The aesthetic performance of urban landscape-based stormwater management systems

A review of twenty projects in Northern Europe

authored by

Antje Backhaus, Ole Fryd

Abstract

Driven by the challenge of adapting cities to climate change, stormwater management is high on the agenda of landscape architectural practice. This article aims to set light on associated landscape changes, presenting and evaluating twenty Northern European stormwater management projects with a specific view on their aesthetic performance. Five key parameters form the base for the analysis. These include 1) terrain changes, 2) construction and maintenance, 3) site history and context, 4) water dynamics and dimensioning, and 5) stormwater accentuation. Observations are illustrated by exemplary photos, arranged and discussed among varying cases. The study indicates that visible stormwater management enhances the experience of local terrain. However, stormwater management is weak as a main design feature and staging water at any cost results in unsettled designs. Successful projects include only a few key water features and focus on programmatic interaction within the specific context.

External Organisation(s)

University of Copenhagen
University of Melbourne

Type

Article

Journal

Journal of Landscape Architecture

Volume

8

Pages

52-63

No. of pages

12

ISSN

1862-6033

Publication date

03.07.2013

Publication status

Published

Peer reviewed

Yes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Geography, Planning and Development

Sustainable Development Goals

SDG 13 - Climate Action

Electronic version(s)

https://doi.org/10.1080/18626033.2013.864130 (Access: Unknown)