The design examples described here show a new readiness to experiment with the dynamics of vegetation. The designers look for strategies for integrating, working with and manipulating the development processes of plants. Their goal is not only to protect nature, but to enrich it through ecological understanding. At the same time, they create space for selforganized processes and they respect the inherent dynamics of the vegetation.
The relationship between humans and plants is understood as an interactive process. To some extent, the specific methods of design and management resemble the work of directors. They don’t assume a static picture, but rather a never-ending series of changing images.
The designers break away from conventional ideas about "beautiful nature" and experiment with the aesthetics of the everyday or the ugly. The states of growth, evolution and decay, i. e. that which is "unfinished", are valued as ecologically relevant. This philosophy is illustrated in the example of Oerliker Park in the integration of development stages of young plants and in the Sudgelande nature park where dead trees are allowed to accumulate in the ruderal wild woodlandss. A positive vision of uncertainty is characteristic of the design principles illustrated here. Uncertainty is seen as a challenge, as an adventure and as room to maneuver. Changes aren’t considered problems, but rather as enrichment and as the mark of successful life.
The examples above illustrate clearly that an incisive design vocabulary can be combined with design philosophy oriented toward natural processes. Planning that keeps natural processes sensitively in mind must not only serve a "semi-natural" or "imitation nature" aesthetic. An adaptable understanding of nature that starts by giving up the idea that man-made and natural are opposites and accepting that humans bear the responsibility for nature allows us to look forward to a new and unbiased future in our work with plants.
References
Arnold F (1998) A landscape for the Millenium Dome, London. Topos 23:98-101 Braun A (2000) Wahrnehmung von Wald und Natur. Leske und Budrich, Opladen De Jong E (1998) Der Garten als dritte Natur. In: Kowarik I, Schmidt E, Sigel B (eds) Naturschutz und Denkmalpflege. Wege zu einem Dialog im Garten. vdf Hochschulverlag, Zurich, pp 17-27
Desvigne M and Dalnoky C (1994) A new landscape for the Thomsen plant in Guyancourt. Topos 7:20-24
Franzen B (2000) Die vierte Natur. Kunstwissenschaftliche Bibliothek Band 11. Verlag der Buchhandlung Walther Konig, Koln.
Grosse-Bachle L (2003) Eine Pflanze ist kein Stein. Beitrage zur raumlichen Pla – nung 72. Inst. fQr Freiraumentwicklung und Planungsbezogene Soziologie, Hannover
Kowarik I, Langer A (2005) Natur-Park SQdgelande: Linking Conservation and Recreation in an Abandoned Rail Yard in Berlin. In: Kowarik I, Korner S (eds) Urban Wild Woodlands. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg, pp 287-299 Schmid A (2001) Zwischen Kontrolle und laisser faire. Anthos 2:9-13 Seel M (1996) Eine Asthetik der Natur. Suhrkamp, Frankfurt Weilacher U (1996) Zwischen Landschaftsarchitektur und Land Art. Birkhauser Verlag, Basel Berlin Boston
