Mission
To deliver a landscape architectural service to our
clients that illustrates and integrates our
understanding of the landscape aspects into the project
context, in an environmentally sustainable and aesthetically pleasing
manner.
Design approach
The
Landscape Studio’s design approach is based on the Sustainable Sites
Initiative the purpose of which is to develop guidelines and
standards
for landscape sustainability. This approach has five corner
stones:
hydrology,
soils, vegetation, materials and human well being. By addressing each
of these elements in the design process the ability for landscapes to
provide services such as climate regulation, clean air and water and
improved quality of life is made possible. For each of these elements
sustainability is worked into the solution for the site for
example:
Hydrology:
incorporation of water infiltration into the site design, reuse of
various forms and sources of water, clean and slow run-off to protect
and enhance down stream water bodies.
Soils: preservation
and protection of healthy soils including erosion control measures, improving health of
degraded soils and reduction of waste and contamination of soils during
construction.
Vegetation:
protection and conservation of existing indigenous vegetation,
eliminating the use of invasive plants, specifying planting from local
growers, minimizing the time that plants are stored on site prior to
planting.
Materials: assisting
the landscape contractor in managing resources and material
effectively, selecting materials for durability, using local materials
and reducing the urban heat island effect.
Human well
being:
ensuring the provision of spaces for physical activities,
providing
spaces for social interaction and supporting on site food production.
