Peri-Fusion: An integrated agriculture and densified housing model for New Zealand’s peri-urban zones.

<p>Peri-Fusion housing is an integrated densified housing and agricultural model, that this thesis proposes as an alternative to the current problematic suburban model prevalent in New Zealand’s peri-urban zones. Suburban sprawl driven by the single storey housing model, New Zealander’s desire towards standalone housing, and the loss of fertile agricultural land are all driving issues behind this proposed PeriFusion housing. This research defines the periurban zones as areas of unknown development surrounding New Zealand’s towns and cities, addressing the increasing rigid, concreteclad, urban perimeter invading further into agricultural fertile land. Peri Fusion design strategies are established to test and develop a new integrated housing model, aiming to achieve attractive densified living, that is integrated with preserved agricultural land. This proposed housing development model could achieve a resilient flexible system of land use, where housing is integrated into a natural agricultural and horticultural resource cycle. This thesis includes typological research and a design-led research methodology. Literature and case studies were reviewed initially to define common traits of successful low-rise high-density housing, spatial agricultural landscaping typologies, agricultural integration and agricultural ownership. From these reviews, Peri-Fusion design tactics were derived to form a basis for testing in the design-led research methodological step. These tactics included the adaptive iterations and application of the ha-ha wall as an agricultural boundary, layered pathways between humans, vehicles and animals, and level change within landscapes. Alongside these main strategies, the integrated operational model was addressed, which included extensive grazing, intensive horticulture dedicated to housing and the inclusion of agricultural education. Also, a basic circular natural resource model was developed to address the operation of water, waste and food production management. In order to measure the success of PeriFusion tactics, Blenheim was established as a case study site for the design-led research. Conceptual and developed design was undertaken, which was reviewed against the Peri-Fusion framework, resulting in a final proposed integrated and densified housing model for the Blenheim case study site. Findings were then tested against the adjacent plot to the site with the same site coverage. This successfully revealed an increase of 131 housing units, decreased average gross floor area from 175m2 to 80.5m2, and an increase of unsealed preserved fertile land by 20%. This resulted in 38% of final model dedicated to agricultural and horticultural food production.</p>

Peri-Fusion: An integrated agriculture and densified housing model for New Zealand’s peri-urban zones.

<p>Peri-Fusion housing is an integrated densified housing and agricultural model, that this thesis proposes as an alternative to the current problematic suburban model prevalent in New Zealand’s peri-urban zones. Suburban sprawl driven by the single storey housing model, New Zealander’s desire towards standalone housing, and the loss of fertile agricultural land are all driving issues behind this proposed PeriFusion housing. This research defines the periurban zones as areas of unknown development surrounding New Zealand’s towns and cities, addressing the increasing rigid, concreteclad, urban perimeter invading further into agricultural fertile land. Peri Fusion design strategies are established to test and develop a new integrated housing model, aiming to achieve attractive densified living, that is integrated with preserved agricultural land. This proposed housing development model could achieve a resilient flexible system of land use, where housing is integrated into a natural agricultural and horticultural resource cycle. This thesis includes typological research and a design-led research methodology. Literature and case studies were reviewed initially to define common traits of successful low-rise high-density housing, spatial agricultural landscaping typologies, agricultural integration and agricultural ownership. From these reviews, Peri-Fusion design tactics were derived to form a basis for testing in the design-led research methodological step. These tactics included the adaptive iterations and application of the ha-ha wall as an agricultural boundary, layered pathways between humans, vehicles and animals, and level change within landscapes. Alongside these main strategies, the integrated operational model was addressed, which included extensive grazing, intensive horticulture dedicated to housing and the inclusion of agricultural education. Also, a basic circular natural resource model was developed to address the operation of water, waste and food production management. In order to measure the success of PeriFusion tactics, Blenheim was established as a case study site for the design-led research. Conceptual and developed design was undertaken, which was reviewed against the Peri-Fusion framework, resulting in a final proposed integrated and densified housing model for the Blenheim case study site. Findings were then tested against the adjacent plot to the site with the same site coverage. This successfully revealed an increase of 131 housing units, decreased average gross floor area from 175m2 to 80.5m2, and an increase of unsealed preserved fertile land by 20%. This resulted in 38% of final model dedicated to agricultural and horticultural food production.</p>

A Framework for a Structured Approach for Formulating a Trauma-Informed Environment

A case study was implemented in one rural district as it transitioned to a trauma-informed environment. A theoretical framework based on the literature framed the data collection around the seven themes of awareness, positive culture, intentional instruction, restorative practice, self-care, mental health support services, and professional development. The collected data from surveys, observations, document analysis and a focus group were used to determine strengths and areas for improvement in implementing trauma-informed practices at the case study site.

Visibility Model of Tangible Heritage. Visualization of the Urban Heritage Environment with Spatial Analysis Methods

The methodological approach of the study proposes an innovative yet adaptive way to define and preserve heritage sites and their elements. In the case study, the proposed methodology guides the design/planning research of heritage sites by linking the perceptual behaviour with the information of the built environment. Visibility is the tool to measure the level of exposure of specific urban elements from a particular perspective. While isovist analyses define visibility in the built environment, fields of view from the periphery of heritage sites are applied to calculate visible or invisible areas by the observer. The purpose of the current study is the evaluation of the identification of the elements to be protected, by modelling both the heritage environment and the heritage elements according to the visibility criteria. For this purpose, I illustrate my approach by using visibility analyses and Space syntax analysis in the case of the Sulukule neighbourhood, the leading renewal project, in Istanbul. This area used to have notably cultural–historical assets–historic land walls, the lifestyle of Roma people—but now the renovation works carried out in the Sulukule case study site have affected the identity of the “visible” and “known” space of the historic quarter.

Environmental Design Features for Large-Scale Nature-Based Solutions: Development of a Framework That Incorporates Landscape Dynamics into the Design of Nature-Based Solutions

Large-scale nature-based solutions (NBS) contribute to the change in large-scale landscapes and ecosystems for which continuous monitoring activities would be necessary to reflect the constantly changing environment. To fill the gap in the design-making process of implementing NBS, a framework that incorporates the landscape dynamics into the design of NBS is expedient and beneficial. This research addresses the above gap and presents a practically applicable framework for large-scale NBS that incorporates landscape dynamics into the design of NBS. To amplify the power of stakeholders’ involvement and evidence-based knowledge (i.e., field experiences and literature reports), the framework developed in this study was evaluated on a case-study site in Odense area, Denmark, within the EU-funded RECONECT project. Furthermore, this study also addresses the relationship between landscape dynamics and biodiversity by performing a detailed literature review. The results obtained from this work demonstrate that the framework developed can be applied to existing large-scale NBS and it has the potential to recommend guidelines during the planning and design step of large-scale NBS.

The application of an early-warning biomonitoring system (EWBS) in a Canadian context

A nationwide jurisdictional analysis of drinking water frameworks was conducted to identify the political backdrop for the integration of the EWBS. Canada demonstrates no consistency in drinking water regulations and policies for EWBS application. While it is not possible for all specific contaminants to be monitored, the EWBS has the potential to effectively detect classes of contaminants applicable nationwide. A case study site was investigated for potential use of the EWBS. The general finding indicated that, despite having an advanced plant, unpredicted spills from upstream industries will continue to represent potential hazards for Walpole Island First Nation. Copper was identified as a contaminant of concern for the study site and was applied in behavioural bioassays using Daphnia magna. Three responses were examined upon exposure to varying concentrations of copper and results indicated change in swimming height as the most sensitive response for utility in an EWBS, followed by immobility.

The application of an early-warning biomonitoring system (EWBS) in a Canadian context

A nationwide jurisdictional analysis of drinking water frameworks was conducted to identify the political backdrop for the integration of the EWBS. Canada demonstrates no consistency in drinking water regulations and policies for EWBS application. While it is not possible for all specific contaminants to be monitored, the EWBS has the potential to effectively detect classes of contaminants applicable nationwide. A case study site was investigated for potential use of the EWBS. The general finding indicated that, despite having an advanced plant, unpredicted spills from upstream industries will continue to represent potential hazards for Walpole Island First Nation. Copper was identified as a contaminant of concern for the study site and was applied in behavioural bioassays using Daphnia magna. Three responses were examined upon exposure to varying concentrations of copper and results indicated change in swimming height as the most sensitive response for utility in an EWBS, followed by immobility.

Territorial governance of managed retreat in Sweden: addressing challenges

Many climate adaptation options currently being discussed in Sweden to meet the challenge of surging seas and inland flooding advocate holding the line through various hard and soft measures to stabilize the shoreline, while managed retreat is neither considered as feasible option nor has it been explicitly researched in Sweden. However, failure to consider future flooding from climate change in municipal planning may have dangerous and costly consequences when the water does come. We suggest that managed retreat practices are challenging in Sweden, not only due to public opinions but also because of a deficit of uptake of territorial knowledge by decision-makers and difficulties in realizing flexible planning options of the shoreline. A territorial governance framework was used as a heuristic to explore the challenges to managed retreat in four urban case studies (three municipalities and one county) representing different territorial, hydrological and oceanographic environments. This was done through a series of participatory stakeholder workshops. The analysis using a territorial governance framework based on dimensions of coordination, integration, mobilization, adaptation and realization presents variations in how managed retreat barriers and opportunities are perceived among case study sites, mainly due to the differing territorial or place-based challenges. The results also indicate common challenges regardless of the case study site, including coordination challenges and unclear responsibility, the need for integrated means of addressing goal conflicts and being able to adapt flexibly to existing regulations and plans. Yet rethinking how managed retreat could boost community resilience and help to implement long-term visions was seen as a way to deal with some of the territorial challenges.

Tourists’ Preferences for Sustainable Tourism: The Case of Pok Tunggal Beach, Yogyakarta Indonesia

Tourists as the main actor in tourism industry play an essential role in achieving sustainable tourism. Tourist preference for physical environment and infrastructure development in the tourism destination can affect the achievement of sustainable tourism. This study aims at measuring tourist preference for sustainable tourism management and calculating the economic value of the tourism destination. For this purpose, the Pok Tunggal Beach tourist area in Yogyakarta Indonesia was considered as a case study site. A survey with 200 local tourists was conducted using the Choice Modeling (CM) technique to measure their preferences related to the development on the beach. This study found that tourists prefer to pay more fees to get better and more sustainable facilities. The economic value of the Pok Tunggal Beach is the amount of IDR 1,038,600 (USD 73.66). The main attributes in the destination, tourist's education, environmental awareness, and recreation costs are statistically significant in determining tourists' preferences. This study recommends Pok Tunggal beach quality improvement by considering the tourist preferences. This study also suggests a price for the entrance fees, not only to increase revenue but also to monitor and control the number of tourists who visit the beach.