Reflective Log

Landscape Architecture // Leeds Beckett University // Calum Marsden

[calmarsden123]

Until next time....

Sadly my journey at Leeds Beckett University has come to end. It has been 3 years of hard work and i have meet some great people and gained an incredible amount of knowledge and experience. The course has been great with plenty of field trips, visiting lecturers and hands on tasks at the LRC. I have learnt the whole design process from initial concept drawing and sketches, masterplanning, site design and detailed design planting and construction. Furthermore, I have gained valuable life skills including team work and time management ensuring i meet deadlines which has prepared me for a successful career in landscape. 

It has been a very challenging and unexpected last few months due to covid19, however I have overcome the obstacles it has presented and believe it has made me stronger and more versatile.

[calmarsden123]

I have been running my own garden maintenance and landscaping business alongside studying at university. It has been challenging trying to balance my time between gardening and uni work  especially in these last few months as i have had to prioritise university whilst completing the final major design project. It has however been extremely valuable in underpinning my horticultural and construction knowledge when considering my uni design work and how the idea will be physically built. I enjoy getting hands on and seeing the whole process from a design through to completion and think i would really enjoy a career within a landscape design and build company.

[calmarsden123]

A process model I’ve been working on for my wetland valley site design on the south bank of Leeds, experimenting how people will use the space.  

The model has really helped bring the space to life and show the distinct character and scale of the spaces within the design. 

The perspective looking out over the stepping stones shows the depth of the valley and gives a sense of enclosure.

The filtered view through the trees shows a glimpse of the observation mound to make users want to go and explore.

As the university workshop is not open due to Covid19 i have had to improvise with the materials i could get hold of, using foam board,matchsticks and florist moss for the trees. Although its a basic model i feel it simplistic look works well to show the unique character and landform. 

[calmarsden123]

One of steepest learning curves for me has been learning Photoshop and Autocad. It has been extremely frustrating at times. It is only really my last major design project that i have pushed myself into exploring more of the computer aided design benefits. I have used YouTube tutorials and linked in learning provided by the university which is an excellent resource, as its more relevant to the landscape and architectural industry and has it all in one place.

I do believe however that it is much easier to express and get initial ideas across much easier on paper as going straight to CAD can obstruct design creativity.

[calmarsden123]

Never would i of imagined there would be a global pandemic in the last few months of my degree. Due to Covid19 virus the entire country is now in lockdown, therefore all academics have moved online. This has been incredibly challenging and couldn't of come at a worse time for me. It is very deflating, right from the very start of my degree it has all been about the end of year show and exhibiting my work to professionals. Although its gone online this year its not the same as i will not get to meet potential employers in person. You only get one shot at this and i feel its been robbed from us. 

Not having the studio space and communication between fellow peers leaves you feeling isolated at home. Other obstacles include technical issues with pcs running the design software and printers/scanners and not being able to get books from the library as not all are on the online library system.

The lecturers have been very supportive throughout and i have had regular online tutorials through zoom. 

It has been very hard to get motivation at times but as bad as the situation is it cannot be changed and you have to try and stay positive.

[calmarsden123]

An afternoon on the southbank of Leeds carrying out survey and analysis. It was great to be outdoors even though it was bitterly cold!. The southbank dosent have a identity and is fragmented from the city centre by the railway arches. It lacks a sense of place and distinct character. The site is mostly dominated by commercial and industrial use, therefore not many people have reason to go there. After the textile industry decline in the late 70′s mass demolition occurred and left many vacant brownfield sites.

I have managed to pick out a few pictures that stood out to me and to try and represent the current situation on the site. The site has great assets it should embrace including the abandoned Holbeck viaduct which could make a great green cycle corridor/link direct to the city centre and the old mill archway which symbols the sites industrial past.

i chose to show the first photo of the heart stuck to the wall under the bridge on water lane as It stood out to me. The area has a very uneasy feel about with drug dealers hanging around, yet shows that there can still be love even in the worst of places and its just you've got to work harder to find it.

[calmarsden123]

I have been working on an interdisciplinary project with the architects. We have been working together to come up with a design for a new urban village north of Leeds City Centre. The concept was to create a new elevated corridor which will become a green gateway and connection to and from the city centre. Being elevated avoids the major busy roads and provides an opportunity to hide the industrial units.

It was good to work with the architects and see how the disciplines differ and what collaboration can achieve. During this project the main difference i noticed was the architects approach was for the buildings to take dominance and then ’just add some green after’ so it was a case of explaining that green isn't just sticking a few trees in and the importance it can make to a building/ architectural structure. Therefore the compromise was the elevated green corridor containing strong architectural form and key green elements connecting to wider green corridors and providing links for biodiversity.

[calmarsden123]

Ive enjoyed spending my evening drawing up rough ideas and experimenting with the scale for my pergola design at Chapel Allerton Hospital for the NHS in our Design and Community Project.

The overall shape follows the strong radial geometry of the masterplan which comes from the dominent butan pine tree in the centre of the space. The thin wooden cross rails mimic the natural characteristics of the pine needles from the butan pine tree.

Tapered cross rail edges create a naturalistic connection back to the edges of the tree canopy.

[calmarsden123]

Excellent field trip to Copenhagen and Malmo last week. What a jam packed 4 days. First day we cycled around Copenhagen looking at the cities urban landscapes, roof gardens and riverfront play areas. We also designed a cricket ground for Copenhagen cricket club, meeting fellow landscape students from denmark. It was great to get to know them and how they do things in Copenhagen with a delicious curry afterwards from Sheike! Finally crossing the Oresund bridge to explore Malmo in Sweden looking at the sustainable urban drainage and rain gardens for my critical study.

The UK can really learn a lot from Denmark,  Its blue green and grey infrastructure is excellent. The metro link is so fast and efficient, it reduces pollution from motor vehicles and its vast cycle lanes encourage people to cycle everywhere.  Copenhagen has also developed its strategic flash flooding master plan to help reduce flash flooding following a flash flood in July 2011 and there are vast amounts of open outdoor green space to encourage social interaction, physical and mental well being.

Its a shame we run out of time as i really enjoyed getting to explore the culture and would love to go back again in the near future.

[calmarsden123]

Today we presented our masterplans to our client Rory O’Connor at the NHS for our live design and community project at Chapel Allerton Hospital, Leeds. The brief was to redesign two courtyard spaces within the hospital grounds one for dermatology and the other physiotherapy.

My group designed the physiotherapy courtyard offering both functional and therapeutic spaces for both patients and staff to work and relax. Using different colours and textures to mimic realistic activities outside of the hospital. It was good working in a group as we delegated different tasks to all members which seemed to speed up the process and enabled us to be more time efficient.

I was nervous presenting to Rory as i had never done it before however It was exciting to work with a live client as it has given me a valuable experience for working in practice.

[calmarsden123]

A great day out on the Monsal Trail in the peak district national park. The former midland railway has been converted into a traffic free cycle and walkway. Its great to see Victorian architecture being brought back to life and nature returning on the former line, creating a bio diverse green corridor. There are many other abandoned railway lines up and down the country following Dr Beechings cuts in the 1960′s which could be converted into valuable green cycle/walkways for people to reconnect with nature and provide much need outdoor spaces to meet increasing demand.

[calmarsden123]

Amy ,Alan, Becca and Emma held a meet and greet night for the Landscape Institute Yorkshire and Humber branch last night at the University. They held talks on insights and routes in the landscape profession and i signed up to become a student member of the Landscape Institute. It was great to meet fellow landscape students from other years and to speak to the practice professionals and here there personal story and how they chose to come into landscape. Their stories have inspired me to do well and im excited to kick start my career in landscape and hopefully work my way up to chartership.