In our previous article of this series, we discussed the attributes of carbon drawdown and the actions necessary to achieve this on a global scale. Today, we’ll discuss how we take climate resiliency into consideration when designing outdoor spaces. Climate Resilience aims to enhance capacity and function of liveable cities and communities as a result of humanities’ unintended negative contribution to the environment. Our goals as landscape architects in addition to creating beautiful outdoor environments are to promote environmental health and education, support ecological systems, and reduce resource consumption.
To achieve these goals, landscape architects use design strategies that minimize management emissions, reduce embodied carbon impact, and enhance biodiversity and community initiatives.
One of the most effective ways to promote sustainability in landscape design is to increase the amount of biomass on a site. Biomass is the total mass of living organisms in an ecosystem. Paving reduces the amount of permeable surfaces on a site, leading to increased runoff and soil erosion. Rainwater infiltration involves the use of design strategies (such as self-retaining ponds or rain gardens, flow-thru planters, and bioswales) that promote the infiltration of rainwater into the soil. Deep-rooted plants can help to improve soil health, promote the infiltration of rainwater, reduce the amount of runoff and prevent flooding. By planting more trees, shrubs, and other vegetation on a site, landscape architects can reduce the impact of runoff and prevent erosion while also helping to promote a healthy, diverse ecosystem.
One of the most effective ways to promote sustainability in landscape design is to increase the amount of biomass on a site. Biomass is the total mass of living organisms in an ecosystem. Paving reduces the amount of permeable surfaces on a site, leading to increased runoff and soil erosion. Rainwater infiltration involves the use of design strategies (such as self-retaining ponds or rain gardens, flow-thru planters, and bioswales) that promote the infiltration of rainwater into the soil. Deep-rooted plants can help to improve soil health, promote the infiltration of rainwater, reduce the amount of runoff and prevent flooding. By planting more trees, shrubs, and other vegetation on a site, landscape architects can reduce the impact of runoff and prevent erosion while also helping to promote a healthy, diverse ecosystem.
Landscape architects also focus on enhancing the urban forest canopy in their designs. A healthy urban forest can help to reduce the impact of heat islands, improve air quality, and provide habitat for wildlife.
Functional diversity refers to the variety of ecological roles that plants and animals play in an ecosystem. By promoting functional diversity, landscape architects can create a landscape that supports a wide range of ecological functions, such as pollination, nutrient cycling, and pest control. Other ways to improve diversity is through layering and companion planting. Companion planting is the practice of planting different species together that benefit one another. This approach can help to promote biodiversity, reduce the impact of pests and diseases, and improve soil health.
It's important to find balance in a landscape because overplanting can be a huge issue and waste of resources. Often, stakeholders want an instant landscape at site turnover, however that leads to overcrowding, competition, and a reduction in air circulation that can cause diseases. This speeds up the need for maintenance in a big way, such that things are being pruned at three years that would typically be pruned at five or even eight years, as an example. It’s key for landscape design professionals to work closely with landscape maintenance teams to develop an Integrated Pest Management Plan and fully understand a plant’s width and height at maturity in an effort to significantly minimize management emissions.
By selecting plants that work together in their natural environment, they won’t compete for light, water, or nutrients. When you work with the natural system, you’ll find it easier to cluster similar water needs, reducing the water waste and improving the rate of infiltration.
ASLA (American Society of Landscape Architects) has a 2030 goal to achieve zero stormwater runoff for all new projects through the use of native and low water-use plants, infiltration, and permeable hardscapes.
Permeable materials, such as permeable pavers or porous asphalt, are essential for managing stormwater runoff effectively because they allow rainwater to infiltrate the ground, replenishing groundwater resources and reducing the strain on stormwater infrastructure. These also, in concept, help to recharge aquifers and other sources of groundwater. When percolation rate is low due to compaction or high clay content, these strategies are still important in their demonstrative benefits to showcase how such strategies can help create a more resilient outdoor experience.
In construction, the significance of low impact building materials cannot be overstated. By using locally-sourced materials, landscape architects can reduce the carbon footprint associated with transportation and support the local economy. Locally-sourced materials also blend harmoniously with the surrounding environment, creating a sense of place and connection to the site's context. Even when material is not locally sourced, strategies can be incorporated which can take a material from okay to better. A good example of this is the use of fly ash to reduce cement content in typical concrete paving. Although cement has a high carbon footprint, this footprint can be offset somewhat with the use of fly ash which would otherwise be costly to dispose of.
Moreover, incorporating recycled materials in landscape design not only diverts waste from the landfill, but also provides an opportunity for creativity and resourcefulness. From repurposing wood for decking or mulch to reclaiming centuries old cobblestone and using crushed concrete as a base for pathways, recycled materials add a unique character and sustainable touch to outdoor spaces.By incorporating these low impact building materials, landscape architects can create resilient, environmentally friendly designs that harmonize with nature and site and enhance the well-being of both people and the planet.
Finding the right incentive for your stakeholder to buy into a resilient landscape plan can be a tough part of the job as a landscape architect when you consider the cost of the recommendations we’ve discussed in this post. But you can easily derive tangible value from nature, if needed. From a capitalist perspective, “Recent studies have linked the value of land to the “ecosystem services” it provides: water filtration, soil that produces plants, pollination, etc, equating biodiversity and natural systems to a capital stock like financial, built, or human capital.” (Paulson Institute). Having the ability to quantify the sustainable decisions made on site can help soothe the financial burden your stakeholder might have and there are tools to do this.
“Recent studies have linked the value of land to the “ecosystem services” it provides... equating biodiversity and natural systems to a capital stock like financial, built, or human capital.”
There are two main rating systems for improving the performance of your building and site. Both LEED and SITES aim to advance sustainability in the built environment by providing guidelines, standards, and certifications that encourage environmentally responsible practices. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) provides a framework for designing and operating buildings that minimize their environmental impact and improve occupant well-being. SITES (Sustainable SITES Initiative) is a rating system for landscape design, development, and maintenance that focuses on sustainability and ecological considerations. SITES promotes the use of regenerative practices that enhance the ecological and social value of landscapes, creating more sustainable and resilient environments. Both systems serve as valuable tools for designers, builders, and developers to improve the performance and sustainability of buildings and landscapes while considering the well-being of people and the planet. A key component of SITES and a differentiator between SITES and most LEED certifications, is maintenance. Since landscape is living and ever-changing, maintenance both short term and long term need to be brought into the conversation such that goals established during conceptual design with stakeholder input from all sides can be sustainability achieved and implemented down the line.
There are also calculator-like tools, such as Pathfinder, that encourage climate positive design and help track your site’s output. It encourages the reduction of carbon footprints and sequestration of carbon. What is great about Pathfinder is that it allows analysis during both design and documentation, such that you can get value out of this tool with little inputs (high level thinking / quick studies on materials) and also use it to understand the carbon footprint of a project which is soon to be built or recently built. We haven’t had the chance to truly use this tool for all it can do, but we are certainly excited that tools such as Pathfinder are becoming more common and can be used in conversations with stakeholders who are aiming for a carbon low diet in their projects.
Designing for climate resilience is a crucial task for landscape architects and it involves considering various factors and implementing thoughtful strategies in order to create landscapes that are better equipped to handle climate change. By integrating these considerations and strategies into our practice, we can contribute to a more resilient and equitable world for both people and the environment.
Looking ahead, the next blog post will explore the vital aspects of justice and equity in landscape architecture. It emphasizes the restoration and protection, and equal access of green spaces, allowing nature to thrive in urban infill projects, alternative transportation solutions and the recent trend of actively engaging with Indigenous communities through the concept of Landbacks.
Thomas Rainer: There are no Mulch Circles in the Forest
Landscape Architects Urge Greater Action on Biodiversity Crisis
Create Sustainable and Resilient Land Development Projects using Nature-based Solutions
LEED Rating System
Measure + Improve Our Carbon Impact
Supporting Land Conservation in California
Financing Nature: Closing the Global Biodiversity Financing Gap
In our previous article of this series, we discussed the attributes of carbon drawdown and the actions necessary to achieve this on a global scale. Today, we’ll discuss how we take climate resiliency into consideration when designing outdoor spaces. Climate Resilience aims to enhance capacity and function of liveable cities and communities as a result of humanities’ unintended negative contribution to the environment. Our goals as landscape architects in addition to creating beautiful outdoor environments are to promote environmental health and education, support ecological systems, and reduce resource consumption.
To achieve these goals, landscape architects use design strategies that minimize management emissions, reduce embodied carbon impact, and enhance biodiversity and community initiatives.
One of the most effective ways to promote sustainability in landscape design is to increase the amount of biomass on a site. Biomass is the total mass of living organisms in an ecosystem. Paving reduces the amount of permeable surfaces on a site, leading to increased runoff and soil erosion. Rainwater infiltration involves the use of design strategies (such as self-retaining ponds or rain gardens, flow-thru planters, and bioswales) that promote the infiltration of rainwater into the soil. Deep-rooted plants can help to improve soil health, promote the infiltration of rainwater, reduce the amount of runoff and prevent flooding. By planting more trees, shrubs, and other vegetation on a site, landscape architects can reduce the impact of runoff and prevent erosion while also helping to promote a healthy, diverse ecosystem.
One of the most effective ways to promote sustainability in landscape design is to increase the amount of biomass on a site. Biomass is the total mass of living organisms in an ecosystem. Paving reduces the amount of permeable surfaces on a site, leading to increased runoff and soil erosion. Rainwater infiltration involves the use of design strategies (such as self-retaining ponds or rain gardens, flow-thru planters, and bioswales) that promote the infiltration of rainwater into the soil. Deep-rooted plants can help to improve soil health, promote the infiltration of rainwater, reduce the amount of runoff and prevent flooding. By planting more trees, shrubs, and other vegetation on a site, landscape architects can reduce the impact of runoff and prevent erosion while also helping to promote a healthy, diverse ecosystem.
Landscape architects also focus on enhancing the urban forest canopy in their designs. A healthy urban forest can help to reduce the impact of heat islands, improve air quality, and provide habitat for wildlife.
Functional diversity refers to the variety of ecological roles that plants and animals play in an ecosystem. By promoting functional diversity, landscape architects can create a landscape that supports a wide range of ecological functions, such as pollination, nutrient cycling, and pest control. Other ways to improve diversity is through layering and companion planting. Companion planting is the practice of planting different species together that benefit one another. This approach can help to promote biodiversity, reduce the impact of pests and diseases, and improve soil health.
It's important to find balance in a landscape because overplanting can be a huge issue and waste of resources. Often, stakeholders want an instant landscape at site turnover, however that leads to overcrowding, competition, and a reduction in air circulation that can cause diseases. This speeds up the need for maintenance in a big way, such that things are being pruned at three years that would typically be pruned at five or even eight years, as an example. It’s key for landscape design professionals to work closely with landscape maintenance teams to develop an Integrated Pest Management Plan and fully understand a plant’s width and height at maturity in an effort to significantly minimize management emissions.
By selecting plants that work together in their natural environment, they won’t compete for light, water, or nutrients. When you work with the natural system, you’ll find it easier to cluster similar water needs, reducing the water waste and improving the rate of infiltration.
ASLA (American Society of Landscape Architects) has a 2030 goal to achieve zero stormwater runoff for all new projects through the use of native and low water-use plants, infiltration, and permeable hardscapes.
Permeable materials, such as permeable pavers or porous asphalt, are essential for managing stormwater runoff effectively because they allow rainwater to infiltrate the ground, replenishing groundwater resources and reducing the strain on stormwater infrastructure. These also, in concept, help to recharge aquifers and other sources of groundwater. When percolation rate is low due to compaction or high clay content, these strategies are still important in their demonstrative benefits to showcase how such strategies can help create a more resilient outdoor experience.
In construction, the significance of low impact building materials cannot be overstated. By using locally-sourced materials, landscape architects can reduce the carbon footprint associated with transportation and support the local economy. Locally-sourced materials also blend harmoniously with the surrounding environment, creating a sense of place and connection to the site's context. Even when material is not locally sourced, strategies can be incorporated which can take a material from okay to better. A good example of this is the use of fly ash to reduce cement content in typical concrete paving. Although cement has a high carbon footprint, this footprint can be offset somewhat with the use of fly ash which would otherwise be costly to dispose of.
Moreover, incorporating recycled materials in landscape design not only diverts waste from the landfill, but also provides an opportunity for creativity and resourcefulness. From repurposing wood for decking or mulch to reclaiming centuries old cobblestone and using crushed concrete as a base for pathways, recycled materials add a unique character and sustainable touch to outdoor spaces.By incorporating these low impact building materials, landscape architects can create resilient, environmentally friendly designs that harmonize with nature and site and enhance the well-being of both people and the planet.
Finding the right incentive for your stakeholder to buy into a resilient landscape plan can be a tough part of the job as a landscape architect when you consider the cost of the recommendations we’ve discussed in this post. But you can easily derive tangible value from nature, if needed. From a capitalist perspective, “Recent studies have linked the value of land to the “ecosystem services” it provides: water filtration, soil that produces plants, pollination, etc, equating biodiversity and natural systems to a capital stock like financial, built, or human capital.” (Paulson Institute). Having the ability to quantify the sustainable decisions made on site can help soothe the financial burden your stakeholder might have and there are tools to do this.
“Recent studies have linked the value of land to the “ecosystem services” it provides... equating biodiversity and natural systems to a capital stock like financial, built, or human capital.”
There are two main rating systems for improving the performance of your building and site. Both LEED and SITES aim to advance sustainability in the built environment by providing guidelines, standards, and certifications that encourage environmentally responsible practices. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) provides a framework for designing and operating buildings that minimize their environmental impact and improve occupant well-being. SITES (Sustainable SITES Initiative) is a rating system for landscape design, development, and maintenance that focuses on sustainability and ecological considerations. SITES promotes the use of regenerative practices that enhance the ecological and social value of landscapes, creating more sustainable and resilient environments. Both systems serve as valuable tools for designers, builders, and developers to improve the performance and sustainability of buildings and landscapes while considering the well-being of people and the planet. A key component of SITES and a differentiator between SITES and most LEED certifications, is maintenance. Since landscape is living and ever-changing, maintenance both short term and long term need to be brought into the conversation such that goals established during conceptual design with stakeholder input from all sides can be sustainability achieved and implemented down the line.
There are also calculator-like tools, such as Pathfinder, that encourage climate positive design and help track your site’s output. It encourages the reduction of carbon footprints and sequestration of carbon. What is great about Pathfinder is that it allows analysis during both design and documentation, such that you can get value out of this tool with little inputs (high level thinking / quick studies on materials) and also use it to understand the carbon footprint of a project which is soon to be built or recently built. We haven’t had the chance to truly use this tool for all it can do, but we are certainly excited that tools such as Pathfinder are becoming more common and can be used in conversations with stakeholders who are aiming for a carbon low diet in their projects.
Designing for climate resilience is a crucial task for landscape architects and it involves considering various factors and implementing thoughtful strategies in order to create landscapes that are better equipped to handle climate change. By integrating these considerations and strategies into our practice, we can contribute to a more resilient and equitable world for both people and the environment.
Looking ahead, the next blog post will explore the vital aspects of justice and equity in landscape architecture. It emphasizes the restoration and protection, and equal access of green spaces, allowing nature to thrive in urban infill projects, alternative transportation solutions and the recent trend of actively engaging with Indigenous communities through the concept of Landbacks.
Thomas Rainer: There are no Mulch Circles in the Forest
Landscape Architects Urge Greater Action on Biodiversity Crisis
Create Sustainable and Resilient Land Development Projects using Nature-based Solutions
LEED Rating System
Measure + Improve Our Carbon Impact
Supporting Land Conservation in California
Financing Nature: Closing the Global Biodiversity Financing Gap
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