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The term “architect” conjures visions of an individual crafting visually appealing homes, structures, and outdoor areas. However, architects accomplish much more than just enhancing aesthetics: They foster stronger communities by improving accessibility, tackling disparities, safeguarding the environment, and elevating lives.
“Architecture,” clarifies Brendan Wittstruck, MArch ’11, MAUD ’11, MCM ’11, “is a profession of service.” As a landscape architect and urban designer at Dunaway in Austin, Texas, Wittstruck prioritizes the integration of nature into urban environments.
I aimed to utilize my undergraduate qualification in art to tackle urgent climate challenges. A path in architecture appeared to be the ideal progression in merging my passions for art and sustainability. WashU captivated me with its focus on community design. Yet, when a close friend at WashU motivated me to enroll in an introductory urban design course, I recognized that this was the scale of influence I sought. Somehow, I emerged as a landscape architect, yet I continue to hold onto much of the design education I received in architecture.
Landscape architecture and urban design can profoundly benefit the ecology at large while linking individuals with green spaces in urban settings, enhancing the livability of these areas. The advantages of incorporating landscaping into daily life are numerous. Trees and other vegetation enhance air quality and local climate. Research indicates that green areas reduce hospital visits and elevate mood. Furthermore, access to parks is a significant indicator of quality of life in urban environments.
To enhance the livability of urban settings, we must confront disparities. In terms of public areas, it is crucial to consider who we are designing for and ensure that no one is excluded. Will this area be welcoming and secure for women? Have we accounted for the needs of parents? Is there accessibility for strollers? What occurs when the “watchful eyes” on the street harbor biases? Urban design as a field is reconsidering previous notions of environmental design that deliberately and inadvertently marginalized many from engaging in public spaces.
Eliminating highways is another avenue to better urban living. Since I researched highway removal for my thesis at WashU, the movement of “freeway fighters” has gained traction. Across the nation, there’s a notable trend of highway constructions demolishing and fracturing communities of color. Highways in urban areas simply do not justify their existence: They consume excessive space, fragment neighborhoods, contribute to pollution, and can paradoxically worsen traffic. The supposed advantages are entirely overshadowed by their adverse effects on urban habitats and neighboring communities.
One of my early initiatives has recently come full circle. Shortly after graduating from WashU, I participated in a design team for the Colony Park Sustainable Community Initiative in Austin, aimed at transforming 208 acres of city-owned land into a mixed-use community. This vital effort focuses on providing essential services and housing to a historically overlooked community of color that lacks even a grocery store. I contributed to the development of sustainability guidelines for this master plan and am now directing the site design for a nature play area intended for a health clinic there. It’s thrilling to be engaged in the design of a plan I helped create over a decade ago!
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