January eNewsletter

Theming: 5 Questions that Help Develop a Project’s Personality

BY KATIE LABELLE

When you experience a well-designed outdoor space, you notice immediately. Whether it be an intricately designed garden or a master planned community, good design can tell a story, evoke emotion, provide direction, and enhance user experience. But where does good design come from? How do you get there? As landscape architects, our process for design always begins with project theming. Depending on the scope of the project, theming can range from developing a simple plant palette to a comprehensive design package including signage, planting, materials, amenities, and more. To begin the theming process, I find it is helpful to get back to basics with my own version of the Five Ws: Who, What, When, Where, and Why.

Austin’s New Dougherty Arts Center Takes Shape Through Community Engagement

Following completion of the RVi team’s Feasibility Study in 2019, the City of Austin is moving forward with the development of a new home for the beloved Dougherty Arts Center. The new facility will be located in Butler Shores Park, less than a mile from the original building, which has reached a state of disrepair. In June 2020, the City selected Studio8 Architects to lead the design for the new facility, keeping much of the same team intact from the 2019 Feasibility Study. RVi is happy to be providing landscape architecture design services for this exciting new landmark along Austin’s waterfront. The Studio8 team also includes the addition of Overland Partners in collaboration on the architectural design and planning, as well as a host of local sub-consultants with deep ties to the Austin community.

From Nepal to Austin: Reflections on Architecture and Design

BY NHASALA MANANDHAR

Change is inevitable, and no change happens in isolation. Throughout history, architecture and design have been used as a tool for implementation, helping solve a variety of problems associated with revolution. From civic, to religious, to military and finally to landscape, architecture traces the changes of our society, creating a story for all to observe and celebrate. 

Every period of change can be considered a shift in identity, eventually becoming a reflection of what was important to people during that specific period. Consider the modernist architecture style of Mies van der Rohe who originated the phrase “Less is More,” versus that of Robert Venturi who flipped the motto to “Less is Bore.” These phrases are mere poetries written by designers to inspire wonder. I grew up in a very old city, Kathmandu in Nepal to be precise. Kathmandu is a city filled with brick architecture embellished with intricately carved wood and stone monuments. The city has gone through many cycles of less is more; and still, it is not sparse. The introduction of reinforced concrete in the traditional system of brick, wood, and stone brought a newness that still influences the city today.

In Other News

Welcome to RVi!

Kathleen Curiel has joined the Tempe office as an Administrative Coordinator.