Geofoam Takes Landscape Architecture to New Heights

William Vale Hotel Geofoam Project

©TJ Bennett – tjbennettdesign.com – Photos used with permission

 

Landscape Architecture with Geofoam

Landscape Architecture with Geofoam has evolved and has been literally elevated to new heights. To help achieve park-like settings in the most unlikely places, expanded polystyrene (EPS foam) or Geofoam is widely used to create the visions of landscape architects. In recognition of April as National Landscape Architecture month, we are highlighting a few special projects. As our outdoor space becomes an extension of our everyday living space, we are enhancing our environments with water features, fire pits, outdoor kitchens and more. In urban settings, creating green space can be a little more challenging. The lightweight attribute of Geofoam helps bring outdoor lifestyle in rooftop applications. No longer do you need a backyard to enjoy the outdoors!

William Vale Hotel Geofoam deliveryIn many cities, apartments and hotels are investing in rooftop gardens and patios. For example, Brooklyn, NY is recreating itself into a hub of shops, restaurants, hotels and apartments. It has become a highly sought-out community for millennials. Landscape architects are fulfilling their living requirements by including outdoor living spaces. A great example of this is the William Vale Hotel located in the trendy Williamsburg section of Brooklyn. The WV opened in August of 2016 and has captured the new locals with its food, drinks and urban-to-rural spaces. While under construction in 2015, ICA provided 15 truckloads of EPS Geofoam to help create the outdoor environments on this elevated piece of real estate. This isn’t “just any” hotel. With a rooftop bar, breathtaking views, green spaces, upscale dining, special events venues, and a 60-foot outdoor pool and café, you are sure to have an experience of a lifetime. Try out the new Brooklyn and the William Vale Hotel for your next trip to the city.

 

William Vale Hotel

© William Vale Hotel – photos used with permission

In another city more known for its flat terrain, Geofoam was a major component in the creation of Maggie Daley Park in Chicago, Illinois. Maggie Daley Park consists of over 20 acres of trees, climbing walls, a skating ring and open green space. This dream park was built on a garage roof and is the second largest green roof in the country. Geofoam gave the park its shape as the base of the transformation of this rooftop. To read more about Maggie Daley Park, visit our post – Geofoam Takes a Walk in the Park.

ICA Truckload of EPS Foam GeofoamBut it doesn’t have to be green to be a park. If skating is your type of recreation, Geofoam is “sick” (“cool” in skaters’ terms). Geofoam is also used in skate parks to form ramps and elevations. ICA provided the Geofoam for Hartford, CT’s first skate park located above a tunnel on I-84. For further reading, see our post – Geofoam Gets Skating!

From city to city, these projects are very different, but what they all have in common is the use of Geofoam. Landscape architects are turning to Geofoam to create projects that were at one time unattainable. Geofoam’s lightweight qualities, the ease of use, the various sizes and densities make the applications almost endless. While April is the month to recognize landscape architects, you don’t need to be one to appreciate what EPS foam can do for you all year round! Thinking about adding some rocks or fountains to your outdoor space? With EPS, you can add that character without the struggle and cost of real rock or stone. Or maybe you’re looking for some form and function – how about a cooler shaped like a rock for your favorite beverage? EPS makes a fantastic insulator. Now that isn’t “sick”, that is just plain cool!EPS Foam Landscape Architecture

 

Update: A Stay at the William Vale Hotel

We recently made a visit to the William Vale Hotel and snapped a few photos that capture the stay and the amazing space in Brooklyn’s Williamsburg locale. Click on the album below to take the tour and see landscape architecture with geofoam in action!

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This article was posted on April 17, 2017, by Insulation Corporation of America (ICA) – a Women-Owned manufacturer of Geofoam and Expanded Polystyrene (EPS), which is commonly but mistakenly referred to as Styrofoam™. ICA is located in Allentown, PA and services the entire Mid-Atlantic Region from Virginia to Maine to Ohio.