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K-State Today

April 20, 2016

Belanger presents research on the resilience theory at regional conference

Submitted by Courtney Boman

Blake Bellanger

Blake Belanger, associate professor of landscape architecture, presented his research "Representing Resilience: Design Strategies and Graphic Communication for Increasing Urban Resilience" at the Central States American Society of Landscape Architects conference April 15 in Little Rock, Arkansas.

Belanger's research focuses on resilience theory, which is emerging as an important framework for understanding and designing urban areas. Landscape architects are uniquely positioned to become leaders in planning and designing resilient cities. Increasing urban resilience is important to many cities and is currently being funded with billions of dollars from federal and philanthropic sources.

In his presentation, Belanger discussed the resilience theory and its importance to landscape architecture and urban design; reviewed resilient design strategies and representational techniques used by five winning proposals in the Rebuild by Design competition; and presented his six tenets for representing resilience in landscape architecture. The presentation concluded with a discussion of how landscape architects can continue contributing to the dialogue on urban resilience.

Belanger's scholarship revolves around urban resilience, graphic representation and the creative design process. His most recent publication, "Situating Eidetic Photomontage in Contemporary Landscape Architecture," (Belanger and Urton 2014) presents a framework for understanding the role of, and potential for, photomontage in landscape architectural design process and communication. He is currently completing a manuscript about graphic communication techniques used by winning teams of the Rebuild by Design competition, and their design strategies to strengthen urban resilience. This semester Belanger is teaching Unlocking Creativity, a universitywide elective designed to equip students with methods for generating creative ideas and the confidence to find their inherent genius.

Belanger was one of 22 presenters at the conference, and his presentation was approved for professional continuing education credit. The central states are comprised of six individual chapters of the American Society of Landscape Architects and encompass eight states: North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and Arkansas. These chapters come together once a year for professional development, advancing the profession and to celebrate their best work.

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