Research

Our research draws on a range of academic fields, theories, and methods to explore the social, cultural, political, ecological, and economic aspects of landscape, and interrogate relationships between people and nature. Our work is published in academic journals, books, and other mediums.

Ideas

WILDERNESS
MICK ABBOTT & RICHARD REEVE

The shape of wilderness

Wilderness is an ongoing fascination in this country. Images of pristine forests, mountain ranges, untameable rivers and empty expanses of coastline are the key attraction in how we promote Aotearoa New Zealand internationally: ‘100% Pure’ no less…
WILDERNESS
MICK ABBOTT

From preserve to incubator: giving a new meaning to wilderness

Our fascination with wilderness pervades how we understand this land. Wilderness features in glossy landscape books, calendars and diaries, and encapsulates the essence of numerous outdoor clothing and equipment brands…
LANDSCAPE
MICK ABBOTT

Being Landscape

Exploring the inner conflicts inherent in our relationship with landscapes – conflicts that influence the paradigms of both development and preservation.

Research Outputs

2019
  1. Abbott, M. and Boyle, C., 2019. Ecological homelands: towards a counter-ontopology of landscape design. Landscape Research, 1-15.
  2. Abbott, M., Boyle, C., Lee, W., and Li X. 2019 (in press). Interweaving protected areas and productive landscapes in Aotearoa New Zealand: using design to explore multifunctionality in the Mackenzie Basin Journal of Landscape Architecture, 14(3) 18-31.
  3. Abbott, M., 2019 (in press). An evolving model for National Parks: from sanctuaries and islands to networks and socio-ecological landscapes. Journal of Chinese Landscape Architecture
  4. Abbott, M., Lee, W., Pickett.T., 2019, ‘Matakana Walking Trails strategy and development design’, DesignLab Report prepared for NZ Walking Access Commission, Matakana Tracks and Trails Trust, and Auckland City.
  5. Abbott, M. and Bowring, J., 2019. The Design Lab Approach to Teaching Landscape. Teaching Landscape I: Didactics and Experiences–a Textbook/Handbook on Landscape Teaching.
  6. Abbott, M., 2019. Options for reducing waste on Air New Zealand’s Long Haul Network. Research report for Air New Zealand.
  7. Lee, W. 2019. Weaving mahinga kai and landscape architecture: Design with nature through people-ecology interactions. MLA Dissertation, School of Landscape Architecture, Lincoln University
  8. Abbott, M, 2019. Designlab 2012-18: An ongoing experiment in design-directed landscape architecture research. CELA Conference UC Davis.
2018
  1. Abbott, M., Boyle, C., Blackburne, K. and Lee, W., 2018. New Zealand’s “Arc of influence”: the “clean, blue, green” country. Journal of Cultural Geography, 35(3), 388-412.
  2. Abbott, M., Blackburne, K., Boyle, C., Lee, W. and Pickett, T., 2018. A new wild: Reimagining the potential of indigenous biodiversity in Aotearoa, New Zealand. Design Ecologies, 7(1), 72-93.
  3. Abbott, M., 2018. The sustaining beauty of productive landscapes. Journal of Landscape Architecture, 13(2), 8-19.
  4. Abbott, M., Roncken, P., Lee, W. and Pickett, T., 2018. Conjectural ‘Landscape Cities’ and the Gap of Imagination. Landscape Review, 18(1) 108-117.
  5. Abbott, M., 2018. Placing Design, and Designing’s Place, in Landscape Architecture Research. Landscape Review, 18(1) 89-107
  6. Abbott, M., Lee, W., Li, X., Bowring, J., 2018, ‘Developing connections in the discipline of landscape architecture between China and Aotearoa New Zealand’, Journal of the Museum of Chinese Gardens and Landscape Architecture.
  7. Abbott, M., Lee, W., Pickett.T., Derecourt, J., 2018, ‘Arthur’s Pass National Pass Conservation Hub strategy and development design’, DesignLab Report prepared for Department of Conservation.
  8. Abbott, M., Lee, W., Pickett.T., Derecourt, J., 2018, ‘Taranaki Walking Trails strategy and development design’, DesignLab Report prepared for NZ Walking Access Commission, Sport Taranaki and Department of Conservation.
  9. Abbott, M. and W. Lee, 2018. Aotearoa New Zealand, The story of New Zealand’s National Parks. Museum of Chinese Gardens and Landscape Architecture, Beijing. (302 pages)
  10. Bowring, J., Vance, N. and Abbott, M., 2018. Architecture and design: Between seascape and landscape: experiencing the liminal zone of the coast. In Living with the Sea. Routledge.
  11. Abbott, M, and P Roncken., 2018. “Design and Research Roundtable.” Journal of Landscape Architecture, 12(3) 86-89.
  12. Abbott, M. and Roncken, P.A., 2018. A Time for Designing. Landscape Review, 18(1). pp 1-3.
  13. Esperschuetz, J., Bowie, M.H., Smith, C., Abbott, M.R. and Dickinson, N., 2018. Restoration research (Punakaiki Coastal Restoration Project: 2014-2016).
  14. Abbott, M. and Boyle, C., 2018. Ontopological Natures. Proceedings of 2018 ECLAS Conference Ghent, Belgium. 40-45.
2017
  1. Abbott, M., and J. Bowring, 2017. A laboratory for design-directed research. Building design scholarship and academic possibility through designing. The Journal of Public Space, 2(3), 41-52.
  2. Abbott, M., Lee, W., Pickett, T., Boyle, C., Van Wagtendonk, M., 2017, ‘The Avon-Otakaro River as a catalyst for city change’, DesignLab Report prepared for Regenerate Christchurch.
  3. Abbott, M., Lee, W., Pickett, T., Boyle, C., Van Wagtendonk, M., 2017, ‘Eden Project Waterscape Plan’, DesignLab Report prepared for Eden Project Trust UK and Eden Project NZ.
  4. Abbott, M., Lee, W., Pickett. T., 2017, ‘Oparara Planning Exercise’, DesignLab Report prepared for Department of Conservation, Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment and West Coast Tourism.
  5. Lee, W., and M. Abbott. 2017, ‘Abel Tasman National Park Vistor Centre as a mobile application strategy and design’, DesignLab Report prepared for Next Foundation and Project Janszoon.
  6. Abbott M.R., Li W., Han Y., Lee W., Gu Y., Chen J., Ning X., Li Y., Zhang Y., Xia X., Zhang X., Yang Z., Boyle C., Pickett T., Charters S., Li X., Blackburne K., Jardine T., Warne K., Jiang H., Zheng T., and H. Ziling, 2017 Aotearoa New Zealand : The story of New Zealand’s National Parks, Exhibition at Chinese Museum of Gardens and Landscape Architecture, with Beijing Forestry University, Tsinghua University, Beijing of Museum of Natural History, Chinese Academy of Sciences and NZ Department of Conservation Sept 17-Nov 26 Beijing, China.
  7. Abbott, M. and Bowring, J., 2017. A laboratory for design-directed research: building design scholarship and academic possibility through designing’ In Crossing Boundaries: Reflections on Applied Collaborative Architectural Research Siracusa, Italy: Lettera Ventidue
  8. Abbott M.R., Roncken P., Lee W., Pickett T., 2017. Conjectural ‘Landscape Cities’. In D. Goodwin, B. Kotzen, E. Wall, & T. Waterman (Eds.), ECLAS Conference 2017: Proceedings
  9. Abbott, M., 2017, ‘Beyond Sustaining Beauty’, In D. Goodwin, B. Kotzen, E. Wall, & T. Waterman (Eds.), ECLAS Conference 2017: Proceedings.
  10. Abbott, M., Boyle, C., Lee, W., 2017, ‘Development of New Zealand’s National Park Idea’, Proceedings of Chinese and New Zealand National Parks Research Symposium, Co-hosted by Tsinghua University and Beijing University of Forestry, Beijing, China (16-17 September).
  11. Pickett, T., Abbott, M., Bowring, J., 2017, ‘A Landscape Architecture of Hutting’, Proceedings of Bridging CELA/CLAEC, Beijing (26-29 May).
  12. Rae, J., Abbott, M., Bowring, J., 2017, ‘Walking as Inquiry’, Proceedings of Bridging CELA/CLAEC, Beijing (26-29 May).
2016
  1. Abbott, M., K. Blackburne, J. Bowring and C. Murphy, 2016. Fraktales Pflanzen in Aotearoa Neuseeland. Anthos, the Swiss Journal of Landscape Architecture, 3(16), 42-44.
  2. Abbott, M., Lee, Li Xuejing, and J. Bowring, 2016. Strategies for leveraging New Zealand’s ‘Arc of Influence’, Design-directed Research Report for the Hon Nicky Wagner, Associate Minister of Conservation.
  3. Abbott M., Lee W., and T. Pickett, 2016. Growing the appeal of Arthur’s Pass National Park: identifying ways to better draw people into conservation-based values and activities. Christchurch: Lincoln University Design Lab.
  4. Abbott M.R., Lee W., Li X., Bowring J., 2016. What is a twenty-first century national park? Designing scenarios for the Aotearoa New Zealand high country. In Bridging the gap: Proceedings of the ECLAS Conference. Rapperswil, Switzerland: (ECLAS).
  5. Abbott M.R., Blackburne K., Bowring J., Murphy C., 2016. Fractal planting: Reorganising forest, farming and cultural landscape in Canterbury, Aotearoa New Zealand. In Bridging the gap: Proceedings of the ECLAS Conference. Rapperswil, Switzerland: (ECLAS).
2015
  1. Abbott, M. 2015. Practices of the wild: a rewilding of landscape architecture. LA Plus, University of Pennsylvania, (1), 34-39.
  2. Copley, N., J. Bowring And M. Abbott, 2015. Thinking ahead: design-directed research in a city which experienced fifty years of sea-level change overnight. JOLA: Journal of Landscape Architecture, Taylor and Francis, (2), 78-89.
  3. Smith, C.M.S , M.H. Bowie, J.L. Hahner, S. Boyer, Y.-N. Kim, H.-T. Zhong, M. Abbott, S. Rhodes, D. Sharp, N. Dickinson, 2015. Punakaiki Coastal Restoration Project: a case study for a consultative and multidisciplinary approach in selecting indicators of restoration success for a sand mining closure site, West Coast, New Zealand.
  4. Abbott, M., K. Blackburne, C. Murphy and J. Bowring, 2015. Living Water Research and Concept Development Project. Design and Report for Fonterra, Department of Conservation and Waihora Ellesmere Trust
  5. Bowring J., C. Murphy & M. Abbott, 2015. Strange generation: Doing the phenomenological within a disrupted urban thing. The Urban Thing Interstices Conference, Auckland University of Technology, 10-12 April
  6. Abbott, M., 2015. It’s in our nature: conservation, landscape, architecture. In On the edge: design investigations in the New Zealand landscape. Victoria University Wellington.
  7. Abbott, M., & J. Bowring, 2015. Design as Laboratory: building value through design-directed research. Australasian Architectural Schools Association Conference, 2-3 October, Christchurch.
  8. Abbott, M., K. Blackburne, M. Bowie, J. Bowring, N. Dickinson, B. Dollery, & C. Murphy, 2015. A part of our nature: building social and economic value through ecological restoration. NZ Ecological Society Conference, November 17-19.
2014
  1. Morrissey, J., Mirosa, M., and M. Abbott, 2014. Identifying Transition Capacity for Agri-food Regimes: Application of the Multi-level Perspective for Strategic Mapping. Journal of Environmental Policy & Planning, 16(2), 281-301.
  2. Abbott, M., and C.Richter, 2014. Completed Kiwi Ranger concept, programme, extended 16 site pilot, and all IP development for family-based conservation experiences in public conservation lands. With University of Otago and Otago Institute of Design, Shades of Green Limited and Department of Conservation.
  3. Abbott, M., K Blackburne, R.Edwards, B. Dollery, and N. Dickinson, 2014. Ngai Tahu Dairy Eyrewell Research Project. Design and report for Ngai Tahu Farming
  4. Abbott, M., K. Blackburne, M. Bowie, J. Bowring, N. Dickinson, B. Dollery and C. Murphy, Punakaiki Living Lab Research Project. Concept Design and report for Rio Tinto, Conservation Volunteers NZ and Department of Conservation.
  5. Abbott, M., K. Blackburne, C. Murphy and J. Bowring, 2014. Eden Project New Zealand Research and Concept Development Project. Design and Report for Mountains to Sea Trust and Eden Project Cornwall UK.
  6. Abbott, M. and J. Bowring, 2014. Design as Method: the strengths of a lab-based research approach in landscape architecture research. ECLAS Conference Proceedings, Porto, Portugal, 21-23 October, 2014.
  7. Abbott, M., 2014. The product of landscape’s phenomenological turn: designing an experience of nature. ECLAS Conference Proceedings, Porto, Portugal, 21-23 October, 2014.
  8. Boyer S., Abbott M., Bowie M.H.,Dickinson N.M., Hahner J. Rhodes S.H., Sharp D., Smith C.M., 2014. The Punakaiki Living Lab a case study for a consultative and multidisciplinary approach in restoring a mining closure site, West Coast, New Zealand. Society for Ecological Restoration Australasia Meeting (SERA) in Nouméa, New Caledonia.
2013
  1. Abbott, M., 2013. Wandering, Wilderness and Innovation. In Moving in extreme environments international research symposium, University of Otago, Dunedin NZ, 7-9 Feb.
  2. Abbott, M., Lockrey, S., Verghese, K. & Walton, E., 2013. Reducing environmental impacts at Antarctica NZ’s Scott Base. In Strategic Science in Antarctica, a joint Australian and New Zealand conference, Hobart, Australia, 24 – 26 June.
  3. Boyes, M. & Abbott, M., 2013. The outdoor body in time. In Sixth International Outdoor Education Research Conference, University of Otago, Dunedin NZ, 25-29 Nov.
  4. Abbott, M., 2013. Leveraging social and economic value from restoration projects. In Ecological restoration:  how do we contribute together workshop, Royal Society, Wellington, 12 June.
  5. Abbott, M., 2013. From Poverty to Plenty. In Being Here: creative conversations with the landscape of Aotearoa New Zealand Research Symposium, Lincoln University, Christchurch, 25 Oct.
  6. Abbott, M., 2013. Design and innovation in our public conservation lands. In Design for Conservation Symposium and Workshop, Lincoln University, Christchurch, 6-7 Nov.
  7. , Verghese, K., Crossin, E., Lockrey, S. & Abbott, M., 2013. LCA in the last frontier: Quantifying the environmental impacts and environmental impact reduction strategy. In Strategic Science in Antarctica, a joint Australian and New Zealand conference, Hobart, Australia, 24 – 26 June.
2012
  1. Abbott, M., 2012. Reducing catering weight and waste on Air New Zealand Long Haul Network. Research report for Air New Zealand and Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.
  2. Abbott, M., 2012. Reducing environmental impacts at Antarctica New Zealand’s Scott Base. Research report for Antarctica New Zealand.
  3. Abbott, M., 2012. Visualising a Temporal Cartography of Wilderness Travel. In: A Moore and I Drecki (eds.) Cartographies for Tomorrow: Mapping in a Mashed-Up World, Springer, Heidelberg.
  4. Department of Conservation., 2012. Further information about wilderness protection in Antarctica and use of tools in the Protocol. Article prepared for New Zealand and Netherlands Government to submit at the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting XXXV.

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