Thankful for Smart Environments

Each month in our Open Voices blog we share insight from leaders in our communities who are advancing what it means to have sacred, open green spaces in our cities. This November we share in recognition of the 2014 Annual Meeting of the American Society of Landscape Architects.

A couple of years ago we talked with Tim Beatley, founder of the Biophilic Cities Project, about his aims to explore innovative ways cities can incorporate nature into design and planning. This project is devoted to understanding how cities can become more biophilic, more full of nature, and to telling the stories of the places and people working to creatively build these urban-nature connections. As the site notes:

We need nature in our lives more than ever today, and as more of us are living in cities it must be urban nature. Biophilic Cities are cities that contain abundant nature; they are cities that care about, seek to protect, restore and grow this nature, and that strive to foster deep connections and daily contact with the natural world. Nature is not something optional, but absolutely essential to living a happy, healthy and meaningful life.

Since we last spoke with him, the project has expanded to multiple new “partner cities” and urban planning initiatives throughout the world are increasingly including strategies for daily contact with the natural world.

via ICMA Photos.
via ICMA Photos.

A similar holistic urban planning initiative is the “Smart City”. In the early 90′s, the expression “smart city” related to a service delivery model which focused on the role of communication infrastructure. However, current discussions assert a city to be smart when investments in human and social capital, transportation, and modern communication infrastructure fuel sustainable economic growth and a high quality of life, with a wise management of natural resources, through participatory governance. And, the UK Department for Business Innovation and Skills highlights that a Smart city isn’t a static concept but, “rather a process, or series of steps, by which cities become more ‘liveable’ and resilient and, hence, able to respond quicker to new challenges”. What is common across these and other definitions is that a Smart city is one that is well performing in a forward-looking way in economy, people, governance, mobility, environment, and living, built on the smart combination of funding and activities of self-decisive, independent and aware citizens.

But, unlike the Biophilic city model, an environmentally Smart city turns to technology to increase sustainability and to better manage natural resources. Of particular interest tends to be the protection of natural resources and the related infrastructure such as waterways and sewers and green spaces. The Biophilic city model tends to turn to nature’s own solutions at managing natural resources and meeting social and health needs. And, the role of nature in our quality of life and human health is only a recent addition in some Smart city initiatives.

In countries throughout the world, Smart and Biophilic City projects are abundant. Perhaps the most promising development across all is an increasing recognition that our city systems and quality of life are interconnected to an extent that cannot be answered by technology or governments alone. The Smart City and the Biophilic City, combined, are perhaps the current and future models for planning holistic, urban environments that capitalize on the strengths of each community. This week we give thanks for all the community members and leaders developing smart, nature abundant urban environments for us and our grandchildren.