Grace Warne_Research Proposal

7/27/2019 Grace Warne_Research Proposal

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Masters by Project Research Proposal

Landscape Architecture

Grace Warne

#138847

Principle Supervisors: Daniel Irving, Matthew Bradbury

Associate Supervisors: Ken Simpson, Will Fletcher

Title: The Sustainable Industrial Landscape

Introduction:

There is a need for increased sustainable industrial practice as the world faces environmental and

economic challenges(Sandler, 1997; van der Leeuw, 2012). This project provides an example of

ecologically-based landscape interventions within an industrial context, with an aim to demonstrate

the role of landscape architecture in supporting ecological health while still designing for high-

quality physical and social experience.

Industry provides for the production of commodities and the provision of products and services

which are part of contemporary society ("Pollution Issues: Industry," 2013).There are two

classifications of industry-light and heavy. Industrial practices are increasingly the focus of discussion

around global sustainability due to both perceived and real harmful environmental effects.

Sustainable industrial practice generally works to limit waste, reduce use of limited resources andreduce overall environmental impact, typically through the use of ecology, planning and technology

(Evans, 2009).

Landscape architects are often interested in the field of environmental ecology especially as related

to the landscape and built environment. This interest primarily revolves around the study of

patterns, processes and interactions within the natural environment and how these can be used

within design to improve sustainability. Landscape architects typically use landscape ecology and

urban ecology which focus on human interactions and patterns as well ecological health. Design

techniques that utilise ecologysometimes referred to as ecological landscape interventions can

positively alter or change current environmental conditions within a site.

Ecology and industry can evoke different experiential reactions; sometimes these are positive and at

other times negative. The experiential qualities of an environment are often important to landscape

architects. Sound, touch, aesthetics, social engagement and other human /landscape interactions

work together to create an experience for the people within a space. These help to generate

reactions to an environment, though this will also vary based on the individual. Social engagement

and interactions have also been demonstrated to affect physical and mental health in work

environments (Heaphy, 2008).

This project will investigate how industrial practices might become increasingly sustainable through

the landscape architectural use of ecology, design and experiential conditions. This will involve the

use of a test case design on a specific industrial site to try out proposed outcomes and identify howthey might be applied to similar contextual situations worldwide.


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Research Question:

How can landscape architects use ecological landscape interventions to advance sustainable

industrial practice?

Research Rationale:The objective of this research project is to demonstrate the ability to improve the relationship

between the industrial and natural environment while enhancing experience and social engagement.

This will help to increase sustainable industrial practice.

With so many environmental issues such as climate change, resource demands exceeding supply,

and pollution as well as global population pressures, sustainability has become an important concept

in many industrialized nations(Evans, 2009). This project recognizes its importance to all disciplines,

especially in regards to landscape architectures role in helping advance sustainable landscapes.

This project will be attempting to connect several different fields of interest and importance in

landscape architecture practice and theory to define a new or improved way of implementingecological design interventions within an industrial environment. Landscape architecture is a broad

discipline and it will possibly prove a challenge to keep the research within a specific focus and

ensure the result is not a duplicate of previous work and theoretical research.

Industrial and ecological environments are often perceived to be two dissimilar systems with

different goals, aims and outcomes; however they often overlap and could be perceived as a singular

environment with similarities, differences and interactions working within it. An interlocking

together of two systems wherein the interplay, balance and tensions discovered could be expressed

as one cohesive environment with a quality sustainable and experiential outcome.

The resultant outcome will hopefully achieve an increase in sustainable industrial practice, thoughresearch and testing may demonstrate other possibilities and problems. In that situation there will

need to be clear identification of why that is and how to still answer the research question in some

way.

Methodology:

The initial research for the methodology has been divided into three main themes to help keep the

topics of research more clear and concise. These are ecology, experiential/social and

industry/sustainability. Theoretical backgrounds and case studies are linked to help formulate a way

of working through this project. The resultant theoretical background and methodology will be

applied to a test case to demonstrate how ecological design interventions could be implemented.

To ensure a comprehensive research project a set of systematic methods will be used to generate

information about what is happening within the site and context and how the issues and interests

are situated in the field of landscape architecture theory and practice.

Ecology

Why is a focus on ecology important? The purpose of ecology is to provide knowledge about the

way the world works and provide evidence on the interdependence between the natural world and

people. A better understanding of ecological systems will allow society to predict the consequences

of human activity on the environment ("British Ecological Society," 2013). Industrial sites have been

observed for their negative effects on the natural environment. Using ecological design

interventions help to mediate any of these impacts.Perspectives in Urban Ecology by Wilfried


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understanding for social ecology and the importance of peoples interactions within the natural

environment. Social experience often guides perception of landscapes. Related to this idea,

Experiencing Landscapes: capturing the cultural services and experiential qualities of landscapeby

The Research Box outlines different ways people experience landscape and how different types and

qualities of landscape affect experience and perception. This primarily focuses on dealing with raw

natural landscapes but still is applicable to more designed landscapes.

Experience and social interactions are quite closely connected. As seen above, ecological aesthetics

are important to ensure that people have a positive experience with ecology and its appearance.

Social ecologys idea of looking at the people within an ecological context helps provide a filter of

what and how people can relate to then natural environment. Both of these concepts affect

personal experience and shape perceptions around landscape design.

Industry and Sustainability

Modern industry is being pressured to become more sustainable in their practice i.e. release less

pollutants and use materials that can be more easily replaced to reduce their impact on the natural

environment (Crosson, 1994). Towards a Sustainable Industrial System: With recommendations foreducation, research, industry and policyby Steve Evans, Margareta Norell Bergendahl, Mike Gregory

and Chris Ryan, discusses the issues and challenges surrounding industry sustainability. The authors

propose that in the face of climate change and other environmental issues there needs to be

multiple ways to tackle the issue of sustainable industrial systems such as through education and

technology. They suggest that industry can be part of the solution to global sustainability rather than

part of the problem. Although their focus is on more internal industrial processes, the external

environment is complimentary to any sustainable industry practice.

The concept of industrial ecology is another way that sustainability and environmental issues within

industry are being treated. This looks at industry as its own ecosystem as well as part of wider global

ecosystems, and places a focus on using sustainable resources and waste disposal. Industrial Parksas Ecosystems byR. Ct and J. Hall provides a good overview of industrial ecology, how it works

and its application within industrial parks. The concept of industry as its own unique ecosystem is

helpful to understanding the connection to natural ecosystems. Yes there are some limitations to

the idea of industrial ecology but it does provide a framework for more sustainable industry. An

example of this concept in landscape architecture practice is Singapores Jurong Island. A new

concept for a nurtured landscape, is proposed for mediating between the natural ecosystem and

the urban/industrial environment. The nurtured landscape provides a basis for the development of

new ecological technology using landscape to ameliorate the polluting effects of the urban/industrial

neighbourhood. The planning of Singapores Jurong Island industrial park provides a test of applying

the principles of landscape ecology and industrial ecology to the possible transformation of an

industrial area (Yang, 2004). This concept is very relevant to this project and will provide a good

case study for the integration of ecology and industry.

Many of the examples of landscape architecture projects dealing with industry in an ecological or

sustainable context are post-industrial. Though this project is mainly interested in functioning

industries, these provide ideas of what can be done to remediate a polluted environment and

provide social spaces. Cultuurpark Westergasfabriek a former gas plant in the Netherlands is now a

park with shops and events spaces. Designed by Kathryn Gustafson, this project not only provides a

cultural centre but also includes part of the Bretten Zone, a strip of thriving ecological land thats

approximately 10km in length ("Westergasfabriek - History," 2011). This former industrial site is now

a busy social space with both culture and nature within easy access. Designed by Turenscape, the

Qiaoyuan Post-industrial Park is a 54-acre green space built on the site of a formerly polluted,

littered and deserted garbage dump in China. The focus was on remediating the environment and


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providing an ecological haven that also serves as a recreational retreat for nearby residents. Unlike

the previous park this has less of a social focus but a much stronger ecological emphasis. Both

provide unique experiences in a post-industrial context. Both case studies demonstrate some type of

remediation of former industrial sites. However, they are very different in context, use and design.

It becomes obvious that using sustainability within industry is an important concept. The theory andcase studies provide ways that this can be done to benefit both the natural and industrial

environments.

This project is layered with a range of theories which will be used to create a unique test case design

outcome. For this project a holistic ecology perspective will be used, generated by the concepts of

industrial ecology, environmental ecology and social ecology. Looking at all the elements from a

systems and processes style approach should generate a more complex and layered set of ecological

design interventions that comprehensively address sustainable industrial practice.

The Test Case:

The test case will be situated in Harbourside Business Park, part of the industrial precinct ofRosebank Peninsula in Auckland. There are two different elements to this projectclient

requirements and research. Harbourside Business Park and the Rosebank Business Association are

looking to improve the commercial value of the business precinct through a variety of methods, one

of which is improving the areas aesthetics and landscape. They are working with Unitec within a joint

board called TEPU to help achieve this goal. This project works with the board and particularly

Harbourside Business Park to help them achieve their aesthetic and landscape management goals.

Harbourside Business Park will serve as the test case for the rest of the peninsula. There will need to

be a suitable outcome for both the client (Harbourside Business Park) and the research question.

Rosebank Peninsula is an industrial site situated within an estuarine environment that has a high

level of biodiversity in Auckland, New Zealand. The Rosebank Business Precinct portion of thepeninsula which is the focus of my project begins at approximately the intersection between

Rosebank Road and Honan Place and extends to the northern tip.

Industry in the Rosebank area seems to here to stay as evidenced by the draft Auckland Unitary Plan.

Within Auckland, industry is specified to only occur in appropriate locations(Draft Auckland

Unitary Plan, 2013). Rosebank Business Precinct is such a location (zoned as industrial in all plans)

most likely because of the close proximity to the Northwestern Motorway and the fact that is

already industrial in nature. Rosebank Peninsulas zoning is light industry to the South and heavy

industry to the North. According to the Draft Auckland Unitary Plan, light industry is classified as

light industrial activities that do not generate significant unpleasant or noxious odour, dust or

noise emissions. This includes light manufacturing, production, logistics, storage, transport and

distribution activities (Draft Auckland Unitary Plan, 2013). And heavy industry is classified as

industrial activities that may produce unpleasant or noxious odour, dust and noise emissions

buildings are expected to have a mainly functional standard of amenity. The zone is typically located

close to key freight routes (Draft Auckland Unitary Plan, 2013).

The peninsula sits within an estuarine environment that includes Pollen and Traherne Islands and

the Motu Manawa Marine Reserve, all of which are home to a diverse range of flora and fauna.

Motu Manawa Marine Reserve protects some 500 hectares of the inner reaches of Aucklands

Waitemata Harbour and includes intertidal mudflats, tidal channels, mangrove swamp, saltmarsh

and shellbanks. The reserve is bounded to the south by the industrial suburb of Rosebank Peninsula

and to the east by residential Waterview. The intertidal flats to the west of Pollen Island are


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probably the best example of mangrove and saltmarsh habitat in the Waitemata Harbour (Motu

manawa (Pollen Island) Marine Reserve, 1997)...

Much of the peninsula edge and adjacent mangrove fields have been used as rubbish dumps over

the years and are in contrast to the quality natural environment surrounding them. As a

generalization much of the edge is weedy, full of buried and unburied trash and isnt easilyaccessible. Sites such as the Kurt Brehmer walkway are an exception.

Harbourside Business Park is located at 525 Rosebank Road on the eastern side of the peninsula. It

contains a wide variety of light industrial companies and employs approximately 500-600 people

over 20 properties. Harbourside is not very visible from the road frontage and struggles with

landscape maintenance and tenancy at this time. The body corporate for the Harbourside Business

Park sees landscape as a mainly aesthetic and maintenance concern that effects the value of the

park. They want an appealing location that attracts new tenants and keeps the current occupants.

Harbourside Business Park will act as the first test case for the Rosebank Peninsula and if successful

will hopefully be applied to other locations around the area.

Methods:

Looking at Rosebank Peninsula and Harbourside Business Park as a set of ecosystems should help to

link the surrounding natural environment to the industrial environment in a complimenting manner.

Extensive mapping and diagrams will be used initially to create a detailed site analysis of

Harbourside Business Park and the wider Rosebank Peninsula. This will include GIS maps/analysis,

input/output diagrams and flow charts. These will be used to demonstrate the systems and

processes occurring within the site and its external context.

For this project using the concept of industrial ecology and its connection to environmental ecology

will be a crucial element to provide a comprehensive analysis and design. This project will use post-industrial design case studies to demonstrate the ability to transform polluted and industrial

dominated areas into placed for people and nature, though naturally, functioning industry has an

entire set of other issues as you cant just remove and replace pieces of the environment

Detailed analysis of the social interactions and site conditions within the project will help reveal

what aspects of social engagement and experience are important to creating an enjoyable yet

sustainable site.

Relevant ecological principles and calculations will be utilised to ensure all ecological design

interventions proposed have some measurable form of ecological benefit, while looking to case

studies such as those above to demonstrate the success or lack thereof within ecological design

interventions.

The site analysis, identified systems and selected theoretical principles will be used to generate a

series of considerations applicable to sustainable industrial practice. These will then be tried through

simple design tests and modifications made dependent on how they work within the site. Finally all

design tests will be applied to Harbourside Business Park. At this stage it is unknown what this final

complete design test will be composed of, whether it is a master plan, set of simple interventions, or

management techniques. The projects comprehensive research and initial analysis will help to reveal

this.


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Conclusion:

This research and design project will ultimately result in a sustainable industrial landscape output

that can be applied to a range of sites in addition to Harbourside Business Park. Whether the

outcome is a plan, management strategies or series of individual design interventions the goal

remains to use ecology as a framework for sustainable industrial practice. People are a crucial part ofany sustainability project and ecological system, so experiential conditions will be utilised to ensure

that they feel included and part of the new sustainable industrial environment.

Bibliography:

British Ecological Society. (2013). Retrieved fromhttp://www.britishecologicalsociety.org/about-ecology/

Crosson, P. a. T., Michael A. (1994). Economics and Sustainable Development. In B. R. Allenby (Ed.),

The Greening of Industrial Ecosystems. Washington, DC: National Academies Press.

. Draft Auckland Unitary Plan. (2013). Auckland.

Evans, S., Bergendahl,M. N., Gregory, M., Ryan, C. . (2009). Towards a Sustainable Industrial System:

With recommendations for education, research, industry and policy. Great Britain: University

of Cambridge Institute for Manufacturing.

Freshkills Park. Retrieved fromhttp://www.nycgovparks.org/park-features/freshkills-park

Heaphy, E. D. a. D., Jane E. . (2008). Positive Social Interactions and the Human Body at Work: Linking

Organizations and Physiology.Academy Management Review, 33(1), 137-162.

Lousier, D. (2012). Social Ecology Institute of British Columbia. Retrieved fromhttp://www.bcise.com/BCISE_SocialEcology.htm

. Motu manawa (Pollen Island) Marine Reserve. (1997). Auckland: Department of Conservation

Retrieved from

http://www.marinenz.org.nz/index.php/the_undersea_world/marine_reserves/motu_mana

wa_pollen_island

Nassauer, J. I. (1997). Placing Nature: Culture And Landscape Ecology. USA: Island Press.

Pollution Issues: Industry. (2013). Retrieved fromhttp://www.pollutionissues.com/Ho-

Li/Industry.html

Qian'an Sanlihe River Ecological Corridor. (2007). Retrieved from

http://www.turenscape.com/English/news/msg.php?id=1208

The Qinhuangdao Beach Restoration by Turenscape. (2008). Retrieved from

http://www.landezine.com/index.php/2012/02/the-qinhuangdao-beach-restoration-by-

turenscape/

Sandler, T. (1997). Global Challenges: An Approach to Environmental, Poltical, and Economic

Problems. United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press.

van der Leeuw, S., Wiek, A., Harlow, J., Buizer, J. ( 2012). How much time do we have? Urgency and

rhetoric in sustainability science. Sustainability Science, 7(1), 115-120.

Westergasfabriek - History. (2011). Retrieved from

http://www.westergasfabriek.nl/en/westergasfabriek-en/history

Yang, P. P.-J., Lay, Ong Boon (2004). Applying ecosystem concepts to the planning of industrial areas:

a case study of Singapores Jurong Island.Journal of Cleaner Production, 12(8-10), 1011-

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Grace Warne_Research Proposal