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“The Evolving Practice of Ecological Landscape Design”

The design intent for my studio project was to design a sustainable, energy efficient residential landscape fit for families and children’s growth in mind, while honing in on river-friendly elements. In The Field article, “The Evolving Practice of Ecological Landscape Design”, the author states that landscape architects are now embedding sustainability and ecological practices within their projects. We are moving forward from picking plants to use in our planting designs that solely reflect the concept and aesthetic of the design, rather than consciously picking plants that work well on the site; in regards to the soil type present, amount of sun needed, etc. Designing with ecological factors in mind ensures the longevity of the site, while also creates a energy efficient site that will be easy to maintain. I have implemented a bio-retention swale on my project site. Upon further research, I have found plants that work well for our site’s location (Visalia, CA), alongside, plants that work well for a swale. Finding the right plants is essential for a swale, choosing plants that may tolerate being submerged in water for periods of time.

The article also refers to the book ” The Principles of Ecological Landscape design”. In the book they emphasize the importance of noting the native habitats that surround the design, and diving deeper into what the food web, nutrient cycles and plant/animal communities are. An aspect that may sometimes be overlooked is the migration of animal communities. When designing it is important to know the animals that may be present on site, but to also know how they travel. Some animals have difficulty traveling in open corridors, or may have an obstruction in their path that they can’t conquer. Keeping these elements in mind is something that every designer may want to adhere to. On our site, there are no current plant or animal communities, as this site is under development and has been cleared.

Source: https://thefield.asla.org/2017/08/01/the-evolving-practice-of-ecological-landscape-design/