School of Landscape Architecture

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The School of Landscape Architecture at Lincoln University bases its teaching and research on the coastal areas, urban centres, townships, agricultural lands and mountains of the South Island.

Recent Submissions

Now showing 1 - 5 of 410
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    Soulscapes: An exploration of the relationship between wilderness landscapes and Soul wellbeing : A dissertation submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Landscape Architecture at Lincoln University
    (Lincoln University, 2023) Hansen, Erika
    The idea that wilderness landscapes can facilitate connection to Soul has been recognised by scholars in various disciplines. There is also a longstanding history of ancient cultural practices that utilise the therapeutic elements of nature in natural landscapes to support and sustain spiritual wellbeing. As in theoretical perspectives such as the biophilia hypothesis, human biology requires direct connection with the natural environment. However, recent generations have seen urbanisation and technological advancements sever connections between many people and the natural world. Consequently, the contemporary societal issue ‘nature deficit disorder’ is a sign of the times. In response, this research explores the relationship between wilderness, traditional practices facilitated by the landscape, and the wellbeing of Soul in a secular sense. An interdisciplinary review of the literature identified key themes associated with the pursuit of Soul wellbeing, including Soul work, wilderness spirituality, sublime landscapes, transcendent experiences, social connection and solitude, classical elements, genius loci, aspects of pilgrimage, and thermal conditioning practices: cold immersion and sauna. These themes were threaded together and grounded in the practical context with case studies of international and Aotearoa New Zealand based expeditions and retreats that offer aspects of these topics. At the intersection of many schools of thought identified in this research lies a particular type of experiential landscape that facilitates Soul wellbeing, which I have termed ‘Soulscape’. The research findings suggest that a Soulscape is a sublime wilderness landscape that provides a setting for Soul work practices that seek to reconnect people with nature and their true nature. This research may be thought of as a pilgrimage towards the discovery of, ‘what is a Soulscape?’ which illuminates the significance and relevance of Soul wellbeing to the realm of landscape architecture.
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    How can the design of wineries support wellbeing? A study of wineries in Waipara, Aotearoa New Zealand : A thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Landscape Architecture at Lincoln University
    (Lincoln University, 2023) Goh, Jiang Han Jeremy
    Wine and food share important connections to the landscape, and these connections are increasingly being recognised as important to wellbeing. Farmers’ markets and locally focused food menus, alongside the heightened awareness of the value of being in landscape settings, exemplify the significance of opportunities to enjoy the fruits of the earth within the landscape that produced them. However, while there is an established understanding of the connections between nature and wellbeing, and a growing number of studies of gastronomical aspects of the food-landscape relationship, there is little research on how wineries might also offer wellbeing benefits. Locating and identifying patterns of how wineries are designed can offer insight into the place-specific experiences that are encouraged within wineries, the activities provided and how future wineries may be designed to support wellbeing. The goal of this research is to determine how wineries as places - including their location, design, and activities - support wellbeing. A two-phase process was used to identify potential winery cases across Aotearoa New Zealand, followed by a detailed selection based on their landscape, spatial settings, and location. Then from the samples identified, wineries with similar activities were selected and compared based on their landscape and spatial settings. Using a Mash-Up approach, categories and qualities were extracted from parallel studies of institutions known to support wellbeing such as hospitals, schools, and universities. The categories of Vegetation and Nature; Social; Environmental Control; Inclusivity; Spatial; and Multi-Sensory were identified from the parallel studies. Two additional categories were identified at the case study sites, they are: Animals and Time. Field work involved on-site inventorying at the four sites, using the categories derived from the parallel studies. Lastly, a normative critique of the case study sites was conducted that identified a wide range of landscape elements that echo those from the parallel studies, and indicate that wineries - like schools, hospitals, and universities - have a role to play in supporting wellbeing. This research identifies valuable insights into how wineries offer restorative environments and this in turn can inform other settings, such as those from the parallel studies.
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    Integrating landscape character assessment with community values in a scenic evaluation methodology for regional landscape planning
    (MDPI AG, 2024-02) Tara, A; Lawson, Gillian; Davies, W; Chenoweth, A; Pratten, G
    The Landscape Character Assessment (LCA) method from the UK has proven effective in identifying landscape values and characteristics through a comprehensive mapping process. However, it is predominantly expert-led and lacks an evaluation of scenery, hindering the inclusion of the broader community’s preferences and visual attachment to their landscape. In Australia, the application of the Scenic Amenity Methodology (SAM) using Geographical Information System (GIS) mapping has engaged communities but has often overlooked the importance of landscape character. To overcome these limitations, this study presents an innovative scenic assessment methodology, referred to as modified Scenic Amenity Methodology (modified SAM). The methodology establishes landscape character types (LCTs) to map scenic preference ratings derived from community photo surveys. Simultaneously, it incorporates the visual exposure of the landscape from publicly accessible viewpoints, modelled using a Digital Elevation Model (DEM). The combination of scenic preferences and visual exposure enables mapping of the scenic amenity values held by the community. This methodology was first trialled in Bundaberg, then Cairns, the Whitsunday Islands, and, most recently, Toowoomba in Queensland, Australia. This paper presents the results of the Toowoomba study and reports on the challenges and limitations of informing landscape character type (LCT) values through a public photo survey, developing a scenic preference map from ratings of photos across a region, a map of the visual exposure of landscape elements from key public viewing locations, and, ultimately, a map of scenic amenity values across the Toowoomba Region. It indicates that integrating previous LCA approaches with public participation through community preferences is indeed feasible for regional landscape planning.
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    Peri-urban landscapes: Rethinking the land around cities for housing + food production
    (Our Land and Water, 2023) Davis, Shannon
    Rethinking the land around cities can tackle both our food and housing crises. This webinar will share research showing that we could improve our food, housing and wellbeing all at the same time by making the fertile whenua surrounding our cities more productive in sustainable ways. As Aotearoa’s population grows, food and housing are currently ‘competing’ with each other for land space – with the urban sprawl of expanding cities eating up the best lands for food production. Instead, we could design differently to provide both areas for local food production and new housing. The purpose of this webinar is to help decision makers, such as local councils and town planners, think outside of ‘business as usual’ when it comes to providing food and housing. By making different choices for how we use the fertile whenua surrounding our cities, the research shows we can benefit both urban and rural communities simultaneously, including Māori communities. Speaker: Shannon Davis Shannon is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Landscape Architecture, Te Whare Wānaka o Aoraki | Lincoln University. Also a research leader within the Centre of Excellence: Designing Future Productive Landscapes, her research focuses on urban and peri-urban agriculture, and landscape planning.
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    Role of existing industrial land in providing supplemental flood mitigation for low-lying coastal cities in a context of climate change : A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy at Lincoln University
    (Lincoln University, 2024) Muangsri, Suphicha
    Flooding in low-lying coastal cities is projected to worsen with climate change. Planners are concerned about the inadequacy of their current flood protection capacity and the risks associated with under- or over-investment in expensive grey infrastructures under climate change uncertainty. Implementing green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) on strategically located developed land, particularly industrial land, maybe a lower-risk alternative; however, little is known about its potential for providing substantial catchment flood mitigation over time. In addition, there is no effective methodology for determining its potential in the context of climate change. In this research, a novel Hydrology-based Land Capability Assessment and Classification (HLCA+C) methodology is proposed and used to evaluate the flood mitigation capability (FMC) of strategic land use, having large properties over the long term (80 to 100-year period) with climate change. The methodology was then applied to a case study (the City of Christchurch) to determine the potential of industrial land for providing substantial flood mitigation. The results indicated industrial land has substantial flood mitigation capability in four of its six catchments, capturing both on-site and off-site runoff volumes. While their increased runoff volumes associated with climate change in two catchments can be reduced to a manageable level within the mid-term period (2031-2050), industrial land in the other two catchments had this capability up to the long-term period (2081-2100) and under much larger storm events, though not for all climate change scenarios. The methodology was also applied to one Christchurch catchment to evaluate the FMC of individual industrial properties further. The highly capable properties within the catchment were prioritised to be included in adaptative flood mitigation pathways. Considering the most appropriate implementation approach associated with properties’ FMC and timing for implementation (whether through a retrofit only, retrofit and transfer, redesign or relocation), their flood mitigation capabilities can be maximised in response to increased climate change impacts through time. This would result in flood mitigation just shy of that associated with the high emission scenario up to the end of this century. The findings of this research indicated that the size of drainage area controlled by GSI networks is dominantly responsible for enhancing FMC in the long term if the high groundwater level of industrial land was deeper than 2 m below the surface. Therefore, policies encouraging off-site runoff collection in large private properties, where capable, are deemed necessary to utilise the maximum GSI capability. The research demonstrates the effectiveness of this novel methodology over existing methods for helping planners develop adaptive flood mitigation plans through time with climate change. These outputs can facilitate planners in developing flood mitigation policies and strategies for the long-term protection of their communities. The findings from the application of this methodology demonstrate that implementing such GSI networks on capable industrial land can provide effective low-risk supplemental flood mitigation to ensure communities in low-lying cities are protected from climate change–induced flooding in the long term. It will also allow costly investments in flood mitigation structures, such as barriers and levees, to be safely delayed until their cost-effectiveness has been confirmed under increased climate certainty. To maximise the FMC of existing industrial land, the research recommends that planners designate strategic stormwater management zones in city plans. These can be used in support of implementing policies to encourage on-site and off-site runoff collection and the establishment of new governing bodies to regulate the uses of land for implementing GSI networks and ensure long-term flood mitigation.