Thursday 12 February 2015

Eco tourism - not Ego tourism


Ecotoursim: a way of tourism that helps people discover and feel more responsible for our nature.
Eco tourism dates at least to 1965 when Hetzer categorized it against 3 main measures.
1.    Minimum environmental impact / and full respect for hot spots natural beauty , and cultural importance to the area of the tourist
2.     Full economic benefits for the destinations local people
3.     Maximum ‘recreational’ satisfaction to participating tourist

Landscape architecture to a large success always looks at what people want , desire , and truly care about. Tourism and fun activities are what most people look for in a get away , but this can have bad symptoms on the natural beauty of the visitor. That is why Eco-tourism is a solution to this, it serves as a way for landscape architects to plan and use Eco tourism as a sustainable development tool.












The landmark destination on Taihu Lake, the largest lake in eastern China, will introduce ecotourism to China’s emerging international and domestic tourism sector.

There are three themed areas within the master plan: the harbor area to the north and west, including a marina, yacht club hotel and tourist town center; the hill area to the east, with a water sports park, dry ski slope and visitor center; and a delta area to the south, with a family hotel and corporate club. Building forms embrace organic shapes to reflect the ebbs and flows of the natural environment.
By integrating the lake’s pristine natural environment with the area’s cultural and historical context, the design creates a destination that is both commercially viable and ecologically sustainable.


Monday 9 February 2015

Domaine De Chaunmont-Sur- Loire


INTERNATIONAL GARDEN FESTIVAL


The International Garden Festival has been providing a unique panorama of landscape design all over the world since 1992. At the same time a source of ideas and a nursery for talent, the Festival gives an extra boost to the art of gardens and gains the interest of both the public and those in the trade by displaying new flower arrangements, new materials, new ideas and new approaches.
I had the privileged to compete in this competition with my class mates , our idea of designing a small garden show space was to think about it as being an outside art gallery . The concept was about Juxtapose , extraordinary unique planting , and the feeling of being big in a small space and small in a big space. My group and I came up with a great project , my task was to provide ideas , and render the final plan.
Rendered Plan : Maria Xenofontos

Cross Section Elevations