The Foreground five: our most-read stories for May
An endeavour to rebuild threatened grasslands has caught the attention of many readers in May, while a novel housing model brings green to grey streets and a new gardening book attracts fans. Saving Sydney’s streets from killer cars invites a rethink of city joy, as does a competition for Canberra.
1. ‘Wild’ grasses are in vogue as priceless native grasslands disappear
Native grasslands are under threat world-wide, just as we’re waking up to their environmental worth and realising their commercial benefits. On the volcanic plains north-west of Melbourne, Australia, a small company is battling to revitalise an undervalued ecosystem.
2. In Melbourne, collaborative development is turning grey streets green
Nightingale Village in Melbourne’s inner north is using the power of the collective to pioneer a potent new model of sustainable urban development.
3. How can Sydney start a walking revolution to overthrow its killer cars?
Sydney’s addiction to cars is killing people, ruining quality of life and contributing to Australia’s significant greenhouse gas emissions. The rest of the world is waking up to the irrational and destructive privileging of cars over the safety and health of pedestrians. Time for a revolution.
4. Overgrown: a call for landscape architecture to return to the garden
Most would consider gardens and gardening as central to landscape architecture, but this rich relationship has been repressed. Julian Raxworthy calls for landscape architects to get out of the office and back into the garden.
5. Remaking Lost Connections: a timely call to rethink the future of the city
In the lead-up to a federal election, and with the state of the environment and climate change identified as major concerns for voters, the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects has launched an ideas competition for Canberra.
