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Orchid habitat has been destroyed for centuries and as a result many species, some not even discovered yet, have been lost. From the orchid hunters of the 17th and 18th centuries to the deforestation and reckless collection of orchid species today, orchids and their habitats have continued to be at risk. Efforts such as in situ conservation, an approach to protecting orchids in their natural habitat, and ex situ conservation, the protection and propagation of orchids outside their natural habitat in places such as seed banks, laboratories, herbariums, and botanic gardens, have helped to preserve orchid species all over the world. This work includes the design of a botanic garden centred on orchids and their conservation. Situated in Ecuador, the garden design incorporates research, education, and conservation in a way that is inspiring and delightful to the visiting public. Orchids are featured in the design of the garden, and the conservation of this plant family is emphasized. A history of botanic gardens explores the evolution of this specific type of garden, providing a background for modern-day design. Case study analyses of contemporary botanic gardens provides additional information and insight into the changing role of botanic gardens in the 21st century. This Practicum explores the creation of an educational garden that is also entertaining and challenges the notion of what a botanic garden is today and what it can be in the future.

Orchid habitat has been destroyed for centuries and as a result many species, some not even discovered yet, have been lost. From the orchid hunters of the 17th and 18th centuries to the deforestation and reckless collection of orchid species today, orchids and their habitats have continued to be at risk. Efforts such as in situ conservation, an approach to protecting orchids in their natural habitat, and ex situ conservation, the protection and propagation of orchids outside their natural habitat in places such as seed banks, laboratories, herbariums, and botanic gardens, have helped to preserve orchid species all over the world. This work includes the design of a botanic garden centred on orchids and their conservation. Situated in Ecuador, the garden design incorporates research, education, and conservation in a way that is inspiring and delightful to the visiting public. Orchids are featured in the design of the garden, and the conservation of this plant family is emphasized. A history of botanic gardens explores the evolution of this specific type of garden, providing a background for modern-day design. Case study analyses of contemporary botanic gardens provides additional information and insight into the changing role of botanic gardens in the 21st century. This Practicum explores the creation of an educational garden that is also entertaining and challenges the notion of what a botanic garden is today and what it can be in the future.

Thesis (M.S.)--West Virginia University, 2008. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains ix, 184 p. : col. ill. Vita. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 155-156).

Creating sanctuary within an inhospitable world is one of man’s inherent needs. Even in the desert, Man’s sole means of survival is determined by whether he can find oasis: a fertile place within the vast expanse of the dry desert which provides the contrast of water and shade. In medieval times, Man feared the unknown world of the dense wilderness and used the enclosed garden – hortus conclusus- as a means to protect himself from nature and to create his own internal world of safety. Today, in the 21st century, Man is contending with the harsh conditions of the contemporary urban landscape: “a hybrid landscape in which the distinction between city and environs is erased” (Aben and de Wit 1999:250). which continues to develop horizontally and vertically. This contributes to presenting and creating fragmented and unstable conditions, which need to be addressed. Rob Aben and Saskia de Wit (1999) are authors of the book, The Enclosed Garden: History and Development of the Hortus Conclusis and its Reintroduction into the present-day urban landscape. Both writers believe that if the urban wilderness of today can be likened to the feared natural wilderness of the middle ages, then the hortus conclusus or enclosed garden typology could serve as a landscape design tool which provides man with sanctuary and relief from the city. The enclosed garden typology has withstood and transcended a variety of geographical, climactic and cultural conditions over many centuries. Its adaptability and survival lies in its ability to be the “mediator between dwelling and nature, building and landscape” (Baker 2012:22). Despite its relevance as an architectural and landscape design tool, it is not commonly considered for use in the present day practice of landscape architecture. Nor is it used by designers to solve the problems which exist in the current urban landscape. It is for this reason that Aben and de wit (1999) have thoroughly documented and analysed the development of the enclosed garden typology from its time of origin, to the present day. In addition to this, they have devised four new theories of enclosed garden typology (based on historical precedent), which they believe, provide suitable spatial design principles which can be applied to the contemporary urban landscape. The theory of enclosed gardens has validity due to the fact that it critiques the current urban environment. Investigating and testing this unfamiliar theory of enclosed gardens is thus a relevant topic for landscape architectural research. This dissertation will perform a series of spatial design experiments which will apply and test these theories in order to determine the enclosed garden’s relevance as a successful urban landscape design tool and whether it should be used in the context of Johannesburg’s open space system. / Dissertation (ML(Prof))--University of Pretoria, 2014. / Architecture / ML(Prof) / Unrestricted

As more schools incorporate learning gardens into their campuses to help educate school children on nutrition (Parmer and Stuempler, 2009), connect students to nature (Bucher, 2017), and grow healthy food; there is a need to better understand how the physical design and components of the garden facilitate the use and programming of the gardens for teaching. There is little research on how the physical characteristics of a garden influence those benefits and challenges. This study seeks to assess the usefulness of an intentionally designed garden typology that has been implemented at three different school sites. By documenting the differences between the three gardens and surveying faculty and staff, the study identifies how the gardens and their components are used by teachers. The results indicate that the intentionally designed gardens are used for many purposes, have successful seating components, and reduce overall maintenance for teachers responsible for the gardens.

Can a hospital be more than a center for treatment? Can it initiate a sense of healing in the individual as well as the community? The hospital in its early form was a facility meant to house the sick in ancient Egyptian temples. Prayers, sacrifices and dream interpretations were used in the healing process as well as quintessential medical procedures such as opium for pain and stitching of wounds. Monasteries were later established to accommodate travelers, the indigent and the sick. Hospitals were constructed next to Religious institutions but also utilized house calls for the wealthy class. Monasteries were also organized in cloisters which were places of retreats from the mundane. The idea of hospitals today is to diagnose, treat and heal patients which has proven to be effective with most diseases being prevented and eradicated entirely from our day to day lives. However, these conditions aren't as similar in Malawi. The origin of the word hospital is derived from the Latin word "hospitalia" meaning a place of refuge for guests and strangers. The need for effectively functioning hospital in Malawi is apparent, but the need to create a hospital that heals and creates a sense of community and tranquility for both the guest and wondering traveler is paramount. / Master of Architecture

When the Astor Court / Ming Room was built at Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York in 1980, it attracted visitors from all over the world. Replicating the Master of Nets Garden, added in UNESCO World Heritage List in 1997, it was constructed in China, and shipped and assembled here. This first exported garden of the Peony Court is the only part of the garden suitable for the second floor site's limited load capacity. Standing in the Astor Court enclosed with twenty foot high walls around it and under the glass skylight, there's something missing of the natural condition; that is, the weathering test of rain and wind. Standing in the original garden, especially during the rain, there's a better understanding of the architecture. For example, the Cold Spring Pavilion has a soaring roof as an attractive feature and while people sketch from various corners, no one gets inside this half pavilion to sit. In the original garden, the Cold Spring Pavilion was placed as a spot to view a rainwater detail intricately designed. This detail reflects the water principles of Chinese garden design with the wholesome idea of respecting water and thus treating it with grace. This detail transforms the stain of weathering into a graceful architectural detail embracing the aesthetics of rainwater in 18th century Chinese culture. This thesis tells the story of a series of intimate rainwater details in the Master of Nets Garden in Suzhou, China, known as the oriental Venice, where water is the essence of the culture. Originally built in 1174, re-built in 1765, it was last renovated in 1958 after it was donated to the government in 1950. It has withstood years of vicissitude. This paper argues for a connection between understanding rain and architectural design including aspects of space, material, technology, tectonic detail, aesthetic idea and the cultural meaning of rain. The ideology of rain as one aspect of Neo-Confucianism "Views of Nature of China" developed by Zhu Xi (Chu Hsi) (1130-1200) has continued to influence Chinese philosophy. Research included critical readings of the garden literature, 12th century Chinese philosophy, and garden poems and paintings of the time. The essay includes an abbreviated garden history with an overview of architectural detailing for rain in Eastern and Western architecture from ancient times until today. An analysis of ancient Chinese characters for rain and garden are noted as a reflection of cultural ideas. Discussions with peer researchers, an architect practicing in Suzhou today, a Suzhou garden photographer and the Mayor of Suzhou support this research. By examine every single drop of water along this fascinating series of details, missing in the Astor Court, this particular case study shows the presence of rainwater moving with the path we take from building to building in the garden, as a look back to nature. If we design a sensitive path based on understanding the fundamentals of nature, it will give us pleasure. / Master of Science

The primary objective of my research was to test the hypothesis that the sperm release mechanism in the garden snail, Cantareus aspersus , is under nervous control. It was discovered that separate branches of the intestinal nerve innervate the seminal vesicle and the distal ovotestis duct, and sperm release from the seminal vesicle was achieved by electrical stimulation of this nerve. Stimulation of the penis nerve, right cerebropedal connective nerve, right mesocerebrum, visceral ganglion, and the everted reproductive organs elicited similar responses. Neurobiotin fills of the penis nerve (towards the penis) revealed putative sensory receptors at the base of the penis and within the genital atrium. Spermatophores from mated snails whose reproductive organs were treated with the local anaesthetic Lidocaine weighed significantly less than spermatophores from mated control snails, suggesting that mechanical stimulation during copulation triggers sperm release from the seminal vesicle.

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