Carving Space in Wilderness

Stefano Boeri’s concept for Luizhou - vertical forest buildings

Wouldn’t it be good if we could start again?

Considering the land covered in a dynamic wilderness - woodlands, bogs, meadows, lakes, ponds, moors, heathlands and the like and with it all the associated wildlife. There would be large swathes of the different habitats that would be connected. Nature would be at the forefront.

Of course, we are nature too and we would need somewhere to live, but rather than dominating the landscapes, the new urban environments would be carefully set within a natural landscape,

• one where all our senses would be stimulated;

• where all living things could thrive;

• and one where we value nature and we value ourselves.

Stefano Boeri’s vertical forest buildings concept - citywide

City centres would be green, not grey. Human movement around the towns and cities would be on foot, bicycle or small motorised carts for those with less mobility through parks, gardens and woodlands and over vast waterbodies. Hard landscaping and sealed surfaces would be an absolute minimum. Open spaces would be of the green variety and the topography would be varied.

Well we can’t reverse time, but new development within our towns and cities can address this. At the design phase, the site could be turned over to 100% quality green space. From here, carve out the minimum amount of space for buildings and hard landscaping, maximising the area of connected, quality green space for ourselves and for wildlife.

Existing green space should be protected as if it is the last greenspace on earth, not something that is in the way or could be ‘restored’ later (as it rarely can be and/ or is). It will require a radical change to the design of our built environment and the way we work throughout the design and build process - one where the entire team has a common goal - to value nature and understand that it is a system of which we are a part.

Collaboration will be required from the outset: ecologists, soil scientists, landscape designers and architects to create the design of the space with pioneering engineers, building and landscape contractors to bring the design to fruition. Only then will we have a chance to create urban environments that are good for all.