  More Naval Cemetery Landscape team member interviews:…

Open Voices News Roundup: June 10

Every week, we bring you the latest news in placemaking, landscape architecture, the nature-mental health link, and much more. Check back each week for new roundups and items. Is Our Disconnect From Nature a Disorder? “Somewhere during the American experience, between Teddy Roosevelt and color TV, being outdoors and maybe even working up a sweat…

Recommended Reading: Maryland’s Commitment to Urban, Rural Forests

Recent legislation has demonstrated the state of Maryland’s commitment to “no net loss” of its urban and rural forests, according to an op-ed in The Baltimore Sun. “With this safeguard in place, we can be confident that Maryland’s air will be cleaner, our native wildlife habitats will be richer, and the Chesapeake Bay will be…

Open Voices News Roundup: June 3

Every week, we bring you the latest news in placemaking, landscape architecture, the nature-mental health link, and much more. Check back each week for new roundups and items. Green Spaces Promote Happier Communities “A better mood might be as easy as a walk in the park. Literally. Because people living near parks or gardens seem…

"There needs to be more true outlets for secrets, desires and confessions. I am glad this place, this book, is one. It is a less indulgent form of therapy and tiny step towards releasing the thoughts, desires, which haunt you."

More about this Bench Story