It’s no secret that a lot of modern landscape architects focus on the environmental aspect of their design. (And it’s quite obvious to see why, given the environmental state of the earth right now). But when and why did environmentalism begin influencing design choices?
First, we must step back and look at this on a broader scale and what was going in on the world. On October 4th, 1957, Sputnik 1 was released into space. The launch of earth’s first official satellite was a mark in history. This event sparked the space race, and thus emphasized analytical thinking and focus on STEM education.
This “enlightened” way of thinking gave birth to a biologist, conservationist, and author that would push the environmental movement on a global scale. Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring discussed the dangers of using DDT in everyday life. At the time, the toxic chemical was sprayed everywhere, from farm to suburbs, and even on people as pest deterrent. She highlighted the need for strategic and controlled application of DDT and would testify before congress about the need for institutionalized involvement. Carson’s activism gained public and political attention, and ignited a new way of thinking about human-environment relationships.
Following this would be the first Earth Day in 1970, co-founded by Ian McHarg (who was a landscape architect, by the way). Familiar to many of us today, this day is an act of activism and public support with many participants from schools, colleges, and other communities.
Moreover, Ian McHarg would publish a book called Design with Nature that outlined a) we need nature for our survival and b) there’s a strong need for ecological planning in physical community infrastructure. For example, pollution from development negatively affects waterways due to run off. In addition, he also came up with the “overlay method” which maps information on separate layers, allowing planners and designers to mark areas for sustainable use and overlay maps for development. Aside from contributing to the environmental movement, McHarg set in motion the development of Geographic Information Systems (GIS), a program used in a wide variety of fields today.
The analysis of typical suburbia dominating most of America proved it was bad for the environment, an ineffective use of resources, and a hot spot for social segregation. And thus, “sustainability” in design became an overlay of environmental, economic, and social good.
2 thoughts on “The Environmental Movement”
I never really knew where sustainability came from… I just know that it is such an important trait in all surroundings today. As someone who hasn’t looked into landscape architecture much, knowing the ins and outs of the many decisions that must be made is interesting. The background into how such a common idea as sustainability came to light is great!
Coleman Cush
I had never thought about this cross over between social movements and the spreading of scientific knowledge before. Growing up in a time where our environmental impacts are talked about so frequently blinded me to that change. I am also a huge fan of Carson, so I thought the information on her was a nice touch. it is amazing how she dedicated her entire lively hood to this planet and preserving it’s beauty.
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