Novus International, St. Charles, MO.
Photography by SWT Design and Jim Diaz, Suite D Studio
In May 2010, Novus International became one of 150 pilot projects across the globe chosen by the Sustainable Sites Initiative (SITES) to test a new four-star rating system for sustainable landscape. The site design and construction were led by SWT Design, a landscape architecture, planning and urban design firm. In January 2012, the nine-acre site was awarded three-star certification by SITES, making it the world’s highest-rated landscape project. The campus features diverse habitats, native plantings, innovative stormwater management and an improved quality of life for employees. An emphasis was made on using regional materials, and sustainable design best practices such as hydrology, wildlife habitat enhancement and monitoring, as well as improved soils and vegetation, were used.
Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles, CA
Photography by Tom Bonner
Set against the Hollywood Hills and built in the early 1920s, the Hollywood Bowl is known for its concave orchestra shell. In 2004, the amphitheater revealed a new shell as part of a six-year rebirth process. The Los Angeles-based architecture firm Hodgetts + Fung wanted to echo the memory and visual identity of the original shell in their new design. The new structure spans 124 feet and was fabricated off site. Hodgetts + Fung reinvented the acoustics and enhanced the functionality of the new shell. A new stage and back-of-the-house facilities also were included in the design.
Gardens by the Bay, Marina Bay, Singapore
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The centerpieces for Singapore’s new 133-acre Bay South Garden project are two climate-controlled conservatories, which are two of the largest in the world. Wilkinson Eyre Architects designed the glass and steel-cooled conservatories to bring the climates and plant life of the Mediterranean and Cloud Forest regions to tropical Singapore. The conservatories feature an indoor waterfall, a continuously flowering meadow, cascading levels of vertical plantings and high-level walkways through and above the tree canopy. Sustainability was the starting point of the design. A computer-controlled shading system and carbon neutral cooling technology were integrated to efficiently maintain the climate. Grant Associates master planned the overall scheme and surrounding landscape.
