Sustainable Design - Case Study Example

Sustainable Design Case Study Sustainable Design Case Study Introduction The increasing pressure exerted on the environment due to rapid population growth has necessitated the adoption of sustainable practices. The New York High Line Park is an example of efforts to incorporate sustainability in the development of structures. It is a green roof on top of an elevated railroad track. Due to its greenness, it can be referred to as the ‘living roof’. The elevated highway was built to reduce the risk of fatal railroad accidents. The DAC& Cities website (2014) states that the Friends of the High Line lobbied for its conversion to a public recreation area. Sustainable design requires that all the people involved in the design and construction of a project adopt a co-creation approach where they complement rather than replace nature. Among the factors that they should consider include, water conservation, the use of sustainable materials, renewable energy, site development and indoor environmental quality. Site The High Line is a public park built on a redesigned railway. Cataldi et al (2011) state that the park was first opened to the Public in 2009. It is a 2.3 kilometer (1.5 mile) long green corridor. According to the official website of the High Line (2014), the park opens from 7am to 11pm. Figure 1 shows the beautiful flowers in the park. One of the reasons behind the success of the park is the deliberate effort to co-create with nature. For example, the flowers and trees in the park are perfectly suited for the soil and climate of the area. This not only reduces the amount of effort required to care for them, but also ensures that the vegetation in the park can survive for a longtime. Fig 1 The High Line.(2014). Images. Retrieved from http://www.thehighline.org/ Closing the loop According to Sustainable plant (2014), a closed loop is a system in which there is no exchange of matter with the outside environment. The park uses recirculated water. This approach ensures that it does not put a strain on the limited water resources. It is a feature of the sustainable design principles which inspired the development of the park. Stakeholder Engagement and Green Education The reason why the Park has such an elaborate design is because the city allowed the advocacy group who had fought for the project to be implemented. This allowed a group of people who were passionate about the idea to be involved. According to Cataldi et al (2011), this shows the value of ensuring that all stakeholders are given an opportunity to give their input on community development. Schools that incorporate green design, create a good learning environment and atmosphere for its students. This results in better academic performance in the students and reduced absenteeism. In addition, the park provides an opportunity for schools to take their students on tours to learn about sustainable design. This instills positive environmental values in the individuals who will have the decisionmaking authority in the future. Moreover, the programs which the park has inspired give students an opportunity to contribute towards the conservation of the environment. Figure 2 shows children playing at the park. Fig 2 The High Line.(2014). Images. Retrieved from http://www.thehighline.org/ Green Design There is an elaborate drainage system that is porous to avoid water from stagnating on the track. The materials which were chosen were deliberately chosen based on their durability and cost. This ensures not only ensured that the community only got materials which provided value for money but also got those which could last for long periods of time. The use of quality materials enhances the integrity of the Park and ensures that the public gets value for the taxpayer funds used in the project. In addition, only special concrete that could last for a long period was used. This ensured that there was a drastic decrease in the amount of concrete, which would be wasted in subsequent replacements. Figure 3 shows the integration of the paths and vegetation. A key element of integrity is the use of materials which reduce on waste and make financial sense. Fig 3 The High Line.(2014). Images. Retrieved from http://www.thehighline.org/ The Park has an impressive water management system. The High Line uses recycled water. This helps to conserve water. In addition, the community hopes that it will be able to harvest water from the roofs of buildings in the vicinity. Water harvesting will ensure that the city has a lot of water at a low cost. This is also good for the community who will not have to share their water with the Park. There are native, drought resistant plant species in the park, which were adapted to survive in the micro-climates in the park. This deliberate approach ensures that the park has exotic vegetation which can survive on its own without excessive attention demands. Moreover, there are meadow plants and trees which do really well in the gravel. The benches and other structures in the park were built with wood from certified sustainable forest. The use of wood which only come from sustainable practices is a proactive step towards conserving the environment. This is because it prevents the wanton destruction of forests by ensuring only those with excess wood are used. The pebbled paths meander through the park to allow the public to use it. Every design in that park was deliberately done. For example, some paths are forked so that they can reduce the visual effect of the concrete. This helps to protect the naturalness of the Park. Furthermore, the elevation of the Park allows visitors to have a vantage view of the city. This has contributed to its rise as a major tourist attraction in Manhattan. Health The conversion of old transport projects is good for the health of the members of the community. The park gives the residents an opportunity to relax and rest in a beautiful and natural environment. This is good for their health. According to the DAC & Cities website (2014) about 20, 000 people visit the park every weekend. It gives members of the local community a place to take walks. Figure 4 shows residents taking a walk in the park. This increases the quality of life of life for the locals and increases the desirability of the community. One of the major attractions of New York City is that residents can access local attractions with ease. In addition, the project transformed what could have been a major crime area in the city into a beautiful and serene environment. Delinquents and gangs are fond of congregating in abandoned areas to engage in drug abuse. This would have led to increased insecurity in the neighboring community. This would have discouraged people from moving into the local community, exposed the young people to criminal activities and increased the levels of violence in the city. According to Foster (2010), the New York High Line is an example of a trend to reconstruct urban areas by transforming threatening areas to havens of safety. Furthermore, sustainable projects such as this one enables people to be involved in their local communities. This will enable them to connect with other people. In addition, it provides an opportunity for teaching the young people about the value of sustainable living and adding value to their local communities. Moreover, the park provides a space where young children can play or that the entire family can go to for a picnic. According to the official High Line website (2014), there are a lot of programs for children to participate in. This is good for the growth and development of the children in the city. This is good for the happiness of the basic social unit in the community. Fig 4 The High Line.(2014). Images. Retrieved from http://www.thehighline.org/ Economy Sustainable designs such as this park cause an increase in value of the property around the vicinity. In addition, it creates an aesthetically pleasing environment. A study by the Friends of the High Lane park showed that the project is financially viable (DAC &Cities, 2014). This is because the tax income generated from the park would surpass the cost of investment. Figure 5 shows visitors in the park relaxing. In addition, it has enhanced the value of the cityscape. The park provides an opportunity for locals to rest and enjoy nature. This increases their productivity at work which contributes to the economic growth of the city. It would also encourage investment in the community. According to GBCA Logo (2011), organizations consider sustainability to be an integral factor when choosing where to locate their operations. Fig 5 The High Line.(2014). Images. Retrieved from http://www.thehighline.org/ Advantages of Sustainability The most important advantage of sustainability practices is that it has a positive effect on attempts to conserve the environment. First, sustainable designs such as the First Lane inspire other people to do the same. This has a net effect of creating an environmentally conscious society. For example, the conversion of the old railway line has inspired the development of environmental projects in communities around the railway. In addition, the Friends of the First Lane provide an opportunity for young people to be involved in environmental projects. Moreover, projects such as the High Lane help to teach the children the importance of caring for the environment. In addition, sustainability practices result in financial savings. The use of durable materials results savings since they do not have to be replaced frequently. In addition, it results in low energy and water costs, which contribute to high bills for local authorities. Furthermore, the development of the park created a new revenue stream for the local government as it became major tourist attraction. According to the American Society of Landscape Architects (2014), for a project to be sustainable it must not only provide environmental and economic benefits, but also have a significant economic benefit. Furthermore, sustainability contributes towards making the city a beautiful place. This contributes to making it a desirable place to live and work in. As a result, the economy of the local community receives a positive boost. In addition, it helps to reduce the carbon footprint of the city. According to the Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe (2008), the most important advantage of a sustainable city is that it elects to pursue a development path which allows for an integral and long term development without undermining future generations. Moreover, investors are attracted to sustainable urban areas. According to the City of Bloomington (2014), stores which utilize natural light have better sales as compared to those which do not. This shows that the High Line can attract investors into the city because it gives the locals an opportunity to experience nature within the city. The ecosystem service model can be used to measure the economic value of the High Line which nature already provides for free. Greener working environments help to increase worker productivity. According to the World Green Building Council (2014) research shows that green design features have a positive effect on the productivity and health of those using the facility. Besides, they have other health benefits such as reduced stress among the employees, reduced absenteeism and decreased levels of sickness. In addition, employees tend to stay in their jobs for a longer period, which reduces the cost of hiring and training new staff. The High Line has a lot of environmental, economic and social benefits. First, it reduces the amount of emissions, which are released to the environment. For example, the use of solar power, emphasizing daylighting and the facilitation of public transport increases energy efficiency and reduces harmful emissions. This is good for public health since the pollutants released into the atmosphere cause air quality issues such as smog and acid rain which harm the health of the locals. Second, the recycling of rainwater and greywater for purposes such as irrigation helps to conserve potable water. Besides, it yields significant water savings which is crucial considering the increasing demand for sustainable water. Globalization has created a lot of competition among cities for residents and investors. The High Line contributes towards the attractiveness of the city which makes it a desirable place to live and work in. It results in increased employee health and reduced absenteeism, which increases the economic performance of their employers. In addition, it enhances the quality of life of the residents. The development of the park transformed a potential hideaway for criminal gangs into a beautiful and serene environment which adds value to all the residents in the city. Criminal gangs often set up in abandoned public infrastructure. As a result, the security of the local community was enhanced. In addition, it contributes to the beauty of the city skyline. Moreover, the local community obtains an economic value from the park because it has led to an appreciation in the value of the surrounding property. According to the Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans (2014), urban areas which incorporate sustainable design have a higher quality of life as compared to those that do not. The High Line has environmental and health benefits for the city residents. Furthermore, they contribute towards the improved image of the city. Moreover, it increases the competitiveness of New York, which makes it easy for learning institutions and employers to attract talented individuals to live, study and work in the city. How to achieve Greater Sustainability It is imperative that the High Line explores other ways of achieving greater sustainability. A common misconception among the public is that the sustainable design is expensive. However, this is not true. There is a minimal difference between the cost of designing ordinary construction projects and sustainable ones. Furthermore, the long term savings that will be accrued from the incorporation of sustainable design make the High Line a viable economic option. Moreover, the cost of sustainable design can be drastically reduced by adopting it at the onset any renovation activities at the park. The High Line should be used to harvest rain water and capture solar energy. Its location above the ground gives it a vantage position for capturing solar energy. This energy can be used within the park and in the neighboring communities. Furthermore, there can be facilities for collecting rain water when it rains. According to the High Line website (2014), salt water surged into the park during Hurricane Sandy. It damaged the elevator forcing the authorities to rebuild it. This is because it damaged the underground vault, which powers it. The authorities should find a more secure place for keeping the power system. The designers of the High Line must be applauded for their thoughtful incorporation of sustainable design which almost leaves little room for improvement. However, as the field of sustainable design evolves, new ways of achieving greater sustainability will emerge. The park will benefit from the incorporation of these methods. Furthermore, it should adopt a work in progress approach will give the public an opportunity to suggest ways of making it more sustainable when they can. Conclusion The New York High Line is a brilliant example of what can be achieved when members of a community come together to pursue a shared objective of transforming an otherwise useless facility to a model of sustainable design. As urbanization grows, urban planners should learn from this facility so that new urban centers can incorporate the best sustainability practices. Furthermore, it is a testament of what environmental advocacy groups can achieve when they lobby for environmental issues which add value to local communities. In addition, by promoting sustainable form and function, cities are able to create viable communities for citizens. However, all projects should be subjected to a Sustainable Return on Investment (SROI) to ensure that they add value to the local communities. References Cataldi, M., Kelley, D.,Kuzmich, H., Jens, M. & Tang, J. Residues of a Dream World. The High Line.(2011). Theory, Culture and Society,28 (7-8):368-389 DAC & Cities.(2014).New York: From High Line to Park. Retrieved from http://www.dac.dk/en/dac-cities/sustainable-cities/all-cases/green-city/new-york-from- high-line-to-park/ Foster, Jennifer. (2010) .Nature & Culture 5 (3). Winter : 316-337. Berghan Journals. doi:103167/nc. 2010. 050306 GBCA Logo. (2011). Companies go green to enhance productivity.Retrieved from http://www.gbca.org.au/resources/industry-publications/companies-go-green-to-enhance- productivity/ Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans. (2014). Benefits. Retrieved from http://www.mobilityplans.eu/index.php?ID1=6&id=6 Sustainable plant. (2014). Sustainable Facilities Seek Closed Loops. Retrieved from http://www.sustainableplant.com/topics/closed-loop/ The High Line. (2014). Images. Retrieved from http://www.thehighline.org/ The American Society of Landscape Architects. (2014). Sustainability Toolkit: Economic Models. Retrieved fromhttp://www.asla.org/economicmodels.aspx The City of Bloomington. (2014). Green building Benefits.Retrieved from https://bloomington.in.gov/green-building-benefits The Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe. (2008). Advantages of sustainable cities. Retrieved from http://archive.rec.org/REC/Programs/SustainableCities/Advantages.html World Green Building Council.(2014). Health, Wellbeing and Productivity in Office Buildings. Retrieved from http://www.worldgbc.org/activities/health-and-productivity/ Read More