Sasaki
Sasaki设计团队一行十二人出席2019年美国景观设计师协会年度大会，众参与者（点击此处参看完整名单）对项目管理效率、设计和研究的整合以及行业的多元发展等先后发表演说。大会探讨一系列左右著景观设计专业前景的迫切议题，Sasaki的代表在这些讨论中担当了领导角色，阅读下文以了解他们的演说重点。
我们周遭的风景每分每秒都在变化，速度远超想象。城市环境之中的技术覆盖面越来越广，气候变化的影响也日趋明显，且难以逃避，因此带领社会思考如何适应这些转变，景观设计师责无旁贷。
“Hideo Sasaki先生在1950年说过：‘景观设计专业的前景正处于关键的分岔口：我们应带头改善人类环境，通往更美好的未来，还是满足于表面功夫，屈居次要地位？’事实上，我们今天也在面对同一个问题。在高速城市化和气候变化的时代，身为景观设计师的我们比任何时候更应该谨守岗位，发挥所长。艺术和工艺对我们的专业显然十分重要，但我常说的‘美学和意境’必须与科学数据和适应性等主题结合，后者应当更受注视。教育赋予了我们系统思考力，我们有能力牵头发起协作，在务实和理想之间取得平衡。我们身在改变世界的旅途上，只要谦卑聆听，敢于走在前沿，我们有信心改变离我们不远。”—— 迈克尔·格罗福（Michael Grove），ASLA
成功的设计始于对项目每一个细节打下稳固的技术基础，适合的选材方案和精良的建筑细部就是例子。景观设计师固然要考虑材料和产品是否耐久合用，或符合预算，但也该确保负责任的采购过程。
“可持续发展的意义不止于技术层面，我们以何种方式生活、社会能否实现公平都是其中的一部分。做设计时，我们必须关顾弱势群体和身边的环境，我会鼓励我的伙伴加倍留意最新的建筑材料和技术，勇于尝试新的建筑方法，考虑每一个实际情况而寻求最好的替代方案。”——张斗，ASLA，SITES AP，LEED AP BD+C
融合研究的设计过程，能成就有创意的设计方案，景观设计师必须努力把研究视为设计过程的固有部分。
“景观设计可被理解为一种调查过程，借由景观设计，我们思考如何以最佳途径应对社会和环境问题。研究工作必须成为当中的必要环节，否则，这门专业的作用力只流于表面，甚至被轻视。要造成深远影响，我们需要从研究挖掘证据和量化事实。”——张韬，ASLA，LEED AP，SITES AP
“在Sasaki，我们不怕打破界限，研究是我们工作的核心部分，也是让我们走到今天这位置的基石。Hideo Sasaki先生对美好未来的构想，还有对解决复杂设计难题的决心，源自他深深相信研究所能发挥的变革力量。无论是人类还是自然界，世界此刻正面临着许多迫切的挑战，景观设计专业必须挺身而出，找出实施、建造和生活的新法子；研究是成就新型思想领导的重要元素。”——戴安娜·费尔南德斯，ASLA
“融合研究的设计过程，能成就有创意的设计方案，景观设计师必须努力把研究视为设计过程的固有部分。在我眼中，研究不仅由实验/资料驱动，基地的文化故事、历史沿革和象征意义也属于研究范围。研究过程一旦开始，我们就有机会重温一遍从前的许多案例，因此有空间思考怎样与其他项目做到关联。再者，通过研究，我们能与设计作品建立深厚关系，产生因地制宜、承载生态和历史文脉的方案，营造扎实的场地感。从头到尾在设计中融合研究，让我们对标准有更高的追求，坦诚和严谨是当中不可缺少的心理素质。”—— 黄甄妮（Jennifer Ng），ASLA
景观设计师必须把工作“外化”——向普罗大众解释他们精细的作业流程，展现他们有策动改变的能力。
“我们人数不多，但力量却很强大。从业主到生态学家，与不同单位交流协作是景观设计师定义各个新常态——低影响开发、最佳管理实践和种植原生植物——的原动力。我们有能力撷取科学和社会观念然后付诸实现，从而真正落实改变。只要大家对景观设计有更深刻的了解，定能发现周遭的建成环境并非出于偶然，而是深思熟虑的结果，并在此基础上思考怎样在将来做得更好。换言之，景观设计师是变革的推动者，加深普罗大众对我们的关注，培养他们认识身边美好事物的眼光，带领他们通往更好的未来，便是我们该做的事。”—— 姬拉·萨金特
Landscapes around us are changing at a rapid pace. From increased technology in urban environments to the inevitable impacts of climate change, landscape architects are in a position to lead the conversations on how our society adapts to change.
“Back in 1950, Hideo Sasaki opined that ‘the profession of landscape architecture stands at a critical fork in the road. One fork leads to a significant field of endeavor contributing to the betterment of human environment, while the other points to a subordinate field of superficial embellishment.’ I believe that we find ourselves at a similar crossroads today. Our contribution as landscape architects is arguably even more significant in the era of urbanization and climate change. While artistry and craft will always be important to our profession, the focus on what I often refer to as the ‘aesthetics and poetics’ must converge with a more rigorous focus on science and adaptability. Our training as systems thinkers and our ability to lead through collaboration allows us to balance pragmatic needs with visionary outlooks. We are on a path to change the world, and we can do it as long as we are humble enough to listen and confident enough to lead.” –Michael Grove, ASLA
Successful designs begin with a solid technical foundation in a project’s details, such as materials selection and construction details. It is essential that landscape architects look beyond durability, workability, and cost to also ensure responsible sourcing of products and materials.
“Sustainability is beyond the technology. It is about our daily life style; it is also about social justice. Let’s be mindful about disadvantaged people and our environment when we design. I would also encourage our teams to familiarize ourselves with the latest construction materials and technologies available, dare to experiment with new materials and ways of building, and find the best alternative for each specific situation.” –Dou Zhang, ASLA, SITES AP, LEED AP BD+C
It is imperative that landscape architects externalize their work so that the general public knows the complexity of what they do and recognizes them as drivers of change.
“As a small but mighty group, working with everyone from ecologists to homeowners, landscape architects are promoting new norms for Low Impact Developments, Best Management Practices, native plants, and more. Landscape architects are change-makers who help take conceptual scientific and social ideas and translate them into a new physical reality. With a better understanding of the role of landscape architects, people begin to see that their built environment is not happenstance, but thoughtfully constructed, and therefore, how it can be made better in the future. In other words, landscape architects are agents of change, and by increasing the public’s awareness of our work, we increase the public’s ability to see the good in society around them and to believe in a better future.” –Kira Sargent
Integrating research during the design process is beneficial in generating innovative design solutions. Landscape architects must work to standardize research as part of the design process.
“Landscape design is also a process of investigation for the optimal solution to tackle societal and environmental challenges. Without research as an integral part of this process, the profession risks being trivialized for superficial impacts. To be able to claim meaningful impacts, we need evidence and quantifiable facts from research.” –Tao Zhang, ASLA, LEED AP, SITES AP
“At Sasaki our work transcends boundaries and research is at the core of what makes us who we are. Hideo Sasaki’s curiosity for making the world a better place and solving complex design challenges all emerge from a deep appreciation for the transformative power of research. At this moment in time, our world faces imperative environmental and anthropological pressures and our profession has to rise to the challenge and explore new ways to practice, build, and live on this planet. Research is the key to enabling new thought leadership to emerge.” –Diana Fernandez, ASLA
“Integrating research during the design process is beneficial in generating innovative design solutions. Landscape architects must work to standardize research as part of the design process. My thinking on research is in regards to empirical/data driven research, but also research on a site’s cultural memory and the many stories/identities that came before our particular role on the project: Research allows us to do a deep dive on our projects and gives us the space to build connections across multiple projects. It allows us to connect deeply with the work, to give the work a sense of grounding within a site’s historic, cultural, and ecologic context. Integrating research throughout the design process holds us all to a higher standard – one that demands honesty and rigor at all times.” –Jennifer Ng, ASLA