Granted, exotic species can overtake our fragile natural ecosystems, reduce food and habitat for wildlife, and require millions of dollars to control. Native species often  require less maintenance, fertilizer and reduce the sequestration of our natural resources while ensuring the pleasures of wildlife and a healthy, happy ecosystem.

But as a landscape architect, I may specify a 90% non-native landscape for a tropical themed client.  Do I dare explain that one to a 9 yr old? How is that right? Why is that wrong?

The problem seems to be that the general public doesn’t always see the beauty and importance of native plants and may describe them as dull, lacking luster and scraggly.  Sans the beauty of the  sublime, clients prefer year round colors and exciting, unique texture. Our eyes have evolved to prefer this color and contrast.  We even ascribe new colors to our years.  Behold, the warm and encouraging color of 2012.

In his book  Botany of Desire, Michael Pollan describes how apples, tulips, marijuana, and potatoes capture the human need for sweetness, beauty, pleasure and sustenance. He asserts the idea that  human domestication has gone hand in hand with plant domestication since the beginning of time. Just like the bee, plants have sought to please our affection to color and scent. Tulip Mania in the 17th century Holland even displays how the quest for ownership of rare tulip varietals  and the social stature associated with it led to a bust much larger than any housing bubble. Yet, we rarely think that a plant can amount to anything important.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSBLze-AEZM&w=480&h=360]

Plants do not yet have feet, so they rely on others to expand their territory and range.  Insects help to pollinate their flowers, birds and animals feed on the seeds and plant them in a steamy medium. Soon humans would grow them in fields and trade them across the globe.

We use exotic plants in every aspect of our lives in one way or another, often not being able to live without them.

Some of the analysis here stems from the November 2011 Edition of LAM “Not From Around Here”, where an essay in Nature “Don’t Judge Plants By Their Origins” argued against the demonized notions associated with harsh words like invasive and alien.  The Nature article cites how an invasive Tamarix species once feverishly eradicated now serves as nesting habitat for the endangered southwestern willow flycatcher bird.

I guess my message is…. before the public goes up in arms and ardent community development boards black list all exotic plants, we must understand that embracing and cautiously utilizing exotic plants is a key to our own evolution.

Example: For an efficient and sustainable landscape, exotics may be the backbone of a much needed filtration wetland or  can be a pioneer species in a regenerative, toxic post-industrial landscape. Due to their natural competitiveness, they can be more suitable to arid, saturated or disturbed environments that cannot support historically native plants.

It is imperative to continue habitat preservation, encourage the use of native plantings. Using tools like your local invasive plant list is still valid and highly recommended.

But the philosophical question remains; Who are we to deny life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness to a plant ? A plant that we invited over for purpose of a meal or industrial labor or because it’s pretty to look at? As humans, we have moved our species to every corner of the earth and accomplished some great and horrible things; are plants not just trying to do the same thing?

Finally, as our civilization moves toward a global society, I have no doubt the plant world will  follow. Whether in our nurturing hands or unbeknownst on our trouser cuffs.

Feel free to leave your critical perspective on this topic below on our comment board.

Citations

Landscape Architecture Magazine. November 2011

The Journal, Nature. Vol. 474, no. 7350, June 9, 2011

The goal of  of Lawn Reform Coalition is to share what you’ve learned with a nationwide audience to support this cause. To upload your lawn substitutes and ideas visit their flickr page, http://www.flickr.com/groups/lawnreplacement/

Keep an eye out for LawnReform.org and lawn alternatives in your neighborhood as we shift the paradigm of the unsustainable lawn.

 via LAM

Program

The new water treatment facility design embraces the landscape by embedding the building almost completely into the land, leaving only the “sliver” exposed.  This not only afforded the opportunity for a green roof – reducing the buildings footprint – but it also allows water from the nearby Lake Whitney to flow naturally with gravity into the plant, resulting in a more sustainable treatment process.  The marriage of structure and landscape also provided for more land – 14 acres – to become a passive, environmentally didactic, public open space.

Circulation

Previously acting as an informal open space, the importance of maintaining the use and access of the site was key to MVVA’s design.  Integrating stormwater abatement processes on-site, to reduce the impact on the adjacent Mill River, was also critical in the site design and became the centerpiece of the project.  The “microcosm of a watershed” begins on the western-most “mountain” where a spiraling path through a meadow mimics travel of stormwater.  Transitioning from the “mountain” down to lower elevations moves the user through a field-like area interupted by strong lines of shrubs, similar to hedgerows in an agricultural field.  Following through an undulating landscape of hills and swales, the stormwater and user move down into a forested wetland oasis where the collection ponds create a fourth distinct landscape allowing the water to slowly percolate and return to the water table.

via MVVA

Spatial Quality

Submerging the user into the diverse landscape with a hierarchical circulation system – including both tangential and serpentine paths – creates a unique experience with each turn of the hips, head and season.  When entering the site from the primary entrance, the design intent seems a bit inverted (which I’m sure was due to the sites existing topography); beginning at the lowest elevation or “end” of the stormwater flow and moving upward to the “beginning” of the flow.  Although misunderstood at first, further exploration would reveal that this configuration establishes an exciting entry – with sounds of rushing water and densely vegetated paths – a better view of the elevation changes, providing a stronger understanding of stormwater conveyance and creating a memorable walk that will be relived once the descent back to the parking lot has begun.

via MVVA

Design Details

The large and constantly evolving native plant palette unifies the site and creates almost yearlong interest; the extreme winter weather during my visit only revealed a few hidden specimens of winterberry among the otherwise dormant deciduous species.  Benches are carefully located at comfortable intervals and at important viewpoints incorporating the surrounding, borrowed landscape.  One exciting detail was the green roof located at eye-level.  Seeing the over-flow spouts and vegetation at a low height provides a more comprehensible view of the inner workings of the roof.

via MVVA

Education

The original intent of the facility was to allow visitors and school groups to experience the water treatment facility from within and see how their drinking water is being treated.  Unfortunately, due to the tragic events of 9/11, the facility has closed its doors to the public, accepting visitors by appointment only.  Despite this misfortune, the site itself – which is open to the public from sunrise to sunset – offers another level of education; the way nature cleanses water.  Conveniently located across the street is, the Eli Whitney Museum and Workshop, an experimental learning workshop for students, teachers and families.   One workshop in particular, The Water Lab,  incorporates “water tables” in which children learn about the natural mechanics – like the water cycle – and value of water.  Such close proximity of the Lake Whitney Water Treatment Facility and landscape and the Eli Whitney Museum offer a great opportunity for first-hand, hands-on education of water management.

PROJECT FACT SHEET:

Designer(s):
Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates
Steven Holl Architects

Location:
New Haven, CT, U.S.A.

Type:
Public Landscape/Infrastructure

Statistics:
14-acres
$3 million landscape ($5 s.f.)
$46 million, 140,000 s.f. facility (purifies 15 m. gallons of water a day)

Design Completion:
2005

Narrative Credit:
LAM August 2011 ( vol. 101 no. 8 )

Corner’s design uses the “Arc Promenade” as the major spine of the project, connecting the Olympic Stadium, Aquatics Center and the ArcelorMittal Orbit Structure. This bold move follows the edge of the adjacent river, making it easy to orient yourself and maintain views of the river.

The central promenade creates a base for the navigation and organization of the site, which uniquely separated this design from the other entries. Branching off the “Arc Promenade“ is a planting ribbon or hedgerow that further breaks up the scale of the landscape, creating rooms for flexible event planning and varying scales of socializing. The hedgerow divides event rooms from lawn and gardens areas, creating a unified but separate spatial organization.

The major hub and existing ArcelorMittal Orbit Structure, nicknamed “The Orbit”, are located at the end of the promenade, visually drawing you through the space and all of the site’s attractions. “The Orbit” occupies the events hub plaza which houses large gathering spaces, a café, and ticketing kiosks. This massive observation deck was designed by Amish Kapoor in 2009 with the use of Rhino3D software, and has truly become the iconic image of the South Park.

COST: The projected cost of the project is between £7-12 Million or $11-19 Million, excluding the already built Olympic facilities and “The Orbit”.

Image Source: Malcolm Reading

Size/Habit/Lifetime:  Best if planted on 2 to 3 foot centers, beach sunflower can cover a 3×5 area if given space. Height generally below 24 inches unless allowed to clump heavily. Beach sunflower forms a dense mat of clumping stems that form from underground runners. It is a perennial in central to south Florida, but reseeds readily in more northern environments.

Culture:  Zones 8-11. Beach sunflower prefers well-drained, hot and sunny locations and can tolerate light shade. Very salt resistant, prefers light irrigation. tolerates most soil types, prefers sand. Most at home on beach dunes where it thrives on very little water.

Leaf/Stem/Trunk: Leaves are simple,  alternate, deltoid shaped with dentate margins, and sized from 2-4 inches. Color is light to pale greenStems are semi woody before dying back over a hard frost.

Flower/Fruit: Pale yellow ray flowers with a dark center disc measuring 1/2 – 1 inch in diameter. Blooms almost year round, mostly spring and summer.

Use: Beach sunflower is a popular groundcover in beach environments but can be used in many areas. Best  in large massing with other spreading wildflowers, particularly Gallardia sp., and  Coreopsis sp.(above). Can be mainatained as a border plant or in a converted annual bed. It is beginning to be used in medians and commercial landscapes for its year round flowering and butterfly attractant. Time and maintenance efforts will tell if this is a viable option. Also, is can be suitable to greenroof applications!

Notable Fact:  According to Plants of the Medical Garden from Palm Beach State College. This native plant has been used for color dyes, as a diuretic and expectorant, oil from seeds used for snake bites and sunstroke, leaves eaten as a vegetable, and burnt stems as potash fertilizer.

Opened in 1903 and abandoned in 1948, the ghostly station stands as a reminder of New York’s historic trolley days. Waiting for the Essex subway station, one can gaze across to the abandoned underground expanse. The Trolley cars were used to transport Brooklynites to Manhattan and vice versa, but in the late 40’s the trolley lanes on the Williamsburg Bridge were converted to car lanes and the terminal was left abandoned. Though the current condition of the site is grim and dark, James Ramsey of RAAD and Dan Barasch believe the site has incredible potential. They see the transformation of the space as a way to enhance the neighborhood and ultimately lead to a revitalization of the area. From an interview conducted by ArchDaily, James Ramsey comments, “From the perspective of someone whose architecture office is just down the street, it’s exciting that we may be able to revitalize our community by completely rethinking how public spaces are created.”

Managed by the MTA (Metropolitian Transportation Authority) the project is part of a 1.5 acre renewal project known as SPUR (Seward Park Urban Renewal). The revitalization of the Trolley station will benefit adjacent buildings by providing access and acting as a courtyard for employees. Peter Hine from MTA has produced a short film that walks through the current condition of the space. Along the way he points out the historic tracks, cobblestones, trolley wire, and old dispatch booth. MTA seeks inventive solutions that will change the atmosphere and function of the underground space. One of Hine’s preferred ideas involves retrofitting the dispatch booth into a DJ booth and the adjacent area into a night club/bar.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xB_FfiECLKU?feature=player_embedded]

Though ideas and program continue to morph, Ramsey and Barasch see the greatest opportunity in a public park system. However, the site poses many challenges. One of the major challenges is introducing natural light into the space. RAAD has developed an innovative solution that lets in light using fiber-optic technology. Allowing light into the cavity will increase safety, use, and growth of the park system. Though there are still many hurdles to climb, Ramsey and Barasch are confident that the Lowline will one day become a reality.

To learn more about the project or to make a donation visit:  Delancey Underground
Image credits via: Delancey Underground
References: Archdaily, Delancey UnderGround

Size/Habit/Lifetime: Royal palms can reach heights of up to 100 ft and commonly seen 30-50 ft tall. A broad base in youth can measure up to 30″  caliper and grows to a vase shape trunk in maturity. Habit is straight and vertical, bending only out of necessity for sunlight. Rather long lived, like many palms.

Culture:  Very adapting to most soils, prefers well drained sand and salt tolerant. Needs bright and sunny conditions to thrive. USDA zones 10-11. Has also been known to grow in suitable micro-climates near Tampa and Cape Canaveral, Fl as well as Galveston and Houston, Texas.

Leaf/Stem/Trunk: Leaves are pinnate, 10-20 feet long with individual leaflets measuring to 1 foot.  Leaf color is bright green on both top and bottom. Trunk is gray-white and concrete-like in thickness and color.

Flower/Fruit:  Flowers are borne in a large bract where the gray trunk meets the crownshaft. Tiny yellow-green  flowers , mature into blue to black fruits measuring to just over 1 cm.

Use: The Royal Palm can be used in a variety of ways.  It is well suited as a stately entry corridor and boulevard planting.  The wide light gray trunks offer splendid contrast to darker backgrounds and can frame a facade as well as Corinthian columns. Can be a single lawn specimen, roundabout circle plantings, or the large crown can function as a background layer screen or buffer. Due to its size, it is more inclined to larger properties as the large fronds shed occasionally.

via West.nl

Circulation

Giant steel pergolas with bright pink bougainvilleas act as place markers that draw the user in on three sides.

In plan, the pathways immediately strike a cord as artistic, but made me skeptical of its walkability with the sporadic pathways.  But upon visiting the site, the scheme and scale relaxed those concerns.  A multitude of trails jet into the palm forest and allow both respite and convenience of travel. The jagged main pathways allow natural walking patterns without hesitation.

Design Details

Miami Beach’s Art Deco style stucco concrete is evident in the curvature and abstract forms of  Gehry’s architecture and West8′s seating profiles and segmented paths.

The seating walls are broken up by smooth egg shaped molds and come flush with an undulating lawn that is imperative to to add depth and intrigue to the flat South Florida landscape. The lawn terrain almost mirrors Frank Gehry’s famous draping facades.

Although the adolescent bougainvilleas have yet to fill out their horn shaped pergolas, this leaves the shadowy web to create patterns on the entry plaza concrete.

Space Creation

The Montgomery Palm, Vietchia montgomeryana. supplies dappled shade all over the park while not compromising visibility with their slender tall trunks. In other areas, sculptural oak tree groupings provide full shade and a more private lawn seating area.

Program

Aside from being a foyer and plaza space for the New World Symphony, the park provides outdoor screening of musical and movie events with a state-of-the-art projector and acoustic ‘ballet bars’. The bars contain speakers and wiring and also, demarcate the main amphitheater lawn.

In sum,  Soundscape’s  use of program and circulation seamlessly connects the symphony and the vibrant culture of Miami Beach.

via West8.nl

Further reading and analysis

May 2012 Edition of LAM

The Architect’ Newspaper A/N - New World Symphony by Frank Gehry

BIG Architects (Bjarke Ingels Group) from Denmark, with offices in New York, have impressed us with another BIG idea for the St. Pete Pier. Their submission is titled The Wave. The design of the pier outshines the other two submissions but has fallen flat in addressing the coastal habitat and landside development. The iconography of the structure immediately grabs at you, but the scale and artistic presence of the loop may be overwhelming and ostentatious for some Floridians, even in progressive St. Pete.

This scheme  places the emphasis on the pier, or ‘wavewalk’  and the terminal ‘wave’, The pier hosts the swimming pools and boat and canoe launch zones, sunbathing, and tram drop off. The loop houses a myriad of uses and commercial areas including bath houses, indoor wave machines, concert plaza, viewing balconies, exhibition halls, rock climbing and several dining options from intimate to banquets.

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