Landscape, Ecology and Urbanism - Summary 2025 + Exam questions (at the end)
Introduction to Landscape, Ecology and Urbanism
The course focuses on the interrelation between ecology and design sciences, emphasizing
that ecological urban design includes ecological knowledge and sociopolitical goals. Students
will develop the ability to critically analyze design projects
Legenda Course
Everything in Purple: Notes from class
Everything in Orange: Examples
Key Topics in the Course
1. Basic Principles of Ecology: Understanding ecology as the study of relationships
between organisms and their environment
2. Landscape Ecology and Ecosystem Services: Learn about landscape ecology's
influence on ecosystem services and biodiversity
3. Landscape and Ecological Urbanism: Examining how landscape replaces
architecture as the fundamental component of urbanism
4. Infrastructure: Investigate infrastructure's role in urban regeneration.
5. Urban Metabolism: Learn concepts around the flows of materials and energy within
urban environments
6. Urban Political Ecology and Environmental Justice: Discuss the political aspects of
ecology, focusing on justice in urban environments
7. Posthumanism: Exploring human relationships with nature beyond traditional views.
8. Ecology and Aesthetics: Understanding how aesthetics relate to ecological concepts
in urban design
Course Structure
The course integrates science, design, and sociopolitical dimensions:
• Science: Involves the application of ecological knowledge
• Design: Encompasses the implementation of architectures based on ecological
principles
• Sociopolitics: Examines the political agendas underlying ecological design and
planning
Key Definitions
• Ecology: Derived from the Greek words "oikos" (household) and "logos" (study), it is
defined as the study of relationships between organisms and their environment
• Ecosystem: Comprises living organisms and nonliving components in a specific area,
highlighting interdependencies
Ecological Concepts and Dynamics
1. Population Dynamics: Explains the struggle for life within ecosystems, including
competition between species and human effects
2. Environmental Cycles: Discusses water, carbon, and nitrogen cycles while addressing
human impacts on these cycles
3. Natural Succession: Nature’s gradual development and management, emphasizing
humans' role in nature management
1
,Landscape, Ecology and Urbanism - Summary 2025 + Exam questions (at the end)
Design Approaches
• Layer Approach: A multi-layered perspective in urban planning, which includes
natural systems and human activities
• Casco Concept: Focuses on spatial separation of functions to allow for dynamic urban
development
Applications of Landscape and Ecological Urbanism
• Case studies exemplify the integration of ecological principles into urban design, like
the High Line in New York and the renaturalization of rivers, showcasing how
infrastructure can become part of a vibrant public space while enhancing ecological
functions
Urban Agriculture
• Discusses urban agriculture's role in closing metabolic loops between consumption
and production, enhancing community engagement and access to resources
Environmental Justice
• Analyzes how ecological design often reflects sociopolitical inequalities, with a focus
on gentrification and access to green spaces
Structure of the Course
• Chapter 1: Basic Principles of Ecology
• Chapter 2: Landscape Ecology and Ecosystem Services
• Chapter 3: Landscape and Ecological Urbanism / Mapping
• Chapter 4: Infrastructure
• Chapter 5: Urban Metabolism (how ecology and design could work together)
• Chapter 6: Urban Political Ecology and Environmental Justice
• Chapter 7: Posthumanism
• Chapter 8: Ecology and Aesthetics
Chapter 1: Basic Principles of Ecology
1. Ecology and related notions
1.1 Introduction
- Goal is to link this course to design, science and sociopolitics
- Reading plans and designs in their social-political, design, and ecological context
creates new insights into the development of green landscapes
- Ecological concepts are used in very different ways:
o Natural process as aesthetic category
o Natural process as critique of modern urbanism
o Natural process as urbanization strategy
- Landscape design operates as/in political context:
o Against privatization of urban areas
o As critique of modern urbanism and landscape design
o As ‘capitalist’ urbanization strategy
2
,Landscape, Ecology and Urbanism - Summary 2025 + Exam questions (at the end)
Structure of the course:
1. Science (ecology)
- Developed outside of our discipline, by ecologists and scientists
- Science is developed out of our discipline, but by ecologist etc. It is also political
2. (urban) Design
- The (intelligent) implementation of the built (or unbuilt) program/ of a built program
- It is often based on political choices, scientific knowledge, design conventions and
aesthetic categories
3. Sociopolitics
- Ecological design and planning often supports a political agenda. However, this
sociopolitical agenda can also become obscured by the focus on ecology and
technology.
- Ecological design also communicates implicit societal beliefs: neoliberal or not,
anthropocentric or not, etcetera.
- Really important to see the ecology link with politics! -> (Notteboom wrote a text
about it). Building a landscape to make interaction. The second one is Habitat for
Homo Economicus. A picture like you see it as a render. He wanted to show how
problematic these landscapes are. Sort of pastoral landscape. You would think that
this is perfect, but they don’t show the political organization behind it: it could be
fascist, … . The political organization could be problematic. So what is important to do
with this course: look at these pictures and look what is behind them.
LINK TEXT: https://rossexoadams.com/2013/02/01/habitat-for-homo-oeconomicus/
1.2 Definition of Ecology
- Ecology is about the relationship between an organism and its environment to
one another and to their physical environment
- For example:
o To eat and to be eaten
o To produce and to consume oxygen
o Parasite and host
o Climate (temperature, moisture), soil, sunlight, topography,
1.3 Hierarchy of spheres
3
,Landscape, Ecology and Urbanism - Summary 2025 + Exam questions (at the end)
- Hierarchy of spheres is a linear thought
- We’re in the age of the Anthropocene (new geological era after pleistocene and
holocene)
- Theory of Anthropocene: the idea is that humans are influencing the abiotic.
Humans have become the biggest force on earth and changing climate etc. A lot
of discussion about the Anthropocene and when it started: when agriculture
started or when industrialization started? No clear awnser
- A lot of critique on the concept of the Anthropocene. Because it naturalizes the
influence of humans. Geographers say: humans are responsible on earth and we
are focusing on the wrong concept: humans are not the problem, but the way we
use the planed and organize society. So new ideas: Plantationocene: comes from
plantation and is how agriculture and industry comes together. So industry and
modern agriculture is how we change the geology. And Capitalocne is more
Marxist to say. They say it is how they use the world. How we use the world to
look at the problem
1.4 Ecosystem: dependency of organisms
- Survival of any species is dependent on:
o Other living organisms
o Non living components: Food, Water, Shelter, Sunlight, Oxygen
è This leads to ecosystems = Relations between living organisms and non-living
components at a particular place
è Definition ecosystem = ‘the complex of living organisms, their physical
environment, and all their interrelationships in a particular unit of space’
Example: ecosystem forest
La Synthèse Ecologique,
1980 - Paul Duvigneaud
4
,Landscape, Ecology and Urbanism - Summary 2025 + Exam questions (at the end)
- Paul Duvigneaud was one of the first that said that an ecosystem has fluxes of
energy. Sun, Rain, soil with nutrients, whole interaction of all these abiotic and
biotic elements and they interact with each other. They wanted to show energy
flows. Remember: it is always about a particular place. An ecosystem: we choose
what is an ecosystem!! Eg .our auditorium, Ghent, Brussels, … . So a forest is an
ecosystem but it also has a relationship with a city next to it. So it is more of a fact
to look at nature!
Notions related to ecosystem:
Community
= all interacting, interdependent organisms in one area
≠ non-living components
Population
= all interacting organisms of one kind or species in an area
They interbreed + compete for food, shelter, mates
Organism
= one living animal or plant
Can be unicellular or multicellular
Levels of organization:
Biosphere (whole world) ® ecosystem (defined by us) ® community ® population
® organism
Habitat
= place where an organism lives
< ecosystem (area)
It can include biotic and abiotic factors
Niche
= role/job of a species within its environment, determined by limiting factors (e.g.
Photosynthesis)
Examples:
o Generalists (e.g. Pig)
Eat a variety of food -> fulfill a niche in a variety of habitats
o Specialists (e.g. Panda)
Eat little or no variety of food -> survival/extinction depends on presence of food
=> This makes them indicators of changes in ecological conditions
1.5 Dynamics of ecosystems
1.5.1 Population dynamics: ‘struggle for life’
- A population grows larger than the maximum -> competition -> death of
individual organisms -> fluctuation
- They are linked to the dynamics. Dynamics in an ecosystem. Over time fish eat.
Idea that the animals are always related with the amount of food that is there
5
, Landscape, Ecology and Urbanism - Summary 2025 + Exam questions (at the end)
- Species can only survive if ecosystem conditions are situated in between certain
limits (‘tolerances’)
- Another scheme which shows a bit the same. Showing that depending on
ecological factors, there is an optimum or not. Eg: optimum is 20°C, and when
hotter there will be less and so on:
- Interesting is that all animals
together create an ecosystem.
Scheme shows that ecological
factors determine when organisms
are living, when and where:
1.5.2 Ecosystems and tolerances
- An ecosystem is an ensemble of organisms with more or less similar tolerances
(for example forest).
- These tolerances are never exactly the same. Otherwise, the organisms would
exclude each other in time through competition
- ‘Survival of the fittest’ – Charles Darwin
è different organisms are active in different places within the ecosystems, on
different moments in time.
Every organism/population has its place in an ecoystem
è however: dynamic, not static: competition
1.5.3 Competition through feeding relationships
Producers of food vs consumers of food:
Prey vs predator
Host vs parasite
6
Introduction to Landscape, Ecology and Urbanism
The course focuses on the interrelation between ecology and design sciences, emphasizing
that ecological urban design includes ecological knowledge and sociopolitical goals. Students
will develop the ability to critically analyze design projects
Legenda Course
Everything in Purple: Notes from class
Everything in Orange: Examples
Key Topics in the Course
1. Basic Principles of Ecology: Understanding ecology as the study of relationships
between organisms and their environment
2. Landscape Ecology and Ecosystem Services: Learn about landscape ecology's
influence on ecosystem services and biodiversity
3. Landscape and Ecological Urbanism: Examining how landscape replaces
architecture as the fundamental component of urbanism
4. Infrastructure: Investigate infrastructure's role in urban regeneration.
5. Urban Metabolism: Learn concepts around the flows of materials and energy within
urban environments
6. Urban Political Ecology and Environmental Justice: Discuss the political aspects of
ecology, focusing on justice in urban environments
7. Posthumanism: Exploring human relationships with nature beyond traditional views.
8. Ecology and Aesthetics: Understanding how aesthetics relate to ecological concepts
in urban design
Course Structure
The course integrates science, design, and sociopolitical dimensions:
• Science: Involves the application of ecological knowledge
• Design: Encompasses the implementation of architectures based on ecological
principles
• Sociopolitics: Examines the political agendas underlying ecological design and
planning
Key Definitions
• Ecology: Derived from the Greek words "oikos" (household) and "logos" (study), it is
defined as the study of relationships between organisms and their environment
• Ecosystem: Comprises living organisms and nonliving components in a specific area,
highlighting interdependencies
Ecological Concepts and Dynamics
1. Population Dynamics: Explains the struggle for life within ecosystems, including
competition between species and human effects
2. Environmental Cycles: Discusses water, carbon, and nitrogen cycles while addressing
human impacts on these cycles
3. Natural Succession: Nature’s gradual development and management, emphasizing
humans' role in nature management
1
,Landscape, Ecology and Urbanism - Summary 2025 + Exam questions (at the end)
Design Approaches
• Layer Approach: A multi-layered perspective in urban planning, which includes
natural systems and human activities
• Casco Concept: Focuses on spatial separation of functions to allow for dynamic urban
development
Applications of Landscape and Ecological Urbanism
• Case studies exemplify the integration of ecological principles into urban design, like
the High Line in New York and the renaturalization of rivers, showcasing how
infrastructure can become part of a vibrant public space while enhancing ecological
functions
Urban Agriculture
• Discusses urban agriculture's role in closing metabolic loops between consumption
and production, enhancing community engagement and access to resources
Environmental Justice
• Analyzes how ecological design often reflects sociopolitical inequalities, with a focus
on gentrification and access to green spaces
Structure of the Course
• Chapter 1: Basic Principles of Ecology
• Chapter 2: Landscape Ecology and Ecosystem Services
• Chapter 3: Landscape and Ecological Urbanism / Mapping
• Chapter 4: Infrastructure
• Chapter 5: Urban Metabolism (how ecology and design could work together)
• Chapter 6: Urban Political Ecology and Environmental Justice
• Chapter 7: Posthumanism
• Chapter 8: Ecology and Aesthetics
Chapter 1: Basic Principles of Ecology
1. Ecology and related notions
1.1 Introduction
- Goal is to link this course to design, science and sociopolitics
- Reading plans and designs in their social-political, design, and ecological context
creates new insights into the development of green landscapes
- Ecological concepts are used in very different ways:
o Natural process as aesthetic category
o Natural process as critique of modern urbanism
o Natural process as urbanization strategy
- Landscape design operates as/in political context:
o Against privatization of urban areas
o As critique of modern urbanism and landscape design
o As ‘capitalist’ urbanization strategy
2
,Landscape, Ecology and Urbanism - Summary 2025 + Exam questions (at the end)
Structure of the course:
1. Science (ecology)
- Developed outside of our discipline, by ecologists and scientists
- Science is developed out of our discipline, but by ecologist etc. It is also political
2. (urban) Design
- The (intelligent) implementation of the built (or unbuilt) program/ of a built program
- It is often based on political choices, scientific knowledge, design conventions and
aesthetic categories
3. Sociopolitics
- Ecological design and planning often supports a political agenda. However, this
sociopolitical agenda can also become obscured by the focus on ecology and
technology.
- Ecological design also communicates implicit societal beliefs: neoliberal or not,
anthropocentric or not, etcetera.
- Really important to see the ecology link with politics! -> (Notteboom wrote a text
about it). Building a landscape to make interaction. The second one is Habitat for
Homo Economicus. A picture like you see it as a render. He wanted to show how
problematic these landscapes are. Sort of pastoral landscape. You would think that
this is perfect, but they don’t show the political organization behind it: it could be
fascist, … . The political organization could be problematic. So what is important to do
with this course: look at these pictures and look what is behind them.
LINK TEXT: https://rossexoadams.com/2013/02/01/habitat-for-homo-oeconomicus/
1.2 Definition of Ecology
- Ecology is about the relationship between an organism and its environment to
one another and to their physical environment
- For example:
o To eat and to be eaten
o To produce and to consume oxygen
o Parasite and host
o Climate (temperature, moisture), soil, sunlight, topography,
1.3 Hierarchy of spheres
3
,Landscape, Ecology and Urbanism - Summary 2025 + Exam questions (at the end)
- Hierarchy of spheres is a linear thought
- We’re in the age of the Anthropocene (new geological era after pleistocene and
holocene)
- Theory of Anthropocene: the idea is that humans are influencing the abiotic.
Humans have become the biggest force on earth and changing climate etc. A lot
of discussion about the Anthropocene and when it started: when agriculture
started or when industrialization started? No clear awnser
- A lot of critique on the concept of the Anthropocene. Because it naturalizes the
influence of humans. Geographers say: humans are responsible on earth and we
are focusing on the wrong concept: humans are not the problem, but the way we
use the planed and organize society. So new ideas: Plantationocene: comes from
plantation and is how agriculture and industry comes together. So industry and
modern agriculture is how we change the geology. And Capitalocne is more
Marxist to say. They say it is how they use the world. How we use the world to
look at the problem
1.4 Ecosystem: dependency of organisms
- Survival of any species is dependent on:
o Other living organisms
o Non living components: Food, Water, Shelter, Sunlight, Oxygen
è This leads to ecosystems = Relations between living organisms and non-living
components at a particular place
è Definition ecosystem = ‘the complex of living organisms, their physical
environment, and all their interrelationships in a particular unit of space’
Example: ecosystem forest
La Synthèse Ecologique,
1980 - Paul Duvigneaud
4
,Landscape, Ecology and Urbanism - Summary 2025 + Exam questions (at the end)
- Paul Duvigneaud was one of the first that said that an ecosystem has fluxes of
energy. Sun, Rain, soil with nutrients, whole interaction of all these abiotic and
biotic elements and they interact with each other. They wanted to show energy
flows. Remember: it is always about a particular place. An ecosystem: we choose
what is an ecosystem!! Eg .our auditorium, Ghent, Brussels, … . So a forest is an
ecosystem but it also has a relationship with a city next to it. So it is more of a fact
to look at nature!
Notions related to ecosystem:
Community
= all interacting, interdependent organisms in one area
≠ non-living components
Population
= all interacting organisms of one kind or species in an area
They interbreed + compete for food, shelter, mates
Organism
= one living animal or plant
Can be unicellular or multicellular
Levels of organization:
Biosphere (whole world) ® ecosystem (defined by us) ® community ® population
® organism
Habitat
= place where an organism lives
< ecosystem (area)
It can include biotic and abiotic factors
Niche
= role/job of a species within its environment, determined by limiting factors (e.g.
Photosynthesis)
Examples:
o Generalists (e.g. Pig)
Eat a variety of food -> fulfill a niche in a variety of habitats
o Specialists (e.g. Panda)
Eat little or no variety of food -> survival/extinction depends on presence of food
=> This makes them indicators of changes in ecological conditions
1.5 Dynamics of ecosystems
1.5.1 Population dynamics: ‘struggle for life’
- A population grows larger than the maximum -> competition -> death of
individual organisms -> fluctuation
- They are linked to the dynamics. Dynamics in an ecosystem. Over time fish eat.
Idea that the animals are always related with the amount of food that is there
5
, Landscape, Ecology and Urbanism - Summary 2025 + Exam questions (at the end)
- Species can only survive if ecosystem conditions are situated in between certain
limits (‘tolerances’)
- Another scheme which shows a bit the same. Showing that depending on
ecological factors, there is an optimum or not. Eg: optimum is 20°C, and when
hotter there will be less and so on:
- Interesting is that all animals
together create an ecosystem.
Scheme shows that ecological
factors determine when organisms
are living, when and where:
1.5.2 Ecosystems and tolerances
- An ecosystem is an ensemble of organisms with more or less similar tolerances
(for example forest).
- These tolerances are never exactly the same. Otherwise, the organisms would
exclude each other in time through competition
- ‘Survival of the fittest’ – Charles Darwin
è different organisms are active in different places within the ecosystems, on
different moments in time.
Every organism/population has its place in an ecoystem
è however: dynamic, not static: competition
1.5.3 Competition through feeding relationships
Producers of food vs consumers of food:
Prey vs predator
Host vs parasite
6
