Commercial Architecture June 2019 - 10

▲

FEATURE

| landscaping

The Cap Rock Members Club Complex for the Horseshoe Bay Resort, designed by three, offers an example of how reorganizing a site by working with the
existing environment can create a sense of discovery
and union with nature. Rendering: courtesy three

arrival and progression through the site is the most

more," Clinton said. "In Mississauga, Ontario, a formerly

wildlife to co-exist with humans and aid the migration of

important role of the architect, planner, and landscape

suburban community outside of Toronto, Cooper Rob-

birds, butterflies, or bees for pollination. For commercial

architect working together on a project. Landscape archi-

ertson recently took the city's concept for densifying

developments, it can have many of the same benefits,"

tecture's biggest value is contributing to the master

their emerging downtown and tied that plan to almost

Andrew Franz, AIA, LEED AP of Andrew Franz Archi-

planning of the site," he continued.

two acres of open space that link to the historic Mary Fix

tect, New York, observed.

"For Cap Rock Members Club Complex, we com-

Creek Greenway. A key component of Mississauga's long-

In addition, local zoning ordinances often dictate a

pletely reimagined the entrance to the site and the entire

term urbanization goals, the plan sets the stage for intel-

minimum amount of open space, so their design

routing to the clubhouse, which allowed us to create a

ligent growth with a pedestrian-friendly network of

becomes an integral part of the entitlement process.

safe drop-off golf zone where people could drop off their

streets and parks connected to a planned light-rail line

"These areas bring tangible benefits for cities, since incor-

clubs in a relaxed and comfortable environment that

serving the downtown core."

porating landscape design into a storm-water manage-

defined the golf arrival. Previously, the site was confusing

ment system lessens the burden on the municipal drain-

and unorganized, let alone delivering that sense of dis-

BENEFITS OF LANDSCAPING

age infrastructure. Similarly, reusing storm water can also

covery and wonder that make places special. So, from a

The benefits of landscaping are numerous and increas-

lower a project's water usage, greatly reducing the larger

planning standpoint, that's where the public area and

ingly recognized. "Landscape is tremendously important

environmental impact," said TAT's James Szymanski.

landscape architecture have the biggest influence in a

to commercial developments and cities, perhaps in differ-

He continued, "From a user perspective, develop-

commercial and landscape setting," he said.

ent ways. For cities it may be the most significant public

ments with exterior program space bring numerous ben-

"A strong public realm is crucial to the success of com-

space available to residents, parks, and green ways, for

efits, too. Shared gathering areas with access to fresh air

mercial developments, and to cities themselves," accord-

example. It provides places for recreation, shading, and

and natural light create a healthier environment, both

ing to Donald Clinton, AIA, MRAIC, LEED AP, part-

gathering, but, equally important, provides visual relief.

physically and psychologically. At TAT, we work to in-

ner, Cooper Robertson, New York. "Our work has been

Humankind benefits from a connection to nature. Land-

corporate these principles of biophilic design whenever

intimately tied to these ideas and issues since our very

scape may be softscape, hardscape, or even water fea-

possible. For example, at our Fenway Center project, a

first project at Battery Park City 40 years ago, where we

tures, but all provide different critical functions, includ-

large-scale, multi-phase, mixed-use development in Bos-

planned a Manhattan neighborhood from scratch with

ing practical ones such as storm-water management,

ton's urban core, the design emphasizes a connection

an emphasis on public space and street networks that

cleaning the air, preventing heat islands, providing acous-

between the outdoor amenity spaces and the interior

responded to the surrounding urban fabric."

tical benefit, whether by letting sound escape or provid-

environment.

"Today, those ideas have become core principles of

ing the soothing sound of water in an urban park to

"Working closely with the developers of Fenway Cen-

good urbanism, and we see them taking hold more and

drown out urban noise. It can also encourage birds and

ter LLC (a joint venture of Gerding Edlen, Boston, and

JUNE 2019

COMMERCI A L A RCHI T EC T UREM AG A ZINE.COM

Commercial Architecture June 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Commercial Architecture June 2019