Public spaces are an integral part of our urban landscape. They provide a sense of community, contribute to our well-being, and play a crucial role in making our cities more liveable. In recognition of their importance, the New South Wales Government has developed the NSW Public Spaces Charter. The charter aims to provide a framework for the creation and management of public spaces that are inclusive, safe, and accessible to all. Nangle Landscape Architecture is excited to be a signatory and supporter of this integral push for better public design.

Innovations in urban soil technology, such as structural cells and structural soil, are changing the game for urban forestry. These solutions provide a way to create a healthy growing environment for street trees, allowing them to flourish and provide the many benefits that trees offer to urban communities. In this blog post, we'll explore the study "Growth of street trees in urban ecosystems: structural cells and structural soil" and its findings on the benefits of these technologies for street tree growth.

As landscape architects, we understand the importance of ensuring the health and longevity of the trees we plant. One of the biggest challenges we face when planting trees in urban environments is providing adequate support and stability for their roots, especially in areas where space is limited. To meet this challenge, two common solutions are structural soil and soil cells. In this blog, we will explore the pros and cons of each approach, as well as some additional benefits that other solutions, such as porous pavements, tree grates, and root directing systems, can offer.

While we often associate tree’s reduction of temperature with shade, the major influence of tree layouts on thermal comfort was found to be wind distribution, with low wind regimes created in the downstream area of trees. This study suggests that to improve thermal comfort, trees should be arranged downstream of wind to avoid low winds at the site. This information can be used by landscape architects to design urban green spaces that provide good thermal comfort for visitors during summer by properly arranging the trees in the space.

Good urban design plays a vital role in ensuring safety for women in public spaces. Gender biases in the distribution of power and entitlements, and long standing societal norms about the role of women in society, have historically led to public spaces that are not designed with women in mind. However, by taking a gender-sensitive approach to urban design, we can create spaces that are safe, welcoming and inclusive for all.

As a landscape architect, one of my key focuses is to create functional and sustainable outdoor spaces for my clients and the community. Recently, I've had the opportunity to work on some large-scale residential developments along the Central NSW coast. These projects often require careful engineering of the landscape to create roads and infrastructure, which can have an impact on water permeability and local habitats.

There has been a surge of interest in the use of native species in landscaping and gardening in recent years. This is due not only to the aesthetic value of these plants, but also to their ecological and cultural significance. Many people across Australia are proud of their country's unique vegetation, and there is a movement to conserve and protect native ecosystems.

Recently, I have been working on some residential estates along the Central NSW coast. These large scale projects often require subtle engineering of the landscape to create roads, leading to reduced water permeability and potentially impacting local habitats. The provision of basins has a three-fold requirement; water quality management, interaction for residents & most importantly, providing habitat for wildlife.

The streetscape is not designed for cars alone - it is the pedestrians who create liveliness, interact with businesses, and gather within these spaces. Pedestrian movement should be designed and allowed for, rather than segregated to the sidelines.

Garden edging is a relatively low-cost way to improve the appearance of an overgrown garden by defining the lawn and garden space and preventing plants from encroaching on the turf. A well-defined edge can improve garden longevity, outline spaces, and reduce maintenance.

Streetscape design influences our perception of the city, but is not limited to aesthetics alone: the function of the street is also critical to their success.