The Role of Low Carbon, Spatial Quality and Drawings in Landscape-based Regional Strategies

Nikologianni, Anastasia (2018) The Role of Low Carbon, Spatial Quality and Drawings in Landscape-based Regional Strategies. Doctoral thesis, Birmingham City University.

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Abstract

Significance: Through the medium of a pilot study on the Garden Cities Wolfson Economics Prize (UK) and the three main case studies (Catalonia/Netherlands/UK), the thesis investigates the key ideas of each project, evaluating their effectiveness related to sustainability and quality concepts. The exploration of European and UK large-scale projects is interpreted on a journey to innovative and successful landscape schemes, giving the opportunity to this thesis to evaluate their effectiveness and delivery with regards to low carbon and spatial quality.

Rigour: The examination of the state of the art in regional landscape design concepts was based on the identification of the key ideas by current theory, the communication methods, and their impact to large-scale project development. Establishing collaborations with pioneer projects in Catalonia, the Netherlands and the UK, the study has developed a specific methodology that allows the identification of key issues, such as low carbon and quality of space, as well as the evaluation of their dissemination and interpretation through the landscape project process.

A pilot study (Garden cities – Wolfson economics prize) followed by three case studies (Landscape Observatory, the Netherlands and HS2/HS2LV) are the main steps to evaluate the effectiveness of the processes followed and the best practices towards a sustainable and quality landscape design.

Originality: The contribution to knowledge of this thesis lies upon the identification and creation of sustainable strategic schemes that work effectively at the scale of landscape projects, affecting positively the way regions are conceptualized and addressed. The need for a project framework supported by policies and legislation that will secure the early integration of ideas such as low carbon, spatial quality and drawings, is identified as a significant step towards successful project implementation and impacts on the extent to which key issues will be delivered in strategic schemes.

The recognition of drawings and visuals as communication tools, through the landscape project process, improves the understanding of the land and acts significantly in the interpretation of the landscape vision as well as the integration of key issues in strategic schemes. Evidence collected during the study indicates that innovative projects can form theory and therefore that the key issues of low carbon and spatial quality can be interpreted differently across Europe, playing distinct roles, and gaining significant importance to the landscape project process.

Impact: The proposal for a common European and UK agenda related to strategic landscape schemes will share lessons of good practice suggesting ways to strengthen the areas of sustainable landscape development and it will improve understanding, communication, and implementation of low carbon and spatial quality, by sharing knowledge and adopting best practices, creating a sustainable environment.

Item Type:	Thesis (Doctoral)
Dates:	Date Event 30 January 2018 Published Online
Subjects:	CAH13 - architecture, building and planning > CAH13-01 - architecture, building and planning > CAH13-01-03 - landscape design CAH13 - architecture, building and planning > CAH13-01 - architecture, building and planning > CAH13-01-04 - planning (urban, rural and regional)
Divisions:	Doctoral Research College > Doctoral Theses Collection
Depositing User:	Prof Keith A. Osman
Date Deposited:	07 Feb 2018 11:51
Last Modified:	12 Jan 2022 13:28
URI:	https://www.open-access.bcu.ac.uk/id/eprint/5594

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