Kotzen, Benz ORCID: 0000-0003-3522-0460 (2012) The power of landscape: the power of the landscape architect. In: Peer Reviewed Proceedings of ECLAS 2012 Conference. The Power of Landscape at Warsaw University of Life Sciences - SGGW. Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Warsaw, Poland, pp. 185-189. ISBN 9788393588404

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Abstract

This paper discusses three aspects of power. Firstly the power of landscape architects to influence projects. LA’s are often seen to be ‘at the bottom of the food chain’ when it comes to large scale development and design matters. However, my experience working with Arup International on some of the largest development projects in Europe such as Stratford City illustrates that landscape architects can have enormous power in the decision making process and the impact of development regarding location, look, scale and content. Stratford City is a mixed-use development project in Stratford, London. The site includes new parks, pedestrianised and ecological areas. The talk will illustrate how the author (the Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment [LVIA] project landscape architect) had to convince the developers that the imposed scale of the Stratford City project was misguided. Additionally the proposed expansion of the proposals immediately adjacent to railway lines was thwarted through a study of precedents.

The above discussion is based on the fact that the landscape profession has grasped the field of LVIA and is also intimately involved amongst other things in the aspects of ecological, acoustic, civil engineering and hydrological design. Thus the 2nd part of this paper discusses how the landscape architect is a necessary force for good and how the fields of opportunity are expanding. These fields will provide additional power to the landscape profession particularly with green roofs and urban agriculture and particularly aquaponics. I argue that landscape architects must get involved in ‘urban ag’ as this is a key part of the Green Cities’ agenda.

The third aspect of power is due to LAs having a holistic and broad view of the world, bringing other disciplines together. This will be discussed in the light of the speaker as Chair of the newly established EU funded COST project on the creation of the ‘Arid Lands Restoration and Combat of Desertification: Setting Up a Drylands and Desert Restoration Hub’ commencing in June 2012.

Item Type:	Conference Proceedings
Title of Proceedings:	Peer Reviewed Proceedings of ECLAS 2012 Conference. The Power of Landscape at Warsaw University of Life Sciences - SGGW
Additional Information:	[1] Paper presented at ECLAS 2012 CONFERENCE - THE POWER OF LANDSCAPE, held 19-22 September 2012, Warsaw, Poland.
Uncontrolled Keywords:	landscape architecture, Stratford City, urban agriculture, aquaponics, green cities, green roofs, desert restoration
Subjects:	N Fine Arts > NA Architecture
Pre-2014 Departments:	School of Architecture, Design & Construction > Sustainable Landscapes Research Group School of Architecture, Design & Construction
Related URLs:	Publisher
Last Modified:	14 Oct 2016 09:22
URI:	http://gala.gre.ac.uk/id/eprint/9004

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