Numerous scholars are outlining design approaches to reweave natural and cultural landscapes together to restore and enhance the quality of both. Typically they identify the following exigent issues within the contemporary landscape which need solving: fragmented, dysfunctional ecosystems;¹ low wildlife and plant diversity; resource consumptive design; divorce of the human/cultural environment from natural ecosystems; infrequent human interaction with the ecosystem; and lost landscape legibility and regional identity. Strategies to solve these issues are varied, however most strategies include the following: reestablish ecosystem balance and function; increase wildlife and plant diversity; enhance and promote regional identity and landscape legibility; reconnect human landscapes with ecosystems; promote human interaction with the ecosystem; use nature as a design model; and redefine aesthetics. Many writers suggest combining identified components within a single design scheme for successful amelioration of cultural and ecosystem damage. Alternative drainageway design projects are typically concerned with ecosystem restoration, enhancement of regional identity features, and civic space design within public landscapes. As such, this design genre offers an idea] venue to actualize criteria outlined by scholars: restore ecosystem health, reconnect people to ecosystems, and promote regional identity. However many alternative drainageway design projects address only ecosystem restoration and ignore public space, while others address public space to the detriment of ecological balance. The potential of alternative drainageway design to address multiple issues at once is tremendous, yet are there existing projects which match demands set forth by scholars? This thesis seeks to answer that question by critical evaluation of a series of built alternative drainageway design projects. Criteria identified by scholars in the literature review are used as a framework to critically analyze and topically discuss selected projects. Because the same set of criteria is shared by reputed scholars, the derived criteria serve as a pertinent benchmark to evaluate the projects. Discussion and comparative analysis illustrates whether the projects embody identified criteria and identify if any projects meet rigorous multiple demands framed by scholars. By critically analyzing and identifying successful, multiple-solution projects, this thesis provides germane information to develop a foundation for twenty-first century drainageway design. The derived framework offers clear stepping stones for designers, based upon current theory and built projects, to effectively address pressing cultural and environmental issues of the late twentieth and early twenty-first century landscape. The derived framework thus forwards a methodology to re-weave natural and cultural landscapes together for the benefit both. / Master of Landscape Architecture

published_or_final_version / Architecture / Master / Master of Landscape Architecture

Thesis (M. L. A.)--University of Hong Kong, 2009. / Includes special report study entitled: The analysis of temporary market in Hong Kong. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.L.A.)--University of Hong Kong, 1995. / Includes special study report entitled: Solar applications to landscape design. Includes bibliographical references.

published_or_final_version / Architecture / Master / Master of Landscape Architecture

Thesis (M.L.A.)--University of Hong Kong, 1995. / Includes special study report entitled : Solar applications to landscape design. Includes bibliographical references. Also available in print.

Sustainable Built Environments Senior Capstone Project / This thesis attempts to analyze the prevalence of native and non-native trees used in distinct Tucson residential subdivisions, the total number of trees in each neighborhood, as well as the dominant landscape style and tree species present. The overall concept is to make comparative analyses with the collected data and identify trends within the context of historic development, landscape aesthetic ideals, and environmental resource sustainability. This analysis will serve as a tool for community discussion and ultimately allow for recommendations to be made with the goal of increasing the sustainability of residential landscapes through the benefits of native trees.

Golf course design, construction and maintenance began as a reflection of the natural landscape. Over time, however, golf course designs and settings sometimes have taken on artificial or unrealistic characteristics. Characteristics such as greens that can be mechanically moved to vary the difficulty of play (Hilton Head Country Club), traditional golf courses developed in the desert, and TPC (Tournament Players Championship) golf courses designed to accommodate additional spectators while limiting vegetation. Most of today's manicured courses also depend on the application of inorganic pesticides and fertilizers, deemed more efficient, but potentially harmful to golfers and the environment.This study examines three things: construction of a nine-hole golf course on a specified site without drastically changing current or natural conditions; on-going restoration efforts by a local area group/organization on that site; and the successful incorporation of additional user groups into the golf course setting.Through the use of four current site categories - Current Vegetation Survey, Slope Survey, Soil Survey, and Potential Hydrology Survey - determinations were made forproper hole location, potential wetland creation, adequate soil conditions for fairway creation, and vegetation succession. Each category was drafted on a clear 24" X 36" mylar sheet with the proposed site boundary drawn at 1"=200'-0" scale (for practical purposes concerning this creative project, the four 24" X 36" mylar sheets were reduced to an 8 1/2" x 11" format.) All four sheets (categories) were layed on top of each other in no particular order to produce a credible guide/map overlay of current site conditions of this sustainable and regenerative golf course design (see Appendix G, A58-A62 for the map overlay process used.) Location and design of the nine fairway holes successfully reflected all but a few of the standard golf layout practices. For example, golf holes to be laid out in a north/south direction, the inclusion of 'dog legs' and hole hazards, avoidance of steep slopes, and adherence to accepted lengths and sizes for greens, fairway holes and distances between holes.Creation of this unique golf course design was also contingent upon its accessibility to additional user groups and reduced golf car usage - unless golfers are physically challenged. These user groups include joggers, walkers, fishermen, cross-country skiers, campers, and hunters (when deemed appropriate.) The final Nine-Hole Golf Course Design Layout sheet included these additional user groups without intentionally interfering with the golfing activity. Thefinal design suggests adequate safety for those additional user groups according to the common precautions taken by golf courses. Such precautions include the location of signage displays to inform golfers of golf course safety policies, and buffer areas to protect persons in areas deemed most susceptible to stray golf shots. Standard golf course safety policies include: play at your own risk, the golfing establishment is not responsible/liable for personal injury induced by stray golf shots, and no joggers or walkers allowed on golf course. Further design study, perhaps, is needed to prevent any remote chance of injury from stray golf balls.To garner reaction towards the more sustainable/regenerative golf course, golfers self-described as average to good were asked to fill out a survey/questionnaire form. Approximately eighty forms were sent via mail and hand delivered to golfing establishments in Muncie, Indiana. Thirty-three responses were received. Results from the survey/questionnaire suggested that golfers would accept most of the aspects concerning natural/organic maintenance practices and the limited use of golf cars, but were concerned with the possibility of slower play due to increased roughs, wetlands and safety hazards. The survey/questionnaire also revealed that golfers had a negative response toward additional costs associated with organic maintenance practices and with safety for additional user groups. Nevertheless, respondents overall were very interested in ideas promoting a more ecologically safe golfing activity. Although the golfers who responded said they would participate on such a golf course setting, until such a golf course is designed and built, it remains to be seen whether they would accept such a venue. / Department of Landscape Architecture

A tese aqui proposta resgata a ecogênese a partir da obra paisagística de Fernando Chacel, que desenvolveu a regeneração de paisagens pela recuperação de qualidades ecossistêmicas originais. Sinaliza para a pertinência de aliá-la aos conceitos de lugar, resiliência e transdisciplinaridade. A trandisciplinaridade é tratada, com base na concepção de Basarab Nicolescu, como uma abordagem científica que articula os saberes que estão entre, através e além das disciplinas. A pesquisa utiliza como metodologia a pesquisa bibliográfica qualitativa e na análise de dados, emprega a hermenêutica dialética. Conforme Maria Cecília Minayo, a hermenêutica envolve: compreensão como categoria metodológica; liberdade, necessidade, força, consciência histórica, todo e partes, como categorias filosóficas fundantes; e, significado, símbolo, intencionalidade e empatia como balizas do pensamento. A dialética é desenvolvida por meio da articulação das ideias de crítica, de negação, de oposição, de mudança, de processo, de contradição, de movimento e de transformação da natureza e da realidade social. Nessa dimensão reflexiva, esta investigação busca a ressignificação da ecogênese inicialmente apresentada e a sua complementação na forma de uma ecogênese transdisciplinar. Sugere-se com esse percurso a positividade e a concretude de um redesenho do conceito de ecogênese como possível referência para as concepções paisagísticas nas cidades e como forma de criar lugares capazes de qualificar a vida urbana, com diferentes repercussões na relação entre seres e ambiente. / This dissertation rescues the concept of Ecogenesis from Fernando Chacel’s work, who developed landscape architecture regeneration method through original ecosystem qualities recovery, comprising the concepts of place, resilience and transdisciplinarity. According to Basarab Nicolescu, trandisciplinarity is dealt as a scientific approach that links types of knowledge that are between, through and beyond disciplines. The investigation work uses as methodology qualitative bibliographic research, and in the data analysis, dialectic hermeneutics. According to Minayo, hermeneutics involve: understanding as methodologic category; liberty, necessity, strength, historical awareness, parts and whole, as ultimate philosophical categories; and meaning, symbol, intentionality and empathy as landmarks of thought. Dialectics is developed through linking the ideas of critics, denial, opposition, changing, process, contradiction, movement and transformation of nature and social reality. In this reflexive dimension, this work pursues the resignification of ecogenesis as initially presented and its complementation as Transdisciplinary Ecogenesis. This way, it is suggested that positivity and concreteness of a redesigning in ecogenesis concept can be a possible reference for urban landscape design and a way to create places capable of qualifying urban life, with different repercussions in the relationship among beings and environment.

The focus of this study is the design of a public open space on the Mutha River corridor at Pune in India. Like any other river in India, the Mutha River has religious significance to the region. The river has influenced the location and development of the city and featured prominently in the history of the region. Most of the historic heritage values of the city are along the river and are located in the study area. Though the river has been abused by damming of the catchment, removal of vegetation for urbanization, polluted by human and industrial waste and channelization, it still provides opportunities to be developed as a recreational resource. Insights from a study of water bodies in Canberra, Australia, where the design of the water bodies for urban recreation encompass ideas of sustainable design, combined with an appreciation of the heritage of Indian design, are used for the river corridor development at Pune. The proposed development of the river corridor to include parkland is designed to provide a recreational open space for the community as well as improve the overall health and management of the Mutha River corridor. The proposal will also try and achieve long-term sustainability of the river. The design considers hydrological, morphological, ecological, water quality, aesthetic, vegetation, recreation and cultural issues. A more naturalistic channel as an alternative to a hard engineering solution is proposed. It provides protection from flood and erosion hazards, addresses social concerns like environment and health, and provides a more attractive landscape in the high-density section of the city