Category: science
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Landscape House sans Landscape
Ok, maybe this is a conceptual gap or just landscape architectural griping (similar to the use of the term ‘architectural plantings’, or ‘value engineering’ perhaps) but there’s nothing remotely ‘landscape’ about the Landscape House for an Ecologist, seen via Inhabitat. Designed by Raphaelle and Alfredo Maul, of Maul Dwellings in San Sebastian, Spain, the project…
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Hydrological Black Out
These images appeared recently relating to a project in Los Angeles, related to the restoration of water reservoir levels of bromate. A past post outlined similar situations in Silver and Elysian Lakes and the use of phytoremediation to eliminate levels. A new approach is the use of sun-block, in the form of plastic balls, that…
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80/20 for Sustainability
A recent post from anArchitecture mentioned the Pareto Principle – also known as the 80/20 rule. The idea, as explained on the site: “The 80/20 rule asserts that approximately 80% of the effects generated by any large system are caused by 20% of the variables in that system. The 80/20 rule is observed in all…
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Local Aquaculture
The decentralization of agriculture offers a range of potential options for food production, but usually we think of this. City Farmer featured a home-scaled aquaculture as a means to produce high amounts of food, in this case 2000 lbs in a year (38 lbs per week). :: image via City Farmer Tilapia is a common…
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Plants for IAQ
The potential for plants to contribute to remediation of air, water, and soil have all been mentioned at L+U. One item that was discussed in some length was the idea of indoor biofiltration or the use of plants and living walls to provide indoor pollutant reduction. This can be done either passively through introduction of…
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The Power of Plants
It never ceases to amaze me the wonder of plants in all of their many forms and functions. A few night back I caught the end of a special on Nova about the search for the ‘First Flower’ – which highlighted the story of Archaefructus liaoningensis, the “…ancient plant discovered in the fossil beds of…
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Metropolitan Fauna
One major theme that our Integrating Habitats winning team entry was the ability to address the interwoven patterns of urban fauna and urban form. There are numerous reasons why keeping a vital mix of flora, and fauna, along with people, is essential to the proper functioning of cities and urban processes. This investigation of species…
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Grey to Green: Action?
I mentioned previously the announcement of a proposal by Portland City Commissioner (and mayoral candidate) Sam Adams for ‘Grey to Green’… after an epic roll-out – there has been little talk since. Well that has changed in a flash with another big invite to City Council for an event this week to take some action.…
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Aqueous Solutions Pt.3: Restoration
We complete this aqueous journey (don’t you love when something simple turns into something wonderful?) and we end with some brutal reality and some hope as to our ability to turn the tide of our technological wrong-doing. I would posit that perhaps the most compelling reading of the year so far in landscape architecture were…
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Aqueous Solutions Pt. 2: Provision
Picking up on a previous thread about Water – we deal with a bit more applicable material to large- and landscape-scale interventions and systems. A few of my favorite blogs – BLDGBLOG, Pruned, and Treehugger offered a variety of recent material regarding water – its provision and perhaps with some more time and luck, (and…