Who am I as a Designer? - Attitudes Listing
As part of my Cultural Context module we were asked to fill in our attitudes to a list of elements / components that could contribute to a design approach. Completing the exercise has been hugely helpful in articulating and understanding my personal design approach, as I discovered that my attitude to most of the elements relates back to sustainability and the environment. I have learnt that my design approach is mostly ruled by improving the health of the environment through enhancing biodiversity and climate control. I also hope to nurture the relationships between people and their environment by fostering care and respect, in the hopes of encouraging more sustainable practices within our lives.
Biodiversity
In regard to the current biodiversity crisis, I feel it is imperative that biodiversity is at the forefront of any design approach. Increasing biodiversity within the local ecosystem should determine many choices within the design process, with the aim of increasing and enhancing habitats.
Culture
With so many varying cultures, much of which is often found
in a single location e.g. cities, it is an element of life that should be
incorporated and celebrated in landscape design, enhancing the enjoyment for
all who visit a space.
Density
As city populations rise, the density of all landscape
elements should be considered and reconsidered in regard to maximising spatial
experience. As buildings continue to grow upwards it is vital to take the
horizontal landscape and make it vertical, examples of this include green walls
and rooftop gardens.
Development
The world is constantly changing and evolving, so
development and progress are inevitable. Ensuring development occurs
sustainably is more of a challenge, and something that should be considered
during the design process. It important to consider how the design will look,
not just when its finished, but also many years in the future, as well as how
the space can be developed and enhanced to meet unforeseen future needs.
Ecology
Careful consideration of ecology is vital for biodiversity
and sustainability - acknowledging the relationships between organisms and
their environment and with each other is important to understand the impact a
design could have on the wider landscape.
Education
Education within the environment has the potential to have a
far-reaching, positive impact on people, whether this be through informative
signs and guided tours, or simply making landscapes accessible and inclusive
for all. During the climate emergency it is important, more now than ever, to
educate people on their impact on the planet, with the potential to inspire
respect and care for the landscapes around them.
Employment
‘Ecosystem services are the many and varied benefits to
humans provided by the natural environment and from healthy ecosystems’. By
creating and enhancing healthy environments, it is possible to increase
employment opportunities through maintenance, recreation, tourism, education
etc. This should be considered within the design approach to maximise the
socio-economic benefits from a project.
Energy
During a design, the production and consumption of energy
should be carefully considered in an attempt to create a climate-positive
space. Clean energy features, such as biomass plantations or solar panels, are
possible to do this, as well as inspire visitors to partake in more sustainable
practices. It is also important to reduce energy consumption both throughout
the construction stage, as well as during use of the project.
Environment
I have a less is more approach, I feel the environment
should be protected and preserved as much as possible, because even the natural
‘flaws’ within the landscape have immense benefits. However, I also understand
the important of enhancing and constructing environments for the purpose of
biodiversity and climate control.
Food production
In regard to the climate emergency, food production should
become more localised, and certainly more common within urban environments.
This requires incorporating food within landscape design, whether this be
implementing community gardens, working with food production in small spaces,
or simply choosing edible plants within a scheme.
Habitat creation
Relating to biodiversity and ecology, the design approach
should be one that puts habitat creation and enhancement at the forefront of any
project for the benefit of both wildlife and people.
History and Heritage
It is important to research a site and its surrounding area
before beginning a design. The history and heritage of a space can elicit
creative reactions, forming interesting concepts, as well helping to integrate
a new design into an existing landscape.
Housing
Where possible, it is important to prevent the high demand
for housing from compromising sustainability and usability. Designing housing from
an inclusive, accessible and ecological perspective is vital for creating
sustainable development and progress within society.
Interactivity
Interactive places encourage engagement and can help people
form deep connections with their landscapes. This can be done through touch,
sight, smell etc, to form positive relationships between people and the
environment.
Interconnectivity
Places should be interconnected, in more ways than one. A
site should be physically interconnected with others, not only to foster a
sense of place, but also to foster walkability and active travel. More
importantly though, a design should be interconnected with the genius loci, the
elements that give a site its character - the landscape, the history and heritage,
the local people, etc.
Land
Our environment is the thing that nurtures us, protects us,
provides for us. I feel it should be treated in the same manner, something that
should be considered at all stages in the design approach.
Lighting
Lighting can be used for safety and security, but also to
highlight beautiful elements of the landscape, and can be designed in creative
ways. However, light pollution must be considered carefully for the benefit of
both wildlife and people.
Microclimate
When designing a space it is important to consider the
microclimate in relation to the climate, as a site could be permanently shady,
even if in a warm and sunny country. The microclimate will impact things like planting,
wildlife, and human engagement and should be accounted for in the design process.
People
Whilst ecology and biodiversity are important elements to
consider, design must also encompass the human elements of placemaking - this
includes inclusivity, accessibility and usability to ensure a space is enjoyable
for all.
Pollution
The impact on the wider environment must be considered at
all stages of the design approach, including material choice, construction
methods, waste management, maintenance etc. to minimise the pollution emitted during
and after the completion of a project.
Public Access
Accessibility is a huge element in helping people connect
with their environment, so every part of a design should be fully accessible
for everyone.
Recreation and Leisure
I feel it is important to take opportunities to incorporate recreation
and leisure into a design for the physical and mental benefits of visitors - encouraging
active behaviour, socialising, connecting with the landscape etc.
SMART Technology
SMART technology can be utilised in many ways to manage and
enhance a landscape. In an increasingly technological world, it is important to
consider these elements for the benefit of both people and the landscape.
However, I feel caution is necessary for SMART technology as, used incorrectly,
it could remove the naturalistic experience of a landscape and could compromise
peoples’ relationship with their environments.
Social Inclusion
Social inclusion is a huge part of accessibility, making
sure everyone feels comfortable within a site by implementing a wide variety of
features and spaces to ensure that all visitors can move through and engage
with the site with ease.
Space and Place
To me, a space is an area with no defining character or deeper
meaning, whilst a place is somewhere with identity, somewhere that has meaning.
Any landscape project could produce a ‘space’, but I feel producing a ‘place’ should
be the aim during the design approach, with the hopes of achieving a place that
is interconnected with people, culture, ecology, heritage etc.
Sustainability
I feel the design process should aim for sustainability in
all practices, meeting the needs of the present without compromising those in
the future.
Transport
In order to be sustainable, transport to and through a
landscape must be considered. Encouraging and facilitating active travel is the
ideal, however, where this is not possible, enhanced public transport can also
be a more sustainable option - both of these should be incorporated into a project.
Walkability
To make an area more friendly for walking, pedestrian
priority needs to be at the forefront of a design. This includes reduced
vehicular movement, increased lighting and rest points, as well as the implementation
of features and sights that make a space more appealing by foot.
Waste Management
The aim throughout the design process should be to make the
waste management cycle more sustainable, whether this be simply including more
waste disposal points within a site, making waste management more localised, or
being involved in the planning and development of huge waste management
facilities – it is possible for a landscape architect to have great influence
over the movement and disposal of waste.
Water
The water cycle plays a vital role in the health of our wildlife,
climate and people, and should be celebrated more frequently within our
landscapes. Water Sensitive Urban Design should be considered within every
project, with the aim to implement it in some way at the greatest possible
scale.
Well-being and Health
Landscapes have great potential to improve the health and
well-being of the population, so accessibility and inclusivity is essential within
every design approach to ensure everyone has access to natural landscapes. Within
a project, ways in which health and well-being could be improved and enhanced
should be considered and implemented.
24 Hour / 365 City
Utilised by a wide range of people at any time of the day,
any day of the year, the flexibility and usability of a space at any given
moment is hugely important to create an inclusive and appealing place for people
to enjoy.
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