VSPB Associates’ Post

Sustainable Architecture: Creating Wildlife Corridors in Urban Landscapes https://lnkd.in/e2wwA7A5 #biodiversity #biodiversitynetgain #builtenvironment #biodiversityoffsetting

Barishal, often referred to as the "Venice of Bengal," presents a unique opportunity to serve as a model for an inclusive ecological landscape that harmonizes with socio-cultural values. This approach can also foster alternative livelihood opportunities for local communities. This proposal focuses on conceptualizing an inclusive urban public space along the riverbanks of Barishal. To enhance the resilience of the city, it is essential to prioritize integrated landscape and urban design strategies that reflect ecological sustainability while promoting social inclusivity and economic development. By adopting such measures, Barishal can establish a framework that not only safeguards its environmental integrity but also enriches the lives of its residents. #urbandesign #landscape #ecology #socialarchitecture #livelihood #publichealth

Congratulations to this year's Linda Milbourne Fellowship winner, Scout Kerensky-Coodley who worked on this incredible graduate fellowship project! This landscape architecture project was on the Fort Jay Meadow on Governor's Island in New York. We are very impressed with the work she did to complete this incredible report! We wish her well in her future landscape architecture endeavors. PROJECT GOALS: Public Experience: Welcome visitors to have an immersive experience exploring a natural meadow, with opportunities for public programming and engagement. Invasive Plant Mitigation: Remove the invasive plants in the area, and replace with native grasses and flowers that provide high quality habitat for birds and pollinators. Low Maintenance: Improve site conditions to have a landscape with lower long-term management costs, inputs and requirements than a traditional lawn. Habitat Replenishment: Increase the footprint of important meadow and grassland habitat in New York City, providing high quality wildlife refuge. Climate Resilient: Design a landscape that tolerates drought and reduces stormwater runoff, all while sequestering more carbon than a traditional lawn. Read more: https://lnkd.in/dsgH3Yx4 #GoPublicGardens #PublicGardens #PublicGardens #landscape #landscaping #landscapearchitecture #NewYork #GovernorsIsland

Redevelopment of Van Renesselaan 30A3 is one to watch. Another superblock project from #GemeenteZeist. What is a superblock? That's a block the size of multiple city blocks devoid of inner-roads. In a historical setting, it's often characterized by a lack of modern infrastructure, including everything from electricity to safe egress. Currently research for this loation is underway by #Viridis (conc. ecology), #Nieuwbruut (conc. landscape), #Imoss (conc. urban design) #VandePoelSloopservice (conc. demolition) and #BoomadviesbureauDuifhuizen (conc. arboriculture).

Burying Their Heads in the Sand? The Reality of Landscape Architects and Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG)   We asked our landscape architects and ecologists what they thought about this statement...   Here’s what they said: #BiodiversityConservation #LandscapeDesign #EcologicalBalance #GreenDevelopment #SustainablePlanning #BNGInitiatives #BiodiversityNetGain #GreenInfrastructure #EnvironmentalStewardship #EcoFriendlyDesign

Designing for Urban Nature - the dark art? Improving local biodiversity as a result of architectural projects remains one of our greatest challenges, with a lot to learn to overturn our limited base understanding. The Urban Nature Index, published this month by Pierce et al, presents a very succinct yet broad approach for breaking this challenge down. I'll need a few more coffees though before i've digested it all! https://lnkd.in/enAfYriA #Regenerative #Design #Ecological #Crisis

Why Select Mass Timber Experientially, using mass timber can obtain a higher grade of finish which has both visual and performance benefits. Our new white paper explores the various advantages of selecting mass timber as the primary building material, especially in schools. #masstimber #bioarchitecture #greendesign #climateresponsive #sustainability #carbonemissions #ecology #constructiontechniques #livingbuildings #woodconstruction #cltdesign #mha

In the Inner Harbor in Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America, a 10,763 squarefoot floating saltmarsh wetland has been installed. The installation is an extension of the National Aquarium and designed in part by Ayers Saint Gross. Functioning as a floating park during the day, visitors can educate themselves on the importance of wetlands and salt marshes. The site has already begun to attract mollusks, seabirds, and fish to it, which is a great indicator of its early success. The floating structure is home to over 30,000 grasses and shrubs, that once established, will spread and anchor themselves in the harbor. Once established and matured, the plants will act to aerate, clean, and filter the water, which in turn will attract more wildlife to the area, promoting a stonger and more resilient coastal biome. Projects and initiatives such as this, showcase the ability for us to be able to rebuild our ecosystems in places where the built environment has taken over. These types of projects are incredibly important to the long term sustainability of our environment. With this project as a role model, hopefully more coastal cities across the country will begin to implement the reintroduction of the natural environment into our built ones. We’re all in this together #sustainability #coastalresilience #saltmarsh #wetlands #protectthewetlands #coastal #design #architecture #conservation #urbandevelopment #urbanplanning #sustainabledesign #sustainablearchitecture #gardens

Optimizing Urban Morphology: Cool Materials and Greenery in Rome Source: MDPI #resilience #urbanregeneration #adaptingtochange #climateperformance #innovativetechnologies

Termites: Nature's Master Architects As small as they are, termites wield a mighty influence on ecosystems worldwide. Let's delve into the fascinating world of these industrious insects: 1. Subterranean Termites: Biology: Subterranean termites are highly social insects, living in large colonies underground. They have specialized castes including workers, soldiers, and reproductives. Life Cycle: Their life cycle typically includes eggs, nymphs, and adults. Colonies can persist for decades, with the queen producing thousands of eggs annually. Habitat: They thrive in moist environments, often found in soil, decaying wood, and damp structures. Their presence can be detected through mud tubes they construct for protection while foraging. Fun Fact: Subterranean termites are responsible for significant damage to buildings and wooden structures worldwide, costing billions of dollars in damage repair annually. 2. Drywood Termites: Biology: Unlike their subterranean cousins, drywood termites live entirely within the wood they consume. They have smaller colonies with fewer individuals compared to subterranean species. Life Cycle: Drywood termites undergo similar life stages as subterranean termites, but their colonies tend to be smaller and less extensive. Habitat: They infest dry wood, including furniture, structural timbers, and dead trees. Their presence may go unnoticed until damage becomes visible. Fun Fact: Drywood termites are known for their ability to survive without soil contact, making them particularly adept at infesting wooden structures in dry regions. 3. Dampwood Termites: Biology: Dampwood termites are typically larger than other species and are named for their preference for moist wood. Life Cycle: Their life cycle mirrors that of other termites, with eggs, nymphs, and adults contributing to colony growth. Habitat: They inhabit damp or decaying wood, often found in forests, wetlands, and areas with high humidity. Their presence can indicate water damage in structures. Fun Fact: Dampwood termites play an essential role in the decomposition of dead wood in forest ecosystems, aiding in nutrient cycling. Termites may be small, but their impact on ecosystems and human structures is immense. Understanding their biology and behavior is crucial for effective pest management and ecosystem conservation. Let's marvel at the ingenuity of these tiny architects and strive for sustainable coexistence. #Termites #InsectEcology #PestManagement #NatureConservation 🐜🏡🌿