MUNCIE, Ind. — On Nov. 18, Landscape architect, Lulu Loquidis shared her work with architecture students in the CAP building at Ball State University.
Loquidis has spent her whole life being around colorful arrays of landscape architecture and horticulture.
Growing up in Denver, Colorado near the Botanical Gardens, Loquidis always had access to the fields of carefully arranged flowers. This inspired her love for public areas that were carefully crafted for the public.
Loquidis originally planned to go to school for horticulture, but with her stepfather’s advice, she decided to go for landscape architecture instead.
“When I signed up for landscape architecture, I went to my first day of school,” said Loquidis. “I had a studio and an intro to landscape architecture class. I understood on my first day I had no idea what landscape architecture was. I really thought it was going to be a lot more about planting and plants.”
Through school, Loquids learned that landscape architecture was not just about plants, but instead, it’s much more about space-making and thinking about the urban environment.
Art in architecture can convey meaning and honor past events that happened in the area. By mixing these two ideas, Loquidis has helped create multiple spaces that benefit communities and bring people together.
“As a landscape architect, thinking about those spaces with the lens of pedestrians and how the community really engages with those zones, is something that really inspires me about outdoor space,” said Loquidis. “I think the art-integrated approach has just been a fun way of this way of tactical urbanism. So, bringing some environment to some areas that feel derelict in a city.”
Currently, Loquidis is working on a memorial piece in Marion, Indiana. Loquidis is partnering with local artists from the area, to collaborate and memorialize this area right across from the Marion Courthouse.
Contact Braylon Judy with comments at braylon.judy@bsu.edu.
