Today my blog has conquered all 6 continents, and thanks to http://whos.amung.us/, I actually know about it! So thanks to each of the viewers from the six continents of the world and especially my Brazilian visitor as of this morning! Also 10 countries down leaving just 100-200 to go!

Rural downland museum: experience and critique

Tuesday was a day spent in fine weather, following my own advice for focus week. Having already visited the three other long barrows in Kent (see post before this one), I spent the day visiting the Weald & Downland Open Air Museum.

It was not as informative on traditional woodland management practices as I had hoped, although it seemed that there were special days when singular skills and traditional practices were taught by historians and demonstrated, but you had to be there for each of those individual events (@ £8.00 a pop!) and as luck would have it, I wasn't.

Still ,the visit was worthwhile on a number of levels: For one, I was able to see the much talked of Downland Gridshell. This fabulous sinewy building is in effect a shell, which is formed of many pieces of overlapping timber bound into a shape that exists under constant compression and tension. This makes for not only a fabulous shaped piece of architecture, but also a self enforcing structure of extreme strength and longevity. Further to this, timber, unlike other materials, has a natural ability to weather with its surroundings meaning that it is already seamlessly a part of the landscape. And yet it retains on the interior, the beauty and warmth that timber is renowned for. It really is an engineering achievement, but it is not this that you appreciate when you first see it, but rather the sheer scale of the thing. It has to be the largest timber structure that I have ever layed eyes on and this is emphasised by there being no compartmentalisation within the building, leaving a vast open space flooded with natural light, filtered by the beech trees which surround it. It all makes for a wonderful workshop, where it is hoped, Britain's foremost research and restoration of timber buildings will be able to take place.

Overall I hoped more of the place than it was able to offer, but this is not a bad reflection on the museum, as they do not pertain to offer what I sought. Rather it is an observation, that alongside their work on the preservation of ancient timber structures, they could also preserve and teach the traditional wodland crafts that provided and supported the industry of building during the historic periods in which the buildings were erected. To go a step beyond their current practice, an increase in the times available for vistors to observe and/or take part in these traditions would be only to their credit, and when these events are not taking place, some literature available from the shop and some information plaques around the site with visual examples akin to what they have for the buildings, would all be worthy additions.

Beyond this experience, it was a great family afternoon, and I picked up a fantastic bargain on a beautiful Eco homes book. Oh, and Ash got a toy tractor :)

Experiencing Kent's Neolithic long Barrows

A couple of weeks ago I was re-visiting Shrub's Wood Barrow (the site of our ongoing AONB project for university), and I took the opportunity to also visit the other three long barrows of Kent: The Countless Stones near Kit's Cotty, Coldrum Long Barrow, and Addington Long Barrow (this last one does not have a photograph here as it requires payment to be visited and is unimpressive, existing in a restricted site with a road running through it's middle).

The visits proved well worth my while, and helped largely to inform me of the attitude taken by the relevant authorities towards the celebration and upkeep of these ancient and internationally important monuments.

Addington had a road put through it by the local council in the fifties to discourage pagan worship rituals and is really just a mess split behind two fences with sheep grazing it.

The Countless Stones were unimpressive in themselves. Simply a jumble of large sarson stones with slight remnants of neolithic markings on their faces. But a lot had been done to take care of them, and the owners of the land along with English Heritage have placed a black wrought iron palisade fence around the outside to mark it out and protect it. There is also evidence that the grass within the fenceline is regularly mown, and a small information board sits at the entrance. It is, however, obvious that the location of the stones, and the neighbouring Dolmen Kit's Cotty were in accordance with most of these sites and were placed in a dominant position over the landscape, at a high point and commanding good views. Interestingly not far from the Countless Stones, perhaps 200m, there were three more large stones that appeared to be sarsons, being used as boundary markers to a junction of three fields, so perhaps they too were once part of the group of stones that it was said of that 'no two men could count them and achieve the same result'.

Finally, Coldrum Long Barrow was by far the grandest of the sites to visit. Commanding a spectacular view across a long vale, it stood at about thirty feet high with a grand entrance framed by three giant sarsons. This site is owned by the National Trust, and it is obvious that they have invested some thought in how to commemorate the site. It has a very modest but locally accurate split pail beech fence running around it with simple steps cut into the embankment from whence to gain the summit, and a beautiful beech hedge fronting it onto the adjacent farm lane. It also has two very detailed plaques with a great deal of illustrated information and an artists impression of the barrow in it's former glory.

We arrived first thing in the morning with a feint distant mist and the sun peaking in perfect alignment with the barrow's head stones. It was at this moment that I really felt the full significance of the alignment of these monuments and appreciated the spectacle all the better for my positioning (also in alignment and facing the east). I really felt that this experience helped justify in my mind my proposals for Shrub's Wood Barrow, which also runs in east - west alignment but is currently obscured from the sun until around 10 or 11am when it crests the dense woodland that surrounds the barrow.

Appraisal of a contemporary practice website

As a continuation of focus week work, I decided to consider the website of a landscape practice and the success with which they present themselves:

http://www.barneswalker.co.uk/

I found this practice through the directory on the LI's website, and while initially interested by what appeared to be a sharp website with plenty of effects, I soon realised that beauty was only skin deep. But what is the purpose of a landscape architect's website?

Well, to start with they are trying to reach an audience. This is how they attract possible clientele and it's how they present themselves as a company in what is currently one of the most important aspects of the business world: 'The Internet'. If anyone wants to know anything about the company, the website is where they will go. As such a website needs to portray the company in it's best possible light, and there are certain points that it must cover.

Obviously the basics need to be there: good formating, company profile, portfolio of works, contact details, a list of the services they provide, a mission statement, and a list of employees. These things should give a complete picture of a company, allowing people to understand what level of service they provide and their general work ethics and aspirations. The most important of these though, are the format of the website (the first impression), and the portfolio of works, which people will peruse to get an idea of quality in concept, design and build.

Looking at the website of Barnes Walker, my interest was initially captured by the glossy presentation, which charms you with James Bond style moving graphics and makes you feel as if you are entering a website with a difference. This company appears to offer you a technologically advanced solution, and that they might bring something of their sharp style to your project. It does seem to miss out on personality and design though and feels a bit clinical in nature, which is something that follows through the entire website.

Their first and most important link is the company portfolio, and it is here that they have begun to show real deficiency. Again surrounded by lush graphics, they present images of their work - and what a poor collection. If they wanted to back up their techy website with good work, then they could have at least made the most of their work with a talented professional photographer. As it is they seem to have taken the photos with a low resolution office camera, and this really shows their work to poor effect. Then on top of this the manner in which the images change on the screen plays havoc with your eyes as they blur slowly into focus. They also have a very limited number of work type examples and the examples they do have appear very mainstream. Of course this is partly because of the lack of photographic skill and much could be done to improve this. The images are also very small and don't give you a very good scope of understanding.

Under profile you will find both the company profile and their list of services, which extend far greater than landscape architecture, but none of which are mentioned further in this website. Also the graphic qualities change again on this page and give us an abstract and incomprehensible image that provides a backdrop to a rather boring summary, offering no more information than is supplied on their company profile in the LI directory. Their news page is exactly what you might expect and just gives some company status updates. The contact page is the same and offers the base line information, which is perfectly acceptable, but then they add another eye shuddering graphical gimmick. And finally, they complete the collection with a really good idea, a client membership area, that allows you to watch the progress of your project regularly updated.

Overall, I would say that they have the right idea with a good framework, but they really need to support their gimmicky site with some superb photographic material, both in the portfolio and throughout the site. Landscape really just isn't various shades of blue! They desperately need to expand their profile, maybe with images of work colleagues, which will give site visitors a feeling of personal connection with the team and also goes a long way to showing the team how much the boss values them and their work. And finally, they have a great idea with this work in progress page, but surely it would be an even better tool if everyone could view the progress on work sites. In a way doubling the portfolio by adding a side of their work that clients would appreciate knowing in advance.

I'm sure this is a perfectly good company, but considering that this is their most important way of portraying themselves in a modern world, they really could do better.

Best practice: writing critiques the right way

For this focus week, I was interested in developing my ability to analyse critically, and so I began by reading some discussion boards and on line tutor tips to see what they had to say on the topic.

I laughed when the first thing I read was what a student had said to their tutor. They said that it was dangerous to reveal their personal opinions to the tutor when criticising a theory because then the tutor would know what they really thought and might mark them more harshly for it. The tutor's response, was that in order to become a part of the free thinking world, a student has to bare their opinions to criticism in order to hone them and gain further experience.

People who know me, will laugh when I say that giving my opinion is not something I have trouble with! What I really need to conquer is overall structure, where I feel that I have previously been lacking in clear visualy supported evidence and continuity.

A summary of other tips I have read, I intend to exhibit in critical blogs during this week:

"The key is to develop an argument and then marshall supporting evidences"

"To make an argument and have the argument evaluated"

"A link between theoretical knowledge and reality"

"The purpose of the critical case study essay writing is to allocate the central issue of the problem, key decision makers, and to find an effective solution"

"Every idea you raise must be supported with the illustrative material such as examples, facts, and evidence"

http://www.flickr.com/photos/auntsue/909876667

Reforging english countryside: ethnic inclusion

I have become increasingly interested in what I have heard of a project in the Lake District, where Authorities are attempting to change their systems so as to encourage more ethnic minority groups to visit. My initial reaction was that, surely the simple reason that they weren't visiting was because of their ethnic differences. In other words, they come from different backgrounds and grew up in different surroundings so they naturaly prefer their home landscapes to those offered in England. I have spoken to many Asians and heard of their ardent fervour for the landscape of their home lands. In India, I received the impression that there is a much higher percentage of rural living than in England, so this would also explain why they are not used to traveling any distance in order to appreciate their surroundings.

Having said all that I was pleasantly surprised to read the accounts written by people experiencing ethnic groups enjoyment of the Lake District and various other locations across England, during experiments carried out by the Mosaic Partnership.
It appears that these visitors greatly enjoyed their time in the English countryside and were encouraged by the freindship and hospitality that they found there.

However, while this project appears to be very successful, it is a shame that this success is not the driving factor in the actions to promote ethnic inclusion that are being undertaken by the authorities. It seemed that whilst they valued these experiments highly, they still considered it the best response, to shut down the current operating tourist guide systems and walks, in favour of creating a new system with an indefinate deadline. Naturaly there was huge uproar at this irresponsible decision and a "mystery sponsor came forward and pledged £38,000 to save the walks for the current year. This cash will provide "breathing space" so that more research can be done on attracting other groups, especially from ethnic minorities, into the area."

What was in some ways worse, is that they gave the reasoning for their decision, not as being the pressure they have received from the government to make financial cut-backs, but as being that the current facilities are aimed at the white middle classes. they are never going to solve any issues if they continue to include one ethnic group at the cost of another. Rather, they need to develop it to include both groups, and not issue exclusive rude statements like this: "Our open spaces should not be the preserve of just the Gore-Tex-clad, Volvo-driving middle classes"

It appears that the most definite conclusion to the experiments, is that in order to attract these groups, authorities must act to introduce them to these places and not just shut down all facilities, throw out some advertisements and hope they'll show up!

As beautiful as our countryside is, it is a real shame that our governing bodies are never quite up to the task of taking due responsibility for it. With the looming arrival of the Olympics in our fair country, one would think that preserving and expanding the tourism industry in one of our most famous natural landscapes would be paramount, and that their response to the given research would not be so narrow minded. The research says that ethnic minorities like the Lakes, so let's help them get the opportunity to like it some more, not close it down because they like it, but we dont know what to do about it!

Job Hunting: aspirations for a future career

Drawing near to the end of the year, and amidst the chaos of university work, I keep thinking about the job scene. There are so many advertisments for Landscape Architects in Vista, Landscape and on the Web, and I find myself looking at each of them and considering what it is about them that would attract me to work for them. What kind of work are they producing? Not just in terms of quantity and quality, but also their focus on issues such as sustainability and their approach to landscape. What is the common denominator in their project profile? How would I characterise their style of design, and is their style one which I identify with? Could I see myself sitting behind a desk in their office (location!), and working on their schemes?

I guess that having worked for three years in practice whilst doing my course, I feel more strongly than some, that I would really like to run my own practice one day. I certainly came in at the beginning of this course thinking that I never would, but somehow, I really see that side of the coin too now. It would be so easy to work for a company and enjoy the benefits of set hours, good pay and a wide range of projects boulstered by a large and important clientel, and so difficult to spend so many hours working on the paperwork and admin that self employment would, for many years, supply me. But then the attraction of it has to be that your work is no longer subject to drastic and often detremental changes behind your back. And you would be secure in the knowledge that the integrity of your interventions would remain.

Still, after all that, I know that for many years I will work for a company, where I will get the opportunity to learn from the mistakes of my peers and form a more solid basis for my own work. But that brings me back to choices of placement. Whilst I gain this precious experience, I don't want to become stiffled in my own aspirations, having thoughts and dreams of excellence shoved aside. And so it must be crucial to pick a practice that I know will nurture these ideals and allow them to flourish.

Reading through the practice profiles on the Landscape Institute's website was no help whatsoever, as the most unimaginative bunch must have written them, or perhaps they employed the same person to write them all! Certainly it wouldn't read very differently if they had been cut and pasted five hundred times. I only really began to get a good impression of practices when I looked at their websites.

I know that I made a beeline to look at practices with an imaginative title, and good website design helped to boost this further. But actualy looking at their work is what really keys me in.
I am happy working on a vast range of subjects both hard and soft, and being environmentaly minded is a big plus for me, but none of these arenas should have to sacrifice style, imagination and ingenuity. I want to work for a company that is strong enough in itself, to not be pushed around by the architects, but to be treated as equals and receive fair budgeting and have it's choices respected. I want to work for someone who rewards creativity, and has big hopes for their employee's prospects, not just the company's. And I want to work in an environment which aids spontaneous thinking and frees the mind to recreate the paper. And above all, I don't want to feel as if I'm going to work, and end up dreading it after a year.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/simplearts/605426302/

An exploration of the diagram and its uses

In the spirit of all things practical and not very creative but never-the-less very useful, I have been endeavouring to master the process of conveying information diagrammatically. After recording a jumble of intense information from an interview I did for this semester's report, I then extracted the statistics that would most benefit from being presented diagrammatically. The next step was to decide which form of diagram would best convey the information. Then once this was done a careful editing process allowed for a simple but effective diagram, explicitly illustrating key points.