Sustainable Landscape Architecture - Guidelines and Performance Benchmarks
Congratulations to the Sustainable Sites Initiative for producing the best publication I have seen on sustainable landscape architecture, planning and design. They are inviting comments and you can use this link to download a free copy. The Sustainable Sites Initiative is an interdisciplinary partnership, led by the American Society of Landscape Architects, the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, and the United States Botanic Garden. Good though the report is, my feeling is that the scientists have had a greater say in its production than the designers. The general public and the design community will only make a significant committment to sustainable landscape design when it looks right. It needs to become a ‘must-have-can’t-live-without’ commodity. Never having found much use for blue jeans, I am convinced that people buy 501s for their looks. I also suspect that people wear stilettos more for style than because they are so durable, comfortable and sustainable. One of the ASLA contributions to the partnership should have been to ensure the report is packed with must-have images. Even at this late stage, ASLA should find some far-superior images for the cover. I love cycling and cyclists – but I can’t see how they help sell sustainable landscape design. Ditto with wild flowers and riverside parkways. They exemplify good planning – but not exciting design.
I suppose scientists concern themselves with what we need to have (the ecosystem services model) while designers have the luxury of concerning themselves with what we want to have (the exciting design model). Of course, if we desire what is also good for us, it makes everything a lot easier for everyone!
i’ve always found vegetation more exciting when its untamed rather than controlled. perhaps there is a way to make sustainable planting more ‘sellable’ to the public. anyway, thanx for the link Tom, i’ll definitly be downloading this!
Not exactly sure what you mean by untamed vegetation? Do you mean wilderness places like Cradle Mountains in Tasmania? [http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Tasmania/blog-21696.html]