000 — Intro + Creature

Hi there, Diana here. This is a series of posts for the design studio LA 201 Ecological Factors in Urban Landscape Design with Kristina Hill, Deni Ruggeri, Nate Kauffman, and 30 fellow graduate students of landscape architecture at UC Berkeley —

Victoria Bevington • Lilly Byrd • Jingyi Chen • Anna Cich • Liujun Du • Xincun Du • Claire Geneste • Mafe Gonzalez • Hozefa Haidery • Yuyao Jin • Kaji (Kazumitsu Kajihara) • Anisha Kimble • Leiyunge • Qiwei Li • Yilin Li • Zhehang Li • Yu hang (Sam) Luo • Chris McGuire • Victoria Mohr • Fiwasewa O. • Zhufeng Pan • Jaclyn Tobia • Bradley Tomy • Yuetian Wang • YUNZHE WANG • Yushan Wei • Peixuan Wu • Jieqiong-yang • Brandon Yip • Chenlu Zhu

Creature. I was filled with joy when a friend told me the name of LA+ Journal’s latest competition, and again when I learned we would submit to it as a class. Seeking to design urban landscapes that are more humane — for people and wildlife alike — is exactly what brought me to this field. I am so excited to work on this competition and studio with all of you.

Good for sitting, not so good for sleeping.

Not all that good for sitting.

Photographs by Kirstin Heckmann and Warren Kovach.

Update January 2021: Posts 000–006 for LA201; posts 007 onward for new coursework and research. Thank you, Kristina, for reminding us to reflect!