workshops on sustainable landscapes
I offer day-long workshops on a range of subjects to architects, designers, companies, councils, societies and groups of individuals. These are arranged as requested and usually held on the premises of the group, or somewhere hired for that purpose. Subjects include:
- Sustainable landscapes: an overview of emerging global problems and solutions based on whole systems thinking. *recommended as introductory workshop*
- Water: capture & storage; reuse; biofiltration systems; SUDS; ponds & water features; special qualities of water.
- Edible landscapes: vegetables; edible perennials; forest gardens; hydroponics & aquaponics; fertility; urban agriculture
- Materials: what to use, what to avoid; reclaimed; local; grow-your-own; cement; found-art; eco-art.
- Urban design: urban design psychology; creating social space; understanding function and flows; resolving conflicts of use; vertical gardens; roof gardens; street design; combating Urban Heat Island; urban biodiversity; plants and air quality
- New urban planting: the restorative value of plants; plants for productivity as well as beauty; urban edible landscapes and forest gardens; plant selection; maintenance; yields; community benefits; ecology; urban biomass.
- Beach Gardens: what to consider, what to use (and not use!), plant types; appropriate materials.
- Design psychology: why some spaces work and some don't; basic rules; proportion; conflicts; styles; effects of plants on people
- The connections between building and landscape: the need and use of transition zones; thickening the building edge; entrances; set-back courtyards and balconies.
- The autonomous biological building: bio-systems for living, healthy indoor environments. Food systems, waste cycling and energy; plants and internal air purification; vibrant buildings for an urban future.
The workshops are informal, include discussion sessions and are illustrated throughout. Participants are supplied with support materials such as summary sheets and further reading lists. Sessions are designed to stimulate new ways of thinking, to turn new and emerging problems into opportunity.
Please contact me to discuss any of the above.
