The role of landscaping in our community

Would you prefer to be surrounded by security barriers made of concrete and steel or living plants? No surprise if you chose the latter. Indeed, many of the new developments we have today boast landscaping that goes beyond making a place look good.

Landscaping has become a highly in-demand element in today’s lifestyle living. “ILAM believes landscaping is the basis for well-being and inspired living. With people’s changing needs and rising concerns over the natural environment, the roles and functions of landscaping have gone beyond mere beautification,” Institute of Landscape Architects Malaysia (ILAM) president Assoc. Prof. Dr Osman Mohd Tahir tells EdgeProp.my.

Osman says landscape architects play a vital role in planning and designing the built environment to promote healthy community living, the efficient use of common spaces as well as contribute to the long-term sustainability and management of a building and its community.

For instance, a well-planned water body surrounded by a jogging track not only helps to create an eco-system that promotes natural living, but also encourages outdoor activity among residents.

On top of that, if a self-cleansing system is implanted into the water body from the early stages, residents can enjoy the benefits of a lake with minimal long-term maintenance and cost.

“Landscape architects have an influential role to lead design solutions that will shape a good and efficiently-managed living environment. This could be done with the help of innovative technology and sustainability features,” Osman says.

“We do not just plant and take care of trees. We create common spaces that blend nature with man-made structures while keeping in mind aspects of safety and maintenance,” he adds.

In fact, Osman says while a landscape architect provides innovative and aesthetically-pleasing environments for people to enjoy, they must also ensure that changes to the natural environment are appropriate, sensitive and sustainable.

He says landscaping should be seen as part of the bigger scheme of inspired living.

“Multiple site issues can be solved using the landscape approach of planning and designing, which at the same time, benefits users. Moreover, the issues of sustainability need to be tackled accordingly,” he shares.

He stresses that a landscape greatly impacts not only the quality of the environment but also other aspects, namely economic benefits, environmental improvement, social implications, cultural values and psychological advantages.

Sustain value with proper maintenance

However, to maximise the benefits of landscape to the economy, environment, culture and a healthy lifestyle, it is crucial to not only design and build the landscape, but to maintain it long after a project has been handed over.

“The developer, landscape architect, property manager and residents need to be aware that landscape is not a luxury but something necessary in everyday life because landscaping contributes in creating value for a project and its owners and occupants.”

Five benefits of landscaping

1 Economic benefits

Osman elaborates that landscapes provide economic benefits for both the local municipalities and urban citizens because its aesthetics and recreational value increase the attractiveness of an area. These attributes help to promote the place as a destination, be it for business or leisure, thus attracting businesses, employment and revenue.

“Landscaping could even assist in the economic revival of an area, by raising its attractiveness, improving its image as a place for business and for investment.

“Landscaping also adds visual diversity and creates landmarks that raise the profile of a certain development,” he shares.

2 Environmental improvement

Meanwhile, Osman points out that a project or an area’s landscape can act as the lungs of the place or development. Plants can purify air and water, filter wind and noise, stabilise the microclimate and provide beneficial contact with nature.

“Landscaping also plays an important role in conserving wildlife habitats, ecological value and biodiversity in the development areas,” Osman offers.

3 Social implications

Landscaping’s role and contribution to the social and cultural aspects of our lives have long been established.

“Landscape could provide social and psychological benefits that are of crucial significance to the liveability of modern cities and the well-being of urban dwellers,” he notes.

A well-planned and well-managed landscaped outdoor space can encourage social integration and interaction among residents or neighbours. For the community, it can offer rejuvenation and a sense of peacefulness and tranquility.

4 Cultural legacy

“The landscape of a place is also a crucial facet of the place’s identity and serves as a functional component of its denizens,” Osman says. It provides hidden narratives of the cultural and historical aspects of the place. Landscape may feature the local heritage and be an asset to the community if it forms a strong element of the area’s character.

“Landscape can also provide a sense of space and instil pride within its users. As a distinctive local feature, it can provide a link with the past and transmit the feelings, quality and emotions of a place,” Osman notes.

5 Psychological advantages

Landscape does not only create a sense of belonging but also provides a place for people to escape from the burden of urban living, along with the physical and emotional pressures of the city.

“The effects of nature on our state of mind show a range of benefits, from relieving mental fatigue, to effecting mood changes, to relaxation as a result of experiencing a natural landscape,” he shares.

Osman adds that landscape and natural environments have a positive influence on our psychological and mental health, as it helps in stress-reduction, induces feelings of control, and reduces feelings of frustration and irritation.

This story will appear in the EdgeProp.my pullout on July 20, 2018. Download EdgeProp.my pullout here for free.