Urban Biodiversity & Ecology
Greening the grey
Urbanisation, while driving progress and development, often comes at the cost of the natural environment. As cities expand, natural habitats shrink and biodiversity dwindles. However, this does not have to be the case. Urban development can and should co-exist in harmony with nature.
Engineering nature’s cityscape
At CPG, we study the complex relationship between living organisms and the built environment. By understanding how urbanisation affects natural ecosystems and leveraging our ecological expertise, we engineer sustainable solutions to conserve and enhance natural habitats in development projects.
Research & Analysis
We start with an assessment of the project requirements, using urban planning tools in relation to environmentally-sensitive sites. Our analysis includes examining how the project may affect urban ecosystems and impact the biodiversity, habitats and ecological processes within and beyond the site.
Where needed, we work with Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) consultants to establish baseline studies from which the architectural or urban planning design work can address issues relating to environmental conservation.
Conservation Planning
With a comprehensive understanding of the project, we conduct an Environmental Regeneration Assessment (ERA) using a CPG-developed assessment template to propose targets that will improve the biodiversity and ecology on site post-development. This is a strategic departure from the normal Environmental Impact Assessment which typically assesses a site from a negative impact perspective. ERA initiates a design outcome from the start where the end state strives to enhance the ecosystems to increase biodiversity.
These targets guide us to develop strategies that conserve and restore natural habitats in tandem with urban developments, which may include creating green roofs, vertical greenery, and wildlife connectivity to core habitats in the vicinity. It could also include the selection of landscape palettes to support a sustainable and biodiverse ecosystem.
Collaborative Design Development
At the design stage, our multidisciplinary project team seeks solutions that achieve a fine balance between project requirements and environmental conservation. We study and propose solutions to enhance and regenerate the habitats, which may even increase biodiversity after the project is completed.
Our approach to sustainability goes beyond the natural environment. We also embrace social and economic sustainability, exploring biophilic design proposals that go beyond biodiversity enhancement to address human wellness and aesthetic considerations.
