Designing and Managing a Linear Park along Houston’s Most Significant Waterway: Promoting Access to Nature at Buffalo Bayou Park
Fangyi Lu
SWA Group
Houston, TX
Gabriela Sosa, PhD
Buffalo Bayou Park
Houston, Texas
In today's landscape architecture, the concept of the "edge" has become increasingly significant. It represents the blurred boundary that exists between the constructed human environment and the natural world. The planning strategies, design solutions, and post-construction management methods for maintaining both cultural and ecological balance in urban landscape projects have evolved to address the challenges and opportunities presented by these edges. Particularly, projects involving stream restoration, corridor parks, greenways and complete streets are ideal contexts for exploring the concept of the "ecotone" and integrating it into landscape design philosophy. The "ecotone" is a concept borrowed from ecology, referring to the transition area between two distinct ecosystems. In landscape design philosophy, it represents the space where the constructed environment meets nature. Design for such space seeks to create desirable urban open spaces and parks for people that blur the lines between human and natural systems. This involves the careful selection of plant species, the creation of transitional zones, prioritizing human comfort, immersing the senses, presenting a visually captivating landscape, and seamlessly integrating cultural elements that resonate with the natural surroundings. Post-construction management methods include ongoing maintenance, adaptive management, and community involvement to ensure the balance is sustained over time. By embracing the ecotone philosophy and integrating sustainable design principles, landscape architects can create spaces that celebrate the dynamic interplay between human and natural systems. These spaces are not just functional; they are aesthetically pleasing, ecologically robust, and culturally meaningful, ultimately redefining the “edge” as a space of connection and harmony, where human and nature coexist in a dynamic equilibrium.
About Fangyi Lu
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