Douglas Kent’s Post

Could we create biodiverse edible spaces in cities to support foraging? Combining perspectives from city-dwellers, land managers, and theory, we suggest four types of urban greenspace which could be actively enriched for human and non-human use. Check out our new article which includes some unusual visuals https://rdcu.be/d1A85 Many thanks to the urban foragers and city officials that made this work possible. The article is a synthesis, the pinnacle of my PhD research, and a definitive step forward into design for me. Thanks also to the academic reviewers for encouraging some unconventional science.

Could buildings grow into trees? The first of its kind, Fab Tree Hab by Terreform is a terrestrial reef and grafted living tree structure. Shared by people and animals, this multispecies habitat combines indigenous tree splicing techniques with computationally designed wooden scaffolds. The goal is to prototype a dwelling seamlessly integrated in its natural landscape and to replace harmful industrial materials with durable, bio-based alternatives. Wall components are made from a combination of handmade crocheted jute fibers and 3D-printed bioplastic volumes. These serve as micro-habitats and food webs for flora and fauna to greatly increase biodiversity. The structure takes a socio-ecological approach to design, serving as an observatory and education center for people, while also providing a refuge to wildlife. Leave your thoughts in the comments below! 👇

How can we solve this? Illuminating trees at night has a cascading effect on our ecosystem. Can we find a balance between light darkness, and safety in our parks? I often see trees decorated with intentional uplighting, for aesthetic effect. This research is a strong argument against such a practice. What's your take? https://lnkd.in/diwRPEDB

🌳 Resilient trees for urban environments Intraspecific variation of tree stock is not common chatter in my conversations with tree people. I admit I hadn't given it much thought until this enlightening discussion paper. Literature focuses heavily on species as if their functional traits (e.g. drought stress resistance) were strictly homogenous. In reality, genotypes spanning a geographical range vary significantly and should be explored deeper and advocated to improve the depth of planting choices. However, it appears that interest in intraspecific variation is a low priority for nurseries at the moment. Honestly, we aren't even close to giving this the proper consideration it needs, given that many are still struggling to support planting a broader palette of exotic species in our towns and cities. We must plant for the future. Plant species capable of the environment we forecast. Concrete jungles will be HOT. If London is looking to be as hot as Madrid in 2050, let's plant with that in mind. The big problem ahead: BNG. BNGs favouring of native species is complicit in crushing the resilience of future urban tree populations. Trees in towns and cities are NOT just habitats. Were tree experts even consulted at the design stage..? Nativism is a parochial approach to tree planting. Urban trees are vital, living, functioning street furniture with many ecosystem service provisions. The literature and the lived experiences are unequivocal on this. Let's get comfortable with planting as diversely as possible.

What will the cities of the future be like? By 2050 the world’s population is expected to reach 9.8 billion. Nearly 70 percent of this booming population—6.7 billion people— is projected to live in urban areas. Experts at the architectural and urban planning firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) showed how they would design a city of the future, educated by lessons of the past and anticipating challenges of the future. Their vision is articulated on five scales, from surrounding ecosystems to building interiors, and follows 10 key principles: ➡️ Ecology ➡️Water ➡️Energy  ➡️Livability ➡️Waste  ➡️Food  ➡️Mobility ➡️Culture ➡️Infrastructure ➡️Economy From regions to rooms, SOM’s designs flow from one idea: development and infrastructure complement and are shaped by ecology—letting nature regenerate and support rapidly growing urban populations.   Credits: National Geographic #sustainability #futurecities #ecology #smartcities #waste #climatechange #design #livability

The publication below makes an interesting follow-up to my article about urban Permaculture https://lnkd.in/eAMzFsah Taking a food based approach to urban planning is something we don’t do enough of. Magical Foodscape: A Guidebook For Re-planning The Cities Base On The Culture, Food And The Built Environment https://lnkd.in/exzBhyYM

Here's a clip of Oliver speaking at Grand Designs on a panel with Kevin McCloud. The theme shared here explores the potential of approaching new housing development in a more wholisitic and integrated way. Designing neighbourhoods which are ecologically designed to: - Manage water responsibly by Collecting, cleaning and storing for the homes and gardens. - Enhance landscapes in harmony with nature providing long-term maintenance food solutions. - - - Build homes which passively capture heat and regulate temperature and ventilation by effective orientation and material use There are ways how we can utilise nature-based principle to build truly smart-homes designed to last and leave a abundant legacy. These topics are just a few key parts of a new way of we could be approaching how we build communities with more responsibility, setting the scene for regeneration and strong resilience. 🌿✨ #GrandDesignsLive #KevinMcCloud #EcoHousing #SustainableLiving #ResilientCommunities #RegenerativeDesign #PermacultureDesign #EcologicalArchitecture #GreenBuilding #FutureOfHousing #WaterManagement #FoodForests #Agroecology #ClimateSmartBuilding #NatureInspiredDesign

>>THE FORGOTTEN NETTLE: REVIVING NATURE AWARENESS IN CHILDREN   I learned very early in my life that NATURE, besides being BEAUTIFUL, can also be DANGEROUS or HARMFUL to health and wellbeing. I was fortunate enough to be born and raised in a green area in Western Germany, a region full of extensive forests, lakes, and rivers. Nature was also the predominant element of our land, a large garden on three levels, which was next to a small forest and surrounded on the other sides by agricultural fields and vegetation.   One of the first things my relatives taught me was that nettles can be quite annoying. There were many of them because our garden was set up to support biodiversity. I realized this when, as a child, I accidentally fell into a bunch of nettle plants with my whole body. Not to mention the little brown ants that regularly bit me when I walked barefoot on the grass.   The second thing I learned from my relatives was that every single plant or animal must be respected, and that everyone has the right to live and thrive.   Today, many children have never seen a nettle plant and know nothing about it! We urgently need to RECONNECT OUR CHILDREN WITH THE RICHNESS OF NATURE so that they can contemplate and appreciate it on one hand, but also learn that there are aspects of Nature we need to deal with.   Since it is INEVITABLE THAT CITIES WILL BECOME INCREASINGLY GREEN AND FULL OF NATURAL ELEMENTS, we must also advance ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION in parallel. #biophilia #biofilia #biophobia #biofobia #biophilic #biophilicdesign #progettazionebiofilica #progettazionebiofila #biophilicarchitecture #biophilicoffice #ufficiobiofilo #biophilicretail #retailbiofilico #architetturabiofilica #sustainability #sostenibilità #regenerative #regeneration #biocentric #biocentrico #nature #natura #naturebased #greenarchitecture #environment #ambiente #architecture #architettura #design #interiordesign #interiors #reconnectingwithnature #wearenature

#Researchers hope #research #findings will #inform #policymakers #planning #cities for a #warming #world thanks damien gayle & The Guardian for highlighting #intersectoral #accessible #data #academic #healthcare #urban #rural #coop #parks #wetlands #protectors + more 'A co-author of the report, Prof Maria de Fatima Andrade of the #atmospheric #sciences department at the USP - Universidade de São Paulo said: “Our paper confirms just how many ways there are to #keep #cool. But it also reveals how much #work is left to do. #Institutions around the world need to #invest in the right #research – because what’s very clear from our #study is that there is no one-size-fits-all #solution. It #depends on what #works for your #community.” Average #cooling #effect / #variation #Botanical #gardens: -5.0C / -2.2C to -10C #Wetlands: -4.7C / -1.2C to -12C #Raingardens: -4.5C / -1.3C to -7C #Greenwalls: -4.1C / -0.1C to -18C #Street #trees: -3.8C / -0.5C to -12C #City #farms: -3.5C / -3.0C to -3.9C #Parks: -3.2C / -0.8C to -10C #Reservoirs: -2.9C / -1.8C to -5C #Playgrounds: -2.9C / -2.8C to -3C #ghgs #safe #intergenerational #intercultural #placebased #onehealth #wellbeing #education #inclusive #diverse #AQ #sdgs #design #futureskilling #socialinnovation #NbD #NbS

🌳 Interesting paper that Dean Meadows is highlighting! The discussion on the importance of intraspecific variation for urban tree resilience is eye-opening. It's crucial for our urban forestry strategies to embrace both native and non-native, non-invasive species to ensure a diverse and robust urban forest ecosystem. 🌱Read more about the paper here: https://lnkd.in/e9WaG7f3