Urban Cultivation Defining the practice of horticulture in landscape architecture
Cultivation 1.a. The act of cultivating. b. The state of being cultivated. 2. Refinement; culture. 3. The act of encouraging growth Urban in, relating to, or characteristic of a town or city.
How can the process of cultivation be implemented in the design of urban landscapes? Horticulture is concerned with the cultivation of plants for human use. The significance of horticulture is undervalued when it is understood as the cultivation of soil (Relf, 1992) and should transcend that of a practice solely for the beautification of streets and buildings. The definition of ‘cultivation’ refers to the activity of encouraging, manipulating and guiding growth through the understanding and implementation of specific steps and actions. Through this understanding, this research explores cultivation as a process and how this may inform the practice of landscape architecture. Horticultural cultivation is explored through the development of three methods: understanding the process of vegetative cultivation and then as a mechanism to inform design of urban spaces, translating the process of cultivation metaphorically to inform design strategies and examining the impact of cultivation in public spaces. The testing of these methods are concerned with designing and managing plant communities in urban contexts and identifying the impacts of cultivation on urban space. This presses Landscape Architects to engage with plant physiology, the process of cultivating and to be sensitive to the role of horticulture on human well-being and the community. In urban spaces, the three methods are tested by interpreting cultivation spatially. Understanding vegetation as a mechanism led to a discovery of spaces that emerge from successive planted communities. Translating the steps of cultivation enabled a systematic method to inform masterplanning however does not engage with the physical cultivation of a plant. The research culminates in exploring the potential of the wholesale nursery as a space of intensive cultivation however role of the nursery is extended to managing and servicing local planted communities. A selected palette of plant species and the cultivation skills of the nursery workers allow the operations of the nursery to serve educational facilities, the ecology of the local Darebin creek, public spaces and private properties. The three methods tested allow for the reconsideration of the relationship between horticulture and landscape architecture through the lens of cultivation. These methods offer a potential means of challenging the gap between both disciplines through new and innovative strategies. Keywords: Horticulture, cultivation, process, urban space, ecology, revalue
Contents For the love of all things green
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Foreground: Research
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Horticulture and Landscape Architecture
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Horticulture: an overview
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Horticulture: culture and community
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Who practices horticulture?
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Horticulture in current design
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The value of horticulture
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Research position
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Horticultural cultivation as knowledge and activity Horticulture as knowledge
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Plant physiology
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Understanding plants in urban environment
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Succession as process: Docklands
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Emerging spaces
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Horticulture as activity
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Cultivation: The gardener
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Cultivation: Techniques
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Cultivaton: As an approach
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Testing at Fishermans Bend
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Nursery as a cultivator
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Cultivation and space
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Current cultivation in public space
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Maintenance types
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Maintenance spaces
51
Plant management
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The plant nursery
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Testing grounds: Dalton Road, Epping
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Testing grounds: Context
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Nursery as cultivator: position
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Nursery requirements
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Nursery formation
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Nursery and ecology
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Spatializing nursery
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Median strips
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Nursery statistics
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Nursery plants
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RMIT MLA 2013 Project A + B Design Research Catalogue Kelvin Lui s31974904
Implications of nursery
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Propagation strip (A)
101
Grow on (B)
103
Grow on (C)
107
Grow on (D)
113
Retail (E)
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Creek
119
Creek revegetation
121
Creek species
123
Revegetation
125
Conclusion - Projection
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References
“A garden is not simply the product of frivolous idleness� (Burle Marx, 1962)
Plants and Bonsai in my own garden.
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GARDEN : HOME
FOREGROUND The love of all things green The interest of researching horticulture in Landscape Architecture started with the passion for gardening. My research in a sense has already begun through the constant attention given to plants in the various environments I experience and what is foregrounded in design of landscapes. There had always been a subconscious desire to introduce plants into every facet of design. The garden is a tool, instrument and learning space that allows an understanding of plants and its relationship to other aspects of the environment we live in. As such Landscape Architecture gives me an opportunity to push what I learn in the garden to various scales, typologies and the way the world is shaped. The following projects demonstrate how there has always been some form of horticultural understanding that is embedded in my design work.
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50m radius of a void space Connect with nearby green space Established connection
STUDIO : RMIT : TOKYO
TOKYO VOID Using plants in Landscape Architecture This intent of this project to activate void spaces within the extremely dense Tokyo through making void spaces hubs that connect existing pot plants in front of dwellings and wild vegetative growth scattered around the neighborhood of Yanaka. Residents of Yanaka the site have a relationship with plants and thus from a horticultural point of perspective it means that the idea of garden and cultivation is deeply ingrained in the residents. This is it an opportunity to focus firmly on the planting design aspects within the context of an urban environment. The project uses plants as a remediation tool and thinking about what plants mean for people and a community. There is further opportunity to explore in depth the effects of plants on a psychological level and also what the plants will look like spatially in a dense urban context.
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SEMINAR : RMIT
ASIAN URBANISM A first venture into the relationship between horticulture and LA
Asian Urbanism is concerned with current state development in Asian countries and what it means for Landscape Architects. This seminar demands a research inquiry into a particular field of own interest and within a country. This seminar was an opportunity to present and ask: what does horticulture mean? What does horticulture mean for dense urban landscapes that Asia presents? Finally, the research asks: How can horticultural practice shape urban landscapes in high density Asian cities?
‘Retrofit’
‘Post-planting design’
When approaching this research, we take into consideration the relationships between have on Landscape Architects and the profession. Research in the seminar has created two concepts that demonstrate how horticulture finds its place in urban environments. 1. The ‘Retrofit’. This concept is derived from an analysis of the designs and processes that drive them where plants are catered to fit within an urban context. To implement planting design and considering Plant People Relationships, a series of Spatial typologies are set. 2. The ‘Post-planting design’ developments This concept is derived from a hypothetical ‘what-if’ scenario where it asks the question of what happens if the built environment are catered to fit within a plant geared landscape. As with the concept of the ‘Retrofit’, the ‘Post-planting design’ concept will be tested through a series of hypothetical spatial typologies. This seminar was the first attempt at researching and spatializing the role of horticulture in Landscape Architecture. Conclusions and projections: Although the inquiry is based on the extremeties that Asia presents, this research has still has not fully unpacked and thoroughly interrogate what horticulture is and what it can offer.
STUDIO : RMIT : LAKE EYRE
FRICTION Plant specific to form masterplan
FRICTION aimed identify and design with large scale phenomena and using specific drawing techniques to abstract, represent and therefore understand them. Its focus was to understand how a phenomena in the form of immense scales can then be then be shifted for the purposes of Landscape Architecture. In this project, plants were used as a tool to mitigate sand based on the phenomena of storm. The storm is a dynamic system that shifts and water. Through drawing the storm we identified its effects on ground and shifted its effects through a planting schedule, effectively demonstrating the understanding of plants and its effect on ecological design. 7
Eragrostis infecunda
Build up of sand
Build up of sand
Tecticornia verrucos
Atriplex annumalaria
Salicornia europea
HORTICULTURE: AN OVERVIEW Horticulture as a discipline
This research foregrounds the understanding and application of orticulture as a way of designing landscapes. What does horticulture mean for Landscape Architecture? and: what does Landscape Architecture mean for Horticulture? To proceed with this, we look at various definitions of horticulture: Horticulture is regarded as an interface between plants and humans.
It can be defined as the branch of agriculture concerned with intensively cultivated plants directly used by people for food, for medicinal purposes, or for aesthetic gratification (Janick, 1979). Furthermore according to researcher Diane Relf, Horticulture encompasses all knowledge, activity and relationships that humans have with plants (Relf, 2002). With these definitions, it suggests that horticulture has enormous impact on human well-being and has implications for psychological and anthropological studies and design disciplines. What is most clear at this point is the engagement with plants and understanding a plants and the factors that affect its growth and physiology.
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?
HORTICULTURE: CULTURE AND COMMUNITY Expanding the definition of horticulture
Horticulture is about the use of plants. The problem of plants failing is pinpointed to the control that people have over the plant and the way it is used. Horticulture researcher Diane Relf in her research of ‘Human Issues in Horticulture’ (Relf, 1992) proposes a need of redefining horticulture by revising what horticulture means. She breaks down the definition of horticulture to:
HORTUS CULTURA
- Greek for garden - ‘Cultura’ stands for culture -
Furthermore Relf suggests researching for the new definiton of horticulture under the following headings:
Cultivation
verb: cultivate - grow - raise.
Plants and the individual
Research quantifying the impact of `nature’ on the individual with emphasis on psychological well-being and health-related benefits Implications for Horticulturalists: The need to recognise the psychological and physical affects Implications for Landscape Architects: To guide and review the installation and maintenance of appropriate landscapes and spaces and to also understand the effect of a plant on space.
Plants and the community
Research on the role of vegetation in determining the effectiveness of communities, including neighborhoods, residential and commercial developments, retirement areas, prisons, schools, businesses or other settings in which the interaction of groups of individuals determines Implications for Horticulturalists: Need to support research on the social and emotional factors that derive from plant survival Implications for Landscape Architects: The need to consider the benefits of horticulture for the community but then to design spaces that facilitate community involvement. Requires the need for plant knowledge
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Of horticulture:
PRACTITIONERS Who (should) practice horticulture?
Gardeners
Nursery workers
?
Landscape Architects
Aborists
Foresters
Plant breeders
Commercial grower
Taxonomists
The broad scope of horticulture means that the practice spreads amongst similar disciplines of botany, business, psychology and agriculture amongst many. As such, practitioners vary and all contribute to the discipline of horticulture. Amongst the list are Landscape Architect’s should also practice horticulture. This research aims to explore and discover ways that Landscape Architecture can utilise horticultural practices and bring in research conducted by horticulturalists into design.
MELBOURNE : AUSTRALIA
HORTICULTURE IN CURRENT DESIGN Current practice of horticulture in urban landscapes
This research starts from an inquiry into the idea that the role of plants in Landscape Architecture design are undervalued and not fully undestood. Today, plants are perceived as a 'sustainable device' to be adorned across buildings or as necessary component of everyday landscape. Designers today in response to a need for a ‘greener’ and ‘sustainable’ city devise various methods of hybridizing the urban fabric with plant life to form ‘greener’ cities.
Green building - Samyn and Partners
Feats of engineering and experimentation enable designers to rethink the way plants and trees are catered to fit within an urban environment. Yet despite the advancements there are still many examples of plants misused in many ways in the designed landscape. In various cases, large planting schemes or experimenting with plants outside their natural habitat has a low percentage of success as intended. This is in part due to the spatial and climatic limitations, coupled with poor management and/or lack of understanding of the capabilities of plants in a built urban environment.
II Bosco Verticale, Boeri Studio, 2009
Plants do function in an urban environment, however there are many cases where plants deteriorate and die leading to further costs Green architecture - Ken Yeang
The compatibility or symbiosis of the natural processes of plants and the urban environment has yet to be fully realised.
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Sea Tree - Waterstudio
x0
Why can’t street trees or urban trees grow as well as gardens? What is wrong with current practices? What causes these practices to be this way? Is there something missing about cultivation?
THE VALUE OF HORTICULTURE Identifying exemplars of horticulture already in Landscape Architecture
The following are projects that Landscape Architecture firmshave designed that have implemented a degree of horticultural understanding.Plants in these projects are ensured survival through careful consideration of plant growth habit and form.
TCL: Canberra arboreteum
Laidlaw + Laidlaw: Guilfoyle’s volcano
TCL: Forest gallery
Hitchmough + Dunnett: London Olympic Park
Turenscape: Shenyang University
TCL: Cranbourne Botanic Gardens
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Although the projects are excellent examples of applying horticultural principles, the projects generally fall under being: - Not viable economically - Exclusive to spaces outside the urban typologies that people use the most (E.g. Urban streetscapes) These factors largely contribute to common mistakes seen street plantings. How do Landscape Architects ensure the survival of urban street planting? How does researching and redefining the practice horticulture in Landscape Architecture enable plants to thrive in an urban environment?
Successful street tree planting. Designed through appropriate spacing
Unsuccessful planting and consequent dead trees
Landscape Architecture Landscape Architecture Landscape Architecture
- Horticulture + Horticulture = + Horticulture The science and technology involved in plant cultivation for human use. A diverse discipline that is:
interface between plants and human
Benefits of horticulture for urban landscapes - Human well-being - Healthy communities - Connection with culture - The ‘garden’
Benefits of horticulture on human Products and activities - Oxygen - Food - Medicine - Shelter - Celebration - Remembrance - Relaxation - Global warming - Cultural implications - Emotion health - Recreation - Economical
Edinburgh Gardens Rain Gardens
Unsuccessful planting and healthy thriving trees
GHD Pty
How to practice horticulture?
Horticulture Permeability of soil
Width of growth
Identifying and considering all
Height and upper spread
physiological aspects of a plant 0.5m 1.0m 1.5m
Root spread
0.5m 1.0m 1.5m 90m
80m
85m
1. Plant cultivation 2. Soil cultivation 3. Vegetable and fruit 4. Plant specificity 5. Germination 6. Pruning
x x
90m
Techniques in horticulture
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40m
80m
85m
s Rain Gardens
ure
Freshkills
James Corner Field Operations
Shenyang University Turenscape
QunLi National Urban Park
Keast Park
Turenscape
Site Office
Cranbourne Botanical gardens Taylor Cullity Leathlen
Clifton Hill Railway project Jeavons Architects
University Hill HASSELL
Landscape Architecture Urban design Components Ecology Program RESEARCH: Process POSITIONING Research Value Landscape Architecture + Hortculture + Urban design Landscape Architecture and horticulture should be one. In this research I propose that when designing urban landscapes, Landscape Architects and Urban designers require elements of horticulture. This already exists to an extent but as identified previously, the role of horticulture remains undervalued. Landscape Architect can practice horticulture through design, by considering ecology and a sound understanding horticulture as a process
Horticulture
Urban design
Landscape Architecture
How can Landscape Architecture bring horticultural specificity into designing urban landscapes?
Horticultural Cultivation: knowledge and activity
Knowledge 1. facts, information, and skills acquired through experience or education; the theoretical or practical understanding of a subject. 2. awareness or familiarity gained by experience of a fact or situation. Activity 1. The state of being active. 2. Energetic action or movement; liveliness. 3. a. A specified pursuit in which a person partakes. b. An educational process or procedure intended to stimulate learning through actual experience.
(Image: 53 days of root growth on a sweet potato Accessed 23rd October 13’)
RESEARCH:
HORTICULTURE AS KNOWLEDGE Understanding plants to understand cultivation
Where is the specificity and richness of plants in these projects other than just something to laid out on the street? This question begins an inquiry into practicing or approaching Landscape Architecture design where plants are reprioritised. All plants have unique traits that should be taken into consideration when designing. The intent of engaging with plant specifics is to see how urban spaces will affected when engaging with the constraints that plants have.
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2
5
3
4
7
These tests does not view urbanisation in a negative way, but rather how plants and urbanisation can contribute to effect of urban spaces.
Ulmus parvifolia Height: 13m Width: 10m Soil type: All soil Half-hardy then Trunk thickness:
Eucalyptus cam Height: 15m+ Width: 15m Soil type: Clay s Hardy Trunk thickness:
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RESEARCH
PLANT PHYSIOLOGY Understanding how plants grow
Identifying and considering all
physiological aspects of a plant
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1. Exposure to wind 2. Air pollution 3. Competition 4. Infrastrucure conflict 5. Human damage 6. Poor maintenance 7. Drought 8. Inadequate soil
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Permeability of soil
Width of growth
Height and upper spread
0.5m 1.0m 1.5m
Root spread
Ulmus parvifolia Height: 13m Width: 10m Soil type: All soils Half-hardy then hardy Trunk thickness: 0.75m
90m
80m
Eucalyptus camaldulensis Height: 15m+ Width: 15m Soil type: Clay soil Hardy Trunk thickness: 2m+
Platanus x acerifolia Height: 18m+ Width: >12m Soil type: Well-drained Half-hardy then hardy Trunk thickness: 1-2m
85m
Melaleuca ericifolia Height: 4-9m Width: 2-5m Soil type: Any, wetland, loam Hardy Trunk thickness: 0.1m - 0.25m
0.5m 1.0m 1.5m
Where is the specificity and richness of plants in these projects other than just something to laid out on the street? 90m
80m
40m
0.5m 1.0m 1.5m
Root spread of tree species
90m
80m
Eucalyptus camaldulensis
90m
80m
85m
Platanus x acerifolia
85m
40m
Ulmus parvifolia
40m
Melaleuca ericifolia
0.5m 1.0m 1.5m
ROOTS
These studies detail the growth habits of roots and its effects on four species of trees. The roots are an integral part of a tree and must have sufficient space to grow allow a tree to survive. By doing these studies, we can attain knowledge of how much space roots need to grow, therefore generating a spatial condition or constraint. We can identify what scenarios to avoid and understand how the tree or plant physiologically and biologically react.
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90m
80m
SPACING When spacing trees and plants, there must be a consideration of spacing, however not only through understanding the start and final dimensions of a plant but rather understanding the progression of a tree over time. As designers tend to space trees more closely to achieve a faster canopy, there are implications on each tree and lead to different sizes and different growth patterns. These studies generate an understanding of trees beyond biological sizes and popularity of species. It demonstrates the finer details of branch placement and competition and the subsequent forms and canopy that emerges.
N E
W
S
Docklands: Melbourne
Melbourne CBD
SUCCESSION Testing in a specific ecology
Succession is a natural process that is influenced by a number of factors: weather, soil, plant species and fauna. A succession is also characterised by the spatial implications which cause irregularities and decline in growth of some trees due to competition and unpredictable phenomena. Therefore a natural succession would create a particular type of space. In an urban environment, succession lacks in fauna diversity and other natural processes (e.g. water flow) that allow a succession to happen. This test looks at how plant communities (in this case, a forest) will thrive based on prevailing winds, the condition of the soil and the flatness of the land. Although assumptive, the test attempts to see how applying an understanding of horticulture can assist in knowing what will happen to plant communities in an urban context.
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5 years
20 years
40 years
section AA
section BB
section AA
section BB
Void spaces between trees
Spaces based on tree configuration
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wind + salt spray
Elevation
Grouping The Eucalypt is protected from prevailing winds by a group of Melaleuca in this group when the trees are young. The Eucalypt therefore can establish and develop healthy root systems.
Injecting an element of urban? If roads are to fitted amongst this grouping, what are the results? Roads are impermeable surfaces, for roots to be fully healthy there must be permeability. Therefore the roads MUST be aligned as such.
SUCCESSION
EMERGING SPACES After applying plant studies to a succession, spaces emerge from the voids left after: - Trees die from competition (loss of canopy) - The vigour of some trees fall short of other trees that were advantageous due to shelter from winds (and potentially from genetically stronger trees)
LA
Plant specificity
Hort
Urban landscape
Healthy plants
By testing plants in a particular we can gather an understanding of what spaces emerge. This is the most crucial part of the tests, how these individual studies begin to spatialize the physiological qualities of plants but also the effect of time. It also demonstrated how there are some factors that are impossible or difficult to control.
RESEARCH:
AS ACTIVITY ‘Practicing’ horticulture
Horticulture is the science, technology, and business involved in intensive plant cultivation for human use (Relf, 2002)
Referring to Relf again, we find that sciences and technologies are all forms of activity. When defining horticulture, the word ‘cultivation’ is again of particular interest which is the ultimate aim of horticulturalists. It is the activities that define horticulture.
x x
Horticulture could be also defined as the interface between plants and human (Relf and Lohr, 2003) Therefore, the definition of what horticulture is rests in the proactive and pragmatics actions of doing along with understanding and knowing about plants.
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1. Plant cultivation 2. Soil cultivation 3. Vegetable and fruit 4. Plant specificity 5. Germination 6. Pruning
CULTIVATION + GROWTH
THE GARDENER The humble cultivator
Cultivation - Civilisation verb: culture - cultivate - grow - raise. Gardening is the active practice of growing or cultivating plants professionally or as a hobby. It is an active and labor intensive practice that involves a certain complexity in timing, knowledge and technique but most importantly for this research: as an activity. The gardener therefore practices the core fundamentals of horticulture. Without the practices that a gardener undertakes, there can be no horticulture as a discipline or as an industry. To be a gardener requires the knowledge and application however the main interest are the techniques and processes that that falls under the term cultivation and which leads to growth and change
Bonsai is a prime example of using a range of specific techniques to cultivate but still guided by the horticultural knowledge. It sits within the ‘interface’
CULTIVATION
TECHNIQUES Techniques as practice and technique as process
Step 1 When analyzing the significance of a gardeners practice, the most crucial element is the aspect of process and time. The practitioner must follow a certain process rigorously to maintain health and growth of a plant. The process therefore is separated into steps and transformed into a process of design.
Step 2
This process becomes a horticultural toolkit for designing urban landscapes.
Step 3
Add co
Step 4
Add co
Step 5 What can these techniques bring to Landscape Architecture?
Componen
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Propagation
Repotting
Pruning
Watering
Fertilizing
Prune Remove component
Apply water Add component
Apply fertilizer Add component
Fill with soil Add component
Remove plant Remove component
Remove soil Remove component
Spread roots Spread a component
Wait for growth Component grows
Water permeate Component permeates
Fill with soil Add component
Sow seed Add component
Place in new pot Relocate component
Prune Remove component
Apply water Add component
Fill with soil Add component
Fill with soil Add component
Fill with soil Add component
Wait for growth Component grows
Water permeate Component permeates
Apply fertilizer Add component
Prune Remove component
Apply water Add component
Apply water Component permeates
Apply water Component permeates
Apply water Component permeates
Urban components which make up an urban ecology
Industrial
Residential
Freeway
Open-space
Streets
Tram rail
CULTIVATION AS APPROACH Abstracting process used for cultivation To test the horticultural toolkit, Fisherman’s bend is split into six separate components or types of spaces: Industrial zones, residential, open spaces, streets and roads and the freeway that runs through site. Furthermore, the site is subdivided into five areas for five horticultural process respectively. By doing, all five horticultural processes can be tested on site at the same time in the same way that a plant requires all five processes for it grow. Fishermans grows through cultivation.
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Step 1 Fill with soil
Remove plant
Prune
Apply water
Apply fertilizer
Add component
Remove component
Remove component
Add component
Add component
Prune freeway
Prune
LA
Hort
Technique as process
Metaphorical translation
Urban landscape
Each step of the toolkit is divided steps and then deployed in a sequence on site as an experiment. In each step there are actions that will inform what action will program the site. The way the steps are interpreted subsequently determine the final form.
Masterplan
In the example above, the step asks to prune. The chosen component is the freeway and pruned or removed similar to discarding branches on a tree. Only the freeway in the subdivided area that is assigned ‘pruning’ will be pruned.
Step 1 Consequences
ring Wate
Disconnection of freeway
ing Fertiliz tting Repo gation Propa g Prunin
Step 1
Multi-program Pruning Cut freeway
Propagation Add component add trees
Repotting Remove freeway
Fertilizing Add component add trees
Watering Add component add trees
Williamstown road becomes more relied on for access
Step 2 Consequences
ring Wate
[Pruning] New road can be joined In response to Williamstown road
ing Fertiliz tting Repo gation Propa g Prunin
Step 2
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Multi-program Pruning (Growth) a new road grows
Propagation (Remove) freeway
Repotting (Spread) freeway spreads into streets
Fertilizing (Water) Tree component permeates into existing
Watering (Permeate) Tree component permeates into existing
[Fertilizing] All open spaces are filled
Part of freeway isolated No longer ‘freeway’
MULTI-PROGRAM In this test, one component is chosen (the freeway) and the site is subdivided into five sections and five horticultural processes are assigned to each subdivision. This test looks at how a gradual deployment of programs based on the horticulture toolkit will change the site. In this case when the practice asks for an application of a component (Example: watering - adding water), a separate program other than a freeway is deployed.
Section is subdivided Open up whole sections
In this set of tests, each step responds accordingly to the consequences that appear when components are added, cut, pruned according to the toolkit. Below is an expanded version of the process of this test.
Step 1 Pruning - The freeway is cut - No link between areas Propagation - A program is inserted - Trees - Freeway becomes hidden and forested and isolated from the rest. No longer a freeway but a wide road Repotting - The freeway is cut - No link between areas Fertilizing - A program is inserted – Trees are added Watering - A program is inserted – Trees are added
[Fertilizing] All open spaces are filled
[Repotting] Spread of freeway onto existing streets can make it a centre
Test 2 Pruning - New road grows because the principle of pruning means something is pruned so something else can grow and not in the same place in response to accessibility Major roads appear nearby water edge Movement through site is slowed. Land is subdivided again. Williamstown becomes a major thoroughfare to move through site Propagation - Removing a component, removing the freeway in that part No roads Repotting - Spread roots. The freeway is spread in response to considering traffic jams and ease of access. Existing roads are conjoined to freeway. The entrance and exits can become like a hub of petrol stations, shops and other amenities. Provide easier access to western side of Fishermens bend. Fertilizing - Watering to permeate. Allow fertiliser to spread. The program of trees is spread throughout section into every space that can be filled. All open spaces are occupied. Streets and roads are lined with trees. Freeway will be driving through trees Watering - Permeation. The program of trees fill the spaces All open spaces are occupied. Streets and roads are lined with trees. Freeway driving through trees
Step 3 Consequences
ring Wate ing Fertiliz
[Repotting] Relocation of freeway entrance places creates major roads
tting Repo gation Propa
g Prunin
Step 3
Multi-program Pruning (Cut) Remove a road
Propagation (Add component) Add cycling path
Repotting (Place in pot) Relocate freeway spread
Fertilizing (Break down) Tree occupation of open space changes program of building
Watering (Water) Add component Add tram line
[Propagation] Cycling path is isolated Only place to access is the north-east
Step 4 Consequences
ring Wate ing Fertiliz
[Fertilizing] Buildings are broken down so the trees can service the area. Subdivision of blocks
tting Repo gation Propa
g Prunin
Step 4
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Multi-program Pruning (Grow) New roads grow
Propagation (Add soil) Add component Add buildings
Repotting (Add soil) Add component Add buildings
Fertilizing (Reapply) Add component Add buildings
Watering (Permeation) Tram line permeates
[Fertilizing] Buildings are broken down so the trees can service the area. Subdivision of blocks
[Watering] Public transport services only one area
[Fertilizing] Buildings are broken down so the trees can service the area. Subdivision of blocks
[Fertilizing] Buildings are broken down so the trees can service the area. Subdivision of blocks
[Fertilizing] Buildings are broken down so the trees can service the area. Subdivision of blocks
Test 3 Pruning - Cut roads Land is no longer subdivided (a bad thing because we don't know where to locate places) Propagation - Add soil. Added a cycling path Cycling path connected to surrounding roads Repotting - Relocate the spread in response to a need for the freeway or road to be integrated further into the urban fabric The roads change to service accessibility in the northern part of Fishermens bend Fertilizing - Break down to strengthen. Buildings are literally broken down to strengthen the area. Irregular spaces appear where trees and streets subdivide spaces Existing streets are kept. Each block is roughly 200m (similar to CBD block) A new definition of 'Parameter block' Watering - Adding program. Tram line is introduced. In response to loss of access to northern part via streets (because at this particular time there are NO streets to give access to areas. Area needs to be widen Joined to existing tram line? Road becomes multi-functional needs stops and whole bunch of other things like tram stops Test 4 Pruning - Growing new roads to benefit the ecological system. Pruning gives streets a chance to continue from existing streets. Major roads appear. Better link between northern Fishermens bend and freeway. Opportunity for development (there will be, near water and stuff) Propagation - Cover/fill . Add program. Added buildings. Consequence is that there needs to be accessibility Proper streets Public transport because there less roads there Further subdivision to create sense of neighbourhoods Repotting - Fill. Add program. Added buildings Needs accessibility Needs proper streets Further subdivision Because the buildings are near freeway spread, it will different value and most likely different typology (e.g. high density) Fertilizing - Reapply. Add program. Added buildings Needs accessibility, subdivision Identify what buildings they are. It is nearest to existing shopping centres and attractions in CBD (e.g. Southbank, Southwharf, Docklands) Buildings are right outside tram lines = potential costs or type of housing Watering - Permeation. Tram line is widened in response and spread throughout urban fabric. In response that the fact that buildings are introduced to the northern part of Fishermens bend and that Changes the structure and use of roads that it goes through
ring Wate ing Fertiliz tting Repo gation Propa
g Prunin
Step 5
Multi-program Pruning (Cut) Cut road
Propagation (Water) Cycling path permeates
Timeline
Repotting (Water) Program permeates
Fertilizing (Water) Program permeates
Watering (Add) New program
- Inserting time factor into the horticultural practice How will the practice translate onto site when time is considered in the process of cultivating for growth?
Year 01
Plant
watering fertilizing repotting pruning
39
CULTIVATION
STEPS + SPECIFICITY Grounding the tests in other aspects of horticulture As the emergent goal of this research so far is to achieve growth, there lacks the specificity in growing plants. The toolkit has oversimplified the complexity as described earlier. Therefore the next direction is to reintroduce the very specific Other aspects of horticulture considers what the process is for and what specifically it means for Landscape Architecture aside from being a process.
Redefine: Cultivation
owth?
Year 02
Nursery as a cultivator
41
knowledge + activity + not-
RESEARCH:
CULTIVATION AND SPACE Methods of cultivation in Landscape Architecture
Method # 1 Identifying and considering all
physiological aspects of a plant
Permeability of soil
Width of growth
Height and upper spread
0.5m 1.0m 1.5m
Root spread
90m
80m
85m
40m
0.5m 1.0m 1.5m
90m
80m
85m
40m
0.5m 1.0m 1.5m
90m
80m
85m 90m
40m 80m
85m
40m
Understanding the process of vegetative cultivation As a mechanism to inform the design of urban spaces.
Translating the process of cultivation metaphorically into a tool-kit to inform design strategies. It is a method that can be used as an approach to masterplanning
(Small scale) (Plant scales)
(Large scale)
43
y + not-metaphorical
How horticulture can be split and understood for research ambition
Horticulture
‘Science’
‘Art’
A systemic study of the structure and behaviour of the physical and natural
The expression or application of human creative skill and imagination...
Study
Application
Understanding how plants grow
Examing the impact of cultivation on public spaces. Interpreting and understanding the effect plant cultivation has ecology, economy, human well-being and community. (Small scale
End of Project A:
The activity of cultivation techniques to grow plants
Test 01
Test 02
Understanding plants as a mechanism to create space
Abstracting the growing techniques
Large scale)
Cultivation What is discovered in methods 1 + 2 can inform how method 3 is tested.
Overall research ambition:
practice to:
Achieve growth
Study
Application
Test 01
Test 02
Culture
Role, influence and integration of the garden in human life
RESEARCH:
CULTIVATION IN PUBLIC SPACES Where should cultivation be?
This chapter aims to delve further into the defintion of ‘cultivation’. What does cultivation mean for people? People live in dwellings, but it is the public realm that people must go into and be immersed in. The response for horticulturalists is to provide an amenity to communtiy and public spaces that is the incubator of a sense of community. Landscape Architects can take this role and provide Again, the work of Relf explains the factors that make a plant community, and the cultivation thereof, attractive or desirable. - By providing a physical condition or appearance that makes people proud to be considered part of the community and by enhancing the economic and social condition of the community; - By providing opportunities for sharing of values, interests and commitments that open the door to friendly association and lead to further cooperation which has the impact of demonstrating the individual's ability to have control and responsibility for changes in the community - By providing a surrounding that is more comfortable physically in which to live and work (Relf, 1992) However, this stage of facilitating for the community cannot be reached if the state of current management regimes are not formed or properly implemented.
45
Trees felled on Franklin St, Melbourne CBD. The extent of roots and the heavily compacted soil demonstrate that urban setting is inappropriate or poorly maintained.
CULTIVATION
CURRENT The practice of plant maintenance Cultivation must be done in two major parts. One is the planing, the second is the management and maintenance following planting. If done correctly plants will thrive in urban environments. In public spaces cultivation is primarily in the form of a series of techniques that intend to allow trees and plants to grow. The techniques are developed to enable maintenance to occur in an urban environment. E.g. In an urban setting, soils are more easily compacted unlike natural plant communities, therefore irrigation pipes must be installed prior to planting and then also maintained.
47
CULTIVATION
MAINTENANCE TYPES Cultivating for public plantings Cultivation has specific methods as explored previously, however maintenance and management is a rigorous activity that requires consistent attention. These spatial tests demonstrate the interplay between urban materials and the needs of the plant. It suggests that planting can be in fact a burden economically and time-wise. Cultivation in public space therefore must encompass a series of stringent requirements for successful planting.
49
Tests that show rethinking of common maintenance practices and how infrastructure may change accordingly
CULTIVATION
MAINTENANCE SPACES Spaces that facilitate maintenance Spaces that facilitate maintenance and allow it to happen instead of hindering it. How can Landscape Architecture design the urban so that it allow for maintenance and therefore the successful growth of trees?
LA
Hort
Space for maintenance
Maintenance
Urban landscape Test site: suburban Melbourne, Dalton Road, Epping
Healthy plants
PLANT MANAGEMENT The value of management and maintenance
Landscape Architects are capable of designing landscapes that have many plants. Currently this research has already identified that plants are complex and require a a great deal of knowledge. Plants then require maintenance, which is generally omitted from planning of a design. The primary reason is that implementing the maintenance, the techniques and practices come at costs that gardeners or private land owners would generally oversee.
e
Valu
THE FUTURE Act iv ‘doin ity g’
Ho
rti
cu l
tu
re
Therefore for trees and plants in public spaces, there is a lack of management and maintenance, ultimately leading to the decline of public space plantings which then incurs further costs and has long lasting implications (e.g. replacing trees and installation)
y
og
ol Ec
s nt
a Pl
51
Concept
Develop
Maintenance plan
Tender
LONDON OLYMPIC PARK James Hitchmough At the London Olympic Park, the success of the design is was achieved through the efforts of Landscape Architects in partaking and educating about careful proper seed sowing to ensure successful germination
Build
Plant correctly
Maintain
Initiate plan
The result was an attraction for the local public. To what extent of control should Landscape Architects have over planting in design?
CULTIVATION
INTENSIVE MAINTENANCE Who maintains?
Foresters
Landscape Architects
Gardeners
Aborists
Nursery workers
Plant breeders
Commercial grower
Agriculturalist
Commercial growers and nursery workers are the practitioners involved with the most control over what is cultivated. Nurseries and wholesale businesses have the most intensive cultivation in the horticultural industry. What could this mean for cultivation in LA?
53
Cross-section of a nursery on the median strip
DALTON ROAD : EPPING
THE PLANT NURSERY What can nurseries do?
Nursery workers
Provide service
x0
$ Maintenance can avoid some costs that result from declining plants (planting, removal, lawsuits etc)
PUBLIC SPACE
The hunch is that a nursery situated in a public space can maintain the plantings in the median strip and beautify the median strip as the nursery will have many plants. Horticulture as activity: providing a service
Provide service
NURSERY
DALTON ROAD : EPPING
TESTING GROUNDS The context of Dalton Rd - Epping The location of the nursery is important to its operation. The following factors contribute to determining an appropriate location: -
Exposure to elements Enough space to hold a nursery Close proximity for customers Sensitivity of introducing species
Dalton Road is characterised by a 70kmphr median that have five 7-9m nature strips separated by turning points for cars into adjacent streets. The median strips have sparse plantings that fall into fall into decline are required constant mulching which is a safety hazard on a high speed median.
Standard median size
Individual median strips
55
A B
c
D
E
Epping Central
DALTON ROAD : EPPING
TESTING GROUNDS : CONTEXT Potential effect of nursery
The location of the nursery is important to its operation. The following factors contribute to determining an appropriate location: -
Exposure to elements Enough space to hold a nursery Close proximity for customers Sensitivity of introducing species
The gesture of placing a nursery in the median strip means that it is in the centre of the road, next to residencies and located in the heart of Epping central. The median strip however is interesting as it is adjacent to a series of local ecologies and local typologies. Dalton Road in Epping therefore is characterised by:
Education facilities Tertiary and Secondary Private properties and gardens Shopping and retail spaces Darebin creek Epping train station Plantings on median strips Plantings on Darebin creek
57
Epping
Epping Railway station
NMIT - TAFE
St Monicas Secondary College
Dalton Village Lalor North Secondary College
DALTON ROAD : EPPING
NURSERY AS ‘CULTIVATOR’ Type of nursery? For whom? The nursery is defined as a boundaried space with operations specifically for cultivative purposes and providing plants upon demand. Amongst a community, the nursery has various influences. Therefore we identify what type of nurseries exist: Retail nurseries are primarily profit based. All operations go towards maintaining and reselling plants Community nurseries however aim to provide a space that encourages people to work with each other and be involved in cultivating endemic species and then resold. Furthermore, community nurseries are non-profit organisations and are commissioned by councils or organisations to provide plants for revegetation purposes. Privately owned wholesalers are similar to communtiy nurseries however are for profit.
Value
Private garden
N
For Dalton Rd, it means a possibility of the median strip nursery to expand beyond the boundaries of business to have profound effects on the immediate context of its location and giving value to plants, the median strip and the community.
Plants for local public or residential spac
Greenlink: Indigenous nursery, Box Hill, Victoria Propagation is done by volunteers through collecting seed from natural plant communities within the City of Whitehorse
59
Plants Horticultural practice
gardens
Local ecology (creek)
Nursery
r local c or l space
e
Commerical landscapes
Plants to benefit and maintain local ecology
DALTON ROAD : EPPING
NURSERY: REQUIREMENTS Establishing a nursery
The spatial layout of the nursery is driven by the operation of the nursery. In order to determine the operation, the number of plants must be roughly calculated and have an idea of demand and supply.
x
x
x
x
The spatial layout is therefore driven by the amount of infrastructure, its setbacks and offsets are needed to meet the number of plants required. Here the infrastructure is organised into a layout that maintains access, safety and traffic needs of the median strip.
x
S 61
x
x
1. Space for plants 2. Propagation polytunnels 3. Soil 4. Potted plants 5. Source of irrigation 6. Tool shed/storage 7. Areas for growth 8. Spacing between potted plants 9. Loading/transport zones 10. Retail/POS area 11. Retail items
soil storage - retaining wall
workbench
tool-shed A
tool-shed B
sprinklers
propagation tray
2”
4”
7”
12”
18”
14”
24”
tarp/mesh
wall
shop
propagation bench
polytunnel
30”
plot division
inch pots
pot bench retail
50
curb
railing
fence
crossing post
path
path
road signs
DALTON ROAD : EPPING
NURSERY FORMATION The order of formation The nursery’s operation is determined by how many plants are dedicated to the creek. Nursery and median strip nfrastructure are then allocated to available space to form one whole operating nursery along the extents of Dalton Road.
the function of the median strips, the infrastructure required for operation and calculating the number of plants moving in and out of the nursery. The challenge is to spatialise the nursery to produce as many plants as possible as well working with the rules and regulations of designing in public spaces.
There is an interplay between the number of plants that are required, the limitations of space,
x
= 200
x
x
50
tool-shed A
sprinklers
propagation tray
propagation bench
polytunnel
fence
road signs
soil storage
Year 1 1600m2
10000
Propagated stock
Year 2 545m2
20000 Propagated stock
50
2”
4”
7”
12”
18”
14”
inch pots
24”
30”
plot division
railing
road signs
Year 3
1225m2
20000
Propagated stock
2500
5000
B
C
1 y.o stock
1 y.o stock
Year 4 2675m2
15000
Propagated stock
Year 5
1124m2
A 20000
Propagated stock
63
tarp/mesh
fence
x
x
S
x
50
shop
sprinklers
plot division
3000
Propagated stock
4000
Propagated stock + 1y.o stock
50
7000 Propagated stock + mixed stock
2”
4”
7”
12”
18”
inch pots
D 10000
14”
24”
30”
plot division
railing
road signs
E 8000
Propagated stock + mixed stock
pot bench retail
road signs
x
DALTON ROAD : EPPING
NURSERY AND ECOLOGY Nursery as a laboratory The advantage of a nursery is providing services to the community through expertise and management. Furthermore, the nursery has opportunities to be involved with the revegetation and regeneration of the parallel Darebin Creek. This can coincide with the Darebin Creek Management Commitee’s (DCMC) vision and plan for the creek. 1. Restoration of creek banks through revegetation1 2. Restoration of native grassland communities2 A practice of horticulture aims to propagate species that are genetically strong and have desirable traits, generally for ornamental purposes, but can aim to clone plants that are more adaptable to its environment. For the creek, this practice can ensure genetic strength in the Darebin creek ecology. The nursery assists succession through the practice of hybridisation and propagation.
consistent growth straight foliage healthy size
Hybridization cycle
Nursery as laboratory
65
1. Darebin Creek Management Commitee Project website page (http://www.dcmc.org.au/management/projects.php) Accessed 24.10.13 2. Darebin Creek Management Commitee Project website page (http://www.dcmc.org.au/management/projects.php) Accessed 24.10.13
Propagation 1-6 month old Seedlings 1- 6 month old Cuttings
A Young stock 1 - 5 year old saplings 1 - 5 year old cutting stock
B
C
Mature stock 5 - 10 year old trees 5 - 10 year old cuttings
2 1
D
Harvest
E
A potential cycle of management through planting, selection, propagation and growing over a series of years.
DALTON ROAD : EPPING
NURSERY AND CREEK : CYCLE Providing and planting The nursery’s plant species list, number of plants needed and thus the amount of infrastructure is geared towards providing a certain number of endemic species for the local ecology of Darebin Creek. Dedicating a number of plants to the creek will determine how many plants will remain in the nursery and distributed elsewhere.
River (ecology) Nursery A
Propagation
B
1-3 year growth
C
1-3 years growth
D
3-5 years growth
E
5+ years growth
60% seedlings 40% to next strip 20% outside
80% growing plants 40% to next strip 40% outside
70% growing plants 30% to next strip 20% outside 20% to grow on
Other 67
Yr1
90% growing plants
Yr2
Yr3
Yr4
60% seedlings 20% to next strip 40% outside
30% seedling 60% cuttings
40% cuttings
80% growing plants 40% to next strip 40% outside
80% growing plants 40% to next strip 40% outside
70% growing plants
70% growing plants
70% growing plants
90% growing plants
90% growing plants 60% outside 20% outside
90% growing plants
30% growing plants
30% growing plants
30% growing plants
30% to next strip 20% outside 20% to grow on
Yr5
SPATIALISING NURSERY Infrastructure and operation
The nursery in the median strip is spatialised through combining the constraints of nursery infrastructure and the program of the median strip, balanced with the need to be compliant with the rules and dimensions set by VicRoads and AustRoads governing bodies.
50
Strip A - Propagation
69
VICROADS traffic design offset for structures beside roadside 1
VICROADS traffic design kerb offset for four laned roads2
1. VicRoads 2012, Geometric design, Supplement to AustRoads design guidelines http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/Home/Moreinfoandservices/RoadManagementAndDesign/DesignStandardsManualsNotes/RoadDesign/ VicRoadsSupplementToAustroadsGuideToRoadDesignGuides.htm - Accessed 8th August 2. VicRoads 2012, Geometric design, Supplement to AustRoads design guidelines http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/Home/Moreinfoandservices/RoadManagementAndDesign/DesignStandardsManualsNotes/RoadDesign/ VicRoadsSupplementToAustroadsGuideToRoadDesignGuides.htm - Accessed 8th August
Cross section - Polytunnels
Strip A - Propagation
71
Polytunnels
The crossing is informed by VicRoads offsets but moreso the width needed for carrying plants, for three people to walk simultaneously and the location of crossing in regards to the way propagation operates in the nursery.
50
Strip A + B + traffic conditions
73
50
2”
4”
7”
12”
18”1
4”
24”3
0”
Strip A + B
75
50
2”
4”
7”
12”
18”1
4”
24”3
0”
Strip B + C
77
At times, the need for sight lines mean that a large area of median strip must be allocated to low lying plants under 0.75m. This in turn affects the number of taller stock that must occupy another part of the median strip. This is one that factors that affect the nursery spatially.
Strip B + C + Traffic conditions
79
50
2”
4”
7”
12”
18”1
4”
24”3
0”
Strip C - Grow on area
81
50
2”
4”
7”
12”
18”1
4”
24”3
0”
Strip C
83
50
Strip E
85
Strip E
87
concrete nose
NURSERY AND SPAC E
offset and curb
NURSERY STATISTICS space for plants
leisure spot 12.5%
polytunnels 44.5%
workspace/workshop
Programs and area use
offset and curb
offset and curb 12.5%
offset and curb 12.5%
storage sheds
paths
space for plants
paths
space for plants
soil storage - 5% paths 18%
workspace/workshop - 5% storage sheds - 2.5%
space for plants 62.5%
paths 25%
footpath railguards
footpath railguards
Propagation A
1-3 years growth B
footpath railguards
concrete concrete nose nose 1-3 years growth
3-5 years growth
offset offset and andcurb curb
storage storagesheds sheds workspace/workworkspace/workshop shop
offset offset and andcurb curb
space spacefor forplants plants offset offset and andcurb curb 12.5% 12.5%
space spacefor for plants plants 62.5% 62.5%
offset offset and andcurb curb shop shop
paths paths space spacefor forplants plants
paths paths
space spacefor forplants plants
paths paths
paths paths 25% 25% Open Openspace space
footpath footpath railguards railguards
1-3 1-3years yearsgrowth growth
footpath footpath railguards railguards
1-3 1-3years yearsgrowth growth C
3-5 3-5years yearsgrowth growth D
$500k 80,000
$
+
+
footpath footpath railguards railguards
Retail Retailstrip strip E
Horticulturalist Nursery hand Native expert Landscaper Arborist Ecologist $ Volunteers
10 Full-time staff 30 Part-time staff
-60% lease
R
DALTON ROAD : EPPING
NURSERY PLANTS Nursery to provide specific plants
The nursery provides plants to the creek which require species endemic to Darebin Creek. However this research intends to think about how else the nursery can service public and community spaces. Included in the plants the nursery cultivates are a series of exotic appropriate for the local climate in Epping.
Achillea ageratifolia 100 x 60cm
Eryngium ovinum 40 x 50cm
Agastache ‘Sweet lili’ 120 x 60cm
Austrodantonia eriantha 50 x 40cm
Argyrantheum madarense 90 x 90cm
Austrostipa semibarbata 50 x 40cm
Aster ‘Ruby buttons’ 100 x 40cm
Wahlenbergia stricta 10 - 90cm
Ceonthus thyrisoflorus 100 x 200cm
Eucalyptus ovata 10 - 15m
Cynara scolymus 150cm x 150cm
Eucalyptus leucoxylon 10 - 15m
Ginkgo biloba 10 x 15m
Acacia dealbata 7 - 8m
Kniphoria ‘Winter cheer’ 150cm x 110cm
Allocasuarina littoralis 10m x 2-3m
Miscanthus sinesis ‘Gracimillus 100cm x 100cm
Thysanotus tuberosus 10 - 30cm
Miscanthus oligostachys 60 x 50cm
Teucrium corymbosum 30cm x 1.5m
This timeline shows: - The propagation, pruning and transplanting of each species - Time spent in one median strip before moving onto another median strip - The duration of flowering times or duration of foliage change
With this information, it gives an idea into which species and how many will be in each median strip at a given time. This will also inform the spatial configuration of the nursery. As the nursery is expected to have a large amount of stock at all times, the species are also specifically chosen so that the nursery is constantly in flower or display foliage change.
- Start of flowering or foliage change - End of flowering or foliage reverts - Point where plants are moved to another median strip
89
Endemic
Exotic
Year 01
Year 02
91
Year 03
Year 04
93
Year 05
NURSERY AND CONTEXT
IMPLICATIONS Effect of nursery on the immediate context
The establishment of the nursery in a median strip has a series of effects on the local ccntext. - The nursery is in the centre of the median - It is in close proximity to a shopping
95
B
NURSERY AND CONTEXT
SPATIALISING NURSERY - INFLUENCES
C
A
97
A
B
AA
BB
CC
DD
D
C
D
F
E
99
E
F
H
EE
FF
GG
HH
G
G
H
C
AA
BB
CC
A
B
101
A
B
D
DD
EE
FF
E
C
D
F
E
F
AA
BB
CC
A
103
A
B C
B
C
105
D
E
DD
EE
AA
BB
CC
A
107
A
C
B
B
C
DD E EE
FF
D
109
D
F
E
F
G
H
111
G
GG
HH
H
A
B
113
A
B
AA
C
BB
CC
C
115
NURSERY AND CONTEXT
NURSERY AND CREEK To see the influences of the nursery on the creek, there needed to be a way of operating with the local ecology. Questions asked are: Where along the creek require management and plants from the nursery? How does planting initiate? The Darebin Creek Management Committee (DCMC) has already initiated revegetation of areas of the creek in accordance to their objective of forming a linear park that follows the creek. The existing plots of revegetation can be a starting point for how the median strip nursery can service the creek.
Exotic species planting
Existing revegetation
Native planting (Native revegetation) Native and exotic mix
117
Viewpoint
Patches of revegetation at the creek
Developing Darebin Creek linear parklands
IMPLICATIONS
CREEK REVEGETATION Bradley method of bush regeneration
Amongst the existing vegetation at Darebin Creek, there are micro-communities that perform better than others whilst there are some areas that perform poorly due to poor soil, neglect and overrun with weeds. The ‘Bradley method of bush regeneration’ suggests an approach that encourages native vegetation to selfreestablish. (Bradley, 1988). This method operates through two steps: - Clear small niches next to healthy communities as the existing area is already healthy, adatptable and hosts top biodiversity that can provide regeneration potential - Follow up maintenance once or twice per annum to clear weeds and re-establish some plants if needed. The role of the nursery here at the creek is to aid and drive the regeneration of native revegetation through facilitating succession.
119
A
Bradley method of bush regeneration, starting from the best spots
A
An alternative is to build up planting from the worst performing arreas
A
Endemic
Year 01
Year 03
Year 04
121
IMPLICATIONS
MAINTENANCE FOR CREEK This plant palette is selected from a species list of species endemic to Darebin Creek as recommended by the DCMC. The species list is then further specified according to micro-climate of Dalton Road and the adjacent Darebin Creek. The endemic species maintenance schedule is different to the exotic species maintenance schedule. - Endemic spaces require less maintenance work than exotics - Once established, endemic species can generally thrive with little maintenance in planted communities
Year 02
Year 0
Year 05
Progression of revegetation through applying the Bradley method and supply of plants and maintenance form the nursery 123
IMPLICATIONS
REVEGETATION Applying and maintaining Weeding Year 05 No maintenance Year 04 Prune Weeding Planting Year 03 Weeding Year 02 Prune Weeding Year 01 Planting Clearing out niche
Year 01 An area of the creek is selected for its existing healthy plant community. The revegetation begins with selecting niches Year 02 Weeding twice per year as creek areas are generally more suspectible to being overrun by weeds (Bradley, 1988) Year 03 This year will be focusing on light pruning to encourage undergrowth. Weeding continues Year 04 As the previous year is heavy with maintenance, the niches can be left to grow Year 05 Weeding
This iteration of the creek can demonstrate the extent by which the nursery can influence and reach within the local ecology.
Implications for landscape architects implications for horticulturalists This research has devised strategies that allow a reconsideration of the relationship between horticulture and landscape architecture and challenge the conventional use of horticulture within landscape architecture. It is through defining cultivation that landscape architects can practice horticulture. This research explores the concept of cultivation through understanding the process of vegetative cultivation and then as a mechanism to inform design of urban spaces, translating the process of cultivation metaphorically to inform design strategies and examining the impact of cultivation in public spaces. These three tests demonstrate that horticulture can be valuable to designers across various disciplines. In order to employ these strategies it means that landscape architect have a sound grasp plant physiology, the process of cultivating and to be sensitive to the role of horticulture on human well-being and the community. the three tests prove that the results are only do-able with a sound knowledge of how plants work and that research must be had on plants. in many ways, horticulturalists also have a sound knowledge of plants, however the major difference is how landscape architects are able to spatialise cultivation and to actively test and understand effects plants have on spaces, the programs that emerge and the behaviours of people who engage with that space. This is the realm that which landscape architects should practice horticulture, hence to 'cultivate' a space. The three tests demonstrate the crucial concept of time. It is something that designers today do not fully invest in or think about. the ephemeral nature of plants mean a constant evolution and change of something that is in spaces that are usually static. The challenges of perpetual change of plants can be met through considering time. Test 01 looks at the succession over time and learn that spaces emerge ONLY after a time, the metaphorical use of cultivation is directly derived from the steps of cultivating over time, the impacts of cultivation on urban spaces is deeply rooted in the environment changes over time. Many designers today know what a tree may look like at maturity, however fail to recognise the tree at juvenile and mature stages and the stages in between, all of which are important in determining the effects of the plant on people and the spaces they are in. This results of this research stresses a problem that contemporary horticulturalists and landscape designers iterate: that all design with plants must be done with a degree of control which is through the understanding of plants, bolstered by 'hands on' experimentation and cultivation.
Conclusions 125
Horticulture is:
about cultivation
Cultivation is:
a lens to design through
Design :
considers plant physiology
Plants:
inform space
Space
is designed by the Landscape Architect
REFERENCES Books Relf, D, 1992, The role of horticulture in human well-being and social development Timber Press, Oregon, OR, 1992 Kaplan. R. 1992, The psychological benefits of nearby nature. In: D. Relf (ed.). The Role of Horticulture in Human Well-Being and Social Development: A National Symposium. Timber Press, Portland, OR. Dobb, E. 1992, Cultivating nature. The Sciences. Jan./Feb.:44-50. Ulrich, R.S. and R. Parsons, 1992, Influences of passive experiences with plants on individual well-being and health. In: D. Relf (ed.). The Role of Horticulture in Human Well-Being and Social Development: A National Symposium. Timber Press, Portland, OR. Janick, J, 1992, Horticulture and human culture. In: D. Relf (ed.), The Role of Horticulture in Human Well-Being and Social Development: A National Symposium. Timber Press, Portland, OR. Kaplan, Kaplan, Ryan, 1998, With People in Mind: Design and Management of Everyday Nature. Island Press, Washington, DC McHarg. I, 1995, Design with nature, San Val Incorporated El-Dahdah, Leenhardt, Tabacow, 2011, Roberto Burle Marx: The garden as art form, Actar Press First English edition, September 1 2011 Lynch. K, 1960, The image of the City, The MIT Press, June 15 1960 ‘Supertrees, a fusion of technoligy and nature’ Squint Opera with Grant Associates (2009) (Scanned 2011) Bradley.J, 1988 Bringing back the bush - The Badley method of bush regeneration , Lansdowne Press, Sydney 1988 Konijnendijk, Kjell, Thomas. Schipperijn, 2005. Urban Forests and Trees: A Reference Book. 2005 Edition. Springer.
Texts online Human Issues in Horticulture, Relf, 1992. p14-15 http://www.hort.vt.edu/HUMAN/hihart.htm (Accessed 5th of March 2013) University of Delaware, 2009, Permeable vs Impermeable surfaces ag.udel.edu/udbg/sl/hydrology/Permeable_Impermeable_Surfaces.pdf (Accessed 5th of March 2013) Docklands Public Realm Plan, 2012 http://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/AboutCouncil/Meetings/Lists/CouncilMeetingAgendaItems/Attachments/10100/5.1%20Docklands%20Public%20 Realm%20Plan.pdf. (Accessed 5th of March 2013) Melbourne Urban Forest Strategy, 2012 http://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/Sustainability/UrbanForest/Documents/Urban_Forest_Strategy.pdf. (Accessed 5th of March 2013) NSW Randwick City Council, ‘Street Tree Identification Manual’, 2007 http://www.randwick.nsw.gov.au/Looking_after_our_environment/Greening_our_city/Trees/Street_trees/Street_tree_identification_manual/index.aspx (Accessed 5th of March 2013) Melbourne Flora, http://www.emelbourne.net.au/biogs/EM00589b.htm (Accessed 11th of March 2013) Landezine, Schoeneberger Park http://www.landezine.com/index.php/2013/02/schoneberger-sudgelande-park-by-odious/ (Accessed 24th of March) University of Florida, ‘lateral root spread’, 2011 http://hort.ufl.edu/woody/root-growth-lateral.shtml (Accessed 1st April ) University of Florida department of Environmental Horticulture, ‘Urban design’, 2011 http://hort.ufl.edu/woody/urban-design.shtml (Accessed 5th of April 2013)
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University of Florida, Department of Environmental Horticulture, ‘Tree structure’, 2011 http://hort.ufl.edu/woody/tree-structure-main.shtml (Accessed 5th of April 2013) University of Florida department of Environmental Horticulture, ‘Good examples of planting’, 2011 http://hort.ufl.edu/woody/urban-open.shtml (Accessed 5th of April 2013) Dunnett, Qasim, Department of Landscape, University of Sheffield, ‘Perceived Benefits to human well-being of urban gardens’ http://www.greenstructureplanning.eu/MAPweb/gardens.htm (Accessed 5th of April 2013) Pruning for clearwood reduction, Department of Environmental Services http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0017/12527/AG0773Pruningforclearwoodproduction_img_1v1.jpg (Accessed 5th of April 2013) Pruning fruit trees, Woodbridge Trees http://www.woodbridgefruittrees.com.au/woodbridgefruittrees/img/cms/pruning-cuts.jpg (Accessed 12th of April 2013) Hitchmough, James Hitchmough at the London Olympic Games, 2012 (Accessed 24th September 2013) http://hitchmough-2012-olympic-park.group.shef.ac.uk/olympic.html J.Bradley, The Bradley method of bush regeneration, edited last 2001 (Accessed 10th October 2013) http://www.rainforestinfo.org.au/deep-eco/bradley.htm
Images retrieved online Taylor Cullity Leathlen, Australian Garden, Cranbourne, Victoria http://www.tcl.net.au/projects/cultural-interpretative/australian-garden (Accessed 23rd May 2013) Turenscape, Shenyang University Campus, Shenyang China http://www.turenscape.com/english/projects/project.php?id=324 (Accessed 23rd May 2013) Turenscape, QunLi National Urban Wetland, QunLi, China http://www.turenscape.com/english/projects/project.php?id=435 (Accessed 23rd May 2013) James Corner Field Operations, Freshkills Park Reclamation, New York http://www.archdaily.com/339133/landfill-reclamation-fresh-kills-park-develops-as-a-natural-coastal-buffer-and-parkland-for-staten-island/ (Accessed 23rd May 2013) Jeavons Landscape Architects, Clifton Hill Railway Project, Melbourne Victoria http://www.aila.org.au/victoria/awards2011/cliftonhill.html (Accessed 23rd May 2013) HASSELL, University Hill, Bundoora, Victoria http://www.hassellstudio.com/en/cms-projects/detail/university-hill (Accessed 23rd May 2013) Site Office, Keast Park, Frankston, Victoria http://www.archdaily.com/321636/keast-park-community-pavilion-jackson-clements-burrows-architects/ (Accessed 23rd May 2013) CSIRO, Eucalyptus camaldulensis http://www.anbg.gov.au/cpbr/WfHC/Eucalyptus-camaldulensis/ (Accessed 7th May 2013) Connecticut College, US, Platanus x acerifolia http://www.hort.uconn.edu/plants/p/plaace/plaace1.html (Accessed 7th May 2013)
Metro Trees, Melbourne, Ulmus chinensis http://www.metrotrees.com.au/treehandbook/page-listings/ulmus-parvifolia.html (Accessed 7th May 2013) Yarra Ranges Council, Melaleuca ericifolia http://www.yarraranges.vic.gov.au/Residents/Yarra_Ranges_Plant_Directory/Middle_Storey/Trees_3-25m/Melaleuca_ericifolia (Accessed 7th May 2013) Planting bed http://i1-news.softpedia-static.com/images/news2/Case-closed-Plants-Species-Do-Exist-After-All-2.jpg. [Accessed 23 October 2013]. Darebin Creek http://www.dcmc.org.au/ (Accessed 2 October 2013) Garden searcher, Melbourne http://www.northcotecommunitygardens.blogspot.com.au/ (Accessed 19th September 2013) Gardener in London http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/02431/gardening_2431633b.jpg (Accessed 23rd Oct) Commercial grower http://foodwise.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/BACKGROUND-gardening.jpeg (Accessed 23rd Oct) Arborist chainsaw http://static.ddmcdn.com/gif/arborist-3.jpg (Accessed 23rd Oct) Forester measuring tree circumference http://www.nature.org/cs/groups/webcontent/@photopublic/documents/media/measure-tree-490x250.jpg (Accessed 23rd Oct) Plant breeder http://media.bradenton.com/smedia/2013/05/31/23/55/LFr3i.AuSt.69.jpeg (Accessed 23rd Oct)
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