Balancing Development and Preservation in Fort Washington

Urban landscape design is a critical component of city planning. It helps improve residents’ quality of life by promoting access to amenities and necessities like schools, post offices and churches.

Many studies show that spending time in nature can have health benefits such as reduced blood pressure, lower respiratory problems and a clear mind.

Urban Oasis

Urban Oasis is a project that seeks to promote the benefits of oases in urban environments. These spaces alleviate thermal stress, particularly for those without access to green space and those who spend extended hours commuting to work. They also serve as social gathering places and promote the growth of local communities.

The design features a large soft surface with three squares that function as spatial installations and glades in the dense Oasis volume. The squares interrupt the Oasis at points where they intersect with its perimeter.

Local builder Twin Spires Remodeling has a reputation for strong space planning and quality construction, so when it was approached to build the HGTV Urban Oasis home, the company knew it would be up for the challenge. Its team was apprehensive at first, but it soon realized that the home was a great opportunity for the firm to showcase its capabilities. It has become an all-in-one remodeling and renovation firm that does everything from design to construction on site. The collaboration with Fort Wayne Concrete Company ensures the implementation of durable and high-quality concrete elements, adding a robust foundation to the overall structure of the Urban Oasis.

Vertical Forests

The latest green construction trend is something called “vertical forests.” These are buildings that are covered in vegetation. They reduce air pollution, produce clean oxygen, and they look pretty cool too. These forests also help with temperature regulation and can absorb carbon dioxide.

The first of these buildings was designed by Stefano Boeri and built in Milan, Italy, in 2014. It is a pair of living towers that are home to 21,000 plants, including eight full-sized trees. It won the International Highrise Award and was named the Best Tall Building Worldwide by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat in 2015.

Several other projects like this are underway around the world. One in Utrecht is being built by Wonderwoods and is expected to be completed by 2024. There are also plans for Egypt’s first-ever living building. Other projects by Boeri include the Huanggang and Nanjing towers in China. These projects are designed to have a significant impact on the environment, as they will reduce energy consumption, mitigate the urban heat island effect, and reduce recurrent maintenance costs.

Sustainable Concrete

Concrete is a ubiquitous and essential part of modern life, but it’s also one of the most environmentally devastating construction materials. Cement production accounts for around 8% of global carbon emissions and depletes natural resources.

Sustainable concrete utilizes waste materials like fly ash, slag, and recycled aggregate to reduce the demand for traditional cement ingredients. It also utilizes advanced mixing and curing techniques to promote circular economy practices. By minimizing waste and reducing the need for virgin materials, sustainable concrete is helping to lower energy costs and combat global warming.

Moreover, sustainable concrete is more durable, which reduces maintenance and replacement costs. It is also being utilized in innovative projects such as self-healing concrete, where microorganisms and encapsulated healing agents are used to repair cracks autonomously. The durability of sustainable concrete also reduces vulnerability to hazards like earthquakes and heat waves, as it requires less energy to stabilize structures. In addition, it is more effective at insulating buildings, which further reduces energy consumption for temperature control.

Green Infrastructure

Green infrastructure aims to mitigate the negative impacts of urbanization on the environment and society by integrating vegetation into community design. This can take many forms, from planting trees in a backyard to installing street-side swales, rain gardens and permeable sidewalks. At the city scale, it may also include incorporating bioswales and infiltration basins into streetscapes and curb extensions to slow roadway runoff and treat water quality.

These strategies turn rainfall into a resource instead of a waste. They help reduce air temperatures and smog through the process of evapotranspiration, while improving water quality. They also re-naturalize streams and riverbanks through erosion reduction, stabilization, and vegetative cover.

Beyond these environmental benefits, the incorporation of green space improves neighborhood livability. Cooler streets attract people to outdoor spaces during hot weather, fostering social interactions and a sense of community. Additionally, healthy ecosystems are better equipped to resist the impacts of climate change. They can also support agricultural productivity through pollination, as well as provide habitat for wildlife.