Thank you to all who joined us at the 2024 ASLA Conference on Landscape Architecture in Washington, DC! MYK was well-represented at this year’s conference, with Mikyoung Kim, Ian Downing, and Jess Hamilton contributing to insightful and impactful panels.

Mikyoung Kim presented with fellow panelists, Megan Barnes of The Landscape Architecture Foundation and Rebecca S. Popowsky of OLIN Studio in their session, “The Research-Practice Ecotone: Models for Authentic Inquiry and Discovery.” In her second panel, “Doing Good: Building and Sustaining an Ethical Practice,” Mikyoung led the discussion with Sierra L. Bainbridge of MASS Design Group and Chelina Odbert of the Kounkuey Design Initiative to discuss finding long-term success in business models through unique case studies. Mikyoung shared insights for balancing creative ambition with social responsibility, drawing from real-world case studies that demonstrate the value of ethics in design.

Ian Downing spoke with Wendy Mok from GLS Studio and Emily Allen from Field Operations Studio in their panel, “Connection to Nature is Still the Best Medicine in Contemporary Healthcare,” where he discussed the significant role of landscape architecture in healthcare, focusing on the therapeutic potential of natural environments. Ian highlighted how carefully designed spaces, like healing gardens and nature-infused healthcare settings, are essential for enhancing patient recovery and well-being. Their panel discussed the pedagogy of landscape architecture and explored the important and ever-expanding role it plays in healthcare and public health.

Jess Hamilton spoke alongside Carl Giegold of Threshold Acoustics and Gia Biagi of Studio Gang during their panel, “Sound in the City: Designing Aural Environments for Healthy Communities,” where she addressed the impact of urban noise pollution on both mental and physical health. Jess advocated for the creation of neuro-inclusive spaces that prioritize acoustic well-being and emphasized the importance of incorporating sound-conscious design in urban planning. Their session explored the critical yet often overlooked effects of urban noise pollution on health, underscoring the need for sound-conscious design in neuro-inclusive landscape architecture.”

Together, Mikyoung, Ian, and Jess underscored the transformative power of landscape architecture, showing its potential to bridge environmental, social, and health disparities through thoughtful design.

📸 credit to Nobile Photos courtesy of ASLA for the wonderful photos!