Nowadays, territorial spatial planning and landscape architecture face a perplexing paradox: research in these realms often directly adapts the research paradigms and methods from other disciplines, gradually losing its connection with planning and design practices. To address this dilemma, this article advocates for the strengthening of holism research by acknowledging the disparity between the demands of holistic decision-making in planning and design practice and the reductionist framework of modern scientific research. It suggests three ways in response to the disparity: enhancing the systematic extraction of practical experiences, strengthening the holistic exploration of system science, and promoting the synthesis of interdisciplinary knowledge.
Enhancing the nighttime environment of urban green spaces to improve visitor's experiences plays a pivotal role in realizing the full functional potential of these spaces and promoting the health and well-being of residents. However, the predominant focus of designers tends to be on artificial illumination within nightscapes, often overshadowing the consideration of natural lights such as moonlight. In this study, a total of 44 photographs of nightscapes with and without artificial lights at half- and full-moon nights respectively were taken using digital cameras at 11 sample sites of urban green spaces. Scored by college students, these photographs were assessed according to visitors' experience in five dimensions. The results indicated that at both half- and full-moon nights, the average scores of the five experience dimensions in artificial lights were higher compared with moonlight conditions. However, at full-moon night, no significant difference in aesthetic preference, relaxation, and interestingness between artificial light and moonlight conditions was found; whereas, in terms of safety and willingness to visit, the scores under artificial light condition were significantly higher than those under moonlight. At half-moon night, there was no significant difference in aesthetic preference between artificial light and moonlight conditions, but the other four experience dimensions were significantly higher under the artificial light condition. These findings provide a theoretical basis to support the reintroduction of moonlight into urban green spaces.
● A comparative study on differences in visitors’ experiences of nightscapes within urban green spaces between artificial light and moonlight conditions ● At half-moon night, there is no significant difference in aesthetic preference between artificial light and moonlight conditions ● At full-moon night, there is no significant difference in aesthetic preference, relaxation, and interestingness between artificial light and moonlight conditions ● It is promising to introduce moonlight into nightscapes of urban green spaces as a partial substitute for artificial illumination
Since the initiation in 2002, the Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) have attracted widespread attention from the international heritage community. Although the total number of GIAHS projects in China has ranked among the top in the world, most of these heritage sites still face challenges of insufficient value interpretation and presentation, as well as unsustainable protection and utilization. This research draws on the concept of rural environmental museum to establish a multi-scale protection framework for Mulberry-dyke & Fish-pond GIAHS. Taking the mulberry-dyke & fish-pond agricultural heritage in Digang Village of Huzhou City in Zhejiang Province as an example, layered protection strategies were proposed considering its current status. At the macro-scale, delineate the heritage interpretation scope according to the refined regional cultural identity; at the meso-scale, build a graded facility system for heritage value display according to the determined display sequence; at the micro-scale, enhance the sense of place in daily landscapes and integrate daily community activities into heritage spaces. This path from heritage value interpretation to spatial planning can provide reference for related protection practice of other GIAHS projects.
● Theoretically established a generally applicable framework for the protection of Mulberry-dyke & Fish-pond GIAHS ● Verified the practicality and effectiveness of this framework in protecting GIAHS in China ● Explored a methodology suitable for the connection between value interpretation and spatial planning of GIAHS in China, while expanding the application breadth and depth of the protection paradigm
A lack of safe drinking water supply is the cause of a number of waterborne diseases such as cholera. Even nowadays, an estimated 100,000 people die from cholera each year. Since the early/mid-19th century relatively simple but highly effective engineering solutions were developed that helped provide clean drinking water. In 1892 the City of Hamburg, Germany was hit by a cholera epidemic and more than 8,000 people died within a few weeks. As a consequence, sedimentation and filtration systems to provide clean drinking water were built. They were in operation for nearly a century and subsequently became disused in recent decades. Since then, a number of proposals including large mixed-use developments were put forward and over time adapted to the changing needs to offer educational and recreational services, as well as enhancing natural assets. While the historic buildings of high heritage value were conserved, the sedimentation and filtration systems in their landscape setting transformed through natural succession combined with design interventions into attractive and valuable habitats. In addition, some of the former sedimentation basins were found to be the most suitable locations to compensate for the environmental impact of the highly disputed dredging of the Elbe River and were redesigned to provide a new habitat for a rare and endemic plant species.
● Just 150 years ago, there was essentially no infrastructure in place to provide a clean and safe water supply, which is regarded as standard today ● Unique projects for the adaptive transformation of historical technical infrastructure over a period of more than 150 years address new needs and uses through design interventions towards blue and green infrastructure ● As legally mandated compensation mitigating environmental impacts caused by dredging the Elbe River, the redesigned former sedimentation ponds function as a new habitat for endemic species
The capital of Indonesia is planned to be relocated to East Kalimantan, Borneo Island starting 2024. Borneo Island is treasured for its vast biodiversity and enormous rainforest ecosystem. Entitled "Nagara Rimba Nusa, " the design of the core area of the new capital city Ibu Kota Nusantara, brought the idea of building a city with the wisdom of Indonesian Culture and Forests. Taking forest ecosystem as the foundation and core, the design approach reflects urban forming process, responsive design, and nature-inspired architecture. This article strives to unfold the design principles and inventions dealing with the complex interlaced relations between the city and the forest, which reflect the ideas and literature of landscape urbanism. Landscape urbanism is portrayed as a development agent and a way of thinking in the design strategies for Kawasan Inti Pusat Pemerintahan (KIPP), to embed the urban form into Borneo's forest ecosystem. Through this perspective and innovative design approaches, Nagara Rimba Nusa creates an ideal city that fits in the context of forest environment.
● Integrates Indonesia’s local wisdom of nature and landscape urbanism in creating a sustainable urban environment for the new capital city ● Proposes a new urban morphology allowing the interplay of built environments within the forest landscape and act as one organism ● Proposes a multi-layered compact city with the 10-minute city model and green mobility oriented transportation system
A development of the Landscape Architecture education process and profession itself in last twenty years in Europe is presented in the article from the teacher's perspective. It starts with a short description of the development of European schools of Landscape Architecture in different academic environments and a diversity of study programs. Then it briefly explains the efforts of the European Council of Landscape Architecture Schools to unify study programs in Landscape Architecture that culminates in an initiative for recognition of professional qualifications for landscape architects in Europe. The complexity of the study problems, the transition between scales, the ongoing formation of the planning process in the landscape design studio, and some other more practical issues are discussed at the end of the article.
● Reviews the development of European Landscape Architecture study programs in the last twenty years ● Reviews the origins of landscape architecture schools in different academic environments ● Dissects recognition of professional qualifications for landscape architects in Europe ● Proposes that the complexity of study problems defines teaching process in landscape design studio
“Children’s Book and Learning Games on Indiana Native Plants & Habitats,” a 2023 ASLA student project winner, is an effort by five landscape architecture students to convey to a young audience two important things we learn in college: native plants, and the right plant in the right place. By integrating this knowledge into children’s early education, dramatic changes can be catalyzed in local ecosystems and networks and promote healthier habitats. The well-designed book and thought-out games not only allow children to grow and engage with landscape design, but also simplify landscape planning and decision-making. The process and the final product are innovative applications of knowledge-based systems to spread awareness and educate young people.