Age Equality and Contemporary Landscape Architecture Practices

This essay delves into the critical issue of equal space within the realm of landscape architecture, focusing specifically on age equality. It begins by defining age equality and its importance in creating inclusive and productive work environments and then explores the challenges faced by traditional architecture in achieving this goal. The main body then examines the evolution of landscape design to address these challenges, highlighting two contemporary landscape practices: Jan Gehl's urban design approach, emphasizing user-friendly spaces, and Gustafson Guthrie Nichol's focus on creating accessible and inclusive landscapes. The essay also assesses how spaces have evolved to consider children more centrally in design. The essay concludes by emphasizing the significance of designing landscapes that cater to the needs of all age groups, fostering a sense of community and promoting equal access to public spaces. The essay is a study in how landscapes can be designed to be inclusive and accessible for all.

Essay

Contents
Contents...........................................................................................................................................2
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY..................................................................................................................................1
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................19
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................20

INTRODUCTION
Age equality is termed as state of being equal which comprises people of same age or
particular range of ages. When people of all ages are treated fairly and equally, it improves work
environment. Through creating age equality workplaces, architects encourage inclusive addition
to productive work culture for creating landscapes. It also fosters creative together with forward
thinking ideas. Issue of equal space is challenge faced by traditional architectures as they were
incapable because of limited project budgets, competitions, etc to create landscapes which helps
in promoting diversity in age or gender. Things or factors that restricted traditional architectures
includes longer process of constructing landscapes, expensive material and labour along with
less professional talents. It is being argued by Tung and Stahl (2018) that in every society,
women are creators along with consumers of culture, however, they face barriers which prevent
them to perform equal role in cultural sphere (Tung and Stahl, 2018). People in traditional times
were not aware about making environments that are user friendly and created in form that
welcomes everyone of any size, age and ability (Wang, Yung and Sun, 2022). But with evolution
in architecture the needs of contemporary landscapes arise. Contemporary landscapes are
commitment to provide an environment which is free from any obstacles and provide more co
operations between developers and those who will utilise it. It is advantageous as it is accessible
for all so that it will add in its value. It is considered as cost effective and aesthetically planned
approach which will attract every people attention.
This essay covers the issue of equal space in context landscapes and age. It highlights two
contemporary landscapes practices which work is in the field of solving the issue. In addition to
that, it assesses two historical architects and movements. It puts emphasis on how spaces have
evolved to consider children more centrally in design.
MAIN BODY
The issue of equal space is one of the major challenge faced by traditional landscapes.
Several social, political and economic drivers as well as forces shapes landscapes and its form.
The arrangements of buildings indicate and strengthen current issues of age in relation to space
which is socially constructed through social exchanges, images, memories as well as day to day
use of material setting by people of all ages and equal to all. The behavioural patterns within
landscapes have been involving culturally and are more accepted as equal space for all. Several
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researches emphasis on making neighbourhood which can provide great environmental
landscapes where children can prosperous and old age people can enjoy their time in leisure.
Efforts have been taken to prioritise age to reduce issues of equal space within contemporary
landscapes (Newton, 2022). Architects are motivated and entrusted with an almost impossible
task of designing spaces which are open for all and satisfy needs of every individual. The issue
of equal spaces for all can be solved by having open perception about one's immediate
environment. In order to create a bond between children and contemporary landscapes, they must
be allowed to cognitively alert to macro stimuli by active movement. Therefore, landscapes must
involve intrinsic qualities for example, elements of surprise, opportunity and adventure so that
people of any age group can show more potential to explore their senses and affirmatively
enhances perceptions of spaces.
One of the practice of contemporary landscape is given by Jan Gehl, who is a Danish
architect and urban design consultant. Gehl focuses on improving quality of urban life by making
unique features in landscapes (Gehl, 2020). Team of Gehl believes that they cross the work fields
of architecture, urban planning, landscapes design and city planning for all the people
irrespective of their age or gender. They focus on building environment which improves
individual’s life quality. Gehl believed that there were lack of proper knowledge about how to
create buildings and space which are equal for all as well as which people wants to inhabit. Gehl
also writes books and published his first influential book “Life Between Buildings” in 1971.
Further, the Gehl also tend to give the concept of the built environment which tend to touches all
aspects of our lives, encompassing the buildings we live in, the distribution systems that provide
with water and electricity, and the roads, bridges, and transportation systems we use to get from
place to place. Thus, the Gehl gives a sensible and straightforward approach to improve urban
landscapes by systematically documenting spaces which are equal for all and implementing step-
by-step incremental modifications then document them again. Further, it also emphasis on the
urban design approach that tend carries with it fundamental principles and responses to human
behaviours, provides a process and conceptual framework for implementing those principles, and
allows more expansive use of the tools that urban design brings to a physical planning challenge.
Jan Gehl took on the project of Vienna which was destroyed in 1809 when Napoleon
occupied the city. The Ringstrasses is an important part of Vienna and displays what the city
offers in terms of culture and education. Team of Jan Gehl wishes to former splendour of
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Ringstrasse by creating a public space which will be equal for all as well as responds to the
grandness of building lining it. Re-instating principles of design for street plants, pavements,
light rail stops and crossings which cover entire length of Ringtrasse can result in celebrating
street as place which is open for all and promotes equal-ism (Shaebani and Sharepour, 2022).
Their main focus is one areas between buildings and tramlines which will provide elegant
interface between street of Vienna and spectacular buildings. Gehl suggested that the in between
area can be utilised for new open and equal foyer space which will promote genderism and age
landscapes. Genderism could be said to systematic belief which people require to conform to
gender assigned at birth in gender binary system. While, age landscape is said to a picture that
represents view of natural inland scenery for population belonging to all ages. There are
landscape, for example, salt marshes, rivers, agrarian, etc that appeals to people of all ages as
they seek for active promoting of equality that includes particular actions for empower male and
female of different ages in communities and societies together with wider political and planning
processes.
The team of Gehl believed that Ringstrasse can again become a place for people to meet,
children to play and open to all genders irrespective of the differences in age group. Thus, Gehl's
use of development and methods to analyse human built environment interactions have been an
essential part of equal space contemporary landscapes development.
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Gehl's method of architecture is continuous and systemic observation of how people can
have equal spaces. Gehl's theory of development revolves around existing issues of equal space
in order to implement improvements and reinstate area as process of iterative. Gehl projects are
designed for equity by making people visible through public life data which will enable effective
strategies, planning, decision making and designing. They consider that connecting humans to
opportunities and programmed designs solutions which can be both affordable and encourage
equal space. Gehl's project ensures convenience, inclusion, forward social quality and diversity
by interacting with people. They co create urban landscapes as well design new spaces and
neighbourhood so that people from all age group and gender can take benefit from it (Høghøj,
2019). The project team of Gehl is constantly striving to make cities liveable for all and provide
people the freedom of choice in accordance to mobility. They try to cover the daily needs of
people as where they can walk, can ride bicycle and take public transport and for that reason the
team is trying to make the city more compact. Designs of Gehl are based on creating landscapes
which are diverse, safe, lively, healthy and safe that improves quality of people. The designs of
Gehl which makes space equal is the activities that extend people to use space for own use that is
walking, performing everyday tasks and so on. It is claimed by Gehl that the practices would
occur in each kind of weather as well as yearlong as children or elders have no choices rather to
engage in categories of necessary activities. Also, designs of Gehl which makes spaces equal
includes social activities wherein people belonging to all ages animate public spaces. Thus
emerge as population of all ages congregate in a landscape addition to socialise. These are
conditioned with public setting of spaces (A Field Guide to Public Spaces, 2022).
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Next practise of contemporary landscape is Gustafson Guthrie Nichol which is based in
Seattle and founded by people in group namely Kathryn Gustafon, Jennifer Guthrie and Shannon
Nicole. It designs are made by professional people who have background in contemporary
landscapes, architecture and modern engineering. Gustafson Guthrie Nichol offers special
experience in creating high use landscapes in complex in urban contexts. Their landscapes are
broadly diverse but share qualities as equal space and healthy setting for variedness. In this way,
it creates landscapes which are serenely grounded and at same time make people feel alive and
comfortable. In specific, the designs of Gustafson Guthrie Nichol do this through expressing
sculptural attributes of contextual landscape. It offers special experience in designing high-use
landscapes in complex and urban contexts. With the help of surveys, it can be possible to
conduct research that show the ways people feel at these spaces. Gustafson Guthrie Nichol
mission is to achieve diverse community which are curious, creative and collaborative (Way and
Et. Al., 2018). The project enjoys continuous learning and solving issues of equal space by
implementing open minded listening, extensive research and tested methods. Gustafson Guthrie
Nichol believes that contemporary landscapes architecture is an innovative, creative and
beautiful combination of art, functions science and equity. They make their work in a way that
excites and inspires others and at same time creatively supports equality and respect for
communities. They follows the culture of open, critical design dialogue surrounded by objective
design qualities, clarity of concepts, aesthetics, harmony, expression and language from rationale
linked with concept and expressions.
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Each member within Gustafson Guthrie Nichol brings in distinct expertise and unique
skill set as well as share core set of values and traits which guides their way of working in
harmony. The project shares the passion of connecting individual of all age group and gender at
one place to the authentic nature and to rich cultural experiences of each place. Team believes
that when people connect at local landscapes they also connect with each other which promotes
harmony within all age group. Gustafson Guthrie Nichol respects, reckons and share unique
qualities which exists at ground sites before implementing new notions (Gastil, 2021). They
repair and endow historic ecologies, vernacular patterns and natural systems in landscapes before
replacing them. They took on designing with proper coordination with community members of
each place and special focus on vulnerable members of community. Involving community in
design process so important for designing equal spaces as it gives required level of confidence
when needed the most. Community engagement in designing equal spaces provides architects
with huge opportunities for genuinely collaborative work.
One of such project undertook by Gustafson Guthrie Nichol is India Basin Shoreline
Park which is located in Bayview Hunters Point of San Franscisco. The park provides unique
opportunities to people to create connections (Kar, Phukan and Baruah, 2022). Further, it has
been also seen and implicated that the Seattle-based Gustafson Guthrie Nichol (GGN) will
design Shoreline Parks and it would tend to be based on the concept of equal space landscape
that tend to includes of the 900 Innes along the India Basin coastline. Further, an implication and
review of the how these are adapted within the contemporary examples of GGN has been also
provided as the GGN was awarded the commission after coming first in the design ideas
competition put forward by the San Francisco Recreation & Parks Department and the Trust for
Public Land, in partnership with the San Francisco Parks Alliance. The historic character of park
is preserved by restoration of Shipwright's Cottage and salvaging a materials and artefacts of
boatyards. The aspects of designs which creates places for different ages includes line, color,
shape, space, typography, maintenance and cost. For examples, space is at the time when a line
crosses itself or intersects with other lines for creating enclosed place. It could be seen in nature,
for example, leaved, seashells or flowers. This provides a large lawn for active play for children
and for group gatherings of old age people. This project is nestled with native landscapes of
upland sage slopes, planting at shorelines and marsh. A long garden and shore walk walkway
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traces the shoreline of history to form a neighbourhood edge. As the young all creatures cannot
remain quiet in their bodies thus they always feel the need to move out and play. For children,
their freedom of movement is considered as their opportunity to play.
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India Basin Shoreline Park provides huge space and permission to actively play so that
they can be themselves. The park provides public space where locals can share contacts and
trust, integrate communities and learn to live with people of different age and gender. Providing
better space for aged people results in more mobility and stamina (Chakraborty and Et. Al.,
2021). The park contains number of toilets so that older people do not have to walk far to use it.
These also includes slip resistant flooring, both vertical and horizontal door pulls so that the door
will be close after entering. Toilets locks are designed in such a way that they are easy to use and
lock so that both children as well as older people can use it access it effectively (Ryan, 2022).
They are filled confidence when provided with space that ensures their needs are considered.
Taps and facilities of drying are reachable to every people and even special washing area has
been made for wheelchair users. Gustafson Guthrie Nichol ensures that they improve access of
entry so that it can be achievable by everyone. It uses tactile surfacing and colour contrasting
stairs to warn those people who are visually impaired so that they can effectively approach stairs.
It ensures that access ramp is designed in line with park regulations and that its location is easily
placeable to people who are visiting it for the first time.
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