《城市環境設計》：Sasaki訪談

丹尼斯·皮帕茲　　

　　《城市環境設計》（以下簡稱USD）:??Sasaki公司共有三個項目獲得２００７年ASLA獎，分別包括一個地標獎和兩個規劃獎。能否談一下您對三個項目的自我評價？您是怎樣看待ASLA獎的？
　　丹尼斯·皮帕茲：這是ASLA對我們工作的認可和獎勵，說明ASLA既保持了高水平的評價標準，又充分認可了設計過程的復雜性。賓大和巴拉曼大學項目獲得的是分析與規劃獎，這個獎項與其說是景觀設計，其實更屬于城市規劃，我們之所以獲獎，是因為對基地復雜的城市環境進行了全面深入的調研分析。查爾斯頓濱水公園獲得了地標獎，這是與上述兩個項目不同級別的獎勵。這是ASLA和美國歷史保護信托會聯合授予的。這是一個很有影響力的機構。地標獎只授予那些經得起時間考驗的項目。它們在15年或更長時間以后，仍然“保留了完整的原創設計，并極大促進了所在城市公共空間的發展”（ASLA評語）。設計的完整性和為公共空間增色是Sasaki做項目的根本原則。

　　USD:??地標獎項目查爾斯頓濱水公園，被譽為“一條偉大的城市走廊”。它使棕地恢復生態功能，又令城市公共空間得到了拓展，人性化的城市空間營造和生態環境的恢復，是現代人對景觀的雙重寄托，但有時兩者又是一對矛盾，您認為在人們的需求和可持續發展觀念之間，應該進行怎樣的平衡？Sasaki應對具體項目時，是否有必須遵守的設計原則？
　　丹尼斯·皮帕茲：把一塊棕地改造為城市公園固然令人頭疼，但是也蘊涵著巨大的潛力。綠地取代了原來的開放式停車場和破敗的碼頭，有助于緩解和改善城市的熱島效應。鹽沼地的植被和公園海灘的恢復，可以使游客欣賞到此地的沿海生態景觀和野生動物。除此之外，一個精心設計的公園還能促進人們建立健康的城市生活方式。公園的周邊街區改善以后，越來越多的人們開始養成散步習慣，逐漸適應于居住在集零售和其它商業于一體的多種族聚居社區。我們相信，有些意義深遠的設計在規劃階段就應該做出決定，換句話說，可持續發展的理念并非僅僅適用于建筑材料和施工過程，更重要的是要在整體設計思想上，鼓勵健康的生活方式和可持續性發展。

　　USD:??Sasaki獲獎的兩個規劃項目都是校園規劃，能否概括一下校園規劃所要遵循的主要設計原則？
　　丹尼斯·皮帕茲：這兩個獲獎的校園實際大不相同，一個是美國東北部的常青藤大學，一個是中東地中海沿岸的私立大學。Sasaki做的校園規劃設計各不相同，沒有固定的模式和方法。與其它許多美國頂尖大學一樣，賓大的規劃追求進一步深化校園和城區之間的積極互動。象賓大這樣的名牌大學能夠并且應該在文化和經濟上對所在城市的發展有所促進，反之亦然。巴拉曼大學規劃則表現了學校的使命及其核心價值觀。我們的景觀設計植根于當地文化，同時也采用一系列手法力求加深景觀和建筑之間的關系。美國傳統的田園式校園和圍繞校園的繁華城市之間也存在著許多矛盾。目前美國日益呈現出這樣的需要，即大學作為在生物技術等新興科研領域經濟增長的原動力，必須要促進其周邊形成健康的城市社區，才能吸引最優秀的學生和教職人員。作為設計師，職責就是在塑造和表現大學的建筑和景觀特色的同時，改善公共環境。

　　USD:??賓大規劃的主題是“鏈接賓大”，“鏈接”的概念貫穿項目設計的始終，譬如說學習生活之橋，運動休閑之橋等，并且特別強調交通走廊的建設，能否簡單介紹一下這一主導理念的產生背景和過程？
　　丹尼斯·皮帕茲：這一理念直接源自賓大校長艾米?古特曼，她親自監督了賓大連接區的每個規劃步驟。她在就職演說中呼吁，賓大要“讓費城和世界都參與進來”。賓大鏈接區既是賓大下半世紀的發展藍圖，又是將校區與斯庫基爾河以及費城中心城區連接起來的橋梁。因此，“橋梁”自然成為最恰當的比喻。
學習生活之橋重新確立了核桃樹大街的主軸線，連接起中心城市的利頓豪斯廣場。運動休閑之橋是一座令人驚嘆的懸索步行橋，將沿岸的各個體育休閑中心與現有的體育館連接起來，。南街的文化保健之橋和未來的研究之橋連接保健中心和研究機構，對大學和費城的發展將起到關鍵作用。新的校園規劃弘揚了東校區的工業歷史，同時使賓大在斯庫基爾河畔呈現出嶄新的形象。

　　USD:??巴拉曼大學項目的設計，體現了Sasaki規劃與城市設計的設計原則：有力的綜合分析，經濟現實主義，環境責任，以及文化意識。而設計重點在于大學要建立一個以鼓勵各學科間的學習與交流為目的的公眾領域，設計采用了怎樣的方法建立這個領域的？
　　丹尼斯·皮帕茲：巴拉曼大學位于貝魯特北部靠近黎波里的一座山頂上。學校董事會要求創造出體現教育崇高性的氛圍，但不能帶有任何明顯的宗教特征，因為學校強調不同宗教間的和諧共處，特別是基督教和伊斯蘭教。整個校區設計了三個主軸線：入口漫步道處是懸鈴木樹林，行人被放在優先考慮的位置，雖然也設置了機動車道，但并沒有占據主導地位。校園核心區包括很多庭院、聚會和靜思場所。最后是三角型的學問之路，通向橄欖園和主入口。紫色、粉色和綠色的本土植物與建筑墻體和地面鋪裝形成鮮明對比。學問之路既有實際的連接作用，又喻意深遠，比喻架起連接神圣和世俗的橋梁。

　　USD:??能否請您闡述一下Sasaki的核心設計觀念？
　　丹尼斯·皮帕茲：Sasaki是個跨行業的設計公司，公司文化的核心是合作和交流。我們的景觀設計業務的目標是創造恒久的景觀，可以傳承數代的、意義非凡的場所。景觀設計與市政工程、城市規劃和建筑配合，在各式各樣、富有挑戰性的基地上進行新穎獨特的設計，如城市濱水區、大學校園、環境敏感地區和棕地等。與建筑設計]不同的是，景觀設計對時間有特殊的要求，因為必須等待植物的生長和成熟才能獲得預期的景觀效果。Sasaki在項目設計時要求至少有50年的使用期，我們并不追求立竿見影的效果和當下時髦的設計手法；我們的設計是要超越流行，重視持久的品質和對場地的深刻理解。客戶和有關方面強調的各種人性需求是所有設計的基礎，他們的問題和所關注的熱點幫助我們探尋各種方案，直到找到最合適的解決辦法。我們也非常重視公共領域的設計，因為人們需要各種公共空間來聚會、紀念，嬉戲、慶祝以增進彼此的聯系。所以，各種公共空間如城市廣場、校園、公司休閑中心等都成為Sasaki的設計重點。Sasaki還邀請藝術家參與到設計中，藝術的融入極大地豐富了公共環境。

　　USD:??閱讀Sasaki的設計作品，以成熟的設計風格為主導，而非前衛的表現，對此您是怎樣理解的？Sasaki公司是怎樣培養設計師的創造力？
　　丹尼斯·皮帕茲：我們認為創造力來源于解決設計難題的能力，這些難題因場地、項目和客戶需求而產生。創造力通常是在對場地進行調查和研究的縝密過程中產生的，它是景觀設計師、市政工程師、規劃師和建筑師相互溝通合作的結果。例如某濱水項目，有資料表明此地有一條廢棄很久的工業用運河，設計時就可能考慮把它重新發掘和利用起來，或者充當泄洪區，或者做為小艇的停泊灣，我們有個濱水項目就是這樣設計的。通常，創造性的解決方案只有在遇到難題時才會產生。

　　USD:??在很多時候Sasaki作為城市規劃師的角色主導項目的設計局面，而Sasaki最初又是一個以景觀設計為背景的公司。您認為景觀設計對規劃和城市設計意味著什么？
　　丹尼斯·皮帕茲：景觀設計的對象是土地，因此它是所有環境構建工作的基礎。具體的地形和植被往往是設計的出發點，并且決定跨行業合作的程度。跨行業合作是我們公司的核心。在Sasaki，沒有哪個工作室是處于主導地位的。在面臨設計難題時，每個工作室都要提出多方面的解決方案。公司合伙人的任務是與客戶直接聯系和溝通，在調動公司整體知識儲備的同時協調和激勵各個小組的工作。例如，我們的景觀設計部、規劃部和城市設計部可以向建筑部指明工作內容，反之亦然；某個項目的室內設計方案可以解決另一個項目的可持續性問題；或者，我們在中國的現行工作可以為在克里夫蘭的項目啟發創作靈感。支持這些互動的基礎就是公司的平衡式所有權結構，這種公司結構在業界是獨一無二的。雖然每個項目都各不相同，但是由于公司設計過建筑環境中的各個層面，我們總是能從獨特的視角出發找到解決方案。

　　USD:??Sasaki的北京2008奧林匹克公園方案贏得了競賽，是您主持設計的，對中國的地域和文化特征，您是怎樣理解的？
　　丹尼斯·皮帕茲：很顯然，對城市設計師而言，很重要的一項功課就是要熟悉當地歷史、文化和城市建設。中國的城市建設自有一套體系，并且已經運用到北京等大城市的規劃、建設和布局中。理想城市規劃的很多典型元素其實都起源于中國，例如城門和入口的概念、指引方向的城市極點的設立、人性化的建筑布局、人和自然的和諧共生之觀念，這些在世界各地都有所應用。中國的城市規劃都強調公民秩序，形式上主要表現為規模巨大的公共開放空間的規劃和建立。這種秩序感和平衡感在中國傳統的大景觀和花園設計上都體現出來。面對這樣的歷史傳承，不管項目是在世界的哪個地方，城市規劃者、景觀設計師和建筑師都可從中汲取豐富的靈感。我們的北京奧林匹克公園的設計概念就深深植根于北京的歷史文化等背景，并與奧運村周邊城區緊密相連。公園設計的一個關鍵目標就是要奧運村長久使用，必須保證2008年以后這里仍然是城市的一個亮點和繁華之地。

　　USD:??Sasaki在中國有很多項目，您認為中國的景觀設計市場及景觀業的前景如何？
　　丹尼斯·皮帕茲：我們在中國的每個項目都非常獨特，都是對特定場所和文化的反思。作為設計師，我們必須深入了解所有細節的東西，這就需要和客戶密切溝通合作。我們在中國參與的很多項目投標幾乎都中標了，可是令人失望和遺憾的是，這種形式缺少一個關鍵步驟，即在設計前期和客戶進行直接溝通。如果和客戶建立起長期的良好關系（我們已和很多中國公司建立起這樣的關系），我們就可以了解有關場地的很多細節的東西，具體的設計內容，地域和文化背景，并從中國悠久的造園史中汲取智慧和靈感。中國經濟快速發展，農村人口大量涌入城市，這些都帶來很嚴峻的挑戰。因此我們認為，中國的景觀設計應該同城市規劃、建筑設計等其他設計行業整合在一起。在公司54年的發展歷史中，景觀設計一直是我們的主業，但由于公司結構是跨行業的，這就保證我們能采取全面的設計方法。我們的經驗證明，在設計前期，可以并且應該能夠做出意義最深遠和最有效的決定。中國有著悠久的造園史，而我們在景觀設計業擁有豐富的經驗，因此我們非常愿意繼續在中國發展業務。

　　簡介：丹尼斯·皮帕茲，美國SASAKI景觀設計事務所總裁，全面管理公司事務。他有著20年的國際及國內景觀設計經驗，包括獲獎的北京2008奧林匹克公園項目。

　　USD:??As?we?know?Sasaki?has?won?three?2007?ASLA?awards?which?include?a?landmark?award?and?two?planning?honor?awards.?Could?you?give?us?some?comments?on?the?three?projects??What?do?you?think?about?the?ASLA?award?
　　Pieprz:?The?ASLA?recognizes?and?rewards?excellence?in?our?profession?while?keeping?standards?high?and?acknowledging?the?complexity?of?the?process?of?design.?The?awards?for?both?Penn?Connects?(University?of?Pennsylvania?Urban?Design?Vision?Plan)?and?University?of?Balamand?were?in?the?Analysis?and?Planning?category,?and?were?as?much?for?Urban?Planning?as?for?Landscape?Architecture?–?we?were?recognized?for?doing?extensive?research?and?analysis?of?the?complex?urban?conditions?on?the?sites.The?Landmark?Award?for?the?Charleston?Waterfront?Park?is?a?completely?different?level?of?recognition.?It?is?given?jointly?by?the?ASLA?and?the?National?Trust?for?Historic?Preservation,?which?is?a?very?influential?organization.?The?Landmark?Award?is?given?only?to?a?project?that?has?stood?the?test?of?time.?It?is?one?that,?after?a?minimum?of?15?years,?has?in?the?ASLA’s?words?"retained?the?integrity?of?its?original?design?and?significantly?contributed?to?the?public?realm?of?the?city?in?which?it?is?located."?These?two?elements?–?integrity?of?design?and?adding?to?the?public?realm,?are?absolutely?fundamental?to?our?mission?here?at?Sasaki.

　　USD:??The?landmark?award?was?given?to?the?Charleston?Waterfront?Park,?which?is?considered?“A?Great?Urban?Promenade”?and?was?recovered?from?a?brownfield?to?an?urban?space.?To?create?an?urban?space?for?people,?and?to?recover?ecological?environment?are?the?two?aspects?of?an?urban?space?that?people?are?pursuing,?but?at?the?same?time,?to?some?extent,?there?are?a?couple?of?conflicts.?How?do?you?create?an?urban?space?that?balances?people’s?needs?and?sustainability??Does?SASAKI?Associates?have?any?design?concepts?obligatory?for?similar?projects??
　　Pieprz:?There?is?tension?in?readapting?a?former?industrial?site?for?use?as?a?public?park,?but?therein?lies?its?potential.?The?very?act?of?replacing?open?parking?lots?and?rotting?piers?with?green?space?is?regenerative?and?ameliorates?the?"heat?island"?effect.?The?restoration?of?a?habitat?of?salt?marsh?grasses?and?shallow?estuarine?waters?along?the?park’s?edge?allows?visitors?the?opportunity?to?appreciate?the?area’s?marine?ecology?and?wildlife.?But?beyond?these?gestures,?a?carefully?designed?public?park?also?promotes?sustainable?urban?lifestyles.?As?the?neighborhood?around?the?park?improved,?more?and?more?people?were?able?to?adopt?healthy?pedestrian?habits?and?live?in?racially?diverse?neighborhoods?that?combine?residential?with?retail?and?commercial.?We?believe?that?some?of?the?most?profound?design?decisions?can?be?made?at?the?planning?level?–?in?other?words,?it’s?not?just?sustainable?building?materials?and?processes?that?must?be?brought?to?the?fore?but?also?overall?thinking?that?promotes?healthy?lifestyles?and?a?culture?of?sustainability?in?all?of?its?forms.


　　USD:??Two?of?the?awarded?projects?are?campuses.?Could?you?summarize?the?design?concepts?for?campus?design??
　　Pieprz:?The?two?awards?are?for?vastly?different?campuses,?one?an?Ivy?League?campus?here?in?the?northeastern?U.S.?and?another?a?private?university?in?the?Mediterranean?Middle?East.Sasaki’s?work?in?campus?design?is?so?varied?that?there?are?no?set?approaches?or?formulas.?At?the?University?of?Pennsylvania,?as?with?at?many?other?leading?American?universities,?our?designs?seek?to?further?a?vibrant?interaction?between?"town"?and?"gown."?Major?institutions?like?Penn?can?and?should?nurture—culturally?and?economically—their?surrounding?urban?contexts,?and?vice?versa.?At?Balamand,?the?challenge?was?to?express?the?institution’s?mission?and?core?beliefs.?We?designed?a?landscape?deeply?rooted?in?the?local?culture?while?also?proposing?an?array?of?solutions?that?enhanced?the?relationship?between?the?buildings?and?the?landscape.There?is?tension?between?the?American?tradition?of?a?pastoral,?green?campus?and?the?urban?vibrancy?that?often?surround?such?campuses.?There?is?an?emerging?imperative?here?in?the?U.S.?that?colleges?and?universities,?as?the?engines?of?economic?growth?in?emerging?fields?like?research?and?bio?technology,?must?promote?healthy?surrounding?urban?neighborhoods?in?order?to?attract?the?best?and?brightest?students?and?employees.?It?is?our?duty?as?designers?to?improve?the?surrounding?public?realm?and?while?nurturing?and?expressing?the?individual?architectural?and?landscape?character?of?each?institution.



　　USD:??The?theme?for?the?University?of?Pennsylvania?campus?design?is?connection,?like?the?Living/Learning?Bridge,?the?Sports?and?Recreation?Bridge,?the?Cultural?and?Health?Sciences?Bridge,?the?Research?Bridge.?How?did?connection?become?the?design?concept??
　　Pieprz:?It?came?straight?from?the?top?–?in?her?inaugural?address,?University?President?Amy?Gutmann,?who?has?personally?overseen?every?step?of?the?Penn?Connects?process,?called?for?the?university?"to?engage,?locally?and?globally."?Penn?Connects?is?a?blueprint?for?growth?over?the?next?half?century?as?well?as?a?means?to?connect?the?campus?both?to?the?Schuylkill?River?and?to?Center?City?Philadelphia.?And?so?"bridge"?became?a?natural?and?apt?metaphor.A?"Living/Learning?Bridge"?reestablishes?a?strong?Walnut?Street?axis?and?connects?to?Rittenhouse?Square?Center?City;?A?"Sports/Recreation?Bridge"?proposes?a?dramatic?new?pedestrian-only?cable-stay?span?and?incorporates?student?life?programs?like?a?series?of?sports?and?recreation?parks?along?the?river?adjacent?to?the?existing?stadium;??A?"Health?Sciences/Cultural?Bridge"?at?South?Street?and?future?"Research?Bridge"?accommodate?health?care?and?research?endeavors?that?are?critical?for?both?the?university’s?and?city’s?growth.?The?plan?celebrates?East?Campus’s?industrial?history?while?establishing?a?real?physical?presence?for?Penn?along?the?banks?of?the?Schuylkill.


　　USD:??The?design?for?the?University?of?Balamand?follows?your?design?solutions?that?are,?as?you?have?said,?“a?synthesis?of?rigorous?analysis,?economic?realism,?environmental?responsibility,?and?cultural?awareness.”?In?the?Balamand?project?statement?you?said,?“The?plan?re-directs?the?physical?form?of?the?university?to?establish?a?civic?realm?to?encourage?communication?and?interdisciplinary?learning.”?What?methods?do?you?use?to?set?up?the?realm??
　　Pieprz:?The?University?of?Balamand?is?atop?a?dramatic?hilltop?site?near?Tripoli,?north?of?Beirut.?The?school’s?trustees?wanted?an?ambience?that?bespoke?the?grandeur?of?an?educational?mission?but?without?any?obvious?religious?symbolism,?owing?to?their?commitment?to?inter-faith?relations,?especially?between?Christians?and?Muslims.?There?are?three?main?axes:?An?Entry?Promenade?is?planted?with?a?grove?of?sycamore?trees?where?pedestrians?are?accorded?a?priority?although?the?reality?of?motorized?transportation?is?accommodated,?without?allowing?it?to?dominate.?The?Core?Area?contains?numerous?courtyards?and?places?of?meeting?and?quiet?contemplation.?Finally?the?Path?of?Learning?completes?a?triangular?path?back?toward?the?Olive?Court?and?main?entry.?Purple,?pink?and?green?native?plantings?contrast?against?the?lighter?building?masonry?and?paving.?The?Path?of?Learning?is?both?an?actual?and?metaphorical?link,?seeking?to?bridge?the?sacred?and?the?secular.?


　　USD:??Could?you?introduce?the?design?philosophy?of?SASAKI?Associates??
　　Pieprz:?Sasaki?is?an?interdisciplinary?design?firm?where?collaboration?and?cross-pollination?of?ideas?are?at?the?very?center?of?our?firm?culture.?In?our?landscape?architecture?practice,?our?aim?is?to?make?enduring?landscapes?-?significant?places?that?will?last?for?generations.??This?practice?is?integrated?with?civil?engineering,?urban?design?and?architecture?to?create?new?designs?on?diverse?and?challenging?sites?including?urban?waterfronts,?college?campuses,?sensitive?environmental?areas,?and?brown-fields.
Time?has?a?different?meaning?for?landscapes,?which?unlike?buildings,?must?grow?and?mature?to?reach?their?potential.??Because?Sasaki?expects?our?projects?to?be?in?use?50?years?or?more,?we?don’t?design?for?instant?impact?or?in?the?style?of?the?moment;?our?designs?transcend?style?to?incorporate?lasting?qualities?and?an?understanding?of?the?site.?Working?closely?with?clients?is?fundamental?to?Sasaki’s?design?approach.??Clients?and?larger?stakeholders?articulate?the?human?needs?that?are?at?the?basis?of?any?design?work;?their?questions?and?concerns?help?us?explore?many?alternatives?before?reaching?the?most?appropriate?landscape?solution.?We?have?a?deep?and?abiding?respect?the?public?realm;?we?believe?that?people?need?places?where?they?can?gather,?observe,?play,?celebrate?and?feel?connected?to?each?other.?As?a?result,?public?spaces…a?city?square,?a?campus?quadrangle,?a?corporate?plaza…form?the?organizing?focus?of?many?of?Sasaki’s?designs.??Sasaki?also?collaborates?with?artists?to?integrate?art?into?our?designs,?often?immeasurably?enriching?the?public?environment.


　　USD:??While?looking?into?the?works?by?SASAKI,?we?found?your?designs?to?be?more?about?functionality?and?realism?rather?than?being?merely?stylish,?modern,?or?flamboyant.?What?is?your?opinion??How?do?you?encourage?landscape?architects?to?be?innovative??
　　Pieprz:?We?believe?that?innovation?is?born?of?exploring?ways?to?solve?problems?presented?by?a?site,?program?or?set?of?client?needs.?It?is?often?during?the?rigorous?process?of?inspecting?and?researching?a?site?that?ideas?will?come?as?a?result?of?the?cross-pollination?that?takes?place?among?our?landscape?architects,?civil?engineers,?planners?and?architects.?For?example?in?a?waterfront?site?there?might?be?historical?drawings?that?indicate?the?presence?of?a?long-abandoned?industrial?canal.?Such?a?fact?can?spur?a?design?idea?to?bring?back?the?canal?and?have?it?serve?a?practical?function?such?as?being?a?storm?water?collector?or?a?mooring?site?for?kayaks,?as?is?happening?at?one?of?our?waterfront?projects.?Often?innovative?ideas?come?only?after?a?problem?is?presented.


　　USD:??SASAKI?plays?the?leading?role?and?urban?planner?in?quite?a?lot?of?projects.?As?we?all?know?SASAKI?was?a?landscape?architecture?firm,?but?has?become?a?multi-disciplinary?company.?How?do?you?think?landscape?architecture?influences?planning?and?urban?design??
　　Pieprz:?Landscape?architecture?deals?with?land?and?thus?underpins?all?work?in?the?built?environment.?It?is?the?topography?and?vegetation?of?a?particular?site?that?is?often?the?starting?point?of?design?thinking?and?that?sets?the?stage?for?the?Interdisciplinary?collaboration?that?is?at?the?heart?of?our?firm.?At?Sasaki,?no?one?studio?dominates.?Each?contributes?multi-perspective?approaches?to?solving?design?problems.?Firm?principals,?charged?with?direct?client?contact?and?accountability,?orchestrate?and?inspire?the?team?while?tapping?into?the?vast?knowledge?base?within?the?firm.?For?example,?our?Landscape?Architecture?and?Planning?and?Urban?Design?inform?the?work?of?our?Architecture,?and?vice?versa;?an?Interior?Design?solution?in?one?project?might?hold?the?key?to?sustainability?in?another;?current?work?we?are?doing?in?China?might?inspire?a?creative?approach?to?a?project?in?Cleveland.?Supporting?this?interaction?is?the?firm’s?balanced?ownership?structure,?which?is?unique?in?the?industry.?While?each?project?is?different,?each?is?approached?from?the?unique?perspective?of?a?company?that?has?designed?things?across?the?full?spectrum?of?the?built?environment.


　　USD:??SASAKI?won?the?competition?of?2008?Beijing?Olympics?and?you?are?the?principal?landscape?architect.?What?do?you?think?of?the?regional?and?cultural?identity?of?China??
　　Pieprz:?Obviously?an?important?part?of?the?task?of?an?urban?designer?is?studying?history?and?culture?and?city-building.??China?evolved?the?grid?and?applied?it?to?the?planning,?construction?and?ordering?of?its?great?imperial?capital?cities,?including?Beijing.?The?idea?of?the?city?gate?or?entry,?the?principle?of?the?city?pole?that?facilitates?orientation,?methods?of?arranging?buildings?to?maximize?human?comfort?and?the?fostering?of?a?symbiotic?relationship?between?man?and?nature?are?representative?of?city?planning?ideals?that?have?their?genesis?in?China,?and?have?found?application?throughout?the?world.?Chinese?city?planning?embraces?the?principle?of?a?civic?order,?formed?in?large?part?by?the?creation?of?open?spaces?planned?and?executed?at?a?grand?scale.?This?sense?of?order,?of?seeking?balance,?is?manifested?in?the?great?landscape?and?garden?design?tradition?of?China.?From?this?rich?matrix,?there?are?many?ways?in?which?the?urban?designer,?landscape?architect?and?architect?can?find?inspiration,?whether?or?not?the?project?is?located?within?China.?Our?Beijing?Olympic?concept?is?very?much?tied?to?the?context?of?Beijing,?to?the?particular?urban?districts?that?are?adjacent?to?the?Olympic?site.?The?long-term?integration?of?the?Olympic?site?was?a?key?goal?of?our?urban?design?concept?–?it?must?become?a?living?part?of?the?city?and?thrive?well?beyond?the?events?of?2008.?


　　USD:??SASAKI?has?lots?of?projects?in?China.?What?do?you?see?in?the?future?of?landscape?design?(both?the?practice?and?the?business?market)?in?China??
　　Pieprz:?Each?project?we?do?in?China?is?unique?and?is?reflective?of?a?particular?site?and?culture,?and?as?designers?we?must?become?enmeshed?in?these?specifics,?and?that?requires?working?closely?with?clients.?Of?the?numerous?competitions?we?have?entered?for?work?in?China,?we?have?won?almost?every?one.?However,?we?have?generally?found?this?format?frustrating?and?ultimately?unsatisfying?because?of?the?lack?of?direct?client?contact?at?the?critical?early?design?phases.?When?we?have?a?good,?long-term?relationship?directly?with?the?client—as?we?have?now?with?a?number?of?Chinese?firms—we?are?able?to?get?at?the?particulars?of?the?site,?the?program?and?the?larger?contexts?of?region?and?culture,?tapping?into?China’s?rich?landscape?history?for?inspiration?and?guidance.
Because?China’s?economic?growth?and?rural-to-urban?migration?presents?such?great?challenges,?we?believe?the?future?of?landscape?design?lies?in?its?integration?with?the?other?major?design?disciplines,?especially?urban?planning?and?architecture.?Landscape?architecture?is?deeply?ingrained?into?our?firm’s?54-year?history.?But?our?interdisciplinary?firm?structure?allows?us?to?take?a?holistic?approach?–?our?experience?shows?that?the?most?profound?and?effective?design?decisions?can?and?should?be?made?in?the?early?planning?stages.?With?the?rich?history?of?landscape?architecture?in?China,?and?our?own?roots?within?the?landscape?architecture?discipline,?we?are?very?enthusiastic?and?excited?about?continuing?to?be?involved?in?major?design?work?in?China.