Articles
Horticulture, design, and ecology: how to deal with the urban environment?
Article number
1345_1
Pages
1 – 12
Language
English
Abstract
At present over half of the worlds population resides in urban areas and in many cases worldwide, rapid urbanisation has resulted in transforming peoples way of life, environment, and transport.
In parallel, the effects of urbanisation have led to the abandonment of rural areas/practices with negative effects on the environment.
Overall, urban settlements are characterised by high building density, limited in number and size green spaces, and large impervious paved areas that have contributed to creating adverse environmental conditions within the urban settings.
Today urban areas concentrate many environmental risks to health that include air pollution, exposure to heat, and social isolation.
The importance of horticulture in urban areas generated urban horticulture adding a further dimension to traditional horticulture.
Design is often overseen in horticulture.
The various interrelated components of urban settings (e.g., buildings, planting, transport, lighting, electricity, social, cultural) require a multiscale and multidisciplinary design approach.
On the other hand, ecology has evolved and identifies the impact of humans on ecosystem dynamics that also needs to be considered.
Based on the literature, the disciplines of ecology and horticulture are discussed in relation to urban design and the triptych horticulture, design, and ecology is analysed.
In parallel, the effects of urbanisation have led to the abandonment of rural areas/practices with negative effects on the environment.
Overall, urban settlements are characterised by high building density, limited in number and size green spaces, and large impervious paved areas that have contributed to creating adverse environmental conditions within the urban settings.
Today urban areas concentrate many environmental risks to health that include air pollution, exposure to heat, and social isolation.
The importance of horticulture in urban areas generated urban horticulture adding a further dimension to traditional horticulture.
Design is often overseen in horticulture.
The various interrelated components of urban settings (e.g., buildings, planting, transport, lighting, electricity, social, cultural) require a multiscale and multidisciplinary design approach.
On the other hand, ecology has evolved and identifies the impact of humans on ecosystem dynamics that also needs to be considered.
Based on the literature, the disciplines of ecology and horticulture are discussed in relation to urban design and the triptych horticulture, design, and ecology is analysed.
Authors
A. Paraskevopoulou
Keywords
urbanisation, green infrastructure, ecosystem services
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