In our previous two parts of the this series I have explored the my definition of sustainability and discussed whether green landscape = sustainable landscape architecture.
The next subject of the Sustainable landscape architecture series is Can Techonology and Materials create Sustainable Landscape Architecture?
When referring to technology and materials I am thinking about the use of technology such as solar and wind powered lights, underground water storage systems, smart lights, LED’s, drainage systems, sensors, etc and when speaking of materials I am referring to permeable paving, paving substitutes, gravels, local materials and other such elements that are often referred to in project summaries or blurbs that state a project is sustainable. Well, this is where I am starting to have a real hard time taking landscape architects and built environment professionals seriously. Often, I read built environment professionals referring to technology and materials used in a project thus making the project – ‘Sustainable’. Can technology and materials alone make a space or landscape sustainable? In short, no but as a design tool they can be very powerful in creating a sustainable landscape.
Technology and Materials in landscape architecture have come along way in the last 20 years with the research and development of various products to enhance the landscape. Some may say that people have been creating sustainable landscapes for centuries using sub-surface drainage or natural materials for paving. However, I think that it is becoming more apparent that landscape architects have more technical tools than ever before to create sustainable landscape but often lack the knowledge, training or budgets to implement the ideas fully.
Understanding that we have the tools is the only part of making a landscape sustainable and we need to remember not to get lost in idea of the technology or material as making a sustainable landscape but understand that sustainable landscape architecture is about the design process. Landscapes are often labelled sustainable because they used a certain technology or material or achieved a certain level of certification, but in reality the aren’t fully sustainable.
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Sustainable Landscape Architecture Part 4: Can standards and certification create sustainable landscape?