GREEN CITY LIVING

As part of a wider strategy to contain urban sprawl and provide cost effective housing close to the heart of our cities, high-density developments have become increasingly popular. The livability of this type of housing is often negatively impacted by an ungenerous size. This is compounded by the prevailing attitude that where space is at premium, green spaces are not a priority.

Going forward we need to be clever with how we incorporate green-life into high-density developments without losing sight of both sustainable and ecological practices.

Native plants are a logical choice. They are low maintenance, have minimal water requirements and with architectural forms, are a natural reflection of our cityscapes.

Connecting with nature in our urban environments, which are dominated by industrial materials like steel, brick, concrete and glass can be difficult to achieve. There is also some apprehension about the integration of native plants for various reasons. Currently, their usage in small urban landscapes like balconies is hampered by a preference for the use of potted exotics.

Green City Living is about the reconciliation of our urban environments with native plants, and through the use of some well placed sustainable materials it can demonstrate that limited space is not a constraint in making a valuable difference.

Don’t miss this year’s Australian Garden Show Sydney, September 4 – 7 at Centennial Park. 

www.australiangardenshowsydney.com.au