ASLA's New York chapter announces winners of 2014 design competition

The New York Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects announced the winners of their annual Design Awards. For the 2014 edition, 5 submissions received honors and additional 13 were chosen for merits from a field of 70. Participants from various New York-based firms provided designs for sites found within the city as well as other parts of the country. Award-recipients will be displaying their designs at the Center for Architecture beginning on April 3rd through the end of the month.

Native Plant Garden, New York Botanical Garden

The 3.5-acre installation by Oehme van Sweden Landscape Architects features a large pool fed by cascading water surrounded by native flora. Wooden boardwalks lead visitors through a variety of settings illustrating the diversity of the local landscape. The garden is consciously designed to illustrate how the landscape responds to seasonal shifts.

SIRR Coastal Protection Plan, SCAPE Landscape Architecture

In the wake of Hurricane Sandy, ex-mayor Michael Bloomberg instituted the Special Initiative for Rebuilding and Resiliency. SCAPE played an important role on the multidisciplinary team, collaborating with engineering and planning firms to consider urban responses to climate change and the destruction it fosters. The SIRR report established a series of short and long-term goals that transcend the traditional mono-infrastructural solutions of seawalls and floodgates.

Southern Highlands Reserve, W Gary Smith Design

This private garden in Western North Carolina is dedicated to the preservation and research of the plants of the Southern Appalachian Highlands. Smith’s design entails a number of pathways that offer diverse experiences through distinct planting strategies. The 120 acres are also populated by outdoor gathering spaces created by more heavily manicured stonework.

West Point Foundry Preserve, Mathews Nielsen Landscape Architects

Mathews Nielsen created a sustainably designed park for this historic location in upstate New York noted for its role in Civil War weapon manufacturing. The plan makes use of existing walkways and rail lines to connect ruined structures and educational displays and establish a narrative for the site. The minimally invasive park takes pains to preserve and highlight the natural ecosystems that surround the foundry.

Chelsea Cove, Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates

This riverfront park extends over three piers to provide 8.5 acres of open space to the surrounding neighborhood. A land bowl helps to shelter to the majority of the lawn from the adjacent West Side Highway and the site counts an entrance garden, sculpture installation, carousel, and skate park amongst its amenities. Offering expansive views of Hudson, special engineering efforts were undertaken to ensure that the park was resilient and sustainable in the face of rising water levels and extreme weather.

The following projects were listed for Merit Awards:

Brooklyn Bridge Park, Pier 5, Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates

The Deconstructed Salt Marsh, SCAPE Landscape Architecture

Gateway at the State University of New York, College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Andropogon Associates

Harlem River Promenade, Starr Whitehouse Landscape Architects and Planners

Hallet’s Cove, Starr Whitehouse Landscape Architects and Planners

Hudson Square Streetscape, Mathews Nielsen Landscape Architects

Into the Woods, Nancy Owens Studio

Midtown Manhattan Sky Garden, HMWhite Site Architects

Rainlab at Dalton School, Town & Gardens

Swingtones, Strafford, Supermass Studio Landscape Architecture

Tongva Park & Ken Gensler Square, James Corner Field Operations