Eco-Planning and Design at the City Scale Study Notes

Graham A. Young, Senior Lecturer - Retired, Department of Architecture, University of Pretoria, GYLA Landscape Architects
Lecture Date: 19 February 2026

“If cities are to become more liveable, it will be by design: not just through the design of built projects – home, workplaces, gardens and parks, streets, and sewer systems – but also through a vision that may never be realised.
- Urban design is a process of envisioning and describing the future shape of cities and posing alternatives from which to choose.
- Without clear visions, urban development will be reactive and shaped by transient political considerations.
- Source: The Granite Garden by Anne Whiston Spirn, 1998.

The relationship between urban design and architecture is characterized by complexity and ambiguity.
- Difficulties arise when determining the boundaries of each field, such as:
  - Does architectural design cease and urban design begin?
  - Is neighborhood design classified as architecture or urban design?
  - Are urban designers confined to empty spaces while architects focus solely on the building structures?
- There are no straightforward answers to these inquiries.
In contrast, the connection between landscape architecture and urban design is clearer, as landscapes are foundational to the functionality and aesthetic of urban settings.

Conceptual Challenges:
- Discussing landscapes is inherently difficult, particularly on a global scale.
- All landscapes reflect the cultures that have influenced their creation, implying that landscapes “BE” rather than “IS.”
- Individual and societal perceptions are essential in evaluating landscapes.
Human Perception:
- Landscape is inherently a human construct; no conception of landscape can exist without people.
- Quote: “We can’t imagine a landscape without people, because this very concept in itself relates to people.”
  - Source: Landscape Architecture Now! by Philip Jodido, 2012.

All living entities are interconnected, with landscapes serving as the convergence point.
- The context of landscaping encompasses social, cultural, environmental, and historical dimensions.
- Source: The Fundamentals of Landscape Architecture by T. Waterman, 2009.

There is pervasive confusion regarding the interaction among architecture, landscape, and urbanism.
The historical relationship between landscapes and cities has undergone significant formal and philosophical transformations over the past 500 years.
- Example: The concept of the Garden during the Renaissance served as a mediator between the sacred city and the profane country, epitomized by places like the Villa d’Este in Tivoli, Italy.
- Diagram: City (Sacred) – Garden as Mediator – Country (Profane)
- Source: Dennis, M. and McIntosh, M., Landscape and the City in Duany, A. and Talen, E. (eds.), 2013.

Example: Central Park, New York City, designed by Frederick Law Olmstead.
- Central Park is regarded as Romantic naturalism and served as an antidote to the intense psychological stresses of daily commercial life.
- The park can be viewed as man-made but designed to appear natural, representing the tension between the commercial city (anti-nature) and the idealized natural space (sacred).
- Source: Dennis, M. and McIntosh, M., Landscape and the City in Duany, A. and Talen, E. (eds.), 2013.

The 21st-century paradigm emphasizes a comprehensive understanding of the interplay between cities and landscapes.
- Urban Ecosystemic Approach: This method advocates for aligning urban development with natural ecosystems to enhance efficiency in resource use, reduce waste, and reframe by-products as valuable resources.
- Cities should be designed with a sensitivity to local bioregions and watersheds.

Quote: “Man is part of nature, and his war against nature is inevitably a war against himself.”
- Source: Carson, September 1962.
Cultural references in songs highlight the relationship between urban life and nature:
- Joni Mitchell, “Big Yellow Taxi” discusses urban encroachment and environmental degradation.
- David Byrne, “(Nothing but) Flowers,” envisions a return to nature and the loss of conveniences in urban settings.

Urban eco-planning begins with an ecologically sensitive design that assumes responsibility towards ecosystems while seeking to fulfill human needs.
- Scope: Includes overarching settlement forms, landscapes, buildings, and the design of public spaces.

Education on Urban Ecosystem Interaction:
- The urban ecosystemic approach aims to integrate ecological systems into urban development decision-making:
  - Situating urban spaces within their broader ecological contexts helps mitigate waste and improve resource utility.

Extensive mapping of bioregions shows the various ecological characteristics:
- Regions Recognized: Fynbos, Desert, Grassland, among others detailed across the southern African landscape.

Principles of ecological urbanism:
- Establish a productive landscape beneficial to human vitality and biodiversity.
- Develop sustainable water management systems.
- Promote ecological corridors to enhance habitat connectivity and incorporate constructed wetlands into urban planning.

Urban ecological design must frame part of the design process:
- This includes understanding and mapping natural systems, learning from natural processes, and laboring with environmental data throughout the design process.
The integration of ecological considerations allows urban environments to operate as complexes that co-evolve with nature, leading to sustainable, resilient, and regenerative urban spaces, ensuring that urban design is not merely an aesthetic pursuit but an ecological necessity.

Take Away Statement: In Urban Ecological Design:

Ecology is viewed as a fundamental lens for understanding urban dynamics as living systems.
It should inform decision-making extensively and be integral to sustainable and resilient urban planning.
This conceptual framework facilitates skilled mediation between diverse stakeholders for holistic outcomes in urban designs.