This topical program focuses on current issues in urbanism, landscape, and design as it seeks to re-examine the scope and boundaries of the field. The annual program funds SWA employee projects that expand the discipline, create new knowledge, or generate insights. The fellowship was established by SWA in 2008 in memory of Patrick T. Curran, a young, talented landscape architect who passed away. The fellowship embodies the ethos that directed much of Patrick’s research at SWA: conservation of resources, innovation at the planning scale, habitat creation and preservation, technology in design, ecological process in the urban context and sustainability. Past fellowship projects have employed a variety of methodologies. XL research and innovation Lab facilitates the current program and supports proposals that use research as a tool to foster ideas, introduce new research themes, or to critique current modalities and positions, with the ultimate goal of advancing thought leadership in the fields of landscape architecture, urban design, and planning.
THANKS TO PRINCIPAL ADVISORS:
FELLOWS:
Elvis Wong, SWA “Simulating Ecologies: Leveraging Hydrodynamic Modeling for Resiliency Planning and Design” 2018
Experimented with hydrodynamic modeling software to assess feedback on design performance.
Michael Robinson, SWA “Extramedium: Methods of Infrastructure as Public Space” 2017
Explored ways to use infrastructure corridors as public realm spaces in two cities.
Anya Domlesky, SWA and Emily Schlickman, SWA “XL: Experiments in Landscape and Urbanism” 2016
Established XL, the firm wide lab for practice-based research and innovation, in a pilot phase.
George Kutnar, SWA “LArch VIS (Landscape Architectural Visualization)” 2016
Experimented with methods to incorporate motion graphics and virtual reality into concept design.
Anya Domlesky, SWA “The Rise of Practice-Based Research in Design” 2015
Developed six case studies looking at a range of ways practice-based research is produced.
Emily Schlickman, SWA “Traces of SWA” 2015
Surveyed the raw early drawings and hand sketches from SWA projects to document the design process.
Katie Jenkins, SWA “Watermark: Notes from the California Aqueduct” 2014
Investigated the California State Water Project through visual and written documentation.
Amanda Kronk, SWA “Wildlife Infrastructure” 2014
Developed a tool for designers to layer bird habitat onto infrastructural corridors and designed sites.
Chuhan Zhang, SWA and Xiwei Zhang, SWA “Re-imagining Playgrounds” 2014
Developed a design toolkit for playscapes, an alternative to cookie-cutter, risk-free playgrounds.
Justin Winters, SWA and Chris Hardy, SWA “Eco Corridors” 2013
Explored integrated strategies for sustainable urban design focusing on contributions to the public landscape.
Jean Pierre Casillas, SWA and Shannon Scovell, SWA “Art for Public Spaces: Why Do Cities Need Public Art?” 2013
Developed Art for Public Spaces, a tool describing art commissioning for public and private entities.
Zhongwei Li, SWA “Garbage Landscape” 2013
Explored solid waste production and projected landfill conversion into parks around Beijing.
Andrew Watkins, SWA “Social Entrepreneurship” 2012
Explored models of designing for the urban population explosion in the developing world.
Ji Hyun Yoo, SWA and Yu-Peng Hu, SWA “SWAapp and Place APP” 2012
Developed an app to enable the finding and guided experience of SWA-designed landscapes and spaces.
Shuang Yu, SWA “Material Research in China” 2012
Developed a database for landscape materials in China, focusing on local and traditional materials.
Zane Busbee, SWA “Graphic Library” 2012
Developed a digital catalog for graphic resources.
Alec Hawley, SWA and Michael Hee, SWA “Material Reuse” 2012
Developed a resource to streamline the sourcing and use of reusable materials, a more sustainable choice.
Youngmin Kim, SWA “Beyond the Green Myth” 2012
Revisited established sustainable planning and design methods to incorporate new scientific knowledge.
Mandana Parvinian, SWA and Don Xu, SWA “Digital: Real” 2012
Explored methods of translating complex 3D forms into technical drawings and fabrication.
Pavel Petrov, SWA “Buffalo Bayou Bliss” 2012
Produced a documentary film on the Houston Bayou waterway network.
Judy Qu, SWA “Urban Villages” 2012
Explored changes in the urban villages of Guangzhou through fieldwork and case studies.
Huicheng Zhong, SWA “Hope Initiative” 2012
Furthered a pro-bono effort in Sichuan Province with volunteer youth.
Josselyn Ivanov, SWA “Health and the Build Environment” 2011
Developed a resource that identifies ten ways to mitigate effects from a sedentary lifestyle through design.
Amirah Shahid, SWA “What is the Role of the Bicycle in China?” 2011
Explored the role of cycle transport in mainland China through an 800 km route on national and local roads.
Alex Robinson, SWA “Urban Heat Islands” 2009
Surveyed conferences, current literature, and case studies on countermeasures to combat urban heat island effect.
J. Lee Stickles, SWA “Mapping San Francisco Waterfront” 2008
Explored the San Francisco waterfront by mapping economic, cultural, and environmental transformations.
Leah Hales, SWA “Production Manual” 2008
Developed an updated manual on procedures and protocols related to drawing set production.
Sergio Lima, SWA “Middle East Plant Database” 2008
Developed a card database of plants well suited to designed sites in the UAE through performance assessment.
Ellen Burke, SWA “Urban Agriculture” 2007
Developed ten case studies on sites that create or preserve active farmland in urban areas.