Brian Hawtin CMLI’s Post

Technical Meeting / Water Engineering and Conservation in Royal Gardens We are currently in the midst of preparing for our upcoming technical meeting on the 13th and 14th of May on water engineering and conservation which will take place at the Royal Palace of La Granja de San Ildefonso in Segovia, Spain (Patrimonio Nacional). While the book of abstracts and badges are being finalised what can our participating members expect from this meeting? 👑 🌳 This meeting will primarily focus on: * the conservation and maintenance works carried out in natural areas, considering parameters such as water consumption and fire prevention, which makes it necessary to propose improvements in irrigation efficiency with studies to reduce water consumption * the importance of the presence and/or use of water as a way to qualify landscaped spaces and monumental environments, modifying their aesthetic, recreational, landscape, or simply functional aspects (considering the relationship between water and traditional irrigation and water use systems linked to historic landscapes and gardens). * new solutions to face the climatic conditions of our environment and the possibility of planting more resistant species * the impact on the public’s visit where the presence of water is an intrinsic part of its heritage value. ❗ Reminder; this program is reserved for professionals working in a member institution of the Network of European Royal Residences. Registration has closed. #careerdevelopment #networking #culturalexchange #knowledgeexchange #gardenspecialist #garden #heritage #naturalheritage #patrimoine #royalheritage

Proud to publish my very first scientific paper in Journal of Industrial Ecology ! 🏡 Do you know how long buildings live ? As it turns out, the answer is not that simple ! Sure, we can estimate material durability, but we found that building lifetimes are actually very dependent on the broader context. Using case studies from downtown Trondheim, Norway, we found that: 📜 Historical events: Local fires, world wars, and urban policies significantly impacted demolition patterns. 🏛 Preservation policies: Since the 1980s, these have extended the lifetimes of historical buildings, nearly halting demolitions in protected areas. 📊 Dynamic modeling: We demonstrated the value of using hazard rates to capture the variability in building demolitions, offering a more nuanced and flexible perspective than traditional age-based models. 💡 Our findings underscore that building lifetimes are not intrinsic but are influenced by a dynamic interplay of local and global factors. 🌍 Why does this matter? Extending building lifetimes reduces the need for new construction, which is a major source of emissions and resource use. By understanding what drives building demolitions, we can support more sustainable urban planning and reduce the environmental impact of the construction sector. 📖 Read the full paper here: https://lnkd.in/dguPDzhK This work builds on my research at Industrial Ecology NTNU, and I’m deeply grateful to my co-authors Nils Dittrich , Kristina Bringedal Gedde, Romain Billy, and Daniel Müller for their valuable insights and collaboration. #Sustainability #UrbanPlanning #BuildingLifetime #CircularEconomy

Great first paper by Zoé, taking a deep dive into industrial ecology methods to estimate building lifetimes, with examples from beautiful #Trondheim!

NEWS 🗞 🏘 CSA are pleased to announce that the Inspectorate has allowed Gladman’s appeal for up to 160 homes at land north of Station Road, Stalbridge. CSA Environmental were originally instructed to provide heritage, landscape, ecology and masterplanning services to inform an outline planning application. The outline application was subsequently refused by Dorset Council, with reasons for refusal including matters of design and heritage impact. CSA's Rob Rasberry (Urban Design) and Rosey Meara (Heritage) appeared at the Hearing. On design and heritage matters, the Inspector found that as an outline planning application there was sufficient scope to address detailed design issues at the reserved matters stage in relation to providing acceptable living conditions and making a positive response to the character and appearance of the area, including the setting of a Grade II* listed building. The development, will provide 40% affordable homes, secure net gains in biodiversity alongside the provision of new areas of publicly accessible open space and green infrastructure. The development was also designed to accommodate 2ha of land for a new primary school. For more project wins and details on our services visit: https://lnkd.in/eijXTZGk #greeninfrastructure #heritage #landscape #ecology #masterplanning #bng #expertwitness

In the new article on Landezine you can read about Elisabeth Sjødahl’s research on ‘Deep landscape’ and why water and ground dynamics must be emphasised more in landscape architecture and planning.

Development Directive recently obtained a unique development approval for a new three storey dwelling house and residential subdivision in Buderim, Sunshine Coast. The Client was looking to sub-divide and build a new house on their land. However, the land was heavily constrained by state and local mapping. In particular, at the State Level, the site was mapped as Koala Habitat Area and Category A or B vegetation. AT the local level, the site was zoned within the limited development zone due to significant vegetation, slope, waterway, riparian buffer and flooding constraint. Notwithstanding, following a site visit with appropriate consultants, it was established that the land was not as constrained as the mapping suggested, in particular, the mapped ecological features were mis-represented as the prevailing species on the site was Camphor Laurel. We employed the following strategy, which ultimately removed the planning constraints and led to the approval of the proposed sub-division and new dwelling: Made a Property Map of Assessable Vegetation (PMAV) to remap category A or B vegetation in accordance with Vegetation Management Act 1994; Made a request to amend Koala Habitat Area determination to remap Koala Habitat Area in accordance with Nature Conservation (Koala) Conservation Plan 2017; Made a development application for a Preliminary Approval (variation request) to vary the planning scheme to remove overlay constraint from part of the site and change the zoning to a Low Density Residential Zone – to create a development pad and enable further sub-division of the land; Made a development application for a Reconfigurtation of a Lot to sub-divide the land into 2 lots and a Material Change of Use for a new house. Ultimately, all of these applications were approved and have enabled the development of the land. This was a significant result as according to the planning scheme (at the time) the land was not developable. This approval represents the importance of investigating and ’ground truthing’ planning scheme overlays, whilst applying an informed strategy. This development approval highlights the effectiveness of a coordinated and holistic planning approach to complex development sites. Thank you to all who were involved. Town Planning – Development Directive (Leah Hamel & Lachlan Macgregor) Architect – Hollindale Mainwaring Architecture Ecology & Bushfire – JD Environmental Stormwater – SLR Consulting Flooding – SLR Consulting Arboricultural – Heritage Tree Care Brisbane

Landscape Architects need to educate land developers, site engineers, and landscape contractors on how to differentiate themselves through native, edible landscapes. This is more than a paradigm shift - it’s an opportunity to provide a unique product. Native, edible plants are inherently good for local biodiversity, supporting pollinators and wildlife alike. Edible landscapes can provide a client with a unique sense of satisfaction, accomplishment, and purpose. Folks need to realize this is a passive amenity that takes up little to no extra space! “Smart swaps” are crucial to incorporating native, edible plants; follow me as I post more on this subject and outline these principles. #realestate #development #engineer #landscapearchitecture

"Heat Islanding: Urban Hotspots in the Concrete Jungle Heat islanding refers to localized areas within cities or urban environments that experience significantly higher temperatures compared to surrounding rural areas due to human activities and the built environment. This phenomenon is caused by the absorption and retention of heat by buildings, roads, and other surfaces, along with limited greenery and vegetation. Heat islanding can lead to various environmental and health issues, including increased energy consumption, air pollution, and heat-related illnesses. #heatislanding #sustainability #environmentalengineering #greenbuilding #architecture #engineers #civilengineering #mechanicalengineering #chemicalengineering #construction #civilconstruction #engenharia #engenhariacivil

The Landscape Led approach is underpinned by the European Landscape Convention (ELC), an international treaty signed in 2000 and ratified by 40 states in Europe. It is not related to EU/Brexit stuff. It came into force in the UK in 2007, and recognises the importance of ALL landscapes, not just the pretty/special ones. The ELC defines landscape as "an area perceived by people, whose character is the result of the action and interaction of natural and /or human factors". The aims of the treaty include: 1. promoting landscape planning, management and protection across Europe, 2. recognising its importance in law, 3. promoting proper assessment & planning for landscape change and local communities, 4. to implement landscape policies that deliver effective protection/management.planning of landscape, 5. to consider integration of landscape in spatial & sectoral planning, 6. to monitor changes in the landscape. In England the treaty obligations led to a national landscape character assessment, which is based on geology and landscape types, and it has been assessed at county and district level. Studio Engleback carried out a pioneering detailed grain of assessment of landscapes and small settlements 20 years ago related to the proposed 30 year plan to double the size of Ashford in Kent. Over 15 months we assessed, field-by-field, some 120km2 of land, and then applied rigorous landscape sensitivity to development filters devised by Steven Warnock. I led this work with my old friend and colleague from Edinburgh College of Art, Louise Hooper, and ecologist Gary Grant. The work informed the option-appraisals for the emerging Greater Ashford Development Framework led by Urban Initiatives. The Landscape Led approach is founded on good contextual understanding. The South Downs National Park has embraced the Landscape Led Approach, where it informs the SDNPA Local Plan (adopted 2019), and its a key element of the evidence-based South Downs Design Guide SPD(2022) that says it "..is about designing new places in a way which is sensitive to, and integrates with, existing landscape character". This has been promoted at the SDNP by Rafa Grosso Macphearson and Ruth Childs, amongst others.

Architecture is about more than just building; it is about embedding quality in both the built and natural environment. Building Change aims to inspire architecture graduates who are conscious of the natural world on a holistic scale, from the large vision down to construction ecology. Find out more at www.buildingchange.ie