The Landscape of Sustainable Cities: Emerging Futures

A special issue of Architecture (ISSN 2673-8945).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 June 2024) | Viewed by 4972

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Landscape Architecture, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, State College, PA 16802, USA
Interests: urban green systems and places; ecological design and restoration; community-engaged design pedagogy
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Ever since the first cities arose in advantageous locations, urban life has been permeated by interlinked biological, physical, chemical and energy flows. While their availability and quality vary, these variables still provide the means for cities to achieve sustainable and livable landscapes. During the modern era of climate crisis, pandemics and other upheavals, ingenuity and resolve are needed to drive landscape change and reinvent functions and patterns of urban spaces.

A holistic notion of landscape in the city is complex, dynamic and multi-systematic. The word frames the experienced environment that offers prospects for health, social engagement, recreation, mobility, cultural identity, economic opportunity or simply respite. When natural processes are afforded space, the city landscape tends toward greenness; however, typically, landscapes are paved over and lacking in biological diversity. From large, connected park systems to isolated shards tucked along streets and interstitial spaces, functional and accessible urban landscapes are crucial to ensuring cities are better places for everyone—including new generations of healthy and happy children.

The United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals* (SDGs) lists Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG 11) as an aim. This is a call for cities that are inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable. Yet, when considering the complex range of forces and relationships at play in the urban landscape, they have the potential to advance the SDGs of Good Health & Well-being (3), Gender Equality (5), Clean Water and Sanitation (6), Clean Energy (7), Infrastructure (9), Reduced Inequalities (10), Responsible Production (12), Climate Action (13) and Life on Land (15), among others.

My hope is that this Special Issue will serve as an integrative forum for addressing sustainable and welcoming urban landscapes. I would encourage submissions from both theoretical and applied perspectives that address the science, social science, design, technology and policy of landscapes and public spaces in the city.

Thank you.

Prof. Ken Tamminga
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • sustainable urban landscape
  • climate responsive design
  • landscape and health
  • green, blue and grey infrastructure
  • landscape performance
  • ecosystem services
  • urban ecology
  • sustainable urbanism
  • inclusive public space
  • productive urban landscape
  • children in the sustainable city
  • landscape vulnerability and resilience
  • low-carbon landscape

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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14 pages, 248 KiB  
Article
Landscape Urbanism—Retrospective on Development, Basic Principles and Application
by Nika Balon, Ines Hrdalo, Ana Mrđa, Monika Kamenečki, Dora Tomić Reljić and Petra Pereković
Architecture 2023, 3(4), 739-752; https://doi.org/10.3390/architecture3040040 - 23 Nov 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2683
Abstract
The urban and landscape professions of the 21st century are developing diverse theoretical and practical models that they apply in solving the problems of the modern city. One of these models is landscape urbanism, which can be understood as a newer way of [...] Read more.
The urban and landscape professions of the 21st century are developing diverse theoretical and practical models that they apply in solving the problems of the modern city. One of these models is landscape urbanism, which can be understood as a newer way of looking at the city and its infrastructure again, incorporating the relationship between the city and nature, and ecological and landscape principles into its fundamental core. In a theoretical but also a practical sense, it suggests new modalities that are considered to be able to contribute to the current problems of modern cities, especially those related to the ecology of the city. By reviewing the development stages, methodological framework and practical applications, this paper determines the potentials and limitations of the concept of landscape urbanism and suggests modalities of application in the modern city. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Landscape of Sustainable Cities: Emerging Futures)

Review

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9 pages, 211 KiB  
Review
Landscape Design and Drawing as Tools for Understanding Climate Emergency and Sustainability
by Anastasia Nikologianni
Architecture 2024, 4(1), 188-196; https://doi.org/10.3390/architecture4010012 - 18 Mar 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1350
Abstract
Acknowledging the importance of climate challenges to our environment, landscape and cities, this review focuses on the exploration of visual methods (e.g., design, drawing, sketches) in relation to a deeper understanding of climate emergency and sustainability on a spatial scale. It provides an [...] Read more.
Acknowledging the importance of climate challenges to our environment, landscape and cities, this review focuses on the exploration of visual methods (e.g., design, drawing, sketches) in relation to a deeper understanding of climate emergency and sustainability on a spatial scale. It provides an overview of existing research and highlights the role design and drawing can play in landscape-led projects, as well as the impact these might have on behavioural change and decision-making. Looking at how design and drawing are perceived in landscape architecture and what their contribution is to the narrative of a project as well as the decisions made, this paper establishes a connection between pictorial forms and landscape. At the same time, this paper explores whether visualisations are used in relation to the climate and environmental challenges we face, sharing some light on the role they can play with regards to climate awareness and sustainability and how important they might be for our communities, cities and regions. This review highlights the need for further research around this topic and explains that there is a minor part of the literature looking at ways in which landscape design can be integrated into the wider climate emergency agenda and how this might influence behavioural change and the decision-making of various stakeholders. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Landscape of Sustainable Cities: Emerging Futures)
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