Landscape Architecture Master's Projects

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Browsing Landscape Architecture Master's Projects by Subject "Agroecology"

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    Hariyo Mala: Integrating agriculture as essential infrastructure in Kathmandu
    (2021-03-24) Tamang, Tshewang
    As a result of decades of rapid unplanned growth, urbanization in the Kathmandu Valley has been unsustainable and haphazard. Today, Kathmandu's food systems in particular are increasingly subject to the effects of a diminishing foodshed and loss of its historical agricultural identity, compounded by stressors such as natural disasters and climate change. Urban agriculture could be a linchpin, not only supplementing local food requirements,but providing key ecosystem services, supporting social and infrastructural resilience, and fostering self- determination for communities historically marginalized by the state. However, for urban agriculture to achieve this potential, it needs to be embedded into the spatial, cultural, and ecological systems of the built environment. Through Research by Designing, this project explores this question and asks how this integration of urban agriculture could be achieved . To answer this, the project focuses on the concepts of urban agriculture, green infrastructure , and agroecology. Thinking of urban agriculture as green infrastructure provides a framework for incorporating food production as one of the multiple benefits we derive from the land. Thinking of urban agriculture as urban agroecology provides a framework for incorporating practices rooted in landscape ecology and food sovereignty. Together these three concepts intersect to form productive green infrastructure. This productive green infrastructure takes the form of a system that this project proposes as the Hariyo Mala, a projective vision for future Kathmandu Valley. Nested within this are additional design proposals at the city, neighborhood and site scales that further explore strategies and elements of the Hariyo Mala system. Together , they project an alternative vision for Kathmandu , one where urban agriculture is integrated as essential infrastructure in creating a more resilient urban future for the valley.