Landscape architecture and the time factor: Construction research on the contextual change of built landscape elements and the development of optimisation strategies.
Final Report Abstract
This practice orientated research aimed at optimising the performance of future built works through analysing the weak points and vulnerabilities of existing built landscape architecture works. Built landscape architecture works are dynamic evolving systems interacting with the natural environment and patterns of use. The process of patination and subsequent deterioration of built landscapes highlight weak points of the design as well as deficiencies in detailing, construction and maintenance. These processes however can also inform practitioners on the implications of design, detailing, usage, weathering and maintenance. The current poor state of many built landscape architecture projects justifies the need for more effective monitoring and feedback from built works. In this research, the time-bound behaviour of contemporary landscape architectural elements in the city of Berlin was examined based on a non-destructive multi-temporal analysis under the prevailing contextual conditions. The 'built landscape elements' central to this research are for example steps, paths, edgings, drainage elements, tree grates, seating elements, fences and walls. Weak points are areas of a structure that due to the design, construction, particularly exposed location (corners, edges etc.) or particularly high demands (surfaces with ground contact etc.) are of especial vulnerability. Inherent weaknesses are an unavoidable factor of all structures resulting from the design, material properties or wear and tear (e.g. the corner of a table). Weaknesses can however also be caused by misjudgements in the planning and execution of the design, low quality materials or by poor workmanship and maintenance. Weaknesses can be minimised or avoided through learning from previous failures by monitoring project development and providing feedback to the profession. Many frequently occurring points of weakness and vulnerability were identified throughout this research. The repetitive nature of these weaknesses underlines a distinct lack of knowledge within the profession of the processes influencing change through time. Annually repeated photographic surveys of changes to the built landscape elements in three zoom factors - context, object, and detail images, - form the basis for the subsequent analysis and evaluation. The core period of research covered the first 5-8 years of post-completion project development, further one-off surveys of older projects allowed for a period of up to 25 years to be analysed. The photographic recordings were assigned metadata (e.g. location, completion date, facility, material), grouped as case study sequences, and stored in a database. Through comparisons between the original state and successive recordings, process-dependent changes became visible and frequently occurring points of weakness and vulnerability were pinpointed. Comparisons of the rate of change allowed premature ageing to be determined, and the most significant causes identified. The methodology was verified through multidisciplinary expert evaluations of 159 identified weaknesses and vulnerabilities involving nine persons from three stakeholder groups; landscape architects, contractors and researchers. A quantitative analysis of the results revealed that deficiencies in design and detailing (65%) were seen to be the main cause of weakness, followed by maintenance (56%), material specific factors (45%) and the site and context (40%). In contrast, implementation factors (33%) were less frequently considered a key cause for deterioration. Landscape architects are therefore by far the main stakeholder responsible for implementing optimisation strategies. Key research results are presented in a catalogue of weak points and vulnerabilities, thus providing practitioners with a tool for informing their judgments on design, detailing and maintenance. The results benefit all stakeholders in the field of landscape architecture by generating a breadth of new knowledge to enhance the design, construction and maintenance of landscape architecture works. The use of this research enables practitioners to forecast change, thus enhancing the performance of built landscape works and making an important contribution to the sustainability of landscape construction. The Swiss Federation of Landscape Architects (BSLA) journal Anthos reported on the initial research results in 2016. A Newsblog focussing on the results of the research project was recently posted by the Landscape Architecture Foundation (LAF) in USA and an E-Newsletter has been widely posted to over 7,000 readers.
Publications
- (2016): 'Von Alterungsprozessen lernen', (German, French) In: Anthos. Nr. 3-16, S 31-33. Zürich: Bund Schweizer Landschaftsarchitekten und Landschaftsarchitektinnen
Colwill, Simon
- (2016): Time, Design and Construction: Learning from Change to Built Landscapes Over Time. In Bridging the Gap. ECLAS Conference 2016, Rapperswil, Switzerland. Conference proceedings. ISSN 1662-5684, ISBN 978-3-9523972-9-9
Colwill, Simon
- (2017): Climate and Decay: The impact of the urban climate on built landscape. ECLAS Conference 2017, University of Greenwich, London UK. Conference proceedings, pp. 315-332
Colwill, Simon
- (2017): Time, Patination and Decay. In Creation/Reaction. ECLAS Conference 2017, University of Greenwich, London UK. Conference proceedings, pp. 293314. ISBN: 978-0-9935909-6-2
Colwill, Simon
- (2018): The Root of the Problem: Addressing the Conflicts between Spontaneous Vegetation and Built Landscape. Delarue, S. & Dufour, R. (Eds.): Landscapes of conflict : ECLAS Conference 2018, University College Ghent, Belgium. Conference proceedings, pp. 2
Colwill, Simon
(See online at https://doi.org/10.14279/depositonce-9277) - (2018): Use and Abuse: Reading the Patina of User Actions in Public Space. In: Stefanie Delarue (Hg.): University College Ghent, S. 764–773
Colwill, Simon
(See online at https://doi.org/10.14279/depositonce-9281) - Teaching Landscape Construction: On-site learning. In: Routledge Handbook of Teaching Landscape (2018). [S.l.]: Routledge , ISBN-13: 9780815380528, ISBN-10: 0815380526 (in press)
Colwill, Simon
