LANDSCAPING FOR ECO CITIES

?Form follows function.? This famous quote by Architect Louis Sullivan, needs an amendment today - ?Form and Function follow Sustainability.?

With more than half the population of the world being urban, Eco-cities are the need of the day. An Eco-city aims to provide residents- a good quality of life with low environmental footprint and without compromising the needs of future generations. This is done by creating functional, attractive and comfortable urban areas through judicious integration of architecture, landscape design and city planning. Broadly involving development of outdoor spaces, sustainable landscape design greatly influences the ?quality of life?, and helps to minimize human impact on environment thus contributing to success of an Eco-city. (1)

Eco-cities vary considerably. Cities in the west are mainly retrofits with basic modifications and renovation of existing old structures. New cities in the developing world are being custom built to adapt better and suit current requirements. (2) 

Various methods, though with their own merits and demerits are being employed to ensure that the term ?Urban? does not imply a ?messy concrete jungle?. Solar powered landscape lighting is being used increasingly to tap renewable solar energy in the developed world, though cost of installation tends to deter its use. Urban farming with green roofs and vertical landscaping allows rainwater harvesting as well as provides natural insulation, in addition to combating air pollution and lowering urban temperatures. Such practices offer good yield and save resources, proving beneficial in the long run. Substantial initial investment however often proves to be a disadvantage. Composting of organic waste for use as fertilizer is prevalent in rural areas but has few takers in urban areas due to lack of space or lack of farms. In terms of built elements, ?bridge links? are frequently proposed by urban planners to reduce congestion and prevent disruption of soil at ground level, by connecting buildings with walkways and utility lines at a higher level. These too are cost intensive. (3) (4)

With respect to methods of urban development, ?Landscape Urbanism? has been common, wherein landscape rather than architecture dictates the planning and development is carried out with least invasion of green areas. This however restricts architecture. (5) ?New Urbanism? with walkable communities and planned growth of traditional neighborhood designs, promotes community living, housing options and employment opportunities. (6) Many American cities are planned in this fashion. However, eco-cities are still evolving. In addition to being predominantly environment friendly, they are now incorporating social and economic uplift. (2) Innovative urban design integrating natural topography with built forms and blending traditional techniques with modern methods can turn ?New urban? cities into smarter Eco-cities.

My homeland UAE, boasts of ?Masdar City? in Abu Dhabi, a ?New Urbanism? inspired Eco-city, built from scratch, in a desert. It has landscaped and walkable mixed use communities and interconnected neighborhoods. Open linear parks traversing the city, harness prevailing winds to reduce humidity, contributing to thermal comfort in high summer heat. (7) ?Sustainable City? in Dubai has streets lined with indigenous date palms and urban farms producing more than twenty kinds of herbs with future plans to grow fruits and vegetables. Grey water is being used for irrigation. (8)  

These two cities are integrating traditional practices with technical innovation to create sustainable and productive landscaping elements. Undoubtedly, landscape elements for Eco-cities must be designed based on eco-friendliness, functionality, cost efficiency, ease of maintenance and visual appeal. (9) 

Seeking inspiration from nature, I realize that a healthy human body has various organ systems functioning in tandem. (10) This unique creation of nature that has sustained itself for centuries as the highest living form can serve as a living model for an Eco-city landscaped areas serving as the respiratory system of the city, replacing carbon dioxide with oxygen. However for a sustainable future, landscaping must function in coordination with other aspects such as transportation, waste management, telecommunication etc.

Besides the methods discussed earlier, to achieve further value addition, forest reserves integrated within the cities can help preserve natural ecosystems and biodiversity and also balance pollution. Wetlands integrated within urban landscapes can effectively filter wastes. Community parks can be created out of old building materials like reclaimed soils, concrete rubble, wood, glass and steel and rubber from tyres, to create landscaping elements while also reducing green house gases. Permeable paving materials can reduce storm-water run-off and allow rain water to replenish groundwater. (11)

Eco-cities can reclaim land from toxic brown-fields, abandoned industrial and old water infrastructures and wastelands to gain the much needed land area to develop outdoor facilities in cities. (12) Landscape elements can be designed for active living. Outdoor areas should be safe and inviting with wide sidewalks and bicycle lanes, bicycle sharing stations, exercise equipments, walking tracks etc. (13) Outdoor exercise equipments can be designed to generate electrical energy rather than consuming it, converting calories into watts with neighborhoods doing collective workouts towards fitness and green energy. (14)

Additionally, highway underpasses and unused neglected areas can be effectively integrated into landscape design to provide valuable green spaces that connect neighborhoods. Such public spaces can contribute to human interaction with functional areas like game fields, sand pits and water bodies garden areas with tree canopies and winding walkways that compel people to visit, interact with each other and improve community ties. (13) 

Taking the concept one step further, communities can choose to connect private properties with public areas to create networks of biodiversity friendly neighborhoods that are equally healthy for people and the flora and fauna. This can help to create self sustaining landscapes that bring nature to our doorsteps. Large scale tree canopies can contribute to an improved air quality as well as combat urban heat islands. Such energy efficient landscape design provides insulation and shade in summers and works as wind breaks in winter. Foliage also provides evaporative cooling. (13) 

Rooftop or balcony gardening and street landscaping can be upgraded through community networking and cooperation. Rooftops and vertical walls of large stores can be used for urban agriculture. Edible produce can be sold in the very store where it grows, cutting down the food miles. (13) It is also important to choose plants selectively, using native varieties, adapted to local climate conditions. Xeriscaping that involves placing plants with similar water needs together and using drought resistant plants can help to achieve vibrant landscapes with minimum water use. (11) 

On a parting note, I want to share my dream of integrating community farms into urban or suburban landscapes in residential areas. These farms will be ?of the community?, ?by the community? and ?for the community?. The residents will care for them and reap the fruits literally, enjoying fresh produce from their own farms! Easily accessible and ample composting facilities at such farms can ensure effective utilization of raw organic wastes from household kitchens. This will provide free raw material for organic manure to nourish and replenish the farms, as also minimize organic wastes that rot and generate methane in landfills.

With ongoing urbanization of the world and current global warming threats, landscaping elements can help Eco-cities to combat climate change, and contribute to a sustained growth of urban areas, with ample commercial and residential opportunities.

Bibliography

Websites referred (reference only- no text has been directly lifted)

(1). http://www.baharash.com/what-is-a-sustainable-city/

(2). https://www.leekuanyewworldcityprize.com.sg/features_eco-cities.htm

(3). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eco-cities

(4). http://smartcbi.org/index.php/en/news-smart-city/841-eco-innovations-eco-cities-eco-towns

(5). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Landscape_urbanism

(6). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Urbanism

(7). http://www.ramboll.com/projects/rme/masdar-city

(8). http://www.thenational.ae/uae/environment/waste-reduction-a-top-priority-at-dubais-sustainable-city

(9).http://www.extension.umn.edu/garden/landscaping/design/module1.htm

(10). https://books.google.ae/books?id=hfhGDQAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false

(11). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sustainable_landscaping

(12). http://inhabitat.com/10-landscape-design-projects-that-turn-damaged-and-neglected-spaces-into-healthy-beautiful-environments/

(13). https://www.asla.org/sustainablelandscapes/videos.html

(14). http://www.thegreenmicrogym.com/electricity-generating-equipment-2/