Aesthetic foodscape design potential in Australian landscape architecture

Aesthetic foodscape design potential in Australian landscape architecture Joshua Zeunert This work advocates the inclusion of the emergent field of ‘aesthetic foodscape design’ (AFD) into current landscape architectural practice, based on both the functional and aesthetic merit of productive plant species (namely, edible or ‘useful’ plants), as well their relevance to social contexts and environmental challenges. This image encapsulates the key research areas as follows: The image shows a carefully detailed in-situ concrete wall in the architectural design tradition. An espaliered olive tree has been trained onto durable stainless cable connected to brass connectors that occupy the bolt holes of the concrete walls’ construction. The significance of the text insinuates that ‘the writing is on the wall’, in that the timeliness AFD is appropriate to a range of current social and design movements and trends. The trimmers signify the need for human involvement in AFD, as most productive species require ongoing human input, especially considering high aesthetic expectations of public space. This presents a challenge to design practice in that this new civic paradigm involves active community input in designed public space, where

“...a call to further explore design possibilities with productive plants” traditionally, input is passive. The olive oil suggests the return on investment and superior benefit to using productive plants over standard exotic or native plant species. The bee conveys our reliance on nature (e.g. for pollination) and the necessity for stewardship and responsible practice. The roots signify the concept that AFD is taking root, however the sparse nature of the image and plant reflect that this is an emerging area not yet established in the design community. While concepts for AFD are rapidly emerging, very few designed project examples currently exist in Australia that successfully demonstrate the key components of successful AFD. This work is a call to arms to embrace and realise aesthetic foodscape design outcomes through design advocacy.

Responsible Desi of the Things We

Mark Richardson & John

In light of concern regarding Australia’s i of household solid waste – and the desig complicity in the creation of much of this processes need to be scrutinised for the provide ‘upstream’ responses to the issu illustrates the outcomes of a recent colla project involving Industrial Design acade students from Monash University, produ ENJO Australia and Industrial Design co Periscope. The project explored the noti i.e. reusing end-of-life components and new products in a way that maintains th equal or greater degree (see, for exampl 14; McDonough & Braungart 2002). Endand materials that had been returned to a trial Extended Product Responsibility ( were reused as the building blocks for n This provided a means to extend the life materials and components beyond their use. The project involved disassembling this waste, therefore eliminating the need or sending to landfill at that stage of the lifecycle. The design process was consid of its potential to be coupled with Rapid and distributed, open-source, networked fabrication. The research argues that de should be considered as an integral part Design training and practice to allow an response to growing product waste con

Monash University, Faculty of Art & Design, Department of Design, 900 Dandenong Rd, Caulfie

References

McDonough, W. and Braungart, M. (2002) Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Thing Thornton, K. (1994) Salvo in Germany - Reiner Pilz, SalvoNEWS No99 11 October, p14