Author: Land8: Landscape Architects Network

Memorial to Victims of Violence, by Gaeta-Springall Arquitectos, Mexico City, Mexico. The power and importance of storytelling is a largely unrecognized force in landscape architecture. But it can be used to bring people together, learn about each other, and exchange experiences. Not all stories are easy to tell, however, and stories about violence might be some of the most unpleasant. Why would someone want to hear or tell stories about violence? How can such stories be told? Violence is one of the most important issues facing Mexico City, where it plays a role in Mexican society and in the daily life of the city’s people. Violence in the city has to be processed and discussed. Gaeta-Springall Arquitectos chose to address this theme by telling a story through a successful landscape design in Chapultepec Park, an enormous park that reminds us of Central Park in New York City.

Memorial to Victims of Violence

In addition to a zoo, a castle, an anthropology museum, and areas for walking, jogging, and cycling, the park is home to the Memorial to Victims of Violence. The memorial provides an opportunity to continue the open story about victims of violence while interacting with other people and with nature.

What is the point of Storytelling? Storytelling in landscape architecture has a number of unperceived positive aspects. Through stories, learning processes can evolve and visions can be shown. Storytelling encourages dialogue in conflict situations, and the resulting interaction leads to social improvement. Furthermore, a story is characterized by the potential for generalizability, from which every one of us can learn or use in future projects.

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Let’s figure out the meaning of the Memorial to Victims of Violence by taking a look at some of the components of a classical story: the plot, the characters, the setting, the conflict, and the resolution.

The Story of “Memorial to Victims of Violence”

The Plot

On a 15,000-square-meter site, three main elements – steel, water, and light – were assembled to form the plot of the story. The steel is present through 70 wall surfaces, both rusty and mirroring. Consequently, the suggestion of violence can be seen in two dimensions: the void created between the steel walls and trees that evokes the absence of the victims; and the build — the surfaces of the steel walls themselves.

Water plays a major role in the central space: The pool reflects the steel walls, drawing the eyes to the sky. The reflective pool — with an undetermined form, open geometry, and unfinished form — merges with the other two elements. As visitors stroll through the 70 towering steel walls, LED strips suggest safety and offer spatial orientation. Amid dense areas of native trees, downlights illuminate walkways and uplights project onto trees. Underwater LEDs in the reflecting pool make the water look fresh and bright. The created atmosphere suggests a dialogue between architecture and nature, between a forest of walls and forests of trees. These forms give the feeling of openness and acceptance.

The Characters

Good stories don’t just have a good plot; their impact lies in how the plot is accepted by relevant actors. The most significant feature of the rusted steel slabs is that people can write on them with chalk. The created interaction allows interior voices to be heard. In this way, different people have the chance to leave a conglomeration of messages – to the loved, to violence, to political slogans, etc.

A Chance to Process Your Own Memories

Present in a metaphorical way, the main character is represented by the many victims of violence, who are the reason for this landscape design project. Even if the main character has an important role, Gaeta-Springall Arquitectos expands the presented importance on the people strolling through the memorial by giving them the chance to process their memories or to share feelings and emotions with other people.

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The Setting and the Conflict

Located in the most important park of Mexico City – Bosque de Chapultepec – the story about the victims of violence is also elevated in importance. At more than 686 hectare, Bosque de Chapultepec is one of the largest city parks in the Western Hemisphere. With this project, 15,000 square meters of public space was recuperated from the forest belonging to the federal government.

The BIGGER Picture Looking at the bigger picture, we can see that the Memorial to Victims of Violence is located in Mexico City, well-known for its drug war that has accounted for more than 60,000 deaths between 2006 and 2012. The existing conflicts concerning issues of violence are merged through the reflection. The entire design is becoming a canvas where visitors expose, write, and draw their conflictual feelings. That means that there is not only one conflict, but multiple conflicts and unique personal struggles.

The Resolution

The project plays the double role of public space and memorial, a feature that makes it more successful and beloved. Gaeta-Springall Arquitectos addresses one of the most important issues of contemporary Mexican society — violence – through a story. The resolution is that everyone has access to this “landscape design story” by the use of different elements and interactions. Thus, this memorial is a powerful study in storytelling. Nevertheless a question remains: How can such projects of storytelling in landscape design be multiplied?

Full Project Credits for Memorial to Victims of Violence

Project name: Memorial to Victims of Violence in Mexico Completion date: April, 2013 Location: Mexico City (Mexico) Designer: Gaeta Springall Architects (Julio Gaeta / Luby Springall) Photographer: Sandra Pereznieto Area: 15,000 m2 Show on Google Maps

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Article by Ruth Coman

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Martin Luther King Park, by Atelier Jacqueline Osty & associés., in Paris, France. One of the most important things in landscape architecture design is making a clear assessment that can be accessible in the future. The method to get a successful result is to divide a proposal into parts in order to develop it stage by stage, providing a visualized target. Once the proposal is phased in years, it is easier for us to estimate the future situation as precisely as possible. Here is an excellent example that tells us how to process a project in phases and what we should take into account when designing in this way.

Martin Luther King Park

Martin Luther King Park is located in the Clichy Batignolles area of Paris, which was chosen to host the Olympic Village as part of the city’s bid for the 2012 Olympics. The whole project was planned by a team that consisted of town planners, landscape architects, and engineers. The park and new districts have been built upon an old railway platform and storage place. The project has kept most of the main structural lines. It is said that 6,500 new habitats and 12,700 employees will move into this area in the future. The park has been designed mainly in two phases. The whole process from proposal to a finished project will take more than 13 years.

Phase One

The whole area is 45 hectares, which includes the 10-hectare park. The first phase was built between 2003 and 2007. It was started from the east side of the project, where high-density districts already exist, so the park offers a leisure space for the many people who live nearby.

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Phase Two

The second phase is divided into two parts. The first part was built between 2008 and 2014. It extends to the northwest side of area. In this part, the concentration is on the park, not buildings. The second part includes the new districts in the northeast and southwest quadrants. They are expected to be complete in 2016.

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Sustainable Water System

The park contains various water features that express different senses of nature. The center of the park is an open water feature consisting of four biotope basins supplied with non-potable water. Ditches are planned along walkways to show wetland vegetation and also collect rainwater and move it to underground storage to supply water for the park.

The Clever Use of the Wind Turbine

A dry fountain is designed as an attractive square for summer activities. All of these water features are built as a whole system. One remarkable feature is the use of a wind turbine for re-circulating the water from the planned ditch.

Diversifying Spaces for Various Activities

From southeast to northwest, the park includes various spaces for different activities. Each part of the park has a specific character to match to its function. A playground, skate park, and sports fields are supplied for fitness. In the center of the park, the biotope basins provide an open park view and a habitat for wildlife. The lawn and woods offer a perfect place for daily relaxing.

Theme of the Seasons One interesting thing about the project is its concentration on sensible seasonal changes in the park. By using different vegetation and water features, the park is divided into four seasonal themes, so that changes in the weather can be seasonally experienced.

Green Connection

Most times, offices and houses are planned first, then the green space is developed. In this case, the park has been planned first due to technical reasons. This turns out to be good for landscape architects, who can then shape the green space with fewer limitations.

The Green Connecting Arms of Ecology

Green corridors as “arms” of the park extend into both the eastern and western sections of the project and insert themselves into office buildings and the housing district. At the same time, the corridors also increase a connection between the park and others surrounding urban green spaces.

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There are a few reasons why this park is successful.

First: It has a clear, phased proposal that helps designers to understand the full project’s distinct direction. Second: The landscape architecture was considered at the beginning of the planning process. This provides a priority for the designers to emphasise the urban green connection, so that the building district and the park can have a seamless connection without wasteland.

Third: Sustainability comes into play, including the use of natural energy such as solar and wind and the reuse of collected rainwater. This reduces the cost of maintenance. Fourth: Different water features and various vegetations provide biodiversity in the park to make it livelier. The park also brings residents closer to nature, even though they live in the city. What do you think makes an urban park successful?

Full Project Credits for Martin Luther King Park

Project Name: Martin Luther King Park Programme: Design of an urban park in the Clichy-Batignolles district of Paris Location: Paris, France Project Team: Jacqueline Osty, landscape architect; Jérôme Saint-Chély (first phase); Daniela Correia with Fanny Sire (second phase) In association with: François Grether, urban architect. Concepto, lighting concept, OGI, civil engineers Budget: First phase — 14, 9 M € HT ; second phase — 30,8 M € HT Size: 10 hectares: 4, 4 hectares (first phase); 5, 7 hectares (second phase) Design dates: from 2005 to 2006 (first phase) from 2008 to 2011 (second phase) Realisation: 2007 (first phase) 2012 to 2014 (second phase first part) Approx.2017- 2020 (second phase second part) Commissioned by: City of Paris – DEVE of Paris (Direction des Espaces Verts et de l’Environnement) (Direction of Green Spaces and Environment) Show on Google Maps

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Article by Jun Yang

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Hill Square, by Buro Sant en Co Landscape Architecture, Tilburg, The Netherlands. Tilburg is a thriving Dutch city with an extremely diverse population, including almost one-quarter of foreign descent, as well as being home to many students. Historically speaking, the Hill has long been one of the most important public squares in the city, serving as a landmark and gathering area for locals. However, over the years, the square has been slowly becoming less and less relevant, as a rapidly changing population dynamic has transformed the needs of residents. Ultimately, this diverse and evolving community needed a new space, one that still offered the functions of a traditional public square, but which also could address some new needs.

Hill Square

A Refreshing Change: The Oasis in the City

Dutch Landscape Architecture firm Buro Sant en Co was chosen by means of a design competition that called for proposals to bring Hill Square into the 21st century. The first round of the competition involved selection by a professional jury, then from among these nominees, locals were invited to vote for their favorite design.

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The firm’s proposal went on to win the competition, receiving over 50% of the public votes and proving the be the clear favorite among the community.

The Main Goal

The firm’s goal was to maintain and preserve the city’s heritage by restoring the square to its former glory, while also creating a modern and memorable new space. Buro Sant en Co envisioned the primary functions of the design as relaxation and community — in the designers’ own words, “an urban oasis.”

Simple But Elegant Design Solution

Buro Sant en Co’s design solution is simple but elegant. Lined with lime trees, the square is open and airy. At the square’s center, a simple platform that seems to almost float just above street level functions as a stage and venue for local events and festivals. The edge of this platform also doubles as seating for a street-side view.

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Who’s Taking Advantage of the New Space?

The space is also being taken advantage of by local businesses such as restaurants, which make the most of the space during the summer months by setting out tables and umbrellas to create patio seating for customers.

The Grass Strips

Alternating strips of multicolored basalt and grass create a lasting visual impression. In the summer, the grass is watered by sprayers that also provide a cooling effect and create ambient sound, making the space more inviting to visitors.

The Feeling of an Urban Oasis

Water jets also animate the space, inviting children and adults alike to play and contributing to the feeling of an urban oasis. Small details in materials and furnishings also add special character to the site. For example, the drainage includes custom grates with a beautiful leaf design.

From Day to Night

The site is usable 24 hours a day, and its transition from day to night is striking. Lighting was an especially important consideration in the square’s new design. Knowing that the square is in the city’s downtown and at the center of local nightlife, it was essential to make the space not only safe and secure to passers-through, but to create a lively and inviting nighttime atmosphere. When the sun goes down, the jets of water that act as a playground by day are lit up, turning them into dancing beams of light. Moving and changing constantly, the jets create a playful evening atmosphere. From underneath the stage area, recessed lighting illuminates the platform, adding to the illusion of its floating.

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But Is It a Green Oasis?

Buro Sant en Co describes its vision as a green oasis in the city. But there are only a few trees and some strips of turf on the site — hardly a green oasis. While the stage is slightly elevated above street level, without many trees, there is little else to provide some much needed vertical interest. From close enough, the contrast between the strips of paving and turf certainly adds dynamism, but ultimately the square is pretty flat. Without any people in it, there is hardly anything to animate the space from a distance.

The water jets do somewhat address this problem, adding sound and movement to the space and inviting play on sunny days. In the winter, however, when these jets aren’t running, one may find the site to feel quite empty and underwhelming.

Oasis in the Summer, Desert in the Winter

In fact, the site seems to work very well in the summer months, but how does it work in the winter? While the design indeed addresses the day-to-night transition elegantly, it in unclear how the space will successfully transition from the hot summer months to the wintertime. Without summer events and water features animating the space, the site may spend a large part of the winter months empty. It will be interesting to see how this urban oasis is adapted to the colder months.

A Breath of Fresh Air

Despite it shortcomings, the design for Hill Square is a much needed breath of fresh air for the city. The firm set out to create a space that could host summer events, as well as encourage relaxation. From an aesthetic point of view, the new square is quite striking, and with its interplay among green space, light, and water, Hill Square certainly feels like a summer oasis in the city. The problem of transitioning public space programming through the different seasons is a common one for designers. What are some projects where this transition has been executed masterfully, and why are they so successful?

Full Project Credits for Hill Square

Project Name: Hill Square Location: The Hill, Tilburg, Netherlands Designers: Buro Sant en Co Landscape Architecture Size: 3 Hectares Date of Construction: 2009 Client: Municipality of Tilburg Show on Google Maps

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Article by Michelle Biggs

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In this article, we go into the eight most common mistakes people make when specifying paving and offer creative ways to avoid them. Have you ever wondered how you know where to go in the park? We’re not talking about the well-known places where you can walk with your eyes shut. We want to direct your attention to the cases in which you don’t know which way to go, but somehow find the right direction. Our challenge to you is this: How do you do that? Is it because of your sixth sense? Or is it because the path network is designed in a logical way? Alleys, platforms, and their pavements are fundamental elements of composition in landscape architecture. Their design is the skeleton of the overall landscape and serves as a basis that has a crucial effect on the final result. Designing your path network is very much like 3-D modeling. If your polygonal model isn’t excellent, you know that the whole scene will be a disaster in the end. And vice versa – if you take time to plan your base, everything else will follow and upgrade your initial idea so that it flows. Now that you understand the importance of paving, we invite you to walk with us to discover the eight mistakes to avoid if you want to be a better landscape architect.

1. Discounting the Proportion Between Green and Paved Areas

The first thing you need to do is to determine the right correlation between paved and green areas. Regulatory requirements vary from country to country, but when the green area percentage is set as a minimum, don’t settle for that minimum as the only possible solution. Expanding green areas will make for a much higher ecological, economic, and social quality of life. Of course, the proportion depends mainly on the site’s function. However, designers shouldn’t forget that path and pavement design isn’t the only manner in which composition and patterns can be defined. How to avoid planning too large areas of pavement? Think of more creative ways to achieve appealing projects. Shapes and colors can be found in both the hardscape and the softscape, so use them all. Below: Here is a good example displaying a well-balanced composition. Note how different levels and vegetation are used to add motifs to the plan.

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Below: One more project reveals the use of geo-grid paving as an alternative way to reduce impermeable surface.

2. Disregarding paving’s future function when specifying it

Another top mistake designers make when specifying paving is forgetting paving’s main function. The purpose of alleys is to provide transportation and pedestrian communications. That’s why the future exploitation of the paved surface has the greatest importance when specifying paving. Depending on whether it is a small private yard or a vast public square, the stream of people varies. The pressure exerted on the surface is different, as well. The bearing capacity of pavement determines what materials we choose and how thick this surface layer should be. A comparison between two projects of such opposite uses of flooring can be found in the two following articles below. The first one offers an outstanding private garden design. The load that the pavement will have to bear is expected to be minimal. In this case, wood decking and stepping stones set in gravel are an appropriate design solution, as their bearing capacity doesn’t have to be big.

In this next project — an urban plaza — durability, low maintenance, and aesthetics in paving materials are the focus. Take a look at the diagonal paving pattern that will withstand Boston’s long, challenging winters and pedestrian pressure. How do you avoid disregarding pavement’s future use? Think about the possible consequences. Every self-respecting designer will strive to avoid maintenance complications and disappointed clients. Landscape architects know that appearance alone isn’t enough; it should always go hand in hand with utility.

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3. Not considering the importance of construction

A serious mistake is also made when it comes to specifying the layers of pavement construction. Concrete paving stones, decking, natural rock blocks, etc., compose only the upper surface layer of flooring. The other two main components of pavement are its substructure (or foundation) and ground foundation. The correct planning of pavement construction and the proper selection of input materials determine pavement’s expedience and durability. Foundation is the constructive element that allots pavement’s bearing capacity to the greatest extent. So how do we remember the significance of construction? Do you remember what we said about 3-d modeling? A well designed base is always the priority. Keep that in mind.

WATCH: How to prepare a paver base

4. Ignorance of pavement’s technical specifications

We’ve come to mistake number four – ignorance of pavement’s characteristics. You know that the variety of ornamental pavement on the market is enormous and continues to expand. Natural stone slabs, for example, differ in technical properties and durability according to their geophysical origin and structure. At the beginning of the design process, designers pick out a certain type of slab because of its hue, texture, or grit. In order to avoid possible problems, they need to know how the material corresponds to pressure, withstands chemical attacks, and whether it is durable. Did you know, for example, that resistance to cold is the most momentous technical specification of natural stone slabs? Concrete slabs, on the other hand, have different strengths and weaknesses. Permeable and cool pavements are also relatively new products, standing out for their unique improved properties, such as permeability, thermal emittance, and heat convection. More information about smart pavement can be found here:

• Cool Pavements: The Essential Guide
• Permeable Paving: The Essential Guide

So how can you avoid making this mistake? Consult with paving specialists and manufacturers. They are the experts who can answer all of your questions. They know what’s new and efficient on the market. Sometimes all you need to do is just ask.

5. Forgetting about the aesthetic functions of paving

So far, we have talked about the practical, technical aspects of pavement. But oftentimes — especially when we talk about pedestrian paths — the visual effect of ornamental paving is also important.

In pavement design, designers tend to run to two extremes: They either use too many diverse materials in one place or design patterns that are too impersonal and simple. This superb project in Canada (below) is a mesmerizing source of inspiration. Why don’t you try to experiment with some new, bold combinations of materials? The final result here is fascinating, to say the least. How do we avoid the folly of ignoring aesthetics? We already dropped a hint: Play it safe – function and design are always an infallible combination. So stick to that line. Specifying the right materials, hues, shapes, textures, and patterns can make you shine like a diamond among the majority of unpolished landscape architects.

6. Ignoring paving installation schemes’ functions

Encroaching deeper into the subject of visual and aesthetic effects, we will put stress on the theoretical approaches that every landscape architecture student has studied, but almost every landscape architect leaves behind.

Do you remember that the manner of arranging the elements in the flooring highlights either the width or the depth of alleys? Or that pavement’s pattern influences significantly the scale perception of space? A certain space will look smaller if a pattern of big elements is used and vice versa – the same space will look bigger if the pavement’s components are small. There are more useful methods, which can easily be found in every landscape art textbook. Remember that the pattern of the individual surfaces is used as a sign of information – it can unify, designate, or direct. How not to ignore paving schemes’ significance? Think of the user experience; put yourself in the user’s shoes. Applying the full potential of pavement design can highly improve and facilitate the interaction between your design and people. Isn’t that the starting point of landscaping? Check out this project to study what signs of information have been weaved into the paving patterns.

7. Not knowing how to combine different materials

One more difficulty designers meet refers to the successful combination of materials. The huge variety of products can be confusing, as it offers countless options for schemes. The prior rule here is simple — for every area, only one type of flooring should prevail. Using transitional neutral strips of material between two contrasting products is also highly recommended. Designers should know that when there is a change in elevation, such as stairs or ramps, they should change the type of pavement as an additional warning sign to users. Some of you will say that combinations depend thoroughly on budget. Understandably, budget is a serious consideration in the selection of paving materials. However, it doesn’t always have to be the determining factor for the final result. Be creative! Surprisingly good results can be achieved by a simple, cheap technology of bush-hammering, for example. Look at this simple but exquisite combination of black granite textures. How to avoid this paving mistake? First, try to follow the classic principles. Then, try to be innovative. The balance between them must be the place where the answer is hidden.

8. No attention to detail

Finally, we have reached the last step on our walk of mistakes – no attention to detail. You have heard the expression “the devil is in the details”, and perhaps every landscape architect can grasp the meaning of it. When referring that saying to pavement design, attention should be paid to key features such as edging, surface inclination, equipment for surface drainage, and drainage construction of pavements and their basis. Edging, for instance, is important not only for the aesthetically beautiful effect of ornamental pavement, but mostly for supporting and protecting the construction. Even the design of valleys matters, so don’t make short work at the end. How to beat this final mistake? Although perfection is an abstract and imaginary concept, the desire to reach it drives people forward. And even if it is unattainable, we can at least try to get as close as possible. That’s how we will make the most of our work. Aren’t details the nostrum? How close to perfection do you think the paving design in this project is?

How to Avoid All of These Mistakes

Coming to the end of our walk, it is time to consider whether there is a way to avoid all of these mistakes. It may sound quite cheesy, but my personal opinion is simple: We have to make all of these mistakes once to avoid repeating them in the future. What is your opinion on the matter?

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Article by Velislava Valcheva Return to Homepage

Stadtpark Papenburg, by RMP Landschaftsarchitekten, Papenburg, Germany. Have you asked yourself what a garden show is or what the transformative effects of it are? Since becoming popular in Germany and Austria in the 1980s, garden shows have aimed to improve the quality of life and the urban climate of cities. They also work toward regional-political development objectives. Regional garden shows are developed on disadvantaged sites, transforming them into attractive and pleasant locations. RMP Landscape Architects have extended the benefits and advantages of a regional garden show into a functional adaptation to meet the current requirements of the city park in Papenburg, Germany. Embedded in a larger context of city development, the implemented regional garden show in Stadtpark Papenburg is also a method of urban marketing, increasing the publicity and level of awareness of the city. Let’s see how these elements – regional garden show, urban marketing, and landscape design – interact in a single city park and how we can learn from such opportunities.

Winds of Change – Stadtpark Papenburg

Located in the northwest section of Papenburg neighboring a shopping center, detached housing estates, and free fields, the city park has had to deal with the signature of nearly inconspicuous transit space. Where the shopping mall hides public activity and urbanity behind walls and detached houses preserve private leisure space, Stadtpark Papenburg has managed to evolve into an attractive and pleasant location. The park introduces a successful combination between new landscape elements and former structures in a city with maritime flair. (Papenburg is not only a center for shipbuilding, but also a center for flowers and horticulture – 35 M herbaceous plants and 25 M cucumber grow in Papenburg in a year.

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Regional Garden Show – More than a Framework

Using the benefits of a regional garden show, RMP landscape architects brought a wind of change into the city with a new garden and park culture. Visitors and residents now have the chance to admire flower shows, ships, and water elements incorporated with an urban flair. Paying attention to the historical structure and existing vegetation, the designers combined the vastness of lawns with compact structures of native trees and shrubs, resulting in interesting light and shadow effects. The implementing company (Landesgartenschau Papenburg 2014) saw in the garden show not only a framework; they went beyond classical structures and made the area attractive through landscape investments.

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Stadtpark Papenburg As Part of Urban Marketing

In the economic development of a city, urban marketing is a strategic element. Marketing helps cities accomplish multiple objectives, such as developing tourism, attracting new companies, or consolidating technical infrastructure. But how can urban marketing benefit from landscape architecture? The city park in Papenburg is now a main element in tourism development, from which local companies can also profit and evolve. From a neighborhood perspective, residents now benefit from a newly designed park and can spend time in its direct proximity, which offers much more than a private garden.

Even if some of us would argue that architecture per se plays an important role as a strategic element in urban marketing, green spaces such as parks are at least as important as buildings, maybe even more so. Due to the fact that the city park offers scenery, a location for events, and a place for relaxation and leisure, the power of transformation expands from the park to the whole city, with the result that city marketing benefits indirectly from the composition and design of landscape within Stadtpark Papenburg. Taking in consideration the importance of landscape design for economic and social development, RMP landscape architects restructured the old site for different groups of visitors and users, integrating the old character (main trail and network of footpaths) with new components (water elements and compact structures of trees and shrubs). Existing solitary trees were pruned, so that they strengthen and guide new visual connections.

The Right Time and Right Connections

Before deciding to use a regional garden show to improve the livability and urban climate, additional factors have to be taken into account. Besides the location, economic considerations, and political perspectives, the transformation has to be made in the right time with the right connections.

Accepting the relativeness of “right time”, it is important to be aware of the existing structures and their condition. Stadtpark Papenburg shows that existing networks and arrangements were old enough to keep them as character traits, but not too old for making a modern activation impossible. Physical connections are also a decisive factor for the success of garden shows. The park entrances are physical connections, which allow visitors to get to the desired place. RMP landscape architects emphasized these connections with new slight lines that lead deeply into the park.

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Being part of a regional garden show means your project will profit from multiple benefits. In the case of Stadtpark Papenburg, bringing new details into the park but also paying attention to historical structures was almost a receipt for successful development. Being aware that landscape design within a regional garden show is a main element of urban marketing methods means creating different and multidimensional niches to cover the contrasting needs of residents, tourists, and developers.

 

Questions to Reflect Upon

Even if a regional garden show reveals many positive aspects, it is “just” a time-limited program of active transformation. But what remains after the events, shows, and temporal staging? Which are crucial aspects that have to been taken into consideration after such a program? How can a city sustain the positive transformations after a garden show ends?

Full Project Credits for Stadtpark Papenburg

Project: Stadtpark Papenburg Location: Papenburg, Germany Designers: RMP Stephan Lenzen Landschaftsarchitekten. (Thomas Brenning, Philip Haggeney, Chris Hoffmann, Inga Janßen, Thomas Kißmann, Jan Kückmann, Karsten Lindemann, Franziska Schmeiser, Katharina Thoma) Completion: 2014 Costs: 4.1 M Euro Area: 15 ha Client: Landesgartenschau Papenburg 2014 gemeinn. Durchführungsgesellschaft mbH Show on Google Maps

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• Landscape Architecture: An Introduction by Robert Holden
• Landscape Architecture, Fifth Edition: A Manual of Environmental Planning and Design by Barry Starke

Article by Ruth Coman

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Royal Neighbour, by ADEPT and Mandawork, in Stockholm, Sweden. One might say that the first Global Environmental Conference was not Rio+20 in 1992, but The United Nations Conference on The Human Environment (UNCHE), which took place in 1972 in Stockholm. Although some people may disagree with this affirmation, there is no doubt that the UNCHE, whose main goal was to reduce human impact on the environment, was the first attempt at making society aware of the potential negative consequences of our existing development model on our living and to preserve the environment for coming generations. Since then, the city of Stockholm has focused on sustainable development alternatives and is still trying to maintain this reputation. Nowadays, according to the City of Stockholm, the Environment Program focuses on six key priorities: 1. Environmentally efficient transportation 2. Goods and buildings free of dangerous substances 3. Sustainable energy use 4. Sustainable use of land and water 5. Waste treatment with minimal environmental impact 6. A healthy indoor environment. As a consequence of this effort, the city of Stockholm leads the world in sustainable neighborhoods and boasts one of Europe’s largest urban development projects: Stockholm Royal Seaport or “Royal Neighbour”.

Royal Neighbour

Last May, the city of Stockholm disclosed the winners of a design competition for an urban development in the area of Stockholm’s Royal Seaport, formerly a gasworks area of about 236 hectares. ADEPT and the landscape studio Mandaworks designed the winning project, and both have been working closely with the city to develop the master plan for an 18-hectare area known as Kolkagem-Ropsten.

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Bringing 35,000 New Jobs

There are plans to build more than 12,000 new properties, bringing 35,000 new jobs and a new cultural area to the site. Moreover, the designers have created three new neighborhoods, each with its own unique architectural character brought to life by several architecture studios, including Herzog & de Meuron and Tham & Videgård Arkitekter, making sure the surroundings have a considerable variety of typologies and aesthetics. In March of this year, the design studio Tham & Videgård Arkitekter unveiled a plan to build four high-rise apartment blocks constructed from solid timber on an old harbor in Stockholm. The architects are planning to use only one material — Swedish pine — throughout the entire building structure.

Recommended Reading

• Landscape Architecture: An Introduction by Robert Holden
• Landscape Architecture, Fifth Edition: A Manual of Environmental Planning and Design by Barry Starke

34-story Skyscraper Entirely of Wood

In 2013, CF Moller unveiled plans to build a 34-story skyscraper entirely of wood, also in Stockholm, as a cheaper, easier, and more sustainable solution for housing. This novel approach, using renewable materials and deviating from the existing steel and concrete solution, illustrates the potential of including a variety of designers in the development of the Stockholm Royal Seaport area.

Kolkaje’s Balcony, a manmade peninsular extension of land, will be the most important of the three proposed neighborhoods. There will be a canal that will establish a scenic connection between the old and the new, forming what can be considered the core of this new urban development. The old area is the existing urban fabric and the new area will be composed of the new structure proposed by selected designers aiming to revitalize the coast. Reinforcing the Relationship Among The City of Stockholm and its Waterfront The existing port’s operation will be modernized and established on the piers, and the containers and oil-handling facilities will be moved elsewhere. Moreover, the waterfront will serve the purpose of integrating the diverse typology of buildings, as this area will host, along its extension, several public spaces for historic structures. The development of this new area is another opportunity to reinforce the relationship among the city of Stockholm, its waterfront, and the water itself. The Ropsten Plateau will be the largest proposed neighborhood. Unlike Kolkaje’s Balcony, the Ropsten Plateau will be the area focusing primarily in commercial and transportation functions, including structures such as offices, shopping centers, hotels, and mass traffic infrastructure. By using pedestrian and bicycle paths, complementing the mass transit system, the Stockholm Royal Seaport area expects to attract a diverse population to a striving sustainable and environmentally aware neighborhood.

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You’ll Have to Wait Until 2030

Without a doubt, when we see a provoking and exciting project such as this one, it is more than natural to be anxious about its completion. However, the latest update regarding the project schedule confirms to have phase one starting in 2017. All the other remaining phases of construction are expected to be finished by 2030. In conclusion, when it comes to sustainability, it is great to see how far the city of Stockholm has been reaching since 1972. Certainly, it is a project worth following closely, and is an outstanding example of a sustainable project and a free lesson on why we should keep pushing ourselves to do better in the urban development realm and seek more environmentally conscious solutions no matter what.

Full Project Credits for Royal Neighbour

Project Name: Royal Neighbour Architects: ADEPT Landscape: Mandaworks Location: Stockholm, Sweden Total Area: 180000.0sqm Project Year: 2035 First phase of construction slated to begin in 2017 Client: Stockholm City Show on Google Maps

Recommended Reading

• Landscape Architecture: An Introduction by Robert Holden
• Landscape Architecture, Fifth Edition: A Manual of Environmental Planning and Design by Barry Starke

Article by Sarah Suassuna

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Wadi Al Azeiba, by Atelier Jacqueline Osty & associés, in Muscat, Sultanate of Oman. Let’s be honest: You know you’ve walked past a vacant or rundown lot at some point in time. Maybe it was near your home, in your neighborhood, or by your school or workplace, but we have all seen a piece of land that is unkempt, neglected, or left for nature to take care of. Designed by Atelier Jacqueline Osty & associés, the Wadi Al Azeiba project is an interesting take on how to better utilize spaces we may otherwise find unappealing or vacant of design promise. A wadi, in some Arabic-speaking countries, is a term used to describe a gateway for water during storm events, not unlike a valley or ravine. The wadi channels water when during storms, but otherwise stays completely dry outside of the rainy seasons. Brush and weeds tend to overtake these areas, leaving them closed off for pedestrians as well as more vulnerable to being a collector of refuse. Inside this Article:

• Connecting Back to the Environment
• Planting at Wadi Al Azeiba
• The Pathways at Wadi Al Azeiba
• What If All Abandoned Lots Got a Makeover?
• Full Project Credits for Wadi Al Azeiba
• Recommended Reading

Wadi Al Azeiba

This wadi, located in the city of Muscat, is part of a city plan for new urban parks and planning strategies. The site passes through some of Muscat’s residential neighborhoods on its way toward the sea, as well as being just west of downtown and only a few miles from the airport. Because this wadi, like many others, runs through urban areas, when flooding events do occur, it can severely interfere with the city’s circulation and block off roadways.

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The placement of an urban park in this location has proved to be a smart one. The wadi is central to many hubs of activity that derive from residents, businesses, and even tourism. These different forms of activity make for a diverse use of the park by guests, in addition to adding value to the neighborhoods it borders. City planning models worldwide are all beginning to embrace the concept of urban parks as being vital to the success of any urban fabric.

Connecting Back to the Environment

Taking a closer look at this project, we can see that the designers played with inspiration from the mountainous backdrop and dry rivers and created a more modern interpretation. The mountains are symbolized through the use of concrete and grass to create terraced recreation areas that lead down to the bottom of the wadi, where the waterworks take place.

Recommended Reading

• Landscape Architecture: An Introduction by Robert Holden
• Landscape Architecture, Fifth Edition: A Manual of Environmental Planning and Design by Barry Starke

Planting at Wadi Al Azeiba

The transition from the top of the park to the lower level is observable by planting style; you will see more structured and ornamental plantings at the top of the terraces, such as perfectly offset palms bordering pathways. The upper portion is also where many main pedestrian pathways run through the site. The plantings at the lower portion of the wadi are less formal and more natural, meant to be left as a native representation of how a wadi functions in nature, using more hearty and resilient vegetation.

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The Pathways at Wadi Al Azeiba

The linear quality of the site provided by the concrete paths and steps is broken up by the varied sizes of rock used to line the bed of the wadi, resembling a dry riverbed. Another key feature of the design of this site is the implied uses it creates. Being located in an urban area makes it difficult to avoid the dominance of vehicles, but Atelier Jacqueline Osty & associés designed the Wadi Al Azaiba so that recreation such as walking and biking are at the forefront, encouraging people to utilize other forms of travel or to simply take time to walk around and enjoy the place.

What If All Abandoned Lots Got a Makeover?

The city of Muscat took a bold first step toward improving the connection of it residents and visitors with the environment and to further connect them to the place they call home. It’s easy to forget about what makes a place memorable and functional, especially something the entire community can enjoy. When we take a macroscopic look at a city and what could improve its quality and function, those abandoned lots and forgotten alleyways are hidden gems that can reconnect the city and its inhabitants.

New urban strategies are popping up left and right on a worldwide basis, and the way each city or community decides to approach them will help shape the way planning and design practices work in the future. Wadi Al Azaiba took a problem and turned it into a success story, and that is what design is all about. There are hundreds of solutions for design problems, but finding one that works on multiple levels is the hard part — finding a solution to benefit the function of the site and its surroundings, the people who will use it, and the environment it is set in. Are abandoned sites the key to a greener urban renewal?

Full Project Credits for Wadi Al Azeiba

Project Name: Wadi Al Azeiba Team: Landscape architect: Atelier Jacqueline Osty & associés (Jacqueline Osty, Maythinie Eludut, Adrien Thomas, Gaylord Le Goaziou) with Concepto, lighting designer, COWI Engineer company Start of Construction: Phase 1: 2011-2012, Phase 2: TBD Client: Municipality of Muscat Location: Muscat, Sultanate of Oman Planning: Phase 1: design phase: 2010, construction: 2011-2012, Phase 2: design phase: 2014, Area: Phase 1: 2 hectares, Phase 2: 13 hectares Show on Google Maps

Recommended Reading

• Landscape Architecture: An Introduction by Robert Holden
• Landscape Architecture, Fifth Edition: A Manual of Environmental Planning and Design by Barry Starke

Article by Megan Criss

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Zamet Centre, by 3LHD, in  B. Vidas Street, Zamet, Rijeka, Croatia. Have you ever played handball? I did, but only as a child. So when I discovered that the project I am writing about played host to a handball championship, I was a bit surprised. I wondered, is handball the Croatian national sport? And then my mind went to the Olympic games and the large number of buildings that lose their sense after the event for which they were built is done, and I started to become distressed. But the more I read about Croatia’s Zamet Centre, the more astonished I became. When architecture speaks for itself and when it works — as it does in this case — it integrates into the environment in a very sharp way, satisfying many demands at once with a strategic multi-functionality. But let’s start from the very beginning: The city of Rijeka, nestled between the Adriatic Sea and the mountains, was asked to create a suitable environment for the world championship of handball in 2009. The Croatian office of 3LHD won the private competition for the sport and community center in Zamet, one of Rijeka’s quarters.

Zamet Centre

What happens when a strongly characterized building is added to a primarily residential neighborhood is that it becomes the very core of neighborhood life. In Zamet, the sports complex insinuated itself even more by providing a pedestrian path linking the neighborhood north to south, passing through the civic hub with its plaza, shops, local community offices, and civic center. The designers achieved their aim of giving a recreational aspect to the environment while at the same time creating other useful public spaces, including a public square, shops, a library, public offices, and underground parking.

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Generating a New Hub of Activity

The modern nature of the project gives a strong personality to a place that had lacked a real gathering place, links, and services. Moreover, it provides a welcoming space to play sports, attend concerts, and host all kinds of events. How can a square or a big building be in dialogue with the surrounding landscape without seeming to have been thrown in at random? 3LHD, winners of numerous awards for this project, were faced with the challenge of designing within a matrix that was mainly residential spread, dotted with a few isolated residential towers.

Where Does the Landscape End and the Building Begin

The main building was covered with stripes, running from north to south along the main building and the small shops and offices collateral to the square. These “ribbons” are the main piece of the project, taking on different turns; they play the game of turning roofing elements into flooring elements, staircases, paths, and green roof covers.

This great unity given by the game of the ribbons is taken up and amplified by the choice of materials used: The study has personally designed pentagonal porcelain tiles that reflect the nuances and geometry of the typical rock of the place (named gromača), improving in this way the game and the movement created by the surfaces and recalling the identity of the place through the use of local materials.

Working With the Slope to Create the Space

The square plays between gradients and the natural and the artificial, and determines the zero plane of connection among the road to the south, the commercial activities, the sports hall, and the connections to the school and the park situated to the north. The intervention is exceptional in its kind; it does not distort the place, but completes it. The skilled group of architects precisely transformed what was once the biggest problem of the place –the slope — into the main force element.

By seizing the genius loci, following the contours of the ground, and playing with volumes and materials, the architects were able to achieve a balanced outcome, from the point of both design and functionality. They have created a place accessible not only for exceptional events, but for everyday life, proving once again how landscape architecture can make a contribution to the search for identity of marginal places that hardly talk to each other, giving an added value where standardized and overcrowded buildings so often punctuate our cities.

Full Project Credits for Zamet Centre

Project Name: Zamet Centre Program: Public, cultural, business, sport Location: B. Vidas Street, Zamet, Rijeka, Croatia Architect: 3LHD Project Years: 2004-2008 Construction: December 2007-October 2009 Geolocation: 45-20-39 N, 14-24-0 E Site Area: 12.289 m2 Size: 16.830 m2 Volume: 88.075 m2 Footprint: 4.724 m2 Budget: 20 mil € Client: Grad Rijeka / Rijeka Sport d.o.o. Main Contractor: GP Krk

Recommended Reading

• Landscape Architecture: An Introduction by Robert Holden
• Landscape Architecture, Fifth Edition: A Manual of Environmental Planning and Design by Barry Starke

Article by Valentina Ferrari

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Is it possible to design out crime with landscape architecture? We take a closer look at what can be done. It is a well-known fact that the role of landscape architecture goes far beyond aesthetics. Creating functional and dynamic spaces, improving access to the outdoors, making streets and squares more friendly for the disabled, and inspiring sustainable measures in a city are but a few of the many opportunities this field has to offer. But did you know that landscape architecture helps in fighting crime, too?

From “Eyes Upon the Streets” to Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design

Design has always been associated with security and safety in terms of natural conditions such as fire, flooding, and all kinds of unavoidable happenings. But the understanding of how the shaping of open spaces can help in reducing or increasing crime didn’t begin until the early 1960s.

Canadian writer and activist Jane Jacobs was among the first to connect crime and safety to the built environment. In her book “The Death and Life of Great American Cities”, published in 1961, she argued that a city’s streets and sidewalks have a vital role in ensuring the safety of their users. She coined the term “eyes upon the streets”, which refers to passers-by or neighborhood residents performing “unconscious policing” by using a space. But it was only with the publication of “Defensible Space” by the architect Oscar Newman in 1972 that crime prevention was put into practice in design. The concept of crime prevention through environmental design continues today. But how are these concepts implemented in design and, specifically, in landscape architecture?

Lighting for Nocturnal Safety

As Jacobs had highlighted in her book, good public lighting enhances vision and therefore reassures individuals at night. Thus, in a landscape architecture project, lighting shouldn’t be used solely for the purpose of making the pathways visible, but also to improve the visibility of the surroundings in the dark, when crimes usually take place. The aim is not to overuse lights and turn night into day; a creative use of lighting technology can keep outdoor spaces well lit without losing their natural nocturnal feel.

Good Visibility

Improving visibility is not only about putting up good lights. Paths and corners that do not provide good visibility conjure a feeling of uncertainty. It is therefore the task of landscape architecture to create outdoor spaces that avoid total isolation. While semi-secluded spaces such as secret gardens are often desirable, playing with levels can make the formation of partially enclosed spaces still possible while maintaining the needed safety. The park of André Citroën in Paris is a good example of that, as a series of visually detached gardens was shaped while still being visually accessible from the elevated bridges and other higher spots of the park.

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Social Control

The “eyes upon the streets” contribute in reducing crime. In an active street or public space, the victim of a crime will not find himself short of rescue and assistance. But how can landscape architecture make a space more active?

The truth is that design can very much influence the way individuals approach a certain place. If it is inviting and leaves room for activities, it will not end up being abandoned. The outdoor gym in a modern community park in Kildebjerg Ry, Denmark showcases how new opportunities can turn a park into a more vibrant and used place.

Avoidance of a Sense of Neglect

A park or square with unmaintained plantings and broken paving does not only repel users, it also invites crime because it suggests that the space is devoid of human activity and therefore an easy target. Making landscape elements look neat and taken care of can aid in preventing the space from becoming a target of criminal behavior. Plaza De La Luna in Madrid, Spain, illustrates how the materials chosen for designing a space can avert vandalism in order to keep a public space appealing for visitors. Rusted CorTEN steel — a material which is very hard to glue or paint on — was used for the refurbishing of the square.

Good Connection Between Public and Private

In his theory of defensible space, Oscar Newman mentions the juxtaposition of public and private spaces as an effective means of natural surveillance. A good communication between architecture and landscape architecture is crucial for an efficient level of security. The design of buildings should maximize the visible connection with the outside through windows and transparent material. In an attempt to improve the feeling of subjective safety in the housing project Frauen-Werk-Stadt in Vienna, Austria, stairways and passages have been separated from the outdoors with transparent glass. This is an effective measure that promotes surveillance.

Realize That Different Users Have Different Needs

Studies conducted by geographers and planners starting in the 1980s have shown that women are more likely to avoid access to public space than men for reasons of safety, although women are attacked more often in their own homes rather than outside. This fact requires landscape architects to be aware of how the design of a space can affect different users. Safe Cities program is an UN-Habitat initiative that conducts participatory walks with women in certain neighborhoods to identify unsafe places and how to change them with the consideration of the women’s ideas. WATCH: Because I am a Girl Urban Programme: Delhi Documentary

The only downside is that it is really difficult to measure whether a new design really does help reduce crime, as many assaults go unreported. On the other hand, the popularity of a place either increases or decreases with a new design, and that is already one big step that landscape architecture can make to keep crime away.

Recommended Reading

• Landscape Architecture: An Introduction by Robert Holden
• Landscape Architecture, Fifth Edition: A Manual of Environmental Planning and Design by Barry Starke

Article by Dalia Zein Return to Homepage

A book review of “Designed for the Future: 80 Practical Ideas for a Sustainable World” by Jared Green. In Designed for the Future, Jared Green tackles the topic of contemporary design ideas that are creating a more sustainable world. The format of the book is a direct result of his approach to research for the publication. In asking eighty designers, landscape architects, planners, and engineers what they believed was moving the allied design professions to a more sustainable future, he compiled eighty ideas and project case studies which are featured in the book. Green starts the dialogue about the need for green and environmentally conscious design with professionals and then transfers that to a reader friendly format appealing to a wide audience. Not only is the book a useful tool for project ideas but it is also a strong starting point for case study research as it provides a concise yet in depth project snapshot of each idea. The work is a summary of cutting edge, innovative, creative, and technologically advanced ideas designers are deploying today for a more sustainable tomorrow.

Designed for the Future

Judge a Book by its Cover

The comfortable size of the book makes it appealing to stash on a bookcase at home, on a desk, or in a bag for traveling. Graphically, the cover is appealing and establishes a design language that is carried throughout the book, from front to headings to subheadings to back. More successfully, the excerpt on the back cover is but a few sentences, followed by a three-column list of names, instead of an overbearing, multi-paragraph synopsis. The list names 80 global leaders in sustainable design, including architects, landscape architects, journalists, urban planners, environmental leaders, and artists, who all share their insights and philosophies within the book. First impressions are strong, as this is a well-packaged book that is easy to leaf through.

Page-by-Page Overview

The book is a compilation of 80 ideas offered up by those 80 sustainable design leaders, each with a one-page write-up and supporting images. For a casual reader or someone looking for quick inspiration, this is a great book to flip through. Since the explanations are short, the reader can learn a wealth of information about a topic or project in just a few minutes.

The reader should not expect to become an expert on a specific topic, as this book does not delve in to the nitty-gritty details but rather presents generalizations and broad overviews of ideas. The topics covered in the book range in discipline and scale, from Mikyoung Kim’s small-scale playscape to Mia Lehrer tackling poverty and urban sprawl at a community planning level.

The Format

The format of this book makes it easy for the reader to digest information and know what to expect on the next page. Each project or idea is given a name (example: The High Line), followed by a designer (example: Jeff Shumaker.) Before the multi-paragraph project description, there is a tagline in red that grabs the reader’s attention (example: suspend disbelief and see the potential). With that information and a supporting image or collage of photos to the right, readers gain a quick understanding of the idea being presented. In the case of The High Line example, Jared Green explains the history of the project, tells how it came to fruition, speaks to the public-private partnerships that made the project a reality, and emphasizes how collaboration was influential in making the idea a reality.

By looking at the title, designer name, tagline, and biography, the reader can grab information to plug into a search engine and begin more in-depth research or study on a topic. The book is repetitive in format, which makes it predictable and easy to read. Get it HERE!

About The Author

Jared Green may be a familiar name to landscape architects in the online publication realm, as he is the editor of “The Dirt,” a blog produced by the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA). As Senior Communications Manager for ASLA, he researches, interviews, and writes on a variety of topics including apps for landscape architects, the impact of infrastructure and cities and general project reviews.

Why Should You Get This Book?

“Designed for the Future” is well written and easy to read, appealing to a wide variety of designers, both professionals and students. The ideas are refreshing, the information is specific without bogging down the reader with too much technical language, and the photos are eye catching. This would be a great book for a student in the design field or someone outside of the design world looking for an introduction to all that architects, landscape architects, urban planners, and environmentalists study. A comment about a specific project can be taken into a broader sense in saying that the goal of this book is to “form a new language of sustainability that is beautiful and legible to everyone.” If you love this book, check out these other book reviews:

• Drawing for Landscape Architecture
• Detail in Contemporary Landscape Architecture
• Visual Communications For Landscape Architecture

Pick up your copy of Designed for the Future today!

Review by Rachel Kruse Return to Homepage

A look at 5 ways to increase biodiversity in urban landscapes and embrace nature into our designs. Biodiversity — the diversity of life in a habitat or ecosystem — is a sure sign of the health of that habitat or ecosystem. A diverse array of bacteria, insects, birds, mammals etc. makes a system more robust and able to withstand stress. Diversity, in this case, has a few layers; the number of varied species within an ecosystem, the number of individuals within a species and genetic diversity within the species (Rottle & Yocom). It means more than having lots of butterflies in the garden in spring; healthy biodiversity affects everything from the number of bees and pollinating birds, to compost-eating bacteria cycling nutrients, to having enough bats consuming metric tons of crop-eating insects. With urban areas predicted to triple in size by 2030 and natural habitats declining, it stands to reason that if urbanites don’t want ecological robustness to decline as well, biodiversity must be designed into urban landscapes. What’s in This Article:

• Provide Wildlife Corridors and Connections Between Green Spaces
• Use Organic Maintenance Methods and Cut Back On Lawns
• Use a Native Plant Palette and Plant Appropriately
• Utilize Existing Green Space Connections
• Be Mindful of Non-Native Predators

Here are 5 Ways to Increase Biodiversity in Urban Landscapes

1. Provide Wildlife Corridors and Connections Between Green Spaces

Providing options for wildlife to travel and find new food sources, water sources, and mates are extremely important to urban biodiversity. The hedgerow in England, for example, has been a part of the English Garden aesthetic for many hundreds of years. The bush or shrubbery provides a physical barrier for larger animals and people but allows for small animals to pass under, through, or along the roots of the hedgerow from garden to garden. Recently, though, with the increase in popularity of impassable fences lining garden boundaries, hedgehog populations in England have drastically dropped.

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Using “soft engineering” techniques such as rain gardens and bioswales to handle stormwater is a good way to provide wildlife corridors. Native grasses, shrubs, and trees are most likely to thrive in rain gardens, which are relatively barrier-free. They also keep the wildlife out of the street and out from under tires.

2. Use Organic Maintenance Methods and Cut Back On Lawns

Urban biodiversity can be supported by avoiding chemical fertilizers and pesticides that are not picky and can’t tell the difference between good bugs and the bad. Bees, in particular, can be sensitive to pesticides, both organic, and chemical. Also, a shorn lawn doesn’t provide food or shelter for most wildlife, even down to the bacterial level if pesticides are liberally applied. More reasons to stop designing lawns can be found here.

3. Use a Native Plant Palette and Plant Appropriately

The locations of cities are not random; spaces were chosen for future urbanity for the same reason that many plants and animals colonized them first; proximity to the ocean, estuaries, major rivers, and land with enough nutrients to support diverse plant life. Because of this pre-existing relationship with the land, it’s easier to support those same species even now long after the estuary was dredged and the river straightened. With bones of a native ecosystem still buried under the concrete it’s easier to bring that system back to (certainly modified) life. Generally, planting natives is the best way to support a habitat’s natural wildlife because the birds and bugs are already built to eat and use them. Choosing location-appropriate plants ties into the fundamentals of good planting design. Though planting just natives alone won’t necessarily increase biodiversity to its fullest potential. It’s important to have an idea of how many and what kinds of species can be supported, as well as how many benefits a plant offers to the ecosystem. For example, a University of Delaware tree ranking found that native oaks support more than 500 different species of insects, while Gingko, a common choice for street trees, only supports three.

4. Utilize Existing Green Space Connections

Incorporating existing forest, wetlands, and even water retention ponds within a site or nearby space that likely already supports wildlife is a great jumping-off point for discovering what kind of diversity you should design for. The design team for Clos Layat Park in Lyon, France, did just this when incorporating an existing forest into the south side of its plan by continuing the forest into the park. They also included a meadow and dedicated a part of the park to a pollinator garden.

5. Be Mindful of Non-Native Predators

Housecats alone are responsible for between 1.4 billion and 3.7 billion songbird deaths each year. When designing in residential neighborhoods, keep in mind not just the problems local wildlife have in terms of habitat and food availability, but how likely it is that they will become food for non-native predators. Designing for biodiversity makes wildlife your client, and designing a space that lures your client to its death is a no-go. – Biodiversity in urban areas includes much more than rats and pigeons; we can decide how supportive to different kinds of life our urban spaces are rather than grudgingly accepting only the most adaptable species. What kinds of life would you like to see planned for in urban landscapes? How would it affect the way urbanity is planned? On what scale would you like to see it supported?

Recommended Reading

• Landscape Architecture: An Introduction by Robert Holden
• Landscape Architecture, Fifth Edition: A Manual of Environmental Planning and Design by Barry Starke

Article by Caitlin Lockhart Return to Homepage