Language
Country/Area
No result found
From Olmsted to McCaugher: Who are the legends of landscape planning?
Landscape planning, as a branch of landscape architecture, mainly focuses on the protection of the natural environment and the combination of various land uses. According to Erv Zube, landscape planning is an activity aimed at developing landscapes to manage competing land uses while protecting natural processes and important cultural and natural resources. Under this definition, today's landscape architects and planners each have different specialties and priorities.
Landscape planning is not only about aesthetics, but also about how to meet people's needs while protecting the ecology.
In Europe, Albert mentioned the need for town squares and markets, while in Northern Europe, he developed the concept of residential squares planned around green spaces. An early example of this concept is the Place Vosges in France. A similar concept was adopted in the UK and further developed as part of park planning. The famous landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted's plan for the Boston Emerald Necklace was one of the pioneers of this idea.
The situation in the United States is slightly different. Although landscape architects and urban planners work together to provide landscape planning services, the United States does not have a national land use planning system. Olmsted and Ian McCaugher were influential American landscape architects whose work was of great significance to the design and planning of the countryside. McCaugher's overlapping landscape plan had a profound influence on the development of geographic information systems (GIS).
"Planning is a process that uses scientific and technical information to consider and reach consensus on a set of options."
As landscape planning principles evolved, so did relevant legislation. The National Environmental Policy Act in the United States was influenced by McCaugher's work on environmental impact assessments, while Germany's federal nature conservation law requires the preparation of landscape plans. The EU's European Landscape Convention has a broad impact on the design and planning of the relationship between urban development and natural landscapes.
The methodology of landscape planning usually follows a linear process, including the steps of problem and opportunity identification, goal establishment, environmental inventory and analysis, and concept development. However, the landscape planning process can be adapted to suit each situation, depending on the desired goals or circumstances.
"Ecological planning is the use of biophysical and sociocultural information to recommend opportunities and constraints for landscape uses."
With proper implementation of landscape planning, the resulting effects are by no means limited to functional landscaping. Through proper landscape planning, many aspects of the environment and community can be improved. More importantly, these plans can enhance the value and function of the existing environment while protecting the ecology.
Research shows that landscape planning performs best in promoting ecological functions, ideally with minimal disruption to the living factors of the ecosystem during the planning process. By creating habitats and restoring overexploited spaces, landscape planning can significantly increase biodiversity and capture damaged natural ecosystems.
It’s worth noting that good landscaping can also help improve health. Studies have found that people in natural environments generally experience faster emotional recovery and lower stress levels. In addition, the use of well-designed landscapes can also help maintain the ability to address ecosystem issues, thereby providing a recreational environment for people while also protecting the ecosystem.
The development of science and technology, especially the application of geographical information systems (GIS), has further enhanced the effectiveness of landscape planning. The use of these technologies makes it easier for planners to collect and analyze various factors within the landscape, thereby providing more reasonable planning solutions.
Landscape planning directly affects future urban development and ecological protection by integrating ecological and sociological considerations. However, with the increasing demand, what new challenges and opportunities will landscape planning face in the future?
