Chapter 1 - Overview

Question 1

Contemporary landscape architecture produces forms of human development that:

Answer 1

Respects Environmental and Cultural resources through theoretical frameworks such as Sustainable Design and Smart Growth

Question 2

What should be ensured in landscape architecture?

Answer 2

Public Health, Welfare, and Safety of the public.
Also emphasize principles of sustainable design.

Question 3

Site design is a component of sustainable design and should ALWAYS balance:

Answer 3

-Social/cultural
-Environmental
-Economic
….Considerations

Question 4

Social Cultural Goals:

Answer 4

-Promote a sense of community
-Protect cultural and historic resources
-Reduce crime and increase public safety
-Provide equitable access to public services
-Increase access to outdoor recreation
-Minimize negative impacts on adjacent properties

Question 5

Environmental Goals:

Answer 5

-Conserve natural resources
-Protect sensitive ecosystems
-Preserve biodiversity
-Consider development intensity and location
-Reduce pollution

Question 6

Economic Goals:

Answer 6

-Attract investment
-Drive tourism
-Increase property values
-Attract skilled workers
-Reduce commuting times
-Promote efficient land use

Question 7

Benefits of Effective Site Planning:

Answer 7

-Promoting public health, safety, and welfare
-Protecting the public from natural disasters/hazards
-Reduced construction/maintenance cost
-Improving Site Function (greater convenience/access for users)
-Increased profit from development
-Protecting valuable natural and cultural amenities
-Supporting critical ecological processes

Question 8

Differences between “Smart Growth” and “Sustainable Design”

Answer 8

-Smart Growth address development at the regional or city scale and is by government regulatory agencies through comprehensive plans, master plans, and the zoning code.
-Smart Growth has little direct impact at the site
-Sustainable Design can be found incorporated into regional-scale planning but also manifests at the site scale, for example specifying pervious pavement and recycled construction materials for a project

Question 9

Similarities between “Smart Growth” and “Sustainable Design”

Answer 9

Share an emphasis on:
-pedestrian-friendly communities
-Respect for local context
-A commitment to socially and environmentally-conscious economic development

Question 10

“Smart Growth” goals:

Answer 10

-Preserving open space, farmlands, scenic areas, and critical environmental areas
-Directing new developments towards existing communities
Encouraging mixed land (residential apartments buildings with ground floor retail) and creating clustered/compact development with a variety of housing options
-Fostering a strong sense of place
-Creating walkable communities with a variety of transportation choices
-Creating cost-effective development solutions
-Encouraging community and stakeholder collaboration

Question 11

“Sustainable Design” goals:

Answer 11

-Protecting existing environmental resources from degradation
-Restoring degraded environmental resources
-Re-using previous developmental sites (Brownfield & Urban In-Fill Development)
-Building compact, walkable communities
-Conserving resources at all scales (e.g. reducing commuting times at the regional scale, designing energy-efficient building)