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As our environment faces greater impacts from climate change ☀, sea level rise 🌊, and urbanization 🏙, designing spaces and habitats that are both resilient and ecologically viable is a crucial part of what we do as landscape architects. Achieving this balance requires an in-depth understanding of site and regional ecology to inform the creation of designs that fit seamlessly within the surrounding environment. From tailored native seed mixes to soft scape/hard scape mixed shorelines, Great Ecology’s resilient designs take many forms and are often influenced by site-specific needs and regional characteristics. Some of our recent resilient landscape projects include living shorelines in New York that are protecting coastal communities and critical natural resources from sea level rise and erosion while simultaneously restoring habitats; master plans that are prioritizing habitat restoration and the creation of biodiverse landscapes within parks, towns, and commercial areas; stormwater daylighting that is converting traditional hardscape solutions into softscapes that can better withstand flood events while providing water quality improvement; and tailored native seed mixes for restoration projects in California’s Imperial Valley desert and Denver’s urban green spaces that require less irrigation and provide greater tolerance to climate change. In addition to the numerous ecological benefits of resilient landscape design, taking a more resilient approach to addressing environmental challenges in urban areas also allows for the creation or enhancement of community access to natural resources. By bringing communities closer to nature, rather than building traditional hardscapes that cut off access, we can address issues like environmental injustice and improve environmental education on the importance of resiliency. Interested in learning more about our work with resilient landscapes on projects such as Sherman Creek Living Shoreline, Town of Rico Long-Range Plan, Brooklyn Bridge Park, Hell’s Kitchen Geothermal, La Lomita Park, and First Creek Nature Play Park? Click here: https://lnkd.in/gyfnAsU #WLAM2024 #ASLA #ResilientLandscapes #ThisIsLandscapeArchitecture #NaturalResources #HabitatRestoration #EcologicalDesign #MasterPlanning #LivingShorelines #Parks

Come with me to do a Built Green water model! 🌳🌾 🏡 Water models help builders understand how efficient (or not) their project handles water By using their landscape plan I can identify where trees, shrubs, and groundcover are, and how much water they use annually. Definitely one of the favorite parts of my day 👨🏽💻🤓 #sustainablebuildings #greenbuilding #builtgreen #wateruse #sustainability #watermodel #landscape #landscapearchitecture #builtenvironment

To mark #worldenvironmentday Benoy’s Landscape Directors reflect on the central role of landscape architecture in the fight against climate change.   Angus Palmer, Director of Benoy Landscape Architecture EMEA, “Today, we stand on the verge of a new geologic era; the "Anthropocene", one where the climate is very different to the one older generations knew. What we need are big scale ideas to tackle climate change and ensure different places have different approaches. This can be a two-pronged approach – climate change mitigation and adaptation.”   Ray Vees Goh, Director of Landscape APAC, “Apart from the environment, “sustainability” covers economic and social aspects as well. Incorporating a rigorous sustainability strategy early in the design stage can make a tremendous difference across key areas including the actual viability of the development and the quality of life of communities. This World Environment Day, we aim to bring together stakeholders across the built environment to collectively secure a truly sustainable and resilient future for generations to come.”   Read more from our Landscape team in our latest Future Thinking article: Green spaces matter - why Landscape Architecture is at the forefront of the fight against climate change. https://lnkd.in/eKZQtBUY #worldenvironmentday #climatechange #landscape #landscapearchitecture #landscapedesign #regeneration #greenbuildings #resilientlandscapes #environmentalconservation #urbanheatmitigation #landrestoration #greenlinks #habitatcreation #workplacebiophilia

Mitigating climate change is a key driver for successful landscape architecture, as a discipline that is equipped to handle the implications of a changing climate through adaptation and mitigation measures. This #worldenvironmentday Angus Palmer explores how landscape architecture is at forefront of the fight against climate change in our latest article. Read the full article here https://lnkd.in/eKZQtBUY

Today, we’re talking about the inspiring project Guiding the Runoff by Taller Capital. They combined landscape design and waste management to improve one of Tijuana’s public spaces. The project is known to locals as Parque Xicoténcatl, and was originally intended to be a simple clean-up and reconstruction job. However, its scope shifted after the team recognised an urgent lack of public and recreational spaces in the community. Now, the park serves as a great example of how strategies like reuse and recirculation can breathe new life into neglected urban areas. To reduce building costs and waste, the team implemented an innovative construction system which involved repurposing the millions of used tires imported from the USA to Mexico each year. The design also features a series of canals, which helps to guide rainwater runoff away from inhabited areas and towards the ocean, preserving the landscape's integrity and preventing further flooding damage. Learn more about this winning project here and watch the video where Loreta Castro Reguera explains more:  🔗 https://lnkd.in/gvTRXQTa 💡 Follow us for more innovative ideas in our two-week daily series to highlight the winning projects of this year’s design competition: the #MakeItCircularChallenge. #landscapedesign #mexico #wastemanagement #environmentaldesign #circulareconomy

This #WorldHabitatDay lets celebrate a world in which nature and cities, animals and people can thrive – together. This year’s theme celebrates resilient urban economies. Cities are the drivers of growth and recovery – we must view cities as a part of nature, not separate to it, in order to design long-term solutions to protect and restore natural habitats. Design for the Art Gallery NSW's Sydney Modern Project gardens was developed in consultation with the Royal Botanic Garden, ensuring roof garden species were carefully selected for maximum biodiversity benefits and provide a diverse source of pollen and nectar for Sydney’s native bee population. In a first for Sydney, the native wildflower roof gardens are a seed bank for the rare yam daisies that were once widespread, a traditional food of the Gadigal People. To support local ecologies, planting design and species selection are crucial in realizing the vision of each project undertaken at McGregor Coxall. Project Team: + Delivered by Infrastructure NSW on behalf of the NSW Government and the Art Gallery of NSW. + Designed by Kazuyo Sejima + Ryue Nishizawa / SANAA + Architectus | Executive Architect + McGregor Coxall | Landscape Architecture + Arup | Engineering + Richard Crookes Constructions | Builder + Graphic by Michael Piper #WorldHabitatDay2023 #EndangeredSpecies #Biourbanism #UNHabitat #SydneyModern

Making buildings safer for birds.   With World Migratory Bird Day on the horizon, we turn our attention back to the growing impact of urban development on our feathered friends. In the U.S. alone, building collisions—largely caused by the expansive use of glass—claim the lives of up to one billion birds each year. While there’s no one-size-fits-all solution, a combination of design moves has the potential to save millions of birds’ lives. “The whole push for bird-friendly glass doesn't have to be some kind of trade-off, where birds win and architecture loses,” says Carl Giometti, a project architect in our Chicago studio. “Instead, it's a chance to embrace a new design perspective. The ultimate goal is to reach a stage where bird-friendly design is just design.” Here are the stories of two projects that are raising the bar on bird-friendly design: https://lnkd.in/gGCxnbwD #birdsafety #birdfriendlydesign #knowledgeilluminated #PWinsights #designinsights

CHANGE IS COMING…5 Business Days To Go. Our fun fact today is about Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve Rainforest Discovery Centre. Located in the heavily protected rainforest of the Blackhall Range in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland, the Reserve is a living museum of diverse plant life including a complex notophyll vine forest. To strengthen the role the Reserve plays in the conservation and display of local flora and fauna, the design included many sustainable initiatives to minimise the disruption to the surrounding environment. These included: - Carefully re-routining the boardwalk to avoid the structural root-zones of existing trees. - Only using plant species endemic to the area including the Richmond Birdwing Butterfly Vine through landscaping. - Relocating more than 200 reptiles and wildlife prior to construction. - Retaining the existing man-made pond due to it being a critical habitat for the endangered ‘Tusked Frog’. - Not using imported topsoil or mulch to eliminate the risk of weeds and pathogens. Only using materials that were locally sourced, salvaged from the site or repurposed from the existing building. - Improving the natural hydrology of the site through sustainable water management. This included storage, bio-filtration and natural swales to direct flows, and the stormwater drainage design that simulates natural systems. #guymerbailey #guymerbaileyarchitects #brisbanestudio #melbournestudio #design #architecture #landscape #interiordesign #brandlaunch

As we commemorate Earth Day, we reflect on the profound impact our structures have on our environment. A beautiful example that never fails to inspire is the remarkable Central Park in New York City. Constructed in the mid-19th century, Central Park stands as a testament to human ingenuity and our ability to harmonize with nature. Designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, this sprawling oasis in the heart of Manhattan wasn't just about creating green space—it was about crafting a masterpiece that would endure for generations. The sheer magnitude of effort and thought that went into the park's creation is a testament to the power of human determination and the profound connection we have with our environment. It wasn't just about planting trees and laying paths; it was about sculpting the land itself to mimic the natural landscapes found across the country. Every hill, every pond, every winding path was meticulously crafted to evoke a sense of wilderness within an urban landscape. “ Perhaps the most awe-inspiring aspect of Central Park's construction is the fact that it was built entirely by hand. “Workers moved nearly 5 million cubic yards of stone, earth, and topsoil, built 36 bridges and arches, and constructed 11 overpasses over the transverse roads. They also planted 500,000 trees, shrubs, and vines. The landscapes were manmade and all built by hand.” (https://lnkd.in/gddckKhU) We can draw inspiration from Central Park and remember that our actions as engineers and stewards of the environment have the ability to shape the world around us for the better. Whether it's designing sustainable buildings, implementing green infrastructure, or advocating for conservation efforts, we all have a role to play in preserving our planet for future generations. Let's continue to build a greener, more sustainable world—one structure at a time. Happy Earth Day! #EarthDay #CentralPark #StructuralEngineering #Sustainability #GreenInfrastructure

Coastal resilience in landscape architecture is essential for building sustainable communities and involves strategic planning and design to lessen the impacts of coastal erosion and flooding. It’s about designing landscapes that can withstand and adapt to the changing coastal environment. Through responsible, environmentally driven design we can create resilient ecosystems that protect both communities and biodiversity. #Design #LandscapeArchitects #LandscapeArchitecture #OutdoorLiving #NativePlantLife #NaturalBeauty #EnvironmentalDesign #EcologicalDesign #SustainableDesign