This Week on Landscape Design:

• New Zealand man spent 4 years growing a church from trees. Are you ready to check out the article? Yes take me there.
• Scientists have since studied the relationship between human behavior and the environment. How does our environment affect our behavior?
• China’s ‘Sponge City’ program set to soak up urban floodwater. Learn more about this innovative design.
• Danish-Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson creates artistic environments. Design impacts our senses, our mind and the way we see life. Read more.
• In Chicago, rooftop gardens are growing fresh food for the people.

On Industry News and Events

• The AIA NSW Country Division Committee invites architects and students of architecture to share ideas for dwellings, built and unbuilt, that meet the requirements of the SEPP. Read the full story here.
• Has gender equality and cultural diversity contributed to Australia’s architectural success?
• Architect Bates Smart has created a new hybrid development to unlock infrastructure sites left undeveloped.
• NCC 2016 Update: The ABCB has opened the floor for an alternative verification for multi-unit residential energy efficiency compliance. Is this a change for the better or for worse?
• Mixed-use development is a productive use of space, and adds vitality to urban areas but why aren’t they common in Australia? Read more about it in this post.

On Industry Events

• July 16-19 – Decor + Design 2015 | Trade Show | Melbourne
• July 21 – Better Living Forum | Talk | Melbourne
• July 23 – Start with the Grasslands | Book Launch | Melbourne
• July 23 – Trailblazing Playscapes | Tour | Adelaide
• July 24-26 – Women in Design Colloquium| Conference| Launceston
• July 25-26 – Open House Melbourne | Tour | Melbourne
• July 29 – Public Space Acupuncture | Talk | Sydney