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Masters by Project Research Proposal Landscape Architecture

Grace Warne #138847

Principle Supervisors: Daniel Irving, Matthew Bradbury Associate Supervisors: Ken Simpson, Will Fletcher

Title: The Sustainable Industrial Landscape

Introduction: There is a need for increased sustainable industrial practice as the world faces environmental and economic challenges(Sandler, 1997; van der Leeuw, 2012). This project provides an example of ecologically-based landscape interventions within an industrial context, with an aim to demonstrate the role of landscape architecture in supporting ecological health while still designing for highquality physical and social experience. Industry provides for the production of commodities and the provision of products and services which are part of contemporary society ("Pollution Issues: Industry," 2013).There are two classifications of industry-light and heavy. Industrial practices are increasingly the focus of discussion around global sustainability due to both perceived and real harmful environmental effects. Sustainable industrial practice generally works to limit waste, reduce use of limited resources and reduce overall environmental impact, typically through the use of ecology, planning and technology (Evans, 2009). Landscape architects are often interested in the field of environmental ecology especially as related to the landscape and built environment. This interest primarily revolves around the study of patterns, processes and interactions within the natural environment and how these can be used within design to improve sustainability. Landscape architects typically use landscape ecology and urban ecology which focus on human interactions and patterns as well ecological health. Design techniques that utilise ecology sometimes referred to as ecological landscape interventions can positively alter or change current environmental conditions within a site. Ecology and industry can evoke different experiential reactions; sometimes these are positive and at other times negative. The experiential qualities of an environment are often important to landscape architects. Sound, touch, aesthetics, social engagement and other human /landscape interactions work together to create an experience for the people within a space. These help to generate reactions to an environment, though this will also vary based on the individual. Social engagement and interactions have also been demonstrated to affect physical and mental health in work environments (Heaphy, 2008). This project will investigate how industrial practices might become increasingly sustainable through the landscape architectural use of ecology, design and experiential conditions. This will involve the use of a test case design on a specific industrial site to try out proposed outcomes and identify how they might be applied to similar contextual situations worldwide.

Research Question: How can landscape architects use ecological landscape interventions to advance sustainable industrial practice?

Research Rationale: The objective of this research project is to demonstrate the ability to improve the relationship between the industrial and natural environment while enhancing experience and social engagement. This will help to increase sustainable industrial practice. With so many environmental issues such as climate change, resource demands exceeding supply, and pollution as well as global population pressures, sustainability has become an important concept in many industrialized nations(Evans, 2009). This project recognizes its importance to all disciplines, especially in regards to landscape architectures role in helping advance sustainable landscapes. This project will be attempting to connect several different fields of interest and importance in landscape architecture practice and theory to define a new or improved way of implementing ecological design interventions within an industrial environment. Landscape architecture is a broad discipline and it will possibly prove a challenge to keep the research within a specific focus and ensure the result is not a duplicate of previous work and theoretical research. Industrial and ecological environments are often perceived to be two dissimilar systems with different goals, aims and outcomes; however they often overlap and could be perceived as a singular environment with similarities, differences and interactions working within it. An interlocking together of two systems wherein the interplay, balance and tensions discovered could be expressed as one cohesive environment with a quality sustainable and experiential outcome. The resultant outcome will hopefully achieve an increase in sustainable industrial practice, though research and testing may demonstrate other possibilities and problems. In that situation there will need to be clear identification of why that is and how to still answer the research question in some way.

Methodology: The initial research for the methodology has been divided into three main themes to help keep the topics of research more clear and concise. These are ecology, experiential/social and industry/sustainability. Theoretical backgrounds and case studies are linked to help formulate a way of working through this project. The resultant theoretical background and methodology will be applied to a test case to demonstrate how ecological design interventions could be implemented. To ensure a comprehensive research project a set of systematic methods will be used to generate information about what is happening within the site and context and how the issues and interests are situated in the field of landscape architecture theory and practice. Ecology Why is a focus on ecology important? The purpose of ecology is to provide knowledge about the way the world works and provide evidence on the interdependence between the natural world and people. A better understanding of ecological systems will allow society to predict the consequences of human activity on the environment ("British Ecological Society," 2013). Industrial sites have been observed for their negative effects on the natural environment. Using ecological design interventions help to mediate any of these impacts. Perspectives in Urban Ecology by Wilfried

Endlicher discusses urban ecology with a section on the relationship between ecology and economics which is relevant to my investigation of industry and ecology. Landscape Ecology Principles in Landscape Architecture and Land-use Planning by Wenche E. Dramstad provides concrete principles of landscape ecology and how they can be applied within design and planning. All ecological theory addressing ecology within an urban landscape can be considered relevant to this research as it provides a base of knowledge for ecological landscape interventions. There are a couple of standout landscape designs that demonstrate ecologys ability to improve ecological health and provide experiential opportunities. The first is Freshkills Park designed by James Corner Field Operations in New York, USA. Previously a landfill, this site has been transformed into a park using both technology and ecological remediation. This site works as both an ecological haven and a recreational paradise for Staten Island ("Freshkills Park,"). Although this is a postindustrial project it demonstrates working ecology with an experiential component. The second is Sanlihe Ecological Corridor designed by Turenscape situated in Qianan City, China. This is a project which used ecological reconstruction to take a polluted river strip and transform it back into an attractive and ecologically functioning corridor ("Qian'an Sanlihe River Ecological Corridor," 2007). This shows many techniques that can be used for cleaning up industrial pollutants and creating a designed yet ecologically functional location. Landscape architects need to use scientific ecological principles that have been developed and written about to ensure that any designed site interventions arent just symbolic but actually work to increase ecological health like those techniques used in Freshkills Park and the Sanlihe Ecological Corridor. Experiential and Social Experiential qualities can be very diverse from but there are a couple key elements that will be particularly relevant to this project. These are aesthetics and social ecology and interactions. Joan I. Nassaurer proposes that ecological health can also be aesthetically pleasing. She suggests that certain cues of care can be used to merge ecology and aesthetics to generate new experience (Nassauer, 1997). In Messy Ecosystems, Orderly Frames she explain peoples perception of functioning ecology and its appearance and how this affects ecological design and aesthetic impressions. Suggestions for the implementation of landscape designs with a focus on ecological aesthetics can be found in The shared landscape: what does aesthetics have to do with ecology? by Paul H. Gobster, Joan I. Nassauer, Terry C. Daniel and Gary Fry. Qinhuangdao Beach Restoration by Turenscape is good example of the use of ecological aesthetics. The project aim was to remediate and enhance the natural environment, show visitors and residents the sites beauty while transforming a neglected beach into an ecologically sound and aesthetically appealing landscape("The Qinhuangdao Beach Restoration by Turenscape," 2008). Social ecology can be defined as the science of the relationships between human populations and communities and their environments. Social ecology advocates an empowered and re-constructive view of environmental and social issues, and envisions a moral economy that moves beyond scarcity and hierarchy toward a world that re-harmonizes human communities with the natural world while celebrating diversity, and creativity (Lousier, 2012). Utilising this concept of people and their interactions with surrounding contexts and environments can be used to help improve experiential quality. Navigating Social-ecological Systems: Building Resilience for Complexity and Change by Berkes, Fikret, Colding, Johan and Folke delves into the complexities of human-ecology relationships and their interactions, especially as related to resilience. Murray Bookchins What Is Social Ecology? provides a straightforward discussion on social ecology and its history and modern influence. This text demonstrates how social ecology works with people and nature. These provide a solid

understanding for social ecology and the importance of peoples interactions within the natural environment. Social experience often guides perception of landscapes. Related to this idea, Experiencing Landscapes: capturing the cultural services and experiential qualities of landscape by The Research Box outlines different ways people experience landscape and how different types and qualities of landscape affect experience and perception. This primarily focuses on dealing with raw natural landscapes but still is applicable to more designed landscapes. Experience and social interactions are quite closely connected. As seen above, ecological aesthetics are important to ensure that people have a positive experience with ecology and its appearance. Social ecologys idea of looking at the people within an ecological context helps provide a filter of what and how people can relate to then natural environment. Both of these concepts affect personal experience and shape perceptions around landscape design. Industry and Sustainability Modern industry is being pressured to become more sustainable in their practice i.e. release less pollutants and use materials that can be more easily replaced to reduce their impact on the natural environment (Crosson, 1994). Towards a Sustainable Industrial System: With recommendations for education, research, industry and policy by Steve Evans, Margareta Norell Bergendahl, Mike Gregory and Chris Ryan, discusses the issues and challenges surrounding industry sustainability. The authors propose that in the face of climate change and other environmental issues there needs to be multiple ways to tackle the issue of sustainable industrial systems such as through education and technology. They suggest that industry can be part of the solution to global sustainability rather than part of the problem. Although their focus is on more internal industrial processes, the external environment is complimentary to any sustainable industry practice. The concept of industrial ecology is another way that sustainability and environmental issues within industry are being treated. This looks at industry as its own ecosystem as well as part of wider global ecosystems, and places a focus on using sustainable resources and waste disposal. Industrial Parks as Ecosystems by R. Ct and J. Hall provides a good overview of industrial ecology, how it works and its application within industrial parks. The concept of industry as its own unique ecosystem is helpful to understanding the connection to natural ecosystems. Yes there are some limitations to the idea of industrial ecology but it does provide a framework for more sustainable industry. An example of this concept in landscape architecture practice is Singapores Jurong Island. A new concept for a nurtured landscape, is proposed for mediating between the natural ecosystem and the urban/industrial environment. The nurtured landscape provides a basis for the development of new ecological technology using landscape to ameliorate the polluting effects of the urban/industrial neighbourhood. The planning of Singapores Jurong Island industrial park provides a test of applying the principles of landscape ecology and industrial ecology to the possible transformation of an industrial area (Yang, 2004). This concept is very relevant to this project and will provide a good case study for the integration of ecology and industry. Many of the examples of landscape architecture projects dealing with industry in an ecological or sustainable context are post-industrial. Though this project is mainly interested in functioning industries, these provide ideas of what can be done to remediate a polluted environment and provide social spaces. Cultuurpark Westergasfabriek a former gas plant in the Netherlands is now a park with shops and events spaces. Designed by Kathryn Gustafson, this project not only provides a cultural centre but also includes part of the Bretten Zone, a strip of thriving ecological land thats approximately 10km in length ("Westergasfabriek - History," 2011). This former industrial site is now a busy social space with both culture and nature within easy access. Designed by Turenscape, the Qiaoyuan Post-industrial Park is a 54-acre green space built on the site of a formerly polluted, littered and deserted garbage dump in China. The focus was on remediating the environment and

providing an ecological haven that also serves as a recreational retreat for nearby residents. Unlike the previous park this has less of a social focus but a much stronger ecological emphasis. Both provide unique experiences in a post-industrial context. Both case studies demonstrate some type of remediation of former industrial sites. However, they are very different in context, use and design. It becomes obvious that using sustainability within industry is an important concept. The theory and case studies provide ways that this can be done to benefit both the natural and industrial environments. This project is layered with a range of theories which will be used to create a unique test case design outcome. For this project a holistic ecology perspective will be used, generated by the concepts of industrial ecology, environmental ecology and social ecology. Looking at all the elements from a systems and processes style approach should generate a more complex and layered set of ecological design interventions that comprehensively address sustainable industrial practice. The Test Case: The test case will be situated in Harbourside Business Park, part of the industrial precinct of Rosebank Peninsula in Auckland. There are two different elements to this projectclient requirements and research. Harbourside Business Park and the Rosebank Business Association are looking to improve the commercial value of the business precinct through a variety of methods, one of which is improving the areas aesthetics and landscape. They are working with Unitec within a joint board called TEPU to help achieve this goal. This project works with the board and particularly Harbourside Business Park to help them achieve their aesthetic and landscape management goals. Harbourside Business Park will serve as the test case for the rest of the peninsula. There will need to be a suitable outcome for both the client (Harbourside Business Park) and the research question. Rosebank Peninsula is an industrial site situated within an estuarine environment that has a high level of biodiversity in Auckland, New Zealand. The Rosebank Business Precinct portion of the peninsula which is the focus of my project begins at approximately the intersection between Rosebank Road and Honan Place and extends to the northern tip. Industry in the Rosebank area seems to here to stay as evidenced by the draft Auckland Unitary Plan. Within Auckland, industry is specified to only occur in appropriate locations(Draft Auckland Unitary Plan, 2013). Rosebank Business Precinct is such a location (zoned as industrial in all plans) most likely because of the close proximity to the Northwestern Motorway and the fact that is already industrial in nature. Rosebank Peninsulas zoning is light industry to the South and heavy industry to the North. According to the Draft Auckland Unitary Plan, light industry is classified as light industrial activities that do not generate significant unpleasant or noxious odour, dust or noise emissions. This includes light manufacturing, production, logistics, storage, transport and distribution activities (Draft Auckland Unitary Plan, 2013). And heavy industry is classified as industrial activities that may produce unpleasant or noxious odour, dust and noise emissions buildings are expected to have a mainly functional standard of amenity. The zone is typically located close to key freight routes (Draft Auckland Unitary Plan, 2013). The peninsula sits within an estuarine environment that includes Pollen and Traherne Islands and the Motu Manawa Marine Reserve, all of which are home to a diverse range of flora and fauna. Motu Manawa Marine Reserve protects some 500 hectares of the inner reaches of Aucklands Waitemata Harbour and includes intertidal mudflats, tidal channels, mangrove swamp, saltmarsh and shellbanks. The reserve is bounded to the south by the industrial suburb of Rosebank Peninsula and to the east by residential Waterview. The intertidal flats to the west of Pollen Island are

probably the best example of mangrove and saltmarsh habitat in the Waitemata Harbour (Motu manawa (Pollen Island) Marine Reserve, 1997)... Much of the peninsula edge and adjacent mangrove fields have been used as rubbish dumps over the years and are in contrast to the quality natural environment surrounding them. As a generalization much of the edge is weedy, full of buried and unburied trash and isnt easily accessible. Sites such as the Kurt Brehmer walkway are an exception. Harbourside Business Park is located at 525 Rosebank Road on the eastern side of the peninsula. It contains a wide variety of light industrial companies and employs approximately 500-600 people over 20 properties. Harbourside is not very visible from the road frontage and struggles with landscape maintenance and tenancy at this time. The body corporate for the Harbourside Business Park sees landscape as a mainly aesthetic and maintenance concern that effects the value of the park. They want an appealing location that attracts new tenants and keeps the current occupants. Harbourside Business Park will act as the first test case for the Rosebank Peninsula and if successful will hopefully be applied to other locations around the area. Methods: Looking at Rosebank Peninsula and Harbourside Business Park as a set of ecosystems should help to link the surrounding natural environment to the industrial environment in a complimenting manner. Extensive mapping and diagrams will be used initially to create a detailed site analysis of Harbourside Business Park and the wider Rosebank Peninsula. This will include GIS maps/analysis, input/output diagrams and flow charts. These will be used to demonstrate the systems and processes occurring within the site and its external context. For this project using the concept of industrial ecology and its connection to environmental ecology will be a crucial element to provide a comprehensive analysis and design. This project will use postindustrial design case studies to demonstrate the ability to transform polluted and industrial dominated areas into placed for people and nature, though naturally, functioning industry has an entire set of other issues as you cant just remove and replace pieces of the environment Detailed analysis of the social interactions and site conditions within the project will help reveal what aspects of social engagement and experience are important to creating an enjoyable yet sustainable site. Relevant ecological principles and calculations will be utilised to ensure all ecological design interventions proposed have some measurable form of ecological benefit, while looking to case studies such as those above to demonstrate the success or lack thereof within ecological design interventions. The site analysis, identified systems and selected theoretical principles will be used to generate a series of considerations applicable to sustainable industrial practice. These will then be tried through simple design tests and modifications made dependent on how they work within the site. Finally all design tests will be applied to Harbourside Business Park. At this stage it is unknown what this final complete design test will be composed of, whether it is a master plan, set of simple interventions, or management techniques. The projects comprehensive research and initial analysis will help to reveal this.

Conclusion: This research and design project will ultimately result in a sustainable industrial landscape output that can be applied to a range of sites in addition to Harbourside Business Park. Whether the outcome is a plan, management strategies or series of individual design interventions the goal remains to use ecology as a framework for sustainable industrial practice. People are a crucial part of any sustainability project and ecological system, so experiential conditions will be utilised to ensure that they feel included and part of the new sustainable industrial environment.

Bibliography: British Ecological Society. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.britishecologicalsociety.org/aboutecology/ Crosson, P. a. T., Michael A. (1994). Economics and Sustainable Development. In B. R. Allenby (Ed.), The Greening of Industrial Ecosystems. Washington, DC: National Academies Press. . Draft Auckland Unitary Plan. (2013). Auckland. Evans, S., Bergendahl,M. N., Gregory, M., Ryan, C. . (2009). Towards a Sustainable Industrial System: With recommendations for education, research, industry and policy. Great Britain: University of Cambridge Institute for Manufacturing. Freshkills Park. Retrieved from http://www.nycgovparks.org/park-features/freshkills-park Heaphy, E. D. a. D., Jane E. . (2008). Positive Social Interactions and the Human Body at Work: Linking Organizations and Physiology. Academy Management Review, 33(1), 137-162. Lousier, D. (2012). Social Ecology Institute of British Columbia. Retrieved from http://www.bcise.com/BCISE_SocialEcology.htm . Motu manawa (Pollen Island) Marine Reserve. (1997). Auckland: Department of Conservation Retrieved from http://www.marinenz.org.nz/index.php/the_undersea_world/marine_reserves/motu_mana wa_pollen_island Nassauer, J. I. (1997). Placing Nature: Culture And Landscape Ecology. USA: Island Press. Pollution Issues: Industry. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.pollutionissues.com/HoLi/Industry.html Qian'an Sanlihe River Ecological Corridor. (2007). Retrieved from http://www.turenscape.com/English/news/msg.php?id=1208 The Qinhuangdao Beach Restoration by Turenscape. (2008). Retrieved from http://www.landezine.com/index.php/2012/02/the-qinhuangdao-beach-restoration-byturenscape/ Sandler, T. (1997). Global Challenges: An Approach to Environmental, Poltical, and Economic Problems. United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press. van der Leeuw, S., Wiek, A., Harlow, J., Buizer, J. ( 2012). How much time do we have? Urgency and rhetoric in sustainability science. Sustainability Science, 7(1), 115-120. Westergasfabriek - History. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.westergasfabriek.nl/en/westergasfabriek-en/history Yang, P. P.-J., Lay, Ong Boon (2004). Applying ecosystem concepts to the planning of industrial areas: a case study of Singapores Jurong Island. Journal of Cleaner Production, 12(8-10), 10111023.

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