Habitat restoration

Recently I attended a water forum that included state and federal agencies, power companies and other utility providers, as well as academia. We had a breakout water quality session during which, among other things, the issue of wetlands restoration came up. I expressed an interest from a Landscape Architectural perspective, saying that our profession has a profound interest in this topic and this is an area where interdisciplinary work would be really beneficial. We provide the design experience as well as the cultural and economic facilitation, and the scientists help with technical details regarding how the ecosystem should be rebuilt. This cross-communication would also be very helpful in areas such as brownfield site restoration.

As one small first step in this endeavor, I make the following suggestion: (to be expanded upon ad infinitum...)

Biologists could provide us with lists of plant communities that function well together, and that provide habitats for sensitive animals. For example, if there is a type of bird that only likes to nest in a particular type of tree, and in addition this bird will not nest in said tree if it is located near a busy road...that would be very helpful information for a Landscape Architect. Perhaps that bird also requires food source plants nearby, such as a certain berry-producing shrub. How easy it would be for an LA to plant that particular combination of trees and shrubs, away from busy roads, and make a difference for an animal whose habitat is so specific.

This ties into my belief that it is not enough to simply plant native plants. I think we have a responsibility to carry this further, kick it up a notch and re-establish plant communities within developed areas. Why have the urban areas defined as for people only, and the wilderness for animals only? There should be room for both, at every level. Whether it is a residential yard or a large commercial campus, I think that we can shed this mentality of having separation between what is landscaped and what is natural simply by proper choice and location of plant material.

Designing for Seniors

This topic has been on my mind quite a bit lately, because my Grandmother is 89 and I am realizing the full impact of what it means to be her age. She can't drive anymore, and is suffering from various ailments that prevent her from being able to get around as much as she used to.

It amazes me that we are not doing more to create communities for older people that function on many different levels. let's take Sun City as an example. If you have ever been into one of the Sun City complexes, they are really enormous and nicely laid-out, with lots of walking paths, golf courses and paths, and all sorts of entertainment options for the residents. Often they are also sited near a Wal-Mart and a health center, as well, so that residents have easy access to amenities.

However, the biggest problem with this sort of community is, the day the resident can no longer drive, they have to leave. A Wal-Mart in "close proximity" is one thing if you can drive there. It's another thing if you have to walk, and you have a replacement hip or are partially blind. It's so sad to think that older people must relocate and make new friends, and become re-accustomed to a whole new life once they lose the ability to drive. They might still be perfectly capable of cooking, cleaning their house, and doing other daily tasks of survival. They might have friends and a social life in their community. But in this modern age, if they cannot drive, their life is basically over.

We need to create communities that allow older residents to switch to a transportation-assistance program when they stop driving, and then gradually as they lose the ability to do daily tasks, they can be transitioned into an assisted-living arrangement where they live! Is this such a hard concept for developers to grasp? Many of these people either have no family, or else their families are far away and don't see them often. Their friends and neighbors may be all that they have. And, the nice thing about this social network is that many of the older residents are still capable of driving, working part-time, etc so they are a great resource for house-bound residents. Not to mention, that the more independent residents know the time will come when they need help too, so they are probably glad to help those who are already further down the path in terms of functionality.  Paying it forward, so to speak.

Depression among seniors is high. Families are more disjointed and remote than ever. It's time we design communities to help alleviate this problem and create places where people can age comfortably and without fear of losing their home when they get to a certain point.

The joy of dirt

I attended the ASLA conference in San Francisco, and after four days of walking up and down those steep hills, my flatlander's legs were quite sore. On my last day in San Fran I visited the Golden Gate Park and the Japanese Garden. Not being all that savvy with navigating bus routes, I got off at the wrong stop and had to walk several blocks to the park. While in the park I noticed I was gravitating towards the grass and dirt beside all the paved areas, and then I noticed that I wasn't the only one doing so. Every runner I saw that day in the park was running on dirt or grass, and there was a little dirt track next to most of the paved paths in the park. I realized that in a big city, where hard surfaces are 99% of the walkable area, residents seek out a softer surface whenever they can, especially runners.

With all of our emphasis on providing paved areas and ADA access in our green spaces, I think we sometimes forget that its ok sometimes to just let a surface be dirt or grass.

What is a landscape architect?

Every once in a while, I think it's a good idea to pause and reflect on what our profession really means. I know, this is the subject of endless conversations within the discipline, but I keep hoping that those who DON'T know what a Landscape Architect is will stumble on this site and learn a bit more about us. The ASLA, our professional organization here in the states, defines as follows:

http://www.asla.org/nonmembers/publicrelations/factshtpr.htm

WHAT IS LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE?
Landscape architecture encompasses the analysis, planning, design, management, and stewardship of the natural and built environments. Types of projects include: residential; parks and recreation; monuments; urban design; streetscapes and public spaces; transportation corridors and facilities; gardens and arboreta; security design; hospitality and resorts; institutional; academic campuses; therapeutic gardens; historic preservation and restoration; reclamation; conservation; corporate and commercial; landscape art and earth sculpture; interior landscapes; and more. Landscape architects have advanced education and professional training and are licensed in 49 states.

Landscape Architects suffer from a collective shoulder chip with regard to this topic. If you ask someone on the street to name a famous architect, you will get at least some educated responses. But very few passersby will be able to name a Landscape Architect. Why? Well, for one thing, ours is a more recent profession, at least formally labeled. Also, as we were discussing in one of my classes the other night, we create spaces, architects create objects. It is much easier to move through a space and enjoy it without acknowledging it. An object is much easier to identify and remember comprehensively. The fact is, there are very few public spaces in this country that have not been designed, planned and envisioned at least partly, if not completely, by landscape architects.  Next time you drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway and admire the scenic views, next time you visit Yellowstone or a city park or a corporate campus, or your local University, look at the spaces...not just the landscaping and the plants but the vistas, the walking paths, the outdoor seating areas, the water features, the way that distant mountain view is framed by those trees...all of these things were likely manifested by one of us.  Think of Ghirardelli Square in San Francisco, or Central Park, or the Emerald Necklace in Boston.  

I wish there were an easy way to spread the word about landscape architecture.  As one of my professors once commented, what this profession needs is a movie about landscape architecture with Brad Pitt playing the leading role. I would like to recommend "The Devil in the White City", because everyone loves movies about serial killers. It would be a box office smash.

Cairo, Egypt

I could write a book on this amazing city, after having spent a week there working with architecture students on a joint urban design project. Instead I think I will post a few photos and this explanation: whatever one might think about Muslim culture, Egypt, big cities or the Middle East in general, I urge everyone to visit and really get to know the wonderful people before passing judgment. Egyptians are the most polite, accommodating people I have ever met. The city of Cairo is intensely exciting, rich with textures and sounds and smells that overwhelm the senses. And the few negative aspects of the place (pollution, traffic and trash would have to be mentioned, in all fairness) are immediately overshadowed by the character of the people there. I learned so much in that week, that can now be applied to urban design in this country. We are so fortunate in the United States to have a high standard of living, clean air and room to sprawl...but we are missing the close-knit family structure and adherence to religious faith that I saw in so many of the Egyptians. I guess I can sum up the experience by saying we have a lot to learn from each other.

Forgiveness and Interaction

What is forgiveness? As part of research on forgiveness gardens, I explored this topic. Here's the wikipedia definition, for what it's worth:

Forgiveness is the mental and/or spiritual process of ceasing to feelresentment, indignation or anger against another person for a perceived offense, difference or mistake, or ceasing to demandpunishment or restitution. This definition, however, is subject to much philosophical critique. Forgiveness may be considered simply in terms of the person who forgives, in terms of the person forgiven and/or in terms of the relationship between the forgiver and the person forgiven. In some contexts, it may be granted without any expectation of compensation, and without any response on the part of the offender (for example, one may forgive a person who is dead). In practical terms, it may be necessary for the offender to offer some form of acknowledgment, apology, and/or restitution, or even just ask for forgiveness, in order for the wronged person to believe they are able to forgive.

Most world religions include teachings on the nature of forgiveness, and many of these teachings provide an underlying basis for many varying modern day traditions and practices of forgiveness. However, throughout the ages, philosophers have studied forgiveness apart from religion. In addition, as in other areas of human inquiry, science is beginning to question religious concepts of forgiveness.Psychology, sociology and medicine are among the scientific disciplines researching forgiveness or aspects of forgiveness. Instances of teachings on forgiveness such as the parable of the Prodigal Son and Mahatma Gandhi's forgiveness of his assassin as he lay dying, are well known instances of such teachings and practices of forgiveness. Some religious doctrines or philosophies place greater emphasis on the need for humans to find some sort of divine forgiveness for their own shortcomings, others place greater emphasis on the need for humans to practice forgiveness between one another, yet others make little or no distinction between human and/or divine forgiveness.

I recently had a conversation with a woman who managed a hospice, and she said that forgiveness is a critical component of the dying process. People often face issues of forgiveness in their family members or close friends, before they can let go and allow themselves to accept death. This process happens not only to the person who is dying but also to those who remain behind.

I am interested in exploring healing, forgiveness and the design tools that can aid in these processes. I am particularly interested in whether interactive components can help with the healing process - for example, in Maya Lin's Vietnam Memorial, there are tiny holes next to each name in the wall. Over the years, flowers, notes and other mementos have been tucked into these holes. These items have been collected and are now displayed in an adjoining museum. Is the act of placing objects on the site part of the healing process? This reminds me of roadside memorials and the old Gullah graves of coastal SC and GA. Objects in these situations become vehicles for remembrance and are elevated beyond object status, and the ceremonial placement of them is integral to this.

Green Cemeteries

I visited a unique site in Westminster, South Carolina recently: a sustainable, "green" cemetery. The Ramsey Creek Preserve is a beautiful series of trails in the woods that lead to the rocky creek. Scattered along the trail are the memorials and resting places of people who have decided to be buried in a natural manner, without embalming processes and in biodegradable caskets. The overall feeling is of a nature park, and the memorials are placed in such a way that they do not interrupt the flow of the paths. This is apparently the first such cemetery in the United States, according to Dr. Campbell, the physician who owns the land and oversees the preserve. There are also specific areas set aside for both Muslims and Jews, to encompass their burial requirements. Bodies are buried three and a half feet deep, rather than the traditional six feet, and a mound of earth is created over the area, along with a stone marker. Native plants are relocated from the paths to the mounds periodically, in order to delineate the walking trails without destroying the native vegetation growing there.