Perspective EssayGaps and futures in working between ecology and design for constructed ecologies
Section snippets
Introduction: the designers’ contentions
Many current dialogues in ecological science are increasingly concerned with the city, the garden, and messy nature and the idea that ‘the world has changed’ from that studied in more traditional ‘pristine nature’ because much of the world is now organised, altered, or constructed as ecologies (Box 1). In short, ecological science has been shifting its focus from an almost sole concentration on the measurement of natural phenomena and species in natural regions, towards the built environment
What is happening that we need to re-think and reappraise our design-ecology relationships?
The move of ecologists into constructed ecologies is a reflection of snowballing changes this century where both disciplines of ecological science and landscape architecture are shifting their fields of interest, forging possibly unforseen directions for their disciplines. For example, landscape architects are now working with infrastructure engineering and it is likely that we will continue to see an expansion of work, teaching, and experimentation through performative design practices in that
What separates the disciplines of ecological science and design?
Differences in a few key inter-twined conceptual areas need recognition for fuller dialogues in academia concerning the now common scenario of ecologists working with designers. Such differences produce gaps in our understanding and communication and can be considered to be (i) approaches to site, (ii) different languages same country, and (iii) perceptions within the disciplines. These have led to some cross purposes in our discussions, and isolation of research.
Closing gaps between the cultures of ecological science and design?
Because of the shifting fields of interest in both design and ecological science, we are on the cusp of very exciting opportunities to close gaps between the disciplines which would enable us to work together more explicitly. More specifically, our attitudes to data are moving together and being re-assessed. Designers have discovered the design experiment and now have digital tools to test site parameters; many, but not all landscape architects are moving tentatively, and in small patches of
Conclusions: erecting no boundaries between sister disciplines
There are two challenges for ecologists concerning the gaps and futures in working between ecology and design for constructed ecologies. First is of reconnoitring the new spatial, temporal, and cultural arena of constructed ecologies such as the city, which was curiously neglected by ecology for decades despite the clear direction given by Tansley (1935, p.34) that ecology must be applied to conditions brought about by human activity. Second, as ecology discovers landscapes of these constructed
Acknowledgements
I thank Jillian Walliss for discussion of drafts of the manuscript, three very diligent and stimulating reviewers, and the Editor, Paul Gobster for his advice. I am indebted to Jillian Walliss and Heike Rahmann for access to chapters in their forthcoming book on digital design in landscape architecture, and to David Deeley for past discussions on performance, ecology, and indigenous values.
Margaret J. Grose has a PhD in eco-physiology and worked in mathematical biology at the University of Cambridge before completing a degree in landscape architecture and working in ecological design. She now teaches ecological design and ecology in the Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning at the University of Melbourne. Research interests include teaching ecology to non-cognate students, light at night, suburban design and ecologies, and green play spaces.
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Margaret J. Grose has a PhD in eco-physiology and worked in mathematical biology at the University of Cambridge before completing a degree in landscape architecture and working in ecological design. She now teaches ecological design and ecology in the Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning at the University of Melbourne. Research interests include teaching ecology to non-cognate students, light at night, suburban design and ecologies, and green play spaces.