99
still only a small shelf of books that deals with man’s relation to his environment as a whole’. Mumford
contended that this theory is a notable edition to landscape planning and architecture, as it draws upon
science, reflects on ‘ecology’ and confirm that man’s life is bound up in the forces of nature (McHarg,
1992 [1969], p. vii). Further, as we have investigated McHarg’s theory in more detail, we identified the
principles of the ecological method, concluding that it has been successfully applied to various landscape planning projects. McHarg’s multi-layered model of land uses (the layer-cake), and natural features of the landscape have certainly evolved into GIS mapping and relevant technology in use today
for landscape planning and environmental assessments. While critics may have a point about the elaborate inventory process of McHarg’s method, they lose sight of the most important considerations of the
ecological method: the systematic inclusiveness and the relationship of different structures of the natural environment and landscape. We can certainly take note of these lessons.
Another criticism of McHarg’s ‘Design with Nature’ theory is that it falls short of the broader,
holistic interconnected and ‘cyclical ecology’ and ‘regenerative’ context. It focuses mostly on the
context of patterns of land use and morphology applicable to the establishment of human settlements
in a specific area or region. This is understandable due to the time and era in which the theory was
developed, but indeed McHarg succeeds in instructing us to reintroduce nature, or ecology for that
matter, into the planning and design of the human built environment. Although McHarg reflects on the
importance of ecological design, the method still encapsulates only the principles and application at
a level of planning practice. However, we have identified fundamental principles of the ecological
method that can be used in the construction of a regenerative- adaptive pattern language. These
include the principles of creative fitting, the vulnerability of coastal systems, and the layer cake, which
in essence represent an ecosystem process in levels of scale from the larger biosphere right down to
the elements of soils, geology and hydrology.
The next step beyond this ecological method is regenerative design and planning, especially considering the context of cyclical ecology and regenerative processes, where regeneration is paramount.
The following chapter looks at the theory of Regenerative Design, pioneered by landscape architect
John Tillman Lyle, and introduces how the concepts of patterns and wholeness need to be part of the
design and planning discourse. To align these theories with the regenerative- adaptive pattern language we further investigate A Pattern Language (1977) for the integration of a whole systems and
living systems process.
Therefore:
The design and planning of human settlements needs to include the consideration of all ecological
systems of a specific place, and the holistic connection between human and nature needs to be at the
forefront of planning and design practice. The ecological method of McHarg through the application
of the layer cake, which includes the principles of creative fitting, should be used. Human settlements
should not be developed on sensitive coastline dunes and systems; rather, an approach should be
applied that will use – Nature’s Design [7] –, forming an integral part of the regenerative-adaptive
pattern language.
7.10 Fundamental Pattern 7
Nature’s Design [7]
Everything in nature is interconnected through a vast webstring network that works together
to promote life. Using the ecological method of levels of scale, and the creative fitting process,
Nature reveal itself as a process containing intrinsic forms, which includes a set of layers from
the geology of a place to the plant, animal and human habitats. Therefore, locate places where
human systems can be ordered in ways analogous to, and integrated with, the order of nature’s
systems (Fig. 7.6).
7.10 Fundamental Pattern 7
still only a small shelf of books that deals with man’s relation to his environment as a whole’. Mumford
contended that this theory is a notable edition to landscape planning and architecture, as it draws upon
science, reflects on ‘ecology’ and confirm that man’s life is bound up in the forces of nature (McHarg,
1992 [1969], p. vii). Further, as we have investigated McHarg’s theory in more detail, we identified the
principles of the ecological method, concluding that it has been successfully applied to various landscape planning projects. McHarg’s multi-layered model of land uses (the layer-cake), and natural features of the landscape have certainly evolved into GIS mapping and relevant technology in use today
for landscape planning and environmental assessments. While critics may have a point about the elaborate inventory process of McHarg’s method, they lose sight of the most important considerations of the
ecological method: the systematic inclusiveness and the relationship of different structures of the natural environment and landscape. We can certainly take note of these lessons.
Another criticism of McHarg’s ‘Design with Nature’ theory is that it falls short of the broader,
holistic interconnected and ‘cyclical ecology’ and ‘regenerative’ context. It focuses mostly on the
context of patterns of land use and morphology applicable to the establishment of human settlements
in a specific area or region. This is understandable due to the time and era in which the theory was
developed, but indeed McHarg succeeds in instructing us to reintroduce nature, or ecology for that
matter, into the planning and design of the human built environment. Although McHarg reflects on the
importance of ecological design, the method still encapsulates only the principles and application at
a level of planning practice. However, we have identified fundamental principles of the ecological
method that can be used in the construction of a regenerative- adaptive pattern language. These
include the principles of creative fitting, the vulnerability of coastal systems, and the layer cake, which
in essence represent an ecosystem process in levels of scale from the larger biosphere right down to
the elements of soils, geology and hydrology.
The next step beyond this ecological method is regenerative design and planning, especially considering the context of cyclical ecology and regenerative processes, where regeneration is paramount.
The following chapter looks at the theory of Regenerative Design, pioneered by landscape architect
John Tillman Lyle, and introduces how the concepts of patterns and wholeness need to be part of the
design and planning discourse. To align these theories with the regenerative- adaptive pattern language we further investigate A Pattern Language (1977) for the integration of a whole systems and
living systems process.
Therefore:
The design and planning of human settlements needs to include the consideration of all ecological
systems of a specific place, and the holistic connection between human and nature needs to be at the
forefront of planning and design practice. The ecological method of McHarg through the application
of the layer cake, which includes the principles of creative fitting, should be used. Human settlements
should not be developed on sensitive coastline dunes and systems; rather, an approach should be
applied that will use – Nature’s Design [7] –, forming an integral part of the regenerative-adaptive
pattern language.
7.10 Fundamental Pattern 7
Nature’s Design [7]
Everything in nature is interconnected through a vast webstring network that works together
to promote life. Using the ecological method of levels of scale, and the creative fitting process,
Nature reveal itself as a process containing intrinsic forms, which includes a set of layers from
the geology of a place to the plant, animal and human habitats. Therefore, locate places where
human systems can be ordered in ways analogous to, and integrated with, the order of nature’s
systems (Fig. 7.6).
7.10 Fundamental Pattern 7