Talks by Anastasia Nikologianni
Exploring to what extend low carbon can be presented in regional design this exhibition is lookin... more Exploring to what extend low carbon can be presented in regional design this exhibition is looking at the expression of low carbon in regional schemes through an analysis of the Wolfson Prize Garden City competition finalists.
Conference Presentations by Anastasia Nikologianni
This paper forms part of a wider research looking at pioneer landscape strategies across Europe, ... more This paper forms part of a wider research looking at pioneer landscape strategies across Europe, examining the extent to which low carbon, sustainability and spatial quality can be delivered effectively on urban and strategic scale, and covers examples from the 'Landscape Observatory' (Spain), the 'Room f or the River' and the 'New Dutch Waterline' (Netherlands).
Acta Horticulture, Dec 2017
This paper argues that, in order to deliver sustainable urban and regional landscapes, an integra... more This paper argues that, in order to deliver sustainable urban and regional landscapes, an integrated approach of individual elements such as legislations, design thinking and biodiversity needs to be considered. It forms part of a wider research project, examining the extent to which low carbon and sustainability can be delivered effectively in landscape strategies, which covers examples from the 'Landscape Observatory' (Spain), the 'Room for the River' and 'New Dutch Waterline' (Netherlands) and the 'HS2LV' project (UK). The Netherlands case study, presented in this paper, consisted by two large scale landscape projects is used to illustrate this approach. The 'Room for the River' and the 'New Dutch Waterline' are used to demonstrate how the idea of landscape, low carbon and design quality can shape the effective implementation of landscape strategies. Key elements and effective ways of delivering sustainable places have been identified through a series of real time visits, interviews and observations. The development of procurement processes, legislation, and understanding of the role of landscape sustainability and landscape quality as well as the importance of spatial representation of these ideas will be presented and discussed in order to illustrate a sustainable holistic approach and the tremendous impact that this has on the landscape and the region.
Part of a broader PhD research to examine how a more holistic approach to landscape may significa... more Part of a broader PhD research to examine how a more holistic approach to landscape may significantly contribute to the global challenges by re-establishing landscape at the forefront of development and as the context within which the development processes take place, this poster presents the extent to which low carbon and spatial quality can be delivered in regional infrastructure projects.
Part of a broader strategy to examine how a more holistic approach to landscape may significantly... more Part of a broader strategy to examine how a more holistic approach to landscape may significantly contribute the global challenges by re-establishing landscape at the forefront of development and as the context within which the development processes take place, this paper investigates the extent to which low carbon and spatial quality can be delivered in regional infrastructure projects. Terms like environmental sustainability, climate change and future proof of regional and urban areas are commonly used. Although there is an increasing trend of these concepts there is not a clear message on how landscape is affected. The interpretation in a regional scale together with the impact the terms have in the landscape context are still obscure. This paper looks at the outcomes of two case studies, one of the Landscape Observatory (Spain) and the second of the Room for the River Programme/Dutch Waterline (Netherlands), as part of a broader PhD research supported by Climate-KIC. The two case studies are complementary, the first examining the way the idea of landscape can change hearts and minds, the second showing how the idea of landscape is used to shape the implementation of national projects in the Netherlands. The paper shows how the Landscape Observatory (established in 2005) has changed public opinion through a series of catalogues, seminars, projects and public participation to such an extent that there is now a public law protecting landscape – a concept that would have been inconceivable 10 years ago. The two national programmes in the Netherlands known as the 'Room for the River' and the 'Dutch Waterline', devised in response to the problems of climate change and long term sustainability of the Netherlands, demonstrate the potential and significance of introducing the quality of space as a vital aspect of regional infrastructure. In their different ways, these case studies have shown how this idea of landscape can be used, through a range of specific tools and policies to achieve low carbon and sustainable outcomes as well as the extent to which both are dependent the various modes of visual and spatial representation of concepts, ideas and a sense of place to convey the powerful and profound value of the landscape. Finally, the potential of understanding landscape as the context for the process of development will be analysed by discussing the impact these case studies might have had for the region.
This paper examines the role of visual representations in regional design. At this scale, drawing... more This paper examines the role of visual representations in regional design. At this scale, drawings are usually thought to be objective and neutral. In asking what drawings can contribute to the regional design process two main issues are considered. First, can drawings change the way we view a region and its landscape potential and secondly can low carbon and spatial quality ideas be communicated at a regional scale? To investigate these issues, the role played by different kinds of drawings at the different stages of regional projects is investigated through a range of relevant projects. These include the winning submissions from the Wolfson Garden Cities Competition (UK), visual/spatial materials produced by the Landscape Observatory of Catalonia (Spain), those used in the Room for the River Programme (The Netherlands) and the drawings to support the regional HS2LV proposal (UK). A series of interviews and questionnaires examines the relationship and balance between text and drawing, the way in which drawings can shift perceptions, convince authorities or connect communities to adopt a more holistic interpretation of landscape, and the role played by drawings in achieving successful outputs in terms of spatial quality and low carbon. This case study analysis demonstrates why visual materials are essential to landscape design from the conceptual to the implementation phase. It challenges the apparent bias in favour of text-based materials especially at the specialist level. Finally it examines the knowledge gained from design and artefacts and the impact on the final landscape product.
It is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore the spatial and visual impacts resulting from maj... more It is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore the spatial and visual impacts resulting from major infrastructure projects, and the effects of climate change on regional landscape strategies. Current major environmental issues have significantly increased the interest for a green development of the existing and future infrastructure. Although there is need for a sustainable approach in strategic and urban forms, there is no evidence on how to embed it in spatial scale in a way that will create an integrated regional strategy. The research discussed in this paper aims to establish a new way of conceptualizing and delivering infrastructure projects, to discuss the need of a holistic approach into the concept of sustainable infrastructure and the importance of the visualizations during the design process. Its main focus is where the UK’s main interest, the development of a new urban form, currently appears. Looking at the idea of the sustainable low carbon vision for new settlements, this study explores garden cities design, in order to investigate what does this mean, and how it looks like. This research examines the possibility of a sustainable form in urban design and planning, and aims to identify whether sustainability is able to perform visually in a wider spatial scale, and how this affects both the design and planning process and the formation of designers’ decisions. Using a selection of spatial strategy visualizations, we investigate if and how sustainability has a 'spatial dimension' and the different way this is reflected in landscape-scale strategic projects. The research core is the recently submitted at Wolfson prize Garden cities plans, where some of the winning projects will be presented, analysed and discussed in a way that investigates how words are interpreted to drawing and how low carbon element impacts on the master plan. Following the investigation of pictorial forms, in depth interviews with designers and an exhibition will explore how the main ideas are being communicated through the projects and where the sustainable/low carbon form has or could have been achieved. The aim is to investigate how different interpretation of elements such as spatial quality, aesthetics, and sustainability/low carbon are evident into the plans and what they look like at a regional scale. Preliminary findings of sketches, drawings or concept diagrams will be presented in this paper, identifying how they are evidence of sustainability and how this might have impact on the different master plans. Moreover, the connection between ideas and sustainable/low carbon design principles at a regional scale will be discussed, together with how these could form the outcome of the final design.
Papers by Anastasia Nikologianni
Sustainability, May 16, 2024
This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative... more This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY
Architecture, Mar 18, 2024
This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative... more This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY
The topic of this article is very interesting and contemporary. The data presented for each count... more The topic of this article is very interesting and contemporary. The data presented for each country are a good start of basic information in relation to steps taken on sustainable management and environmental strategies. However, there is no explanation of why this comparison has been chosen and not in depth information on the case studies. The results and conclusions are broad, and the argument of tailored approaches needs to be stronger. These two examples are a good starting point, but more scientific analysis is needed in addition to a stronger reference list.
Land, Nov 5, 2023
This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative... more This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY
SATURN, which aims to produce spatial visions for a resilient landscape with the aim to re-connec... more SATURN, which aims to produce spatial visions for a resilient landscape with the aim to re-connect citizens with the landscape, create a landscape identity and engage public institutions at a regional and city level.
C
As the world takes a more strategic approach to the climate crisis, carbon in its various forms h... more As the world takes a more strategic approach to the climate crisis, carbon in its various forms has become a key factor in ascertaining the sustainability of the landscape. Landscape has been recognised as a resource and mechanism for addressing the role of carbon in the environment, with literature focused on the landscape’s carbon capacity as interconnected systems of land, soil, water and organic life. It has, however, largely neglected the crucial role of the cultural, social and historical aspects of the landscape, particularly at the level of design. This paper acknowledges and explores the complexity of landscape as a natural-cultural system with the consequent difficulties this poses in legislating, calculating and measuring carbon for global, national and local targets for low/zero carbon and carbon offsetting. The discussion takes place in the arena of landscape architecture at regional/city/local scales and the life-cycle of a project including its integration into its wi...
C Journal, MDPI, 2023
As the world takes a more strategic approach to the climate crisis, carbon in its various forms h... more As the world takes a more strategic approach to the climate crisis, carbon in its various forms has become a key factor in ascertaining the sustainability of the landscape. Landscape has been recognised as a resource and mechanism for addressing the role of carbon in the environment, with literature focused on the landscape’s carbon capacity as interconnected systems of land, soil, water and organic life. It has, however, largely neglected the crucial role of the cultural, social and historical aspects of the landscape, particularly at the level of design. This paper acknowledges and explores the complexity of landscape as a natural-cultural system with the consequent difficulties this poses in legislating, calculating and measuring carbon for global, national and local targets for low/zero carbon and carbon offsetting. The discussion takes place in the arena of landscape architecture at regional/city/local scales and the life-cycle of a project including its integration into its wider social, cultural and environmental setting. This paper develops the discourse in three major areas: first, by examining how the complexity of landscape is obscured in the context of carbon-measuring tools used in landscape architecture; secondly exploring one such tool in practice to demonstrate how site-specific design decisions can impact carbon levels; and third by proposing how an integrated understanding of landscape can be built into projects to embrace complexity and operationalise low carbon visions.
Land, MDPI, 2023
The challenges of historic building adaption for reuse are well documented and often refer to bui... more The challenges of historic building adaption for reuse are well documented and often refer to building fabric, listed status, historical significance, environmental sustainability, and structural layout as limitations to their successful re-development. However, few studies have explored how such issues manifest in the operational use of historic buildings developed for reuse, the significance on cities, and the long-term socioeconomic value. This study proposes a stewardship-based strategy to manage facilities to improve the socioeconomic value of historic buildings and support the socioeconomic demand in cities and territories. Within the context of a selected case study in the UK, a mixed-method approach was used to attain the data. Quantitative evidence, using a questionnaire survey with building users, and qualitative evidence, using semi-structured interviews with the facility management team, are presented. The results suggest that historic buildings are empowered by an organisational stewardship strategy, resulting in an acceptable operational compromise that involves an acceptance of building issues and their impact on the building users’ experience, and this can support the more operational adaption of facilities by the facility management team. The research proposes a stewardship-based strategy to support an improved socioeconomic value by incorporating user perspectives while ensuring a less preservation-centred and a more flexible-oriented approach towards managing facilities in historic buildings. This study constructively forms a base for further research into facility management strategies in historic buildings and their impact on cities’ needs.
Cleaner Production Letters
Buildings
Major efforts have been invested in the UK Residential sector to meet the increasing housing dema... more Major efforts have been invested in the UK Residential sector to meet the increasing housing demands, deliver sustainability, and improve its resiliency against many uncertainties. While data/information within the UK residential sector relating to location, sizes and volumes are annually updated, there is limited emphasis on the methods of construction that support meeting housing demands. Over the years, it has been recognised that the UK residential sector has been dominated by two methods of construction: timber frame and masonry. This study aims to holistically compare timber frames with masonry as the two domineering construction methods for the UK residential sector. The comparison will be based on build costs, preference and drivers by construction professionals, longevity and consumer confidence, and sustainability. The research methodology was developed based on applying mixed methods of quantitative data analysis of build costs and qualitative data assessment of semi-stru...
Sustainability
This paper deals with landscape understanding and connectivity from an ecological as well as a hu... more This paper deals with landscape understanding and connectivity from an ecological as well as a human perspective. It is based on a broader research study known as EIT Climate-KIC SATURN (System and sustainable Approach to virTuous interaction of Urban and Rural LaNdscapes) co-funded by the European Institute of Innovation & Technology (EIT), Climate-KIC and the institutions participating in this project. The aim of the study was to explore how landscape connectivity is perceived, on urban and regional scales, by decision-makers and key stakeholders as well as the impact this can have on building sustainable cities. The paper used a series of drawing and visualization workshops, community engagement methods, and participatory tools to identify the connection communities and decision-makers have with their landscape surroundings as well as the impact landscape connectivity has on our health and wellbeing. Through a series of specifically designed workshops following a landscape vision...
Birmingham City University has partnered with Birmingham City Council, as well as organisations f... more Birmingham City University has partnered with Birmingham City Council, as well as organisations from Italy and Sweden, to create a more sustainable, effective way of connecting cities and the landscape within it, as part of the EIT Climate-KIC SATURN project. This will then ensure better results in business, economy, food growth and nature, as well as creating collaborative and citizen-focused solutions
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Talks by Anastasia Nikologianni
Conference Presentations by Anastasia Nikologianni
Papers by Anastasia Nikologianni
Originality: The contribution to knowledge of this thesis lies upon the identification and creation of sustainable strategic schemes that work effectively at the scale of landscape projects, affecting positively the way regions are conceptualized and addressed. The need for a project framework supported by policies and legislation that will secure the early integration of ideas such as low carbon, spatial quality and drawings, is identified as a significant step towards successful project implementation and impacts on the extent to which key issues will be delivered in strategic schemes. The recognition of drawings and visuals as communication tools, through the landscape project process, improves the understanding of the land and acts significantly in the interpretation of the landscape vision as well as the integration of key issues in strategic schemes. Evidence collected during the study indicates that innovative projects can form theory and therefore that the key issues of low carbon and spatial quality can be interpreted differently across Europe, playing distinct roles, and gaining significant importance to the landscape project process. Impact: The proposal for a common European and UK agenda related to strategic landscape schemes will share lessons of good practice suggesting ways to strengthen the areas of sustainable landscape development and it will improve understanding, communication, and implementation of low carbon and spatial quality, by sharing knowledge and adopting best practices, creating a sustainable environment.