CHRIS Miller, a long-term member of the Australian Institute of Landscape Designers & Managers (AILDM), was recruited as an advisor to the municipal Urban Utilities, Landscaping & Forestry Bureau on Thursday.
Chris has served on the AILDM board for six years, including two as president. He gave a lecture titled Accepting the Environment: Landscape & Urban Form in Sydney that day.
He talked about the stages landscape design has progressed through in Australia and the relationship between landscape and urban environments. He also drew on the country’s history and personal experience and local environment of Sydney in the state of New South Wales in addressing the topic. He mentioned stages of grief as a metaphor for a landscape response to a new land: denial, bargaining and acceptance.
“To conclude, there is a proportion of Sydney, or Australian, landscape and urban design that is distinctly of its place, that is recognisably Australian, and is a positive acceptance of the local environment. There is far more that may be international in appearance that still fits the mould of environmental best fit.
“It is visions and actions like this that will shape much of our urban planning and bring closer the nexus of landscape and architecture. It shows acceptance of our physical environment and a determination to live with it, not in spite of it,” he said.
Chris was amazed at the city when he came to Zhuhai for the first time five years ago. He appreciated the landscape and air quality, especially the design of the median separating the walkways and driveways along coastal Lovers Avenue. He suggested the design be widely used in other areas.
Three-dimensional landscaping is complicated, which involves elements such as temperature, humidity and altitude. It helps to improve urban design and rejection of heat though, he noted.
To reduce damage caused by typhoons, Chris proposed that palm trees and similar windproof species be planted and schools be kept away from seaside areas in urban planning.
Chris promised to make suggestions on environmental planning, botany and landscape design for Zhuhai’s urban improvement.
-Zhuhai Daily
