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Plans for low carbon communities
01/03/2010
An internationally acclaimed designer is in Scotland today to help create a blueprint for the towns and cities of the future.
Andres Duany, who drew up designs for rebuilding work in Louisiana and Mississippi after Hurricane Katrina, is set to run design workshops, known as 'charrettes' in Dumfries, Aberdeen and Fife.
The projects are taking part in a Scottish Government initiative to develop sustainable communities that offer residents a high quality of life on a low-carbon footprint.
Teams will be working on large and small scale projects, from reshaping existing neighbourhoods to creating new housing developments, community facilities and transport links to offices and schools.
A major urban expansion is envisaged for the North side of Aberdeen, with the possibility of building 7,000 new homes in a series of live and work neighbourhoods.
The Ladyfield project in Dumfries looks to offer up to 400 new energy efficient homes and large and small business premises to allow people to live within walking distance to work.
In Fife plans are being developed for to extend Lochgelly with 1,750 new homes and environmentally friendly connections to the existing town centre.
Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is formally launching the initiative at an opening event in Edinburgh today (Monday), alongside Mr Duany and a number of council leaders, workshop teams and architecture and design industry professionals.
Speaking ahead of the event Ms Sturgeon said:
"Scotland is leading the way on reducing our carbon footprint and introducing modern measures for modern times, to help meet our ambitious climate change targets.
"Creating sustainable communities will help us become less reliant on fuel consumption and boost our standard of living.
"This goes hand in hand with helping people to reduce household fuel bills, work locally and being able to walk to the shops and work without relying on a car.
"I know the projects are incredibly excited to have a unique opportunity to develop their ideas for aspirational sustainable developments with the support of Andres Duany.
"This combination has the potential to put Scotland at the forefront of new approaches to planning and development and will attract world-wide interest and recognition of Scottish planning, design and creations.
"The plans will also provide opportunities for Scotland's construction sector, something which, as we work towards economic recovery, it is vital we take advantage of."
Andres Duany said:
"It will be a privilege to participate in the Scottish Sustainable Communities Initiative.
"I look forward to working with can-do Scottish professionals and with the public in what will be a model for an inclusive process.
"Given the diversity of sites it should be possible to explore a broad range of techniques, all in the hopes of contributing to the new planning system being developed for Scotland.
"I very much enjoy working with the spirit of innovation and debate which is in the air."
Director of Planning Allan Lundmark from Homes for Scotland, the representative body for the Scottish home building industry said:
"Helping to build low-carbon sustainable communities is the central aim of the industry. To deliver the new homes Scotland needs at affordable prices while ensuring we build sustainable places will present considerable challenges.
"The lessons from this initiative will help us meet these challenges and it is an excellent example of the gains that can be achieved when Government works in partnership with the private sector."
National Director of the Royal Town Planning Institute Veronica Burbridge said:
"The series of charrettes offer a tremendous opportunity to demonstrate the collaborative approach that the modernised planning system in Scotland can deliver in a truly exemplary way.
"The process has the potential to focus professionals in the private and public sectors, as well as local communities.
"At a time when the economic climate presents an additional challenge, initiatives such as the charrettes series can improve quality and help to secure consensus in the planning and design process and act as a template for the successful future delivery of sustainable communities across the country."
In June 2008 the Scottish Government launched the Scottish Sustainable Communities Initiative to encourage the creation of communities where people can have a high quality of life while reducing their carbon footprint. Eleven projects across Scotland were selected in May 2009 and awarded recognition that they are working towards creating a Scottish sustainable community.
The eleven projects are: An Camas Mor in Aviemore, Craigmillar in Edinburgh, Grandhome & Whitestripes in Aberdeen, Knockroon in Cumnock, Ladyfield in Dumfries, Lochgelly in Fife, Maryhill Locks in Glasgow, Raploch in Stirling, Speirs Locks in Glasgow, Tornagrain near Inverness, Whitecross in Linlithgow.
Mr Duany will work with three projects - Ladyfield in Dumfries, Grandhome & Whitestripes in Aberdeen and Lochgelly in Fife. The charrettes will run for three weeks in March 2010 and will involve intensive events focusing on project design.
Andres Duany is a founding principal at Duany Plater-Zyberk & Company (DPZ). In the years since the firm first received recognition for the design of Seaside, Florida, in 1980, DPZ has completed designs for close to 300 new towns, regional plans, and community revitalisation projects.
Do you want to start gardening from the comfort of your own home? Well right now is a great time to start. As the New Year comes in, you can start to do new things and begin planning your first vegetable garden. This is a great time to browse seed catalogs and take stock of your resources.
Firstly, you will have to assess the amount of garden space you have in your place. Even those without a lot of space can create a vegetable garden. If you do not have any land, you can start a vegetable garden in pots and containers. There are many vegetables that can be grown in containers, but you will have to water them very often.
If you have a small back yard, then you will be able to create a larger vegetable garden, and you can add more kinds of vegetables to it. Make sure that the area you choose gets lots of sunlight, so that your plants will grow up healthy. But if you can’t get a lot of light, then you can choose plants that do not require too much sunlight.
Next, you will have to check out the soil you have to work with. If you are starting out in your yard, what kind of soil do you have? Is it clay, sand, or sandy loam? Sandy loam is the best, since it is easiest for plants to grow in. If you want to be sure, you can have it checked at a gardening center. You can also check the pH level and nutrients for your plants.
If you do not have sandy loam, then you can mix the soil with compost or topsoil. The best compost is the livestock manure type. This will help balance out the clay or sandy soil. Make sure to apply the compost at least twice a year.
You need to realistically plan the amount of time you will be able to devote to your garden, all year around. Your garden needs to be maintained regularly, so you should know how much time you’re willing to give up. If you have only a little time, then you should start out with a small garden so that you do not end up wasting precious plants, water, fertilizer and your labor. Also, it takes time to do things like weeding and harvesting aside from watering.
Another important factor you have to think about is the weather and climate you have where you live. Also, the seasons that you experience are very important. You should plant your vegetables at the right season, or they might die. So check out what vegetables grow best where you live, and when you should start to plant them.
Once you’ve got everything figured out, you can start preparing the soil and planting already. You can buy seeds from nearby gardening stores or even have them shipped from online stores. Just make sure that the seeds you’re buying are good and that the store is trustworthy, so that you’re sure of the quality. Good luck and happy planting.
