REGIONAL Design Strategies

Regional scale design strategies were found to be necessary in providing a critical opportunity to balance selected human-environmental interchanges. The urban district was inadequate in size to be sustainable. A green belt and water impoundment system were necessary to balance air exchanges (O=CO₂); water cycles (precipation=H₂O use with conservation, impoundments and reuse of gray water); land and its food/fiber processes (gardens, urban forests and reducing/reusing/recycling of resources); energy use (conservation and use of renewable resources).

Existing urban regional land use plan of Pullman.	Proposed urban regional sustainable plan for Pullman.

1. Green belt and greenways moderate climate extremes, increases recreational opportunities and bio-diversity. These green programs use primarily indigenous landscaping which conserves water, reduces maintenance and celebrates the unique qualities of this region. Family farming is also encouraged in allotment gardens in the green belt. A farmers market fosters local agricultural produce and crafts.
2. Spring water runoff is retained in wetlands and balancing lakes which supplement dry seasons, reduce spring flooding, filter eroded soils, improve water quality, fishing and recreation potential.
3. The increased costs of non-renewable energy create a positive shift to conservation and renewable resources. The proposed community’s sustainable energy budget comes from 50% regional hydropower, 40% solar and photovoltaics and 10% wind farms in the green belt.

Green belt surrounding Boulder, Colorado. Green belt provides trees, recreation, control of urban sprawl and land banking for future use.	Water impoundment lakes in the Boulder green belt are used for recreation and water storage for the potential use in dry seasons.
Green belt forest preserve built in a landfill area in Copenhagen, Denmark. Millions of trees were planted by citizen volunteers and/or at family celebrations.	Pullman's Franklin Elementary School, students planting trees along the Palouse river. WSU students in environmental education programs are now planting over 30,000 trees per year.
In the past, many of our streams have been straightened. This increases water speed, erosion and flooding. Palouse Clearwater Environmental Institute (PCEI) has developed a demonstration project to slow waterways, create water impondments and biodiversity while returning them to a natural pattern.	Artificial wetlands installed by PCEI in Moscow, Idaho. These newly installed wetlands will purify water from the cities treatment plant up stream from Pullman. Thank you, PCEI.

• Also reference:
  • City
  • Districts and Neighborhoods
  • Residential Clusters
  • Dwelling Units

This web site was developed with the authors and Michael Mahaffy, Computer Systems Professional, School of Architecture, Washington State University