PROJECT LOCATION | City of Biñan, province of Laguna, PhilippinesImagine.

What if our communities were designed in such a way that we can enjoy life from a slowed down pace? What if parks and open spaces were a five minute walk from our doorstep? What if our children can enjoy not just the outdoors but the lasting memories that will define their generation and legacy?

Landscape architecture is a very powerful tool to enhance our life experiences. The environments and landscapes that we envision are spaces that allow everyone to be grounded and to be firmly rooted in the aspects of life that really matter. “Sana,” every Filipino would say. Dream on, kaibigan. One day these visions will become a reality.

THE COURTYARD HOUSE. What if the Garden IS the centerpiece of our homes?

The ancient Romans lived in these kinds of houses. As I was having coffee I thought about applying the concept to modern Filipino living. Would us Pinoys embrace the idea of having their “bahay kubo garden” front and center of our homes? I bet, with an open mind, we would

I remember a time when I stayed at a good friend’s house in Iloilo. His house’s concept — an open concept — inspired me. We would have breakfast every day fronting their garden. And even when it rained the fresh air would flow freely through their living spaces while a covered walkway provided shelter towards the rooms and other indoor spaces. The seamless mesh of house and nature is such a refreshing approach to how we can design our homes

How I would love to see this concept built in the near future. This can be an eye opener for many of us to embrace the importance of nature in our way of life. Harinawa.

Thoughts from a landscape architect’s notebook.
@ajmoldez

THE OUTDOOR EXPERIENCE. Spaces in the middle of nature can enhance the living experience in the city.

This is such an inspiration to Team AJM. We designed a space that despite its size creates a big impact to the human experience. Shrubs and trees not only provide shade and a cool micro climate, but provide protection from vehicles as well. In this sense, the landscape is a tool to watch over vulnerable pedestrians.

The commercial establishments benefit from this outdoor space as well. Added seating and foot traffic proves to be an advantage increasing revenue for businesses.

Investing in good landscape design goes beyond aesthetics. As landscape architects we dig deep and think about the IMPACT that we can bring about through well thought of ideas brought to life.

DESIGNING STREETSCAPES | A street is the most basic element in the landscape that allows us to experience the city. Let us design our streets well and weave them into the urban fabric.

DESIGNING STREETSCAPES | Providing space for vehicles, bicycles and nature.

DESIGNING STREETSCAPES | Changing mindsets in road safety for both vehicle drivers and pedestrians.

WORKING WITH CONCRETE. Pavements are important design elements in the landscape. They allow people to move from point to point, provide a venue for multiple functions and events and may add to the aesthetic quality of a place.

LANDSCAPE COMPOSITION. Planting design is a far more complicated process than it seems. Various elements and principles are put together to compose an aesthetically captivating picture of the landscape.

GROUNDCOVER. Hardy and easy to propagate, the humble wedelia (Singapore daisy) is one of our best small shrubs in our softscape palette.

REENVISIONING WALKABILITY. Getting from Point A to Point B is important in any project. Sometimes walkways are barren and boring elements in a development. But with landscape architecture the design of these crucial features can make walkways, boardwalks and pathways esthetically pleasing and functional.

Digital mixed media.

Back in college our gen x principal landscape architect AJ was taught how to use pens, markers, pencils and water color and blend everything together in one “masterpiece” of a plate (as exercises then were called). They had to wet the watercolor paper, dry it, sharpen pencils, refill tech pen cartridges (not to mention clean them with alcohol or some other solution to get dried ink out), test out markers, and mix Prang watercolor pigments. Imagine the physical, mental, psychological toughness landscape architecture and architecture students had to exhibit to make it.

Fast forward to 2023 and here is L.Arch. AJ continuing to adapt to digital transformation and embracing new technologies to keep up with the changing needs of the people and communities he shares his design ideas with.
It’s all about keeping the proven old, and embracing the smart, efficient, and effective new. Flexibility. It is paramount.

According to L.Arch. AJ: “Landscape architecture is an expression of who I am and my contribution to creation. ‘We are gardeners,’ the late Tim Keller said. His message hit hard which all the more stoked that fire in me to continue to do what I do.”

MORNING SKETCHES BY L.ARCH. AJ MOLDEZ

This poster, designed by L. Arch. AJ Moldez, features an enlarged image of the Philippines that symbolizes our aspiration for all Filipino landscape architects to have a bigger impact in the country and the global scene.
🇵🇭✍🏽🌱🌍ajmladesign #landscapearchitectph #WLAM2024landscapearchitectureph #paLAwakin #PALA

Westwind’S Community Green Space

PROJECT LOCATION |Lancaster New City, Gen. Trias, Cavite, Philippines

WESTWIND is a development built around community green spaces. Low rise housing units interwoven with the landscape make this a project with a fresh take on community development.

Through a landscape architect’s guidance, parks become the main focus in establishing communities, as these amenities provide residents an environment that brings people together. Open spaces are strategically located within the building clusters offering areas where residents can converge and connect. These green and social places allow neighbors to use the landscape according to their unique needs creating a sense of belonging and ownership.

Westwind, the Spirit of Change, highlights landscape architecture’s impact on building communities by ushering in new ways of designing green open spaces. These are essential components of a sustainable and inclusive community.

Seasons and landscape architecture

Regular project visits, whatever the season may bring, give us the opportunity to check and evaluate the differing site conditions.

climate factors can greatly influence our landscape design and test our problem solving abilities when it comes to reducing the impacts of the weather on project sites.

To start with, as landscape architects, it is our duty to make sure that the plants we select can survive in a particular environment. It is wise to choose the right mix of native shrubs, plants and trees that can handle temperature swings and still beautify the place.

Choosing the proper hardscape materials is just as important. Since these items are installed outdoors, it is crucial to pick the ones that can withstand the harsh elements in the area and at the same time can provide protection from the sun’s heat, high winds, and rain.

Safety and maintenance must be considered as well. Think about safety measures for extreme weather conditions and opt for design features that require minimal attention and are self-sustaining.

A well-designed landscape is flexible and adaptive to the changing seasons. Guided by core design principles, whatever nature may throw our way, these appealingly created outdoor spaces will still be functional and enjoyable throughout the year.

Before and After

PROJECT LOCATION |The Central Garden at Greenhills Shopping Center in San Juan, Metro Manila, Philippines

Before
The Central Garden at Greenhills Shopping Center in San Juan, Metro Manila, Philippines, was once underutilized and was filled with an assortment of potted plants that gave the landscape an overgrown and untended appearance. This discouraged people from venturing into the cold and dark space.

After
Through effective collaboration and proper planning, the Garden developed into a bright and welcoming environment for people of all ages and abilities. Foot traffic increased in this location as various groups of people lingered to enjoy the lovely natural surroundings. The carefully thought-out placement of hardscapes and softscapes achieved a good balance between the usable spaces and the lush greeneries.

The amazing makeover is proudly rooted in landscape architecture design. Without question, the transformation brought new life to the Central Garden and instantly made this iconic space in Greenhills feel vibrant once again.

THE SYNERGY BETWEEN LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS AND ARCHITECTS

during ONE OF OUR design meetingS WITH A CLIENT, the architect put an extra emphasis on the importance of the landscape architect’s involvement in the early phases of the project. generally, we get called in too late in the game just to beautify or to embellish mistakes – an afterthought. his no-nonsense and collaborative mindset is a breath of fresh air.

for landscape architects and architects, working well together is key. the goal: a seamless INTEGRATION OF INDOOR AND OUTDOOR SPACES with a common character and theme.

having everybody on board from the very outset of the design process also clearly identifies the specific roles and tasks of every member of the team. this preventS errors and confusion which can greatly affect the outcome of the project. presenting a united front, exchanging ideas and filling knowledge gaps together will also help realize the clients’ design dreams and visions more efficiently. saving valuable time, energy and resources will also boost the property’s value GUARANTEEING CLIENT HAPPINESS AND SATISFACTION.

every project needs the expertise of engineers, contractors, and of course designers such as landscape architects and architects to ensure its success. we attribute our firm’s thriving journey in this challenging industry to the strong and meaningful collaborations we have with our partners-friends from other allied professions. we all long to live our true passion and purpose: to create beautiful spaces that can make a difference in people’s lives.

The Green Corridors at Project Love : Pollinator Gardens and Corridors

In order for plants to reproduce and grow, bees, butterflies, birds and other wildlife species must be able to move pollen between plants, allowing cross-fertilization. The continuous growth of cities pose a serious threat to the balance of the environments we live in and to our way of life. If we are to thrive, we need to allow Creation to continue its natural processes, while giving us places to live and work.

Pollinator gardens or corridors are pesticide-free paths of native plants that provide habitat and nutrients for pollinators and other small wildlife. They also contribute to beautiful and climate responsive landscapes. These havens should be designed to attract pollinators and to allow people to interact with nature in a meaningful way.

As stewards of the earth, landscape architects can help in making sure that our cities and communities provide us with environments where we can co-exist with the flow of nature, with the birds and the bees and the other creatures that sustain Life.

Behind The Design

Even the simplest site element requires careful study and research. Aside from the basics such as material selection and construction methodology the landscape architect considers the people who will be using the design as well. In this light, standards and design details matter. In some cases these standards are tweaked to be more suitable to the intended users.

For outdoor benches, our research at AJM Planning and Design has led us to substitute the standard 450mm height for 400mm as this is more comfortable for Filipinos. Several interviews and tweaks confirm our findings and we have been using a lower bench height ever since. We also have tested multiple bench surfaces and have used hardscape materials that provide the best sitting experience for users.

In every project that we work on, well thought out designs for people matter. We believe that the beauty of the design is in the details.

Community Impact: The MEMORIAL WALL at Tanauan, Leyte, Philippines

Typhoon Haiyan (local name “Yolanda”) wreaked havoc on the island of Leyte in 2013 taking the lives of thousands of Leyteños. The grief and devastation was of titanic proportions that the global community sent aid to the Philippines.

Joining in the effort to ease the pain of the tragedy, the Philippine Association of Landscape Architects (PALA) contributed their expertise in designing parks, playgrounds and other open spaces to help uplift the lives of the survivors and to revive the communities and cities badly hit by the disaster.

In this unified effort, AJM Planning and Design was selected to be part of a team of landscape architects who worked on a park that sits on a mass grave of victims in the municipality of Tanauan, Leyte. Our small contribution was to design the monuments and a memorial wall dedicated to the lives of those who were lost in the storm. Survivors found relief from the sorrow when they saw the names of their loved ones engraved in brass plates on the simple wall. This bears witness to the power of landscape architecture to impact a community even in the simplest ways possible.

The small project resonates in the heart of AJM to this day. It continues to serve as an inspiration to change lives in communities through landscape architecture.

Green

Located in the award winning estate Calatagan South Beach (Casobē) in Calatagan, Batangas, Philippines, Crusoe Cabins is a trailblazing resort that carries the prestige of being certified as a green resort development.

EDGE (Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies) is an international green building certification system, and Crusoe Cabins by Millennial Resorts Corporation is a testament that investing in green developments is the new standard in designing for future projects. Their drought resistant plants, native trees and permeable pavements, combined with the cabins made out of repurposed shipping containers, earned the necessary points to get the resort green certified.

Climate change is real and it remains to be one of the threats to our very existence. Some say that we are dangerously close to the tipping point of our climate system that it may lead to devastating effects to the environment and to society. But there is hope for the planet as landscape architects lead the way in Creation care.

Parks

Whenever we talk about parks we think about nature, picnics or outdoor games, or people jogging or walking their dogs. But there is a deeper and more meaningful aspect of parks that we oftentimes overlook.

Parks are where we commune with ourselves, our planet, our spirit and our community. This is where we are one with Creation. This is where we can freely express ourselves.

In a sense, well designed parks are symbols of freedom, inclusivity, democracy and the quality of life we deserve.

Design Solution

Camouflaged along the Regatta Boardwalk at Calatagan South Beach (Casobē) is a vegetated swale that collects and directs stormwater runoff towards the proper water discharge facilities. The use of these landscape solutions to mitigate engineering design problems is an advantage to any development.

Resolving site issues such as flooding through green solutions is a cost efficient way to help mitigate the effects of climate change. By studying the existing site conditions and presenting landscape interventions in addressing challenges that may affect a project site, the landscape architect can present a better approach to attend to the realities of a changing climate in a way that is beautiful and mindful of the environment.
After being constructed, the swales at Casobē prevented flooding at the boardwalk even during heavy rains. They have stood the test of time and continue to serve their purpose along this seaside amenity.

Landscape design solutions to environmental issues can pave the way towards a more sustainable and resilient future.

Resilient Landscapes

The Philippines is a typhoon-prone country. One of the most devastating of these is Typhoon Yolanda (international name “Haiyan”). Preparedness against these occurences is now part and parcel of our daily lives.

Learning from the tragedy, AJM envisioned concept studies of a man made seawall combined with landscape features that could protect waterfront developments while providing new places for leisure.

Trees act as buffers, offering protection from strong winds and rain, shielding coastlines against erosion, while also giving shade to joggers and groups of people who want to get together outdoors.

Mangroves help absorb the wave energy coming from storm surges and reinforce biodiversity. Rain gardens collect excess surface runoff while attracting birds, insects and other wildlife.

These design features, combined with bike lanes and a boardwalk with a view deck, all provide a landscape that can withstand strong weather disturbances and unforeseen natural disasters while making space for human activities and interactions.

It is best to be prepared against the effects of a changing climate. Resilient landscapes therefore are essential parts of modern cities and communities to protect coastal areas and human life.

Designing for Well-being

Club Laiya Nature Trails

Exposure to nature has healing effects on us humans. Our lives are filled with challengjng situations. We need to destress and renew our inner being if we are to continue to live joyful and productive lives.

At Club Laiya, San Juan, Batangas, Philippines, the buffer zones are designed to allow people to interact with nature in more intimate ways. This connection is essential in keeping ourselves grounded and ready to take on life as it comes. Native trees with lush shrubs and planting provide an atmosphere conducive for exercise, meditation and social interaction. These nature trails are designed for overall wellness in mind, body and spirit.

In this day and age we have learned to appreciate that which matters most to us. And overall well-being is at the top of the list when it comes to things that we value. By investing in projects like nature trails, fitness parks and other open spaces for rest and recreation, developers can help support healthier and happier cities and communities.

CONCEPT SKETCHES Before CAD drawings and 3D models designs are sketched out, Ideas are first scribbles and diagrams which will later on become design details until thESE are TRANSLATED into REAL LIFE.

SKETCHES AND VISIONS

Concept of a Plan

Project: Westwind at Lancaster New City
General Trias, Cavite, Philippines

Before landscapes are executed and built they begin with sketches. Thoughts and ideas are translated to lines and filled in with colors to indicate the different hard, soft and water areas. The resulting drawings will then be the basis for succeeding electronic plans and three dimensional models that will eventually be constructed and implemented. Blending old school hand drawn sketches with modern technology grounds us in the basics as we surge ahead with present day advancements.

Lines, shapes, and a whole lot of soul

Sketches, coordinations and meetings. We use technology to clearly communicate ideas and coordinate important design considerations instantly. We work within our clients’ timetables and to promptly answer their questions and concerns is of greatest priority so that their precious schedules will not be affected.
We focus on a smooth and frictionless experience as much as we give much thought and attention to every landscape detail for we believe in productive and harmonious partnerships.

Landscape architecture encompasses a wide range of elements beyond mere shrubs and trees. It includes walkways, planters, streets, slopes, stormwater runoff management, sun shading, irrigation, and all other components that contribute to the overall design. Landscape architecture transcends mere aesthetics; it involves a comprehensive consideration of various factors that contribute to the functionality and harmony of the outdoor environment.

L. Arch. AJ’s creativity is truly remarkable! Ideas pop up all the time, and he’s always ready to jump into action, transforming inspiration into striking, innovative landscape designs. His enthusiasm for fresh ideas keeps the AJM Community of talented professionals moving forward, resulting in landscape architectural projects that are both forward-thinking and meaningful.

WHEN ASKED | THIS IS LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE |

What is LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE? THE PROFESSION IS ALL about site planning, urban design, parks and open spaces, biodiversity, nature-based solutions — and how all these interact with humans. Landscape architecture has a huge impact on people, communities, and the country. We hope this short video inspires us to dream of a greener Philippines.

LANDSCAPE STORY: ALL IN THE DETAILS

PROJECT: Maple at Verdant Towers
Pasig, Metro Manila, Philippines

COMPOSITION | THE LANDSCAPE IS VIEWED NOT ONLY IN PLAN VIEW (“TOP VIEW”) BUT IN THREE DIMENSIONS. ADJACENT BUILDINGS, SIGHT LINES, ELEVATIONS AND OTHER SITE FACTORS ARE ALL TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION WHEN DEVELOPING THE VISION FOR THE MAPLE AMENITIES. DEPTH PERCEPTION — CHANGES IN ELEVATION, FOREGROUND AND BACKGROUND — PLAYS A MAJOR ROLE IN HOW PEOPLE FEEL THE SPACE. THE PROPER LOCATIONS OF THE POOL, DECK, SHRUBS AND TREES AND HOW THEY FRAME VIEWS ARE COMPOSED AS IF THROUGH THE LENS OF A SEASONED PHOTOGRAPHER. THE IMAGE THAT IS CREATED EVOKES FEELINGS AND EMOTIONS THAT STEM FROM HOW THE LANDSCAPE IS ARRANGED.

LINES AND ANGLES | STRONG LINEAR FEATURES PROJECT MOVEMENT WITHIN THE BORDERS OF THE ROOFDECK AMENITY. THE DIAGONAL LINES OF THE POOL AND THE VERTICAL STRUCTURES JUXTAPOSED WITH THE VERTICALITY OF THE SURROUNDING BUILDINGS GIVE AN ILLUSION THAT THE LANDSCAPE WEAVES THROUGH THE TALL STRUCTURES. THROUGH RIGID LINES THE LANDSCAPE IS ABLE TO ACHIEVE A DYNAMIC ENERGY IN THE SPACE THAT MATCHES THE ACTIVITIES THAT TAKE PLACE IN THE LANDSCAPE.

REFLECTIONS | THE SKY ABOVE AND THE LANDCAPE BELOW DRAMATICALLY COME TOGETHER ON THE REFLECTIONS CAST ON THE STILL WATERS OF THE POOL. THIS EVOKES FEELINGS OF REST AND PEACE AS THE SUN SETS ON THE HORIZON. THIS IS ONE OF THE ASPECTS OF LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE THAT GOES UNNOTICED : THE ABILITY TO STIR UP EMOTIONS AND MAN’S INNER BEING.

HUMAN SCALE | ANYONE STANDING BESIDE TALL STRUCTURES INSTANTLY FEEL A DISCONNECT WITH THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT. BY USING TALL TREES THE BUILDING IS BROUGHT DOWN TO A HUMAN SCALE THAT PEOPLE CAN RELATE TO. THE LANDSCAPE PERFECTLY BRINGS THE NATURAL AND BULLT ENVIRONMENTS TOGETHER THROUGH THE USE OF VERTICAL TREES AND HORIZONTAL SHRUBS WHICH MAKES THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE WARM AND INVITING.

GEOMETRIC FLOW | VERTICAL STRUCTURES SUCH AS THE TRELLISES LEADING TO THE ROOFDECK TOWN HOUSES CONNECT SEAMLESSLY TO THE MAPLE TOWER. THE TRANSITION FROM THE HORIZONTAL TO THE VERTICAL IS CREATIVELY ACHIEVED BY ALLOWING THE TRELLIS TO GLIDE UPWARD. ATTACHED TO THE SLAB ABOVE THIS FEATURE CONNECTS THE HARDSCAPES TO THE ARCHITECTURE IN ONE CONTINUOUS SWEEP.

DEEP GREENS | SHADES AND TEXTURES OF GREEN CREATE A FOREGROUND AND BACKDROP THAT MAKES THE ARCHITECTURE STAND OUT. THE LANDSCAPE SHOULD NOT CREATE A DISSONANCE WITH THE CITYSCAPE. IN FACT, THE GREENS SHOULD INTEGRATE EVERYTHING IN A SINGULAR FRAME AND CANVASS. COLORS, SHADES AND FORMS OF THE SOFTSCAPE ARE CAREFULLY CHOSEN TO BLEND WITH THE PALETTE AND THEME OF THE ENVIRONMENT AROUND THE LANDSCAPED AREAS.

A VERDANT WELCOME | ARCHES AND A LUSH LANDSCAPE WELCOMES RESIDENTS HOME. THE RUSH OF CITY LIFE SLOWS DOWN AS ONE ENTERS INTO THESE GREEN SPACES. PEACE, TRANQUILITY AND REST BECOMES A MAJOR SELLING POINT IN CONDO LIVING. IN THIS SENSE THE LANDSCAPE ADDS TO THE VALUE OF INVESTING IN THIS WAY OF LIFE.

GREEN GEOMETRY | THE GEOMETRY OF THE LANDSCAPE IS REVEALED WHEN LOOKING DOWN FROM A BIRD’S VANTAGE POINT. METRO MANILA LACKS THE GREEN AND OPEN SPACES ITS RESIDENTS NEED TO THRIVE IN A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT. AS HIGH RISE STRUCTURES CREEP INTO THE CITY GREEN SPACES ARE SACRIFICED IN EXCHANGE FOR MULTI-LEVEL DWELLINGS. IN PLACE OF THIS LOSS, LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE RECOVERS OPEN SPACES THROUGH CREATING GREEN ENVIRONMENTS ON ROOF DECKS TO PROVIDE RESIDENTS MUCH NEEDED GREENERY.

GREEN LUXURY | IN THE ABSENCE OF QUALITY PUBLIC OPEN SPACES IN METRO MANILA PARKS ARE A LUXURY. IN THE MODERN ERA IT IS A PRIVILEGE TO BE AFFORDED ACCESS TO QUALITY GREEN AND OPEN SPACES FOR OPEN LAND IS A RARITY IN THE EVER GROWING CITY. PHILIPPINE LAW MANDATES THAT FILIPINOS ARE GIVEN THE RIGHT TO ENJOY PARKS AND OPEN SPACES. ORTIGAS LAND SUPPORTS THIS MANDATE BY PROVIDING QUALITY OPEN GREEN SPACES TO PEOPLE. AT MAPLE AT VERDANT TOWERS RESIDENTS HAVE FREE ACCESS TO PRIME OPEN SPACES A FEW STEPS FROM THEIR DOORS.

GREENS SEVERAL FLOORS UP | THE BORROWED LANDSCAPE OF THE CITY BLENDS WITH THE MAPLE AMENITY LEVELS. CONDO LIVING HAS THE TENDENCY TO DETACH ITSELF FROM THE DAILY ACTIVITIES ON THE GROUND, ISOLATING ITS RESIDENTS FROM THE CITY. CONNECTING WITH PEOPLE AND PLACES AT THE GROUND LEVEL IS ESSENTIAL TO THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE. THE CHALLENGE THEREFORE IS HOW TO CONNECT GARDENS FROM SEVERAL FLOORS UP TO LIFE ON THE GROUND. LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE PRESENTS A SOLUTION BY INTENTIONALLY CREATING VIEW CORRIDORS THAT CONNECT MAPLE’S AMENITY LEVEL TO THE CITY BELOW. BY CAREFULLY OBSERVING THE SKYLINE, SURROUNDING DEVELOPMENTS AND LANDSCAPES THE DESIGN CREATES VIEW CORRIDORS THAT VISUALLY CONNECT LANDSCAPES FROM DIFFERENT LEVELS AND ELEVATIONS. THIS CREATES THE ILLUSION THAT THE MAPLE AMENITIES SIT AT THE GROUND LEVEL CREATING A FEELING OF CONNECTIVITY TO THE SURROUNDING ENVIRONMENT.

A TAPESTRY OF LIGHTS AND SHADOWS | THE VIEW FROM THE ROOFDECK OF THE MAPLE AT VERDANT TOWERS IS BREATHTAKING WHEN THE DAY CLOSES. AS THE SUN SETS ON THE PASIG SKYLINE A PLAY OF LIGHT AND SHADOWS CREATES DRAMA AND EVOKES FEELINGS OF PEACE AND TRANQUILITY IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSTLING URBAN ENVIRONMENT.

NIGHT LIGHTS | IT IS IMPORTANT THAT PEOPLE CAN USE THE LANDSCAPE IN FULL SUN AND UNDER THE NIGHT SKY. SOFT AMBIENT LIGHTING BALANCES WELL WITH THE SPILLOVER LIGHTS OF THE BUILDING’S AMENITY FLOORS. THE BUILDING FACADE’S PIN LIGHTS GIVE OFF A STARLIT NIGHT EFFECT THAT PLAYS WELL WITH THE LANDSCAPE LIGHTS.

DIRECTION AND SAFETY | PATH LIGHTS AND WALL LIGHTS ILLUMINATE THE LANDSCAPE TO PROVIDE SAFETY FOR USERS AT NIGHT. THESE LIGHTING ELEMENTS LEAD PEOPLE TO WHERE THEY WANT TO GO BY LINING UP STAIRCASES AND PATHWAYS TOWARDS A PRE-DETERMINED DIRECTION. WALL LIGHTS AND BENCH LIGHTS PROVIDE A SOFT AND CALM ATMOSPHERE PERFECT FOR LOUNGING AND MEANINGFUL CONVERSATIONS UNDER THE MOONLIGHT.

ACCENTS | UPLIGHTS ILLUMINATE THE CANOPIES OF THE TREES OF THE MAPLE AMENITY AREAS. THE WARM COLOR AND SOFT GLOW OF THESE NATURAL ELEMENTS PROMOTE AN ENVIRONMENT OF REST DURING THE NIGHT.

SUNSET | PICTURE PERFECT. THE SUN’S RAYS ARE CAPTURED ON THE WATERS OF THE SWIMMING POOL IN ONE DRAMATIC IMAGE. THIS PLAY IN LIGHTS AND SHADOWS EVOKES FEELINGS AND EMOTIONS THAT RESONATE IN PEOPLE’S MINDS AND HEARTS — AN INTANGIBLE ASPECT OF THE LANDSCAPE DESIGN.

DUSK | IMAGERIES DURING THE WANING HOURS OF THE DAY BRING THE AMENITY LEVEL TO LIFE AS THE LANDSCAPE MEETS THE COOL AIR OF THE NIGHT. THIS ENVIRONMENT AT NIGHT WELCOMES PEOPLE TO A RELAXING ENVIRONMENT AFTER LONG HOURS AT WORK. AS THE DAY COMES TO A CLOSE THE PEACE AND TRANQUILITY OF THE MAPLE LANDSCAPE WELCOMES PEOPLE HOME IN ITS WARM EMBRACE.

The AJM Black Book Vol 01 is a collection of hand-drawn sketches, collaborative work, details, and ideas, all brought to life with pen, ink, and paper. It’s always a good idea to return to the basics when expressing, communicating, and conveying a message in a simple and meaningful way. We hope the pages of our Black Book will resonate with landscape architects across generations.

L. Arch. AJ, to this day, walks around. He knows crossings should have no blind spots. That a refuge island isn’t safe if a lola with a cane can’t reach it. That a ramp shouldn’t end at a curb.
So he designs for people first. Seamless walking for everyone, regardless of age or physical ability. Crossings as wide as the sidewalk. Trees that shade, not block.
Because he’s stood on that island in the rain. He’s seen the most vulnerable users of streetscapes try to cross.
He designs with empathy because he IS the pedestrian.
That’s Care By Design.