The Importance of Landscape Architecture for Urbanism in the current context

Factors that contribute to better cities

In today's urban context, landscape architecture plays a fundamental role in promoting healthier, more sustainable and inclusive cities. It goes beyond aesthetics by creating more beautiful and pleasant environments, in order to contribute directly to citizens' quality of life. It also contributes to the development of cities that are more resilient and prepared for the challenges of the future, as it is involved in the processes of planning and organizing outdoor spaces by combining natural and artificial elements so that they are harmonious, functional and sustainable.

In the following text, we will discuss some of the aspects that corroborate the importance of Landscape Architecture for Urbanism, from our point of view. To make things easier to understand, we're going to deal with the topics in turn.

Quality of life

The urbanization process of recent decades has resulted in the accelerated growth of cities. However, there is a high price to pay, as pollution, the lack of green areas and stress levels have increased at the same time. In other words, people's quality of life has been severely affected.

In a post-COVID-19 world, the existence of green spaces and well-designed landscapes in urban environments has become even more necessary. Their real contribution to the well-being of the inhabitants has been understood. Therefore, spaces such as parks, squares, gardens and leisure areas have become a refuge from the urban hustle and bustle, providing improvements in people's physical and mental health. Hence the developmental role of Landscape Architecture.

Environmental sustainability

The constant search for increasingly sustainable cities requires a great deal of study and effort to achieve. Landscape architecture is a vital tool in this context, promoting the responsible use of natural resources, water management and reducing the ecological footprint of cities. To minimize climate impacts, landscaping projects are very relevant for integrating sustainable drainage techniques, such as rain gardens, the use of native plants that require less maintenance and water resources, and vegetation to absorb CO2.

Integrating nature into urban life

There is a growing awareness that human beings need nature. Throughout history, cities have been built neglecting green spaces. Today, it is understood that this is mistaken thinking. Therefore, the search for reconnection with nature has been on the agenda of the contemporary world. In this way, Landscape Architecture comes to create a harmonious coexistence between the built and natural environments, integrating natural elements within the urban space. The focal point is to promote biodiversity through spaces such as ecological corridors and green areas.

Social inclusion

One of the important points for Landscape Architecture is the democratization of spaces. This is possible because accessible and integrated environments are created that can be used by everyone. Leisure and social areas are designed for different social groups, without any differentiation. In this way, people can enjoy quality public spaces.

Mitigating climate effects

We live in a world suffering the effects of global warming. These include the formation of heat islands in urban centers and water shortages. Because of this, landscaping projects are very important in incorporating practices that help to reduce these effects. Vegetation becomes a strong player in creating microclimates by creating shade and cooler environments. This is because they reduce heat, reduce energy consumption and promote the infiltration of rain into the soil.

Mobility and functionality

Landscape architecture has an impact on the mobility and functionality of cities by improving circulation and providing greater comfort and safety. Landscaping projects create more pleasant and accessible streets, contributing to greater social interaction through more welcoming environments. This is possible by promoting rest areas, pedestrian spaces and tree-lined sidewalks, for example.

Aesthetics and urban identity

Urban landscaping is essential insofar as it seeks to enhance the aesthetics and preservation of public heritage, reflecting the cultural and historical aspects of a place. In this way, it contributes to the construction of local identity. To do this, it makes use of elements such as trees, plants, fountains, monuments and structures created in the public space. So, it's not just a matter of beautifying cities, but also of creating a sense of belonging and identity on the part of their inhabitants.

It would be possible to list even more benefits that Landscape Architecture brings to cities. However, we've chosen to talk about the ones that most attract our attention.

Our purpose, however, was to show that Landscape Architecture is not just about aesthetics. It goes much further in promoting cities that allow their citizens to live a quality life, whether in their individual or collective uses.