Sustainable Landscape and Urban Design
Greenstone Design are proud uphold the highest sustainability credentials. We work remotely from home offices in New Zealand and England to ensure minimal carbon footprint. The Brundtland Commission defined sustainable development as: "development that meets the need of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs”
Sustainability is at the core of a healthy community. Environmental sustainability cannot be separated from economic sustainability. To be truly sustainable community design must embrace both elements. Green architecture is a process that is incorporated into every stage of the urban design and development project, from start to finish. To achieve genuine green architecture, eco-friendly principles need to be upheld by everyone involved in the process, from consultation to design to construction.
Landscape features and environmental considerations are, of course, the main issues of green architecture. Factors such as topography, soil type, climate and flora all need to be respected, so the development creates as little environmental impact as possible. Sustainable urban drainage systems can be made beautiful. On flat or sloping street-scapes planters filter and reduce water flow off roadways. Rain gardens similarly reduce and filter flow off large roofs and other impermeable surfaces.We use a balanced triple bottom line approach. Success is achieved not by economics alone, but also through measurable environmental and social improvements. Our sustainable development approach is guided by a comprehensive Sustainability Framework which serves as a roadmap to ensure that consistent principles are woven into every facet of operations and decision making. By employing global best practices, Greenstone Design ensures landscape developments and urban regeneration projects protect and enhance our natural environment and establish themselves as global models for sustainability.