As the world’s population increases and as populations of cities increase there is a real possibi... more As the world’s population increases and as populations of cities increase there is a real possibility that vertical cities offer the answer to the survival of the planet and humankind. Whilst megastructures have been built as individual buildings, thus far there are no vertical cities, but these megastructures indicate this is possible. The buildings of vertical cities can be integrated in the skies as well as below ground as earthscrapers and host all the functions of the city including green spaces such as parks and gardens and urban agriculture. The integration of biophilia into the vertical city is necessary and compliments the fact that not only do vertical cities provide an answer to accommodating the world’s burgeoning population, but the compact footprint of the city allows for an increase in nature, access to nature and farming in adjacent areas.
Workshop PowerPoint presentation on the potential for living walls to be used in aquaponic sytems... more Workshop PowerPoint presentation on the potential for living walls to be used in aquaponic sytems for more sustainable and profitable aquaponic food production
Nature Based Strategies for Urban and Building Sustainability, 2018
Abstract This chapter focuses on the social and aesthetic aspects that are provided by green roof... more Abstract This chapter focuses on the social and aesthetic aspects that are provided by green roofs. As land values increase it is inevitable that open space at ground level will come under increasing pressure to be developed and some of the functions of green infrastructure, such as gardens and urban agriculture plots will need to move upwards to roof level. The ecosystem services that green roofs provide are of significant benefit for people and the environment and it is time that the MOER (Multiobjective Environmental Roof) is recognized as a key way of providing these important services. The social and aesthetic benefits fall under the cultural provision, and green roofs offer refuges of peace and tranquility being above traffic noise and immediate air pollution. Whilst most green roofs are privately owned it is possible to create successful larger elevated public parks that are closed at night in the same way that normal parks are controlled. Providing green space at rooftop level creates opportunities for community cohesion and improvements in health and well-being through the planting of vegetables and fruit trees.
Green roofs can be an innovative and effective way of mitigating the environmental impact of urba... more Green roofs can be an innovative and effective way of mitigating the environmental impact of urbanization by providing several important ecosystem services. However, it is known that the performance of green roofs varies depending on the type of vegetation and, in drier climates, without resorting to irrigation, these are limited to xerophytic plant species and biocrusts. The aim of this research was therefore to compare differently vegetated green roofs planted with this type of vegetation. A particular focus was their ability to hold water during intense stormwater events and also the quality of the harvested rainwater. Six test beds with different vegetation compositions were used on the roof of a building in Lisbon. Regarding stormwater retention, the results varied depending on the composition of the vegetation and the season. As for water quality, almost all the parameters tested were higher than the Drinking Water Directive from the European Union (EU) and Word Health Organiz...
The London Olympics 2012 will deliver a great sporting event, but what of the Legacy. What has be... more The London Olympics 2012 will deliver a great sporting event, but what of the Legacy. What has become of the past and the genius loci, spirit of the place? What happened to the history and the local artists and local people who could have made the Legacy and the Games themselves that much more relevant. Opportunities have been lost in the planning, design and construction of the Games.
Aquaponic food production requires a broad spectrum of knowledge in order to understand and manag... more Aquaponic food production requires a broad spectrum of knowledge in order to understand and manage the processes involved, and for commercial aquaponics to develop its full potential, it will require an appropriately trained workforce. Devised in collaboration as an Erasmus+ Strategic Partnership for Higher Education, Aqu@teach covers the basics of aquaponics with a focus on transferable and entrepreneurial skills. The aquaponics curriculum can either be taught using blended learning—combining digital media and the internet with classroom formats that require the physical co-presence of the teacher and students—or as an e-learning course. The supplementary entrepreneurial skills module was devised on the basis of two surveys: of aquaponics companies around the world, in order to get a broad overview of the skills that are important in the early years of a business; and of European higher education institutions that teach subjects where aquaponics could be incorporated as an optional...
A new paradigm for planting in the Negev Desert and other arid regions, the Powerpoint presentati... more A new paradigm for planting in the Negev Desert and other arid regions, the Powerpoint presentation advocates native planting over the ubiquitous use of foreign species for all purposes.
Aquaponics is derived from the words 'Aquaculture' and 'Hydroponics'. The growing... more Aquaponics is derived from the words 'Aquaculture' and 'Hydroponics'. The growing of fish and crops offers the potential to provide fish and vegetable protein in desert and other areas whilst minimising inputs and environmental pollution. Aquaponics systems were set up to grow fish and plants using both fresh and saline water.
Whilst aquaponics may be considered in the mid-stage of development, there are a number of allied... more Whilst aquaponics may be considered in the mid-stage of development, there are a number of allied, novel methods of food production that are aligning alongside aquaponics and also which can be merged with aquaponics to deliver food efficiently and productively. These technologies include algaeponics, aeroponics, aeroaquaponics, maraponics, haloponics, biofloc technology and vertical aquaponics. Although some of these systems have undergone many years of trials and research, in most cases, much more scientific research is required to understand intrinsic processes within the systems, efficiency, design aspects, etc., apart from the capacity, capabilities and benefits of conjoining these systems with aquaponics.
This paper discusses three aspects of power. Firstly the power of landscape architects to influen... more 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 throu...
As the world’s population increases and as populations of cities increase there is a real possibi... more As the world’s population increases and as populations of cities increase there is a real possibility that vertical cities offer the answer to the survival of the planet and humankind. Whilst megastructures have been built as individual buildings, thus far there are no vertical cities, but these megastructures indicate this is possible. The buildings of vertical cities can be integrated in the skies as well as below ground as earthscrapers and host all the functions of the city including green spaces such as parks and gardens and urban agriculture. The integration of biophilia into the vertical city is necessary and compliments the fact that not only do vertical cities provide an answer to accommodating the world’s burgeoning population, but the compact footprint of the city allows for an increase in nature, access to nature and farming in adjacent areas.
Workshop PowerPoint presentation on the potential for living walls to be used in aquaponic sytems... more Workshop PowerPoint presentation on the potential for living walls to be used in aquaponic sytems for more sustainable and profitable aquaponic food production
Nature Based Strategies for Urban and Building Sustainability, 2018
Abstract This chapter focuses on the social and aesthetic aspects that are provided by green roof... more Abstract This chapter focuses on the social and aesthetic aspects that are provided by green roofs. As land values increase it is inevitable that open space at ground level will come under increasing pressure to be developed and some of the functions of green infrastructure, such as gardens and urban agriculture plots will need to move upwards to roof level. The ecosystem services that green roofs provide are of significant benefit for people and the environment and it is time that the MOER (Multiobjective Environmental Roof) is recognized as a key way of providing these important services. The social and aesthetic benefits fall under the cultural provision, and green roofs offer refuges of peace and tranquility being above traffic noise and immediate air pollution. Whilst most green roofs are privately owned it is possible to create successful larger elevated public parks that are closed at night in the same way that normal parks are controlled. Providing green space at rooftop level creates opportunities for community cohesion and improvements in health and well-being through the planting of vegetables and fruit trees.
Green roofs can be an innovative and effective way of mitigating the environmental impact of urba... more Green roofs can be an innovative and effective way of mitigating the environmental impact of urbanization by providing several important ecosystem services. However, it is known that the performance of green roofs varies depending on the type of vegetation and, in drier climates, without resorting to irrigation, these are limited to xerophytic plant species and biocrusts. The aim of this research was therefore to compare differently vegetated green roofs planted with this type of vegetation. A particular focus was their ability to hold water during intense stormwater events and also the quality of the harvested rainwater. Six test beds with different vegetation compositions were used on the roof of a building in Lisbon. Regarding stormwater retention, the results varied depending on the composition of the vegetation and the season. As for water quality, almost all the parameters tested were higher than the Drinking Water Directive from the European Union (EU) and Word Health Organiz...
The London Olympics 2012 will deliver a great sporting event, but what of the Legacy. What has be... more The London Olympics 2012 will deliver a great sporting event, but what of the Legacy. What has become of the past and the genius loci, spirit of the place? What happened to the history and the local artists and local people who could have made the Legacy and the Games themselves that much more relevant. Opportunities have been lost in the planning, design and construction of the Games.
Aquaponic food production requires a broad spectrum of knowledge in order to understand and manag... more Aquaponic food production requires a broad spectrum of knowledge in order to understand and manage the processes involved, and for commercial aquaponics to develop its full potential, it will require an appropriately trained workforce. Devised in collaboration as an Erasmus+ Strategic Partnership for Higher Education, Aqu@teach covers the basics of aquaponics with a focus on transferable and entrepreneurial skills. The aquaponics curriculum can either be taught using blended learning—combining digital media and the internet with classroom formats that require the physical co-presence of the teacher and students—or as an e-learning course. The supplementary entrepreneurial skills module was devised on the basis of two surveys: of aquaponics companies around the world, in order to get a broad overview of the skills that are important in the early years of a business; and of European higher education institutions that teach subjects where aquaponics could be incorporated as an optional...
A new paradigm for planting in the Negev Desert and other arid regions, the Powerpoint presentati... more A new paradigm for planting in the Negev Desert and other arid regions, the Powerpoint presentation advocates native planting over the ubiquitous use of foreign species for all purposes.
Aquaponics is derived from the words 'Aquaculture' and 'Hydroponics'. The growing... more Aquaponics is derived from the words 'Aquaculture' and 'Hydroponics'. The growing of fish and crops offers the potential to provide fish and vegetable protein in desert and other areas whilst minimising inputs and environmental pollution. Aquaponics systems were set up to grow fish and plants using both fresh and saline water.
Whilst aquaponics may be considered in the mid-stage of development, there are a number of allied... more Whilst aquaponics may be considered in the mid-stage of development, there are a number of allied, novel methods of food production that are aligning alongside aquaponics and also which can be merged with aquaponics to deliver food efficiently and productively. These technologies include algaeponics, aeroponics, aeroaquaponics, maraponics, haloponics, biofloc technology and vertical aquaponics. Although some of these systems have undergone many years of trials and research, in most cases, much more scientific research is required to understand intrinsic processes within the systems, efficiency, design aspects, etc., apart from the capacity, capabilities and benefits of conjoining these systems with aquaponics.
This paper discusses three aspects of power. Firstly the power of landscape architects to influen... more 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 throu...
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