Sponge Cities: resilient landscapes and water sensitive design

What can we do to ensure our built environment is more resilient to weather extremes? 'Sponge cities' are a hot topic right now due to their ability to absorb excess water and CO2 from the atmosphere.

Join landscape architect Nick Robinson who will discuss water sensitive design features such as green roofs and living walls. Nick will show how innovative planting design and the protection and enhancement of biodiversity in public and private spaces can help a city become more sponge-like. 

Is it possible to 'slow the flow' of water in our urban centres? How can we improve our residential and landscape spaces to make space for water?

During the second half we will take a look at some water sensitive design features around Olympic Park.

ABOUT

Landscape Architect Nick Robinson has twenty five years experience of landscape architecture professional practice in New Zealand and Britain. He has worked on award winning landscapes of industry as well as urban regeneration, parks and private gardens. 

In addition to professional practice, Nick has taught landscape architecture at universities in the UK, USA , New Zealand and Germany, specialising in planting design and has a range of publications to his credit including the Planting Design Handbook. 

Nick recently spent two years working with international experts on urban ecology, green roofs and green walls at the Department of Landscape, University of Sheffield, UK, with a focus on current thinking on ecological approaches to urban design and innovations in planting design for biodiversity.