Autore: William Eisenstein
Formato: Copertina flessibile
Pagine: 344
Data Pubblicazione: 2013-09-23
Edizione: 1
Lingua: English

This study evaluates the theory of ecorevelatory landscape design by examining the environmental values of homeowners in Montgomery County, MD, USA who live in subdivisions with ecorevelatory stormwater ponds. Adapting ideas from environmental philosophy and economics, the study uses a survey to operationalize environmental values as both a prioritization among the several kinds of value that the nonhuman environment provides for humans, and as a philosophical orientation about the commensurability of different values. The study also conducts hedonic analysis to examine how homebuyers in these subdivisions valued the ponds in their homebuying decisions. The study concludes that designers of the residential landscape should think less in terms of how to use design to change peoples values, and more in terms of leveraging preexisting values about nature into good ecological outcomes. Indeed, the findings suggest that leveraging some of the commensurable values of nature (such as attractive amenities) into the protection of the incommensurable values of nature (such as an ecosystems intrinsic right to existence) is one of landscape architectures highest purposes.