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The Design Process as a Framework for Collaboration Between Ecologists and Designers

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Resilience in Ecology and Urban Design

Part of the book series: Future City ((FUCI,volume 3))

Abstract

The expanding knowledge from urban ecological research will be critical for enhancing our ecological understanding of cities and for influencing the ability to shape cities to increase ecosystem functions and benefits. Even with the generation of data and the development of ecological theory pertinent to urban systems, the application of ecological understanding to the design and restructuring of urban systems requires additional steps. In particular, design practitioners still need to integrate and apply these ecological concepts. This chapter explores the design process as a tool for applied science. The design process is flexible enough to incorporate ecological input at different stages. However, the process itself favors the working methods of design. Through a case study, the chapter examines the interplay between designers and professional ecologists working together through the design process. This study suggests that facilitating the exchange between designers and ecologists requires a commitment on the part of the designer to provide multiple opportunities for ecological input in the process as well as a more proactive effort on the part of ecologists to provide input at those stages.

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Acknowledgements

I would like to express appreciation to EDAW AECOM for ­providing generous funding and support for the project. Thanks especially to Joe Brown, Tim Delorm, Curtis Alling, David Blau, Fran Hegeler and Amanda Walter. I am also grateful to the Presidio Trust for the opportunity to work together to explore the integration of ecology and design. I am especially grateful to Michael Boland and Allison Stone and all workshop participants. Preparation and implementation of the workshop held at the Presidio occurred through a multi-office collaboration with the Ecology and Design team. Thanks to the EDAW team members, including Alma Du Solier, Leo Edson, Debra Bishop and Dawn Cunningham, and to the other participants including Paul Tuttle, Aki Omi, Michelle Dubin, Curtis Alling, David Blau, Steven Hanson, Chris Fitzer, David Lloyd, and Dixi Carillo. An interdisciplinary team in the EDAW New York office completed the post-workshop analysis and book production: Brian Goldberg, Anthony Blanco, Renee Kaufman, Hye Young Choi, Sean Cheng, Tim Terway, Jaman Pablo, Caitrin Higgins, Shaun O’Rourke and Aaron Menkin.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Architecture and School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA

    Alexander J. Felson

Authors
  1. Alexander J. Felson
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Correspondence to Alexander J. Felson .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Sharon Turnpike 2801, Millbrook, 12545-0129, New York, USA

    S.T.A. Pickett

  2. , Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, Shields Avenue 1, Davis, 95616, California, USA

    M.L. Cadenasso

  3. , Sch Constructed Environments, Parsons the New School for Design, East 13th Street 25, New York, 10011, New York, USA

    Brian McGrath

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Felson, A.J. (2013). The Design Process as a Framework for Collaboration Between Ecologists and Designers. In: Pickett, S., Cadenasso, M., McGrath, B. (eds) Resilience in Ecology and Urban Design. Future City, vol 3. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-5341-9_22

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