Designing The Parks
Also published in Landscape Architecture magazine (Oct 2008). Sustainable landscape design is generally understood in relation to three principles—ecological health, social justice and economic prosperity. Rarely do aesthetics factor into sustainability discourse outside of negative asides conflating the visible with the aesthetic and rendering both superfluous. This article examines the role of beauty and aesthetics in a sustainability agenda. It argues that for culture to be sustainable it will take more than ecologically regenerative designs. What is needed are designed landscapes that provoke those who experience them to become more aware of how their actions affect the environment, and to care enough to make changes. This requires considering the role of aesthetic environmental experiences, such as beauty, in re-centering human consciousness from an egocentric to a more bio-centric perspective. This argument takes the form of a manifesto is inspired by American landscape architects whose work is not usually understood as contributing to sustainable design.
Six design principles emerged from the rich and varied discussion that took place last year during Designing The Parks Part II at Cavallo Point. They are:
Park planning and design must demonstrate:
• Reverence for place;
• Engagement of all people;
• Expansion beyond traditional boundaries;
• Sustainability;
• Informed decision-making;
• An integrated research, planning, design, and review process.
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