URBAN DESIGN

LASD Studio delivers comprehensive Urban program development for villages, cities and regions.
We provide a complete holistic image for development towards long term strategies.

Urban design services:

• Site analyses - pre-design phase of collecting existing information of the site including surveys, mapping of the site processes, stake holder analyses, survey;

• Site evaluation based on site analyses including processes of economical, social, aesthetical, ecological aspects such as wildlife and biodiversity;

• Conceptual program for development of the site, including long term vision for the design;

• Urban Design Program and strategies with the specific timelines with the summary of the outcome and expected results;

• Urban design project development based on conceptual program, vision and strategies. Project development includes set of drawings as Existing Condition, Demolition Plan, Master Plan, Grading Plan for the Best Possible Storm Water practice, Drainage and Irrigation Plan, Lighting Plan, Planting Plan, Detailed plan when needed and specific drawing for the construction as Measurements, Details etc. incl. visualizations, video’s etc.;

• Project cost evaluation of the construction, detailed budgeting;

• Open public speaking and project presentation to the local society, making necessary corrections to the overall design;

• Permitting process, project design preparation for the permitting, working with local authorities;

• Project preparation for the tender submission;

• Project management and supervision during the construction.

Urban Intervention and Sustainability:

• Ecological planting with local plants, with minimal watering and no chemical fertilization;

• Enhance wildlife and biodiversity by creating ecological corridors with interconnected green islands;

• Storm-water management, roof water storage, greywater filtration, creating bio-retention basins, wetland restoration, riverbank restoration, managing runoff from the road infrastructure;

• Design intended to bring nature closer to citizens, provide clean swimming water, fresh air, comfortable temperature;

• Reducing heavy traffic, noise, speed of vehicles in the urban areas, as well as reconsidering of road infrastructure;

• Mitigation of urban heat island effect, by innovative solutions;

• Reducing asphalt, paved areas by permeable with high albedo rates surfaces;

• Create an educational platform about nature, nature restoration processes, as well as creating events on cleaning the areas, etc.;

• Creating community gardens, fruit parks, edible gardens;

• Creating green roofs, living walls;

• Garbage segregation, use less or no plastic;

• Enhance wildlife and biodiversity by connecting ecological corridors;

• Design with local diverse materials and plants, support the local economy;

• Work coherently with all stakeholders;

• Establishing strategic program and vision for the long term development of the city.

OUR MAIN PRINCIPLES IN LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE AND URBAN DESIGN

1. Link to the past

This principle emphasizes the importance of the relationship between past and future. A link between the past and the future is important since it tells us about the history of the place. This principle considers reality as a result of the past.

2. Holism

A landscape system consists of many components and defines a whole system. For instance, a holistic approach is a sustainable approach in many different ways – nature, human, urban life, and so on. These components and processes form the landscape together in one interrelated coherent system.

3. Creativity

‘Relating to or involving the use of the imagination or original ideas to create something’ (Oxford Dictionary, 2011). This principle suggests that landscapes are unique, that there are simply no common creative tactics to design the landscape project. It is the creativity of our mind that looks for a way out of a problematic situation. This principle suggests that the landscapes as evolving systems does not limit, but encourages creativity.

4. Adaptability

The future is unpredictable. An evolutionary landscape system deals with the integration of time and future uncertainty in the design. Therefore, the landscape becomes more adaptable to an unknown future.

5. Formlessness

A landscape system includes a set of processes that are constantly changing and evolving. Therefore the materiality is also changing. Moreover, the character of the changes is uncertain. The processes that will take place in the future are also not defined. Therefore the form that we see does not carry any meaning. ‘formlessness’ = open for future changes.