Landscape – Great Idea! X-LArch III - Department für Raum ...
Landscape – Great Idea! X-LArch III - Department für Raum ...
Landscape – Great Idea! X-LArch III - Department für Raum ...
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68<br />
argument was put forward for omitting hedge planting<br />
from sites 2, 7 and 14 . However, the suburban contexts<br />
of these sites did not represent particularly strong identities<br />
vulnerable to disruption by green roofs, and certainly<br />
not the relatively low-key addition of new hedges. In<br />
such circumstances, the omission of such elements on<br />
the grounds of perpetuating a distinct identity would<br />
seem misguided. In any case, should respecting local<br />
identity and vernacular be about preservation alone?<br />
A vernacular is simply a physical manifestation of the<br />
technical, political and artistic climate of the day, and<br />
what better a vernacular for the 21st century than one<br />
encouraging biodiversity and, more generally, sustainability?<br />
Hough (1984) in his book City Form and Natural<br />
Processes, Towards a New Urban Vernacular, pointed<br />
out that we need to move towards new landscape forms<br />
that are in tune with the growing concern for the issues<br />
of energy, environment and natural resource conservation.<br />
In the intervening years this need has not diminished.<br />
Even in areas of cherished identity, it could be<br />
argued that it is the perpetuation of quality and thought in<br />
design that is important, rather than specifics of form and<br />
materials; particularly if the climate which gave rise to the<br />
vernacular is no longer relevant.<br />
Conclusions<br />
This research highlights that a housing development‘s<br />
supposed alignment with sustainability, does not guarantee<br />
that biodiversity has been considered in its<br />
landscape. The ‚green idea‘ of a bio-diverse landscape<br />
stands in stark contrast to the ‚grey reality‘ of the majority<br />
of the landscapes observed here. Translation of<br />
any great idea into reality requires commitment, and the<br />
early and sustained input of ecological advice on housing<br />
projects, and a commitment from all stakeholders to<br />
act accordingly, is vital. Sensitivity is also required to<br />
integrate biodiversity with community needs. The public<br />
can be wary of environments that do not meet their idea<br />
of a ‘standard’ condition; failure to recognise this was a<br />
key failure of sixties modernist, social housing (Aldous<br />
1997) and this should not be repeated. The relationship<br />
between landscape preference and ecological quality<br />
is unclear (Williams and Cary, 2002) so developers and<br />
consultants should work on a site-by-site basis with local<br />
communities to identify the approporiate position on the<br />
continuum between gardenesque and wildness. The<br />
resulting landscape also needs to be cognizant of ecological<br />
and physical context. There is sufficient flexibility<br />
in bio-diverse landscape design to allow this: bio-diverse<br />
landscapes need not appear untamed and imposed, and<br />
housing developers need not be hide-bound by suburban<br />
mores if a more ecological landscape is amenable to<br />
the community and the local planning authority. Where<br />
such opportunities occur the planning authority must<br />
commit to enforcing biodiverse landscape designs, which<br />
might otherwise become eroded away as the project<br />
proceeds. The UK Government and its agencies can<br />
also play a part by looking beyond houses themselves<br />
when appointing exemplar schemes for planning authorities<br />
and developers to follow; highlighting the versatility,<br />
viability and vivacity of bio-diverse residential landscapes.<br />
Although community participation can be helpful<br />
in facilitating acceptance of bio-diverse plantings on<br />
aesthetic grounds, this research also suggests that the<br />
removal of maintenance from the residents‘ shoulders is<br />
also important <strong>–</strong> particulalry in social housing. The multispecies,<br />
multi-layered nature of sustainable planting not<br />
only encourages biodiversity, it also lowers maintenance<br />
(Dunnett & Clayden 2007) but it is not maintenance free.<br />
Ironically The Housing Corporation, who fund the vast<br />
majority of English public housing (Priaulx 2004), calls<br />
for high standards in residential green spaces (Housing<br />
Corporation 2003) but offers no maintenance funds to<br />
social developers. By pushing the onus of landscape<br />
maintenance onto tenants, the Corporation is restricting<br />
what can be implemented and should, instead, consider<br />
offering additional maintenance support to developers<br />
who, through commitment and sensitivity, demonstrate<br />
alliance with the green idea of bio-diverse landscape.<br />
References<br />
Aldous, T. (1979). Introduction. Chapter 1. In: Trees and buildings;<br />
complement or conflict? T. Aldous (Ed). London: RIBA Publications.<br />
Aldous, T. (1997). Urban Villages. A concept for creating mixeduse<br />
urban developments on a sustainable scale. Revised edition.<br />
London: Urban Villages Forum.<br />
Baines, C. (1998). The green perspective. Proceedings of NHBC<br />
Annual Conference: Sustainable housing <strong>–</strong> meeting the challenges.<br />
Amersham: National House Building Council. pp 31 <strong>–</strong> 35<br />
Barton, H. & Kleiner, D. (2000). Innovative Eco-Neighbourhood<br />
Projects. Chapter 5. In: Sustainable Communities, The Potential<br />
for Eco-Neighbourhoods. Barton, H. (Ed.). London: Eathscan.<br />
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<strong>Department</strong> of the Environment, Transport & the Regions. (2000).<br />
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Dunnett, N. (1995). Patterns in nature: inspiration for an ecological<br />
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Dunnett, N. & Clayden, A. (2007). Resources: The Raw Materials<br />
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Dunnett, N. & Hitchmough, J. (2004). More than nature. <strong>Landscape</strong><br />
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