Arthur Perkins

Concluding a diverse architectural career at Aéroports de Paris Ingénierie, Arthur Perkins was instrumental in developing environmental initiatives for building and infrastructure projects, including a nature-based solutions (NBS) approach to design and masterplanning. As a member of the IATA/ACI sustainability working group for the 2022 edition of the airport development reference manual (ADRM), Perkins drew on this experience to contribute to the new chapters on land use planning and water and soil protection.

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Nature-based solutions for sustainable airport design

The presentation will illustrate the nature-based approach to development recommended in the 2022 ADRM, with a focus on site planning and design. As the ADRM states, “the construction … of an airport can transform the environment through the disruption of land and waterways, … loss of natural habitats, farmland and human settlements”, as well as the impact on its surroundings. In a sustainable approach that mitigates environmental disruption, the fundamental priority of aeronautical design standards is balanced by nature-based solutions to strengthen the natural resources of the airport site, ensuring healthy air, water and soil, rich biodiversity and climate-change resiliency.

The audience will learn:

• Site-specific landscape planning concepts to create a sustainable airport environment. Examples from Oslo, Munich and Kathmandu
• Nature-based solutions for environmental public health to minimize heat islands, water pollution and aircraft noise. Examples from Réunion, Paris-Orly and Amsterdam-Schiphol
• Best practices in landscape management to restore habitat and promote biodiversity and carbon capture. Examples from Paris-Orly and CDG
• Land planning for self-reliance in water, energy, food and waste cycles. Examples from San Diego and Cochin
• Strategies for climate resiliency in storm surge protection and flood mitigation. Examples from innovative landscape and green infrastructure design firms