Spring Break
Massachusetts-based firm speaks at Landscape Architecture Series
Tyler Will
Issue date: 2/29/08 Section: Campus
02/29/08 - Richard "Skip" Burck, the owner of Richard Burck Associates, a Massachusetts-based landscape architecture firm, explained guiding principles behind his business's practices last night at the University of Rhode Island Coastal Institute.
Burck said environmental sustainability and dynamic viewpoints were two of the chief elements he and his associates consider when working on a landscape project.
Citing two textbooks, he pointed out that the three objectives of design were to provide the subject a rich, coherent view, clarify and strengthen the viewpoint, and deepen the subject's grasp of the environment.
"We use this information in all of our large-scale projects," Burck said, later adding that the principles are also used in small-scale ones.
"An Introduction to the Study of Landscape Design," written by two Harvard University professors in 1917, offered more specific advice. "A road serves other purposes in landscape design than mere providence for ease of traffic," Burck read, explaining that roads can be manipulated to take advantage of scenery.
To accomplish these principles, Burck said his company will employ constraint points, or points where the subject's view is restricted by a wall, fence or two buildings. Burck Associates also uses layouts with elevation points, similar to theatrical designs, in many of their projects.
"I think the most important thing in urban lands in particular is people," Burck said. "People are the changing elements. What that does is put all that on display in a dynamic way."
Theatrical layouts also provide unique vantage points, Burck said. Other architectural techniques Burck Associates use come from Ancient Roman houses, which Burck found intriguing while living in Italy for a year. When visiting a house called the "house of the little bull" in Italy, Burck noticed different features of the house, such as fountains or gardens, while standing in certain places. The architectural feature is called "procession."
Burck said environmental sustainability and dynamic viewpoints were two of the chief elements he and his associates consider when working on a landscape project.
Citing two textbooks, he pointed out that the three objectives of design were to provide the subject a rich, coherent view, clarify and strengthen the viewpoint, and deepen the subject's grasp of the environment.
"We use this information in all of our large-scale projects," Burck said, later adding that the principles are also used in small-scale ones.
"An Introduction to the Study of Landscape Design," written by two Harvard University professors in 1917, offered more specific advice. "A road serves other purposes in landscape design than mere providence for ease of traffic," Burck read, explaining that roads can be manipulated to take advantage of scenery.
To accomplish these principles, Burck said his company will employ constraint points, or points where the subject's view is restricted by a wall, fence or two buildings. Burck Associates also uses layouts with elevation points, similar to theatrical designs, in many of their projects.
"I think the most important thing in urban lands in particular is people," Burck said. "People are the changing elements. What that does is put all that on display in a dynamic way."
Theatrical layouts also provide unique vantage points, Burck said. Other architectural techniques Burck Associates use come from Ancient Roman houses, which Burck found intriguing while living in Italy for a year. When visiting a house called the "house of the little bull" in Italy, Burck noticed different features of the house, such as fountains or gardens, while standing in certain places. The architectural feature is called "procession."
