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feature
urban design & landscape architecture
style and substance: designing public realm paving with beauty and practicality in mind
Urban landscapers often face a tall order when looking at landscaping in public realm schemes, with paving being part of the solution: providing resilient environments in opposing needs, Joanne Roberts, Head of Product Management, Concrete Products Holcim
Beautiful. Cost-effective. Durable. Complementary. Sustainable. Environmentally sympathetic. The last two, focusing on the impact of both design and solution, on the natural environment, both in material make-up, and in ongoing water management and flood prevention. These are the elements urban landscapers must balance when designing for sustainability, the local community, and selecting surface materials. It’s a lot. And some may even think it’s conflicting –
for paving to be robust enough to withstand people, change in climate, and possibly vehicular traffic, surely, looks will need to be sacrificed? Equally, to prioritise sustainability, eco-friendly products need to be affordable to purchase, and every scheme should make this a priority. While in years gone by, these multiple objectives may have felt conflicting, that is no longer the case.
Manufacturers of hard landscaping solutions are evolving to meet the demands placed upon the industry and to support landscape architects and contractors in finding the balance. As more regeneration takes place, to provide a lasting legacy it is critical that the entire design, product manufacture and installation of a project, down to the humblest flagstone, is given due care and thought when being specified. Complementary tones When approaching any type of public realm scheme, it is key to understand the specific goals of the project. Whether that be creating engaging and safe areas to encourage increased utilisation or improved wellbeing, or bringing nature into the urban environment, the hard landscaping materials selected must marry the physical needs of the project with the aesthetics required to complement and elevate the spaces in which they feature.
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