ECOLOGICAL SYSTEMS IN DESIGN

Rationale

Our designed environments inherently support or interfere with ecological functions and services. In doing so, the built environment is expected to improve its ecological functioning and to be more resilient and adaptive when facing climate change or other local changes. Design for these functions focus on water, and also consider urban forests, and pollinators.

Main Take Aways

With stormwater management in Seattle, designers need to consider what Nina-Marie Lister describes as “the capacity for resilience—the ability to recover from disturbance, to accommodate change, and to function in a state of health.”1 On the other hand, pollinators and urban forest also provide more ecological services and functions for this system. Both of them will increase the adaption and resilience for ecological systems.

Humans rely on ecological systems for living, and it is important to make sure the ecological functioning and services work well because we need biodiversity to sustain us.2

1 Lister, Nina-Marie. 2007. “Sustainable Large Parks: Ecological Design or Designer Ecology?” in Czerniak, Julia and George Hargreaves, eds. Large Parks. New York, NY: Princeton Architectural Press, p. 36.

Reflection

This reflection addressed good and bad examples of design with ecological systems.

Seattle offers great examples to improve the city in ecological ways, such as rain gardens, bioswales, and wetlands. These Low Impact Development approaches help the environment to be more sustainable and adaptive to future changes.

In Rome, where four of us were studying, the Tiber River Embankment presents an controversial example. Tiber River Embankment is a great place for people to gather, exercise, and walk. It is also a good habitat for many species. However, it has encountered a serious flooding issue since thousands years ago as the channelized edges do not allow for flood water to settle in ponds to infiltrate easily. With ecological design approaches, the environment would be more adaptive and sustainable in future changes.

“Instead of the tall embankment on two sides, a terraced slope creates room for vegetation and programs for humans. Vegetation will also function as stormwater filtration as well as habitat for other species.”

Will Shrader

“Tiber River is an important and historical element. The embankment along the river provides recreation spaces for people. People are using the space for exercising, walking and gathering. Additionally, this embankment functions as green space and open space in the city. The length of Tiber River, and its embankment is long, therefore people could use wherever they want.”

Tiber

Huge trees, following embankment, are function as street trees for both car and pedestrians using embankment. These trees provide beautiful scenery of city. However, these are attacked by starling, especially during fall and winter season. One million of starlings are coming to Rome this season,

Relationship To Studio Site

The Licton Spring- Haller Lake Neighborhood relates with three small lakes: Bitter Lake beyond its western edge, Green Lake to the south, and Haller Lake within. Additionally, there are wetlands in the neighborhood with Ashworth wetland and the constructed Midvale Stormwater Pond. We need to consider how ecological systems can be improved and connected. We need to look at a the whole system through the lens of Low Impact Development. There are forested areas, notably in parks, and areas that lack tree canopy. We also need to identify ways to support pollinators through our design work. Our designs should integrate ecological systems, and not conflict with these process.