Department
Landscape Architecture
Degrees Held
- BEng (equivalent University of Copenhagen, Denmark)
- MLA (University of Colorado Denver)
Research Interests
I am interested in Landscape and Urbanism - Design, Planning and Theory. My research primarily focuses on Green Roofs/Plaza above structure, Vertical Gardens and other Living Systems implemented in dense urban settings.
I am interested in bridging the knowledge and experience I acquired while growing up in Denmark with implementation of re-generative design strategies in the United States. I currently teach Landscape Architecture Studios, Integrated Cross-disciplinary Site Planning, and Green Roof, Vertical Gardens and Other Living Systems/Design and Implementation seminars. My primary focus is promoting a holistic approach to sustainable design strategies. I am fluent in several languages including: English, Danish, Norwegian, French, and German.
Prior to teaching full-time, I worked at Design Workshop for several years and gained extensive experience creating residential, commercial, and public works. Several of these projects were significant for me and ultimately led to my commitment to making green roofs more accessible. At The Gathering Place (www.the-gatheringplace.org), Denver’s only daytime drop-in center for women and children who are experiencing homelessness or poverty, I was able to create a safe and fun rooftop- and playground-garden. At One Riverfront (www.oneriverfront.com), one of Lower Downtown Denver’s newest additions to urban living, I participated in creating an interior courtyard and park above structure that provides residents for a secluded interior private park and garden. Though budget and design constraints limited some of my ideas, these projects kindled a continued passion for design and research of green roofs, vertical gardens and other living systems.
I am the Project Manager and Instructor for the design and implementation of the University of Colorado Denver Green Roof Project which promotes intensive and extensive green roof and green wall testing, student and faculty research, and a public experimental research garden. UC Denver’s green roof research project started in 2006 and aims to educate and create awareness about green roof and vertical garden plots. Students have designed and will implement living systems on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th floor at our building located on 1250 14th Street in downtown Denver. This project will add to a growing body of professional literature and knowledge. Our hope is to explore how vegetation ratios in our cities effect and help generate sustainable urban living. Uniquely, and for the first time, we will conduct research for arid and semi-arid regions of the Western Region of the United States. This type of research has so far been limited to areas with higher precipitation. I am looking forward to keeping students involved during the implementation and research stages of this project.
Professional Activities
Local Green Roof Symposium initiative
Professional Associations
Green Roofs for Healthy Cities, 2003 -present
ASLA (American Society of Landscape Architects), 2001-present
CCASLA (American Society of Landscape Architects), 2001-present
USGBC (United States Green Building Council), 2003-present
UCGBC (local chapter), 2003-present
Licenses
LEED, NC 2.0 accredited, 2004
Presentations and Publications
2007: EXIT Serbia.
Reception and Gallery exhibition “Exit – an architectural, landscape architectural and cultural documentation of the EXIT event in Serbia/Novisad, April 2007 at University of Colorado Denver + 4240 Architecture, Denver, Colorado.
2005+6: “Preparation for LEED Accreditation”, design professionals. Firm wide workshop/video conference for Design Workshop.
2004: “How to LEED”, implementing strategies and principles of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. University of Colorado Denver
1999+2000: Featured in: ”Colorado Homes & Lifestyle Magazine”.
Most Recent Courses
Landscape Architecture Design Studio I – II Reading and Writing Landscape
Integrated Site Planning
Green Roof, Vertical Gardens and other Living Systems
Landscape Architecture Design - Vertical Studio. Highly Charged Nothingness Colorado Urban Front Range/regional scale- Denver’s Civic Center/local scale
Awards, Grants and Recognitions
AIA (American Institute for Architecture) AIA Fisher’s traveling scholarship – documentation of EXIT, Novisad, Serbia 2006
ASLA (American Society of Landscape Architecture) Design and Planning National Student/Faculty Award 2005
ASLA (American Society of Landscape Architecture) Honor Award 2003
UCD Department of Architecture & Planning award of academic achievement 2001-3
Hideo Sasaki’s National Award of Merit 2002
Americorps National Award of Merit 2002
BHA Design Inc – Outstanding Graduate Landscape Architecture Student 2002
Denver Parade of Homes “Best home of the year”–team 2002