R8: Gardening the Bay by Kate Orff
Summary
Orff asks what implementation of ‘nature in cities' implies, what tools we have to make changes in the urban landscape, and create something for the future rather than for appearances. Specifically she asks the viewer to frame their thinking in terms of climate change, how human influence on our environment is not a static deficit to work off but a series of compounding values. The New York Times warns that “warming could conceivably exceed 10 degrees by the end of the century”. With the rising temperatures come a rising sea level, considering this she founded the design firm SCAPE on the foundation that landscape is inherently related to the water surrounding it and therefore should include that waterscape and not limit itself to the land itself. On one particular project, “Living Breakwaters”, where at a regional scale the team studied how coastal landscapes provide protection for ecological infrastructure within and around growing cities. In doing so, they look to save these endangered shallow-water ecosystems and explore paths to rebuild these vital habitats.
Part of this process is public awareness, educating the public on the global and local effects climate change has on their environment. SCAPE has worked to make this topic one that can be easily understood by the majority of people, developing communication tools and generating publications with a wide range of applications. Some examples of this effort include SCAPE’s partnering with Columbia Urban Landscape Lab’s publication Bird Safe Building Guidelines, the Safari 7 project with the same organization. The Safari 7 project focuses on reimagining the subway line 7, turning it into a tool for education, an ‘urban safari’ educating the public on urban impacts. One example is how the refuse from digging the 7 line created a manmade island that became new nesting grounds for the once-threatened double-breasted cormorants. SCAPE has reoriented the problem of climate change from educating individuals to interacting with affected communities while teaching them how to adapt, making it their focus rather than an afterthought.
Stitch
Orff brings to light what i’ve mentioned previously, in the grand view of climate change educating the public is as important as making physical change in the world. As designers it is our responsibility to educate through our designs and not only design for the immediate needs. I was a member of Freedom by Design for a number of years, during that time we worked on various projects for clients but in tandem we ran design charrettes with various aims to educate students on different factors in sustainability and climate change.
Questions
What are ways you can bring about climate awareness in your community?
How can you have an impact in your profession? As a student, educator, professional, etc
What projects in your community exist to bring awareness/act on climate change?
