Did you know…
TRCA studies of infiltration in clay soils show improved infiltration over time because the clay develops cracks or fissures through freeze/thaw cycles, improving infiltration over time. This means that permeable pavers become more effective over time
Green roofs have gotten a bad reputation with developers. Yet we’re finding that on urban sites, the only way to meet storm water management requirements is through the use of a cistern, underground storm water storage or a green roof or blue roof.
Implementing a green roof addresses green roof by-law’s that are being brought into force in many municipalities. And in areas where there is no green roof by-law, municipal reviewers are often so excited to see a green roof that they may be more lenient on other requirements.
This article (page 17) demonstrates that developers can get a return on investment from the installation of a green roof. Residential units with access the green roof sold for 3X the value of the units without this access.
Green roofs are more than “just costs and requirements”. We can expect to see more green roofs as progressive developers continue understand the return on investment and incorporate them into the pro-forma phase of the development.
Our lack of human connection is increasing our need for to connect with nature. Nature that was here long before we were.
How often do you see people, especially in the city looking totally stressed, disconnected and miserable.
You can almost feel the misery that people are experiencing when you look at them. These are all symptoms of the Nature Deficit Disorder (a term coined by Richard Louv)
We help progressive developers bring more nature into developments through low impact development and biophilic design. Let’s make great development can be part of the solution.
There IS a way to satisfy complex development approval requirements that won’t blow the budget.
– A way to capitalize on natural processes to reduce flooding and to clean our water
– A way to create infrastructure that improves on these natural processes over time
– A way to help people to feel more connected to the natural world to improve mental health and increase productivity and improve the bottom line for businesses
– A way to support land development, and ultimately the well being of both people and our ecosystem
Without blowing all the budgets!
It’s called the creative application of low impact development strategies. Low impact development strategies use natural processes instead of hiding our water under the ground.
We consult with our clients to create profitable, marketable developments that address current needs!
Biophilic design is design that is focused on aspects of the natural world that contribute to human health and well-being.
It can be expressed as a natural space that a person is immersed in (as in the image below) (source https://www.kelowna.ca/parks-recreation/parks-beaches/parks-beaches-listing/kasugai-gardens)
It can be natural space that a person can see out a window.
Or it can be expressed through the use of natural materials (such as wood) inside a building.
My post from March showed a picture of a forest and described how your body will naturally respond. We can use elements of nature to create the same response within ourselves. We don’t need a forest to create this response, but we do need more than grass.
This connection to nature is something we are lacking in our cities. We have been working with progressive developers to bring more nature back into developments for over 30 years. Now more than ever, implementing the principles of biophilic design in development has become critical to our well-being.
There are many articles and texts that focus on how to implement biophilic design inside the building, using natural materials such as wood, plants and stone. A green wall or living wall is a very effective way to bring nature into a building.