Sustaining Campuses through Physical Character–The Role of Landscape

Abstract

University campuses as centers of progression and innovation need to be sustainable. This is to enhance the community socially, environmentally and economically for teaching, and learning. The physical form of a place or campus could play a significant role, where there is limited research relating form to the sustainability. This study looks at the role of physical character in creating sustainable campus using Iraqi universities as case studies. It assumes that the overall physical elements, namely buildings, landscape and street pattern play a significant role in achieving sustainability. This paper focuses on the landscape aspects where both quantitative and qualitative methods were used. The aim is to determine the landscape character, where the findings of this study can contribute to create sustainable university campuses in Iraq and elsewhere globally.