REVIEW
Book Launch: Living Architecture: Green Roofs and Walls, by Graeme Hopkins and Christine Goodwin
Review by Jo Russell Clarke, Registered Landscape Architect
Christine Goodwin and Graeme Hopkins of Fifth Creek Studio launched their book Living Architecture: Green Roofs and Walls at the AIA in May. Prior to this in March, Graeme had presented the first of the AILA-sponsored CPD modules: Landscape Strategies to adapt to Climate Change. This presentation began with an overview of green wall and roof options utilising some more recent examples which were good to see. I was looking forward to detail which I thought specific case studies would provide, however the second half offered less technical and other specifics in consideration of actual sites than a preliminary application of the general principles to certain sites familiar to the audience here (e.g Rundle Mall), along with critique of present (mechanical/hardscape) approaches to mitigation of extreme temperatures.
Graeme and Christine’s work is important and clearly documented. Such publications as theirs provide helpful access to exciting examples and elucidate key general difficulties and challenges. They also become noteworthy references marking the state of knowledge of our time – a significant time when the urgency of climate change threats is driving quantitative-focused research for measurable outcomes. With such a garnering of present knowledge it may now be timely to reflect on the ways in which we want research and design endeavour to move forward. It may be that landscape architecture has further valuable things to offer and other ways to advance the work to date – most especially in the matter of qualitative critique.
While we admit, on the one hand, that there are necessarily complex negotiations of competing approaches to climate change problems involved in every project, it seems a false simplification to want an ‘adaptation’ banner that everything good is, by definition, collected under. It now appears less important to be concerned with professional and peer education in accepting ‘adaptation’ as a response to climate change, than to unpack processes by which we might have more sophisticated discussions and project rationales regarding the more difficult matter of weighing the many still-competing choices all projects face.
Design has always been a process of adapting – changing – a site to identified ends, and the more clearly identified the better. The concept of climate change adaptation is not at all clearly identified even while responses to specific site problems resulting from projected climate change patterns absolutely can be and often is – i.e. this is demonstrably good design and always was. Adaptation – defined as carefully considered site-specific responses to informed projected change (is there another definition of any more clarity?) - has the potential it always did as an ordinary noun in pre-CC English. So: more assumption of general knowledge, less assumption of ‘green’ value, more detail, less principle.
Christine and Graeme’s focused work in their specialist area is admirable. It would be wonderful if we might support similar foci in other areas of practice and provide more rigorous (theoretical and ethical, not moral and ‘professional’/industry-guild) frameworks to appreciate their precise contribution to our evolving diverse communities of practice.
‘Thinking Openly’
New Challenges in Open Space Provision PLA Seminar, Adelaide
Review by David Gregory, Registered Landscape Architect.
Perhaps the clearest message from Park & Leisure Australia’s latest seminar day ‘New Challenges in Open Space Provision’ was the integral role open space plays in our own development and wellbeing, first discovered with unbridled imagination during our childhood, and then throughout the rest of our lives.
As we face a broad range of social and environmental issues such as the need for increased urban density, climate change, water restrictions, obesity and an ageing population (among others), the importance of open space becomes even more apparent. The design and provision of high quality open space, while not the only solution, can certainly go a long way to addressing these issues.
The range of topics covered over the course of the seminar was just as diverse as this list of issues and provided an enlightening overview of current thinking and practice in open space design.
With the first speaker sessions dedicated to ‘play’, the key messages from Stuart Heseltine and Damien Schultz’s respective presentations focused on the return to natural experiences in playspace design through the incorporation of non-prescribed and tactile play environments. Likewise, the need for diverse play spaces that offer experiences beyond simple physical activity was highlighted, along with the need to think openly about the learning and developmental outcomes a play space can provide, and then balance these opportunities against risk and injury mitigation in our designs, rather than letting necessary standards and precautions stifle the creative process from the outset.
The following session presented by Megan Guster and Rosalind Partridge from the City of Onkaparinga looked at the social benefits achievable through the emerging trend of community garden projects and highlighted the potential of these edible landscapes to build social capital within communities, promote skill sharing and reinforce people’s understanding of food supply and nutrition. For those interested, further information about these programs is available at www.food4all.ning.com
A focus on the potential for urban open space to encompass greater environmental function was provided by Simon Beecham, who presented a practical analysis of UniSA’s studies into water sensitive urban design (WSUD). This detailed demonstration of Adelaide based examples was balanced by the broader future vision of WSUD as an enabler of increased urban ecology and multi-function land use, whereby habitat connections, flood storage, WSUD and social amenity can exist within the same land corridors.
Finally, the need for effective and community specific engagement techniques in the planning and design process for open space was discussed by Nicole Wilson. Using CABE’s ‘Spaceshaper’ model as an example, her presentation touched on the community pride and empowerment that can be developed through well considered strategies that utilise existing community networks and champions.
Looking to the future- The broad range of challenges to address through open space, usually within the constraints of limited financial and spatial resources, further reinforces the key role of Landscape Architects in assisting communities to define and deliver relevant social, environmental and cultural outcomes within their local parks, streets and the urban realm.
|
