ABSTRACT
The relationship between of places of work, dwelling and agricultural land is a fundamental issue for sustainable development. Traditional relationships between cities and a global agricultural hinterland are being called into question as the ecological footprint of the agricultural sector is assessed. Several contemporary architects and architectural theoreticians are discussing and proposing “landscape” infrastructures as models for future urban development. These proposals frequently provide for a series of interconnected “fields” each having specific characteristics and qualities. This paper discusses these contemporary urban design proposals in relation to sustainability and examines the potential for these strategies to provide a conceptual model for sustainable settlements.
