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* Author: Gonçalo Alvim, Landscape Architect
In this part of Macau Hoje, I propose to develop two broad concepts that are interconnected in different ways: landscape design and sustainable development. Of course, my starting point or end point is always Macau.
As we all know, sustainable development involves different approaches, the three main ones being environmental, social and economic. To maintain a balance, these approaches must be considered together in an interdependent way. They are like a piece of furniture with three legs, strengthening one or two legs at the expense of the third is usually not a good solution.
I propose to link the concept of “sustainable development” to landscape design, pointing to a path for the future and growth. Using the original concept highlighted in the Brundtland Report, Our Common Future (1987), this is development that “meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”
For the average citizen, this principle has merit but is somewhat abstract and difficult to put into practice. In fact, we cannot know specifically what our future needs will be, nor what specific impact our actions will have. Beyond this lack of knowledge are two obvious realities: our needs change over time, and to an increasingly significant degree; and new discoveries continually expand resources that were once thought to be limited. We know that there is a great imbalance between the exploitation of resources (which our “needs” require us to do intensively) and the ability of the Earth to support them; and that this imbalance is greater in developed regions, where consumption is much higher. But to what extent can our individual actions change the global trends that are taking place? And what power do the governments that govern us have to minimize, confront, or divert their effects?
Another concept that complements the previous one is to encourage us to “think globally, act locally”. This is a more practical concept that is easier for us to understand: we cannot change the world, but we can make our own contribution every day; maybe without heroism, but with a sense of responsibility. Have I achieved this purpose by writing this article?
I now introduce the subject of landscape architecture, starting with the definition left to us by Francisco Caldeira Cabral, the Portuguese founder of the course: “the art and science of organizing outdoor spaces to meet human needs while, at the same time, protecting and enhancing natural and cultural resources.”
I naturally researched this definition in my course, and it is much deeper and more complex than it appears at first glance, and does a good job of summarizing the scope of this often underestimated activity. I will try to explain what the author is trying to convey:
This definition first clarifies that landscape design is an art and a science, since, in addition to the creative part of the design, based on aesthetic principles, it is also based on the author’s preferences, it is based on a set of BroadCast Unitedlectual scientific information, it is important to know rigorously so that decisions and plans can meet the needs;
It then refers to the ordering of external spaces, to the humanization of the spaces outside buildings, with a purpose explained later, to satisfy the needs of man. This is very important and distinguishes its purpose from some others that exclude humans from the equation, emphasizing the value of nature itself, whether humans are present or not;
The definition concludes by stating that landscape architecture, while seeking to meet human needs, must protect and enhance natural and cultural resources, thus pointing toward positive developments in the future.
Note that there is no mention of plants, no gardens, no fountains, no arrangements, no decorations, not even landscaping or green areas, which may be surprising at first glance. I am not sure what idea my dear reader has of what landscape design is, but I dare say that if you were asked to give a short definition of the subject, it would end up including only some of the elements I have mentioned and end with an appreciation of this profession and a regret that it is not taken more seriously.
Let’s look again at the definition of sustainable development and note its similarities to the foundations of landscape architecture. This definition refers to the goal of meeting “the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs,” and naturally refers to human needs, around which sustainable development makes sense. As we can see, it has three interdependent aspects – environmental, social, and cultural – which coincide with the goals of landscape architecture: meeting human needs while protecting and enhancing natural and cultural resources.
We can therefore see that the concepts of sustainable development and landscape architecture are consistent, although landscape architecture proposes a more positive perspective, since it is not content with not compromising what the next generation will receive, but rather values the “legacy” we leave to them.
In future articles, I will seek to develop these themes, emphasizing their importance for the citizens of this territory. Please note that I am not referring here to its importance for Macau, which would be a very broad and vague purpose, but to its importance for its citizens and especially for you, dear reader.
** Francisco Caldeira Cabral (1908-1992) is considered an international reference and pioneer in research and teaching in Portuguese landscape architecture and environmental movements. He was one of the founders of the League for the Protection of Nature (LPN) and its second president, and was President of the International Federation of Landscape Architects from 1962 to 1966.
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