Sustainability

Definition

"…sustainable development… implies meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." --adopted by the UN General Assembly from the Brundtland Report, 1987

Many cultures teach that all life is interconnected, and derives from the earth. American aboriginal tradition teaches to consider seven generations in all that you do: Learn from the three generations past to build on success and avoid repeating mistakes, then consider the three generations to come and determine what you will leave for not only your children, but for your grandchildren, and your great grandchildren. In those cultures, keeping nature healthy-- especially stewardship of the land and all of its creatures-- is vital. When practiced consistently, it is a philosophy that protects future communities, in perpetuity. That is the heart of sustainability.

Sustainability is embedded in our practice at any scale, whether designing a residential garden, a schoolyard or a park. Tracy Penner Landscape Architecture uses environmental design to create beautiful outdoor spaces that connect people with nature on many levels.

Our focus on sustainability promotes longevity and an on-going human-nature experience. The ultimate goal of every project we embark on is to find simple yet thoughtful solutions that inspire those who use the space and ultimately promote an emotional connection between people and the environment. Some examples of our experience in design of simple environmental features includes:

  • the first approved residential green roof in Vancouver
  • reuse of on-site materials
  • specifying low maintenance materials
  • locally sourced and low impact materials
  • native plant palettes
  • drought tolerant plant palette
  • regeneration of existing soil
  • on site stormwater collection
  • rainwater irrigation systems

Our work follows the Sustainable Sites Initiatives developed by the American Society of Landscape Architects. The Sustainable Sites Initiative envisions that sustainable land practices will enable natural and built systems to work together to protect and enhance the ability of landscapes to provide services such as climate regulation, clean air and water, and improved quality of life.

"For purposes of this Initiative, sustainability is defined as design, construction, operations, and maintenance practices that meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." -- Sustainable Sites Initiatives developed by the American Society of Landscape Architects