Urban spaces are under pressure due to the increasing density within cities, which aims to address the lack of housing. Designers strive to create welcoming spaces that meet the client’s design objectives, encompassing environmental, social, and economic considerations. However, many issues need to be considered. The following tips can help designers understand the opportunities and constraints they may face when designing urban spaces.

Constraints and Considerations

Space limitations

The overall space available in urban areas is coming under increasing pressure to achieve more with less as density in urban environments rises to meet housing shortages. The increase in density also places pressure on urban spaces due to the increased need for transport for the new residents.

Working in urban environments can be constrained by existing site conditions, such as utilities, roads, overhead structures, steep grades, trees, walls, buildings, basements, etc. These space limitations often require consideration when designing urban spaces, especially when trees and structures that require structural footings (lighting, walls, etc.) need to be planted. Therefore, undertaking a thorough site analysis (surveys, testing, etc.) and mapping is essential before starting the design process.

Environmental

Current and past uses can limit the site’s future use when designing urban spaces. These environmental issues can include soil contamination, remnant buildings or structures, remnant hardscape, altered hydrology, compacted soil, previous uses (landfill, quarry, etc.), and utilities (past and present).

Budget

Depending on the approach adopted by the design team and client, the budget can be a constraint or an opportunity for innovation. When starting the design process, the team should understand the client’s objectives, the budget, and the funding model (and sources) to create an achievable design.

Time

Depending on the allowed time, the timeline (program) can be advantageous or limiting. A short program creates pressure to accelerate the design process, which can cause issues with making design decisions and may reduce the amount of consultation and overall design resolution. However, a short program allows for greater certainty for the project budget as there is more certainty about construction costs.

An extended (long) program over many years can create uncertainty around the budget and client involvement (people come and go from organisations). We have seen these budget issues magnify over the past five years when costs greatly increased, and, in some cases, contractors walked away or went bankrupt as they could not build the project for the quoted price. This can be resolved through the use of quantity surveyors or working with contractors at various stages to ensure that the project budget can be met.

Ownership

When designing urban spaces, it is key to understand who owns the site and their role in the project. A (large) site with multiple owners (city, county, government authority, private owners) can create constraints as there will be a need for greater consultation, numerous policies, and differing budgets and resources. Understanding the site’s ownership, boundaries, and zoning is key when designing large sites or sites with varying owners to avoid issues such as unfinished work or abrupt physical boundaries.

Regulations

The regulatory framework often limits urban space availability due to legislative requirements such as zoning and cultural or environmental overlays. Also, if governments are under-resourced, it can take an extended time to receive (planning) project approvals.

Regulations can also offer opportunities to improve design by increasing the project’s quality, standard or requirements. An example would be minimum open space requirements for developments, or increased green area or tree canopy ratio requirements for projects.

Construction

Who is building the project can make a difference to the overall project outcome. When starting the project, it is key that designers understand the level of expertise and experience available. In some locations, the construction companies’ knowledge and skills can be limited, and they may lack expertise in landscape projects. Often, landscape projects are contracted to civil or general contractors who may not fully understand how to coordinate or build a landscape project and are more interested in the lowest price. As landscape architects, we may have to focus more on providing more comprehensive documentation, attending more regular site meetings or advocating for the client to engage a known landscape contractor to ensure the project is constructed to everyone’s expectations.

Local construction companies and trades can also offer opportunities to work with a specific material or craftsmanship, such as using local stone or a landscape construction method. Landscape architects should seek out local talent and materials whenever possible to employ local people and enhance the local area they are designing. They should also take the time to understand the availability of materials and the construction skills available.

Maintenance

Maintenance team skills are a long-term constraint, as maintenance determines the project’s longevity. Landscapes are designed to last years and decades, and irregular or improper maintenance can define the project’s long-term success. As landscape architects, we should encourage clients to allow fees for the provision of maintenance manuals and undertake regular site evaluations (post-occupancy evaluations) to ensure that the design vision reaches its full potential and is maintained as envisioned.

The key is to remember that constraints can create the opportunity for innovation, rethinking approaches and standards. Although constraints can cause some dismay for landscape architects, they also allow for more creativity as problem solvers.

Opportunities

Design projects offer numerous opportunities for designers to explore ideas, provide design leadership, create a positive social and environmental impact, enhance accessibility, address climate change, and reflect the local community.

Place

The place and its context allow the designer to be inspired by its potential. When working in different places and spaces, it is essential to take the time to understand the place and its history (environmental and cultural), as these can provide inspiration and opportunities for the designer. Whether working in a highly dense urban environment or on the urban fringe, designers can create a design that reflects the meaning of the place.

People

The place is one source of design influence; however, the local people and their stories can provide more inspiration. Involving them in the design process shapes the place’s potential and creates pride and ownership of the space.

When designing for a new city (becoming rarer) without people, the designer can create scenarios and stories that reflect the place and provide some spaces (fields, empty lots) for the future community to design and take ownership.

However, people can also create limitations for achieving great design through competing interests of the government and various local groups. Designers need to develop soft skills and empathy to ensure that they can present and work with the community to achieve the best design possible.

Underutilised and Neglected Spaces

The opportunities for underutilised spaces such as utility corridors, bridges, railway and highway underpasses but also neglected spaces such as riverfronts, canals, plazas, rooftops, etc. offer a great potential to become better places that can provide active and passive recreation as well as green space that can cool the urban areas and increase biodiversity. Many projects have turned underutilised space into a thriving space, such as the Highline, Underline, One Green Mile, and many more.

Liveability

Landscape architects can increase the liveability of urban spaces through considered design and create better (pedestrian and vegetation) connections between spaces. By designing liveable spaces, we create more opportunities for people to exercise, gather, and find solace in urban environments, enhancing their mental and physical well-being.

Environmental

Landscape architects can use key design principles (such as nature-based solutions) to significantly improve the environment, mitigate climate change, and increase biodiversity through good design decisions regarding water treatment, urban forestry, habitat creation, and material and plant selections. Understanding the site and its broader environmental context creates opportunities for landscape architects to provide better design solutions.

These design decisions can be enhanced through collaboration with the community, universities, other local groups and suppliers.

Technological

Technology can be used in various ways when designing landscape projects. During the design process, we can use technology to collaborate (digital pinboards, digital models), create visualisations, consult, and give feedback through online platforms.

We can use design technologies in design and construction to increase efficiency, improve sustainability, measure inputs and outputs, and adhere to better design practices such as dark skies and green standards.

Collaboration

Landscape projects, especially in urban areas, allow for collaboration with allied professionals (engineers, horticulturalists, ecologists, etc.), local people (residents, designers, artists, etc.), contractors and suppliers, government, and clients. Working with other people can be the most rewarding part of a landscape project. The process can be challenging, but working together can create a great outcome.

When designing landscape projects, there are many constraints and opportunities. The difficulty of designing urban spaces increases due to more significant constraints; however, as landscape architects, we have the knowledge and holistic approach to see these constraints as opportunities to create design outcomes.

Article written by Damian Holmes (RLA), Founder & Editor of World Landscape Architecture