Juniper

Abstract

The first section of the paper aims to summarise the original proposal as presented to the Radical Practice panel in December 2020. We will briefly cover the current structural problems when envisioning Juniper, and aspects we tried to tackle to create a more efficient environment for investing in green infrastructure within our cities. The purpose of the summary is not to evaluate any part of our proposal but to comprehend our thinking process throughout the first assignment of Radical Practice 2020–2021.

In the second chapter, we attempt to critically evaluate our built environment model by assessing all the elements that did not work. We will highlight some of the consequences that our initial proposition may have led to. Our new refined understanding of Juniper came not only from the questions that were raised by the panel but from further individual research conducted by each group member, all relevant to re-versioning our perception of Juniper.

Juniper — Original proposal

Juniper is a for-profit company within the realm of Architecture, Urban Design, Planning, and Sustainability and provides nature-based solutions (NBS) by tracking and mapping underused land in urban areas. We reinvent and innovate the potential use of land by analysing under-utilised plots and matching clients and their land with specialists, whom we call ‘eco-partners’. Numerous experts, such as ecologists, entomologists, architects, landscape architects, and many more eco-partners work with us with a common goal of turning each land into an ecosystem hub. Each land is analysed and optimised not only for monetary profit but also for a long-term sustainable future.

One of our key aspirations is connecting people in the urban environment back with nature. We are passionate about connecting people, educating and improving each individual’s life; by growing a common knowledge about biodiversity in the cities, as well as globally. In extension, we hope to improve everyone impacted by each environmental plot, whether large or small. We believe that by reconnecting city dwellers with nature, we will all benefit greatly.

When learning about the sector, we realised that many smaller eco-service businesses struggle to deal with the regulatory and administrative side of the work, as they usually lack internal expertise. Therefore, while matching eco-partners with clients, we provide any services required that the eco-partners might be lacking, such as planning, legal or administrative expertise, to help each eco-service partner to solely focus on their main passion.

We proposed a model where the government provides subsidies to develop land with huge public potential. The scale of subsidies is based on the scale of possibility for public use and enjoyment. This makes our service economically competitive for a private investor’s point of view and will provide the largest potential uplift in environmental efforts while working together with the local government and multiple eco-service partners. By providing a direct uplift in land value, we invite investors to invest in the future, in biodiversity and sustainability, while working with us and our many eco-service partners.

Evaluation of Original Juniper proposal

To further refine our business model, we evaluated and developed our shortcomings.

Our original funding system, which included government subsidies, is not sustainable as it helps private investors make even more profit. Typically, private landowners are required to pay the public (government) through corresponding tax when landowners or developers build a new development because the city’s state-funded infrastructures are used. The taxation options include stamp duty tax, income tax, corporation tax, and capital gains tax depending on the building use. Despite all these taxes, the developers are still benefiting the most due to the significant land value uplift whilst the public is experiencing issues of financial constraints in investing in a greener and more resilient future. There is a need to develop a model that re-captures some of the money made by private owners back to the public. One of the approaches to this problem could be making private developers invest a portion in nature-based solutions that provide long-term benefits to society and the community. Moreover, nature-based solutions help private investors save money on their maintenance costs due to the reduction of storm damages, drainage blockages, and sewage overflow.

In addition, Juniper could become more proactive in searching for the lands with green potential, lands that are currently underdeveloped in terms of green sustainability. Juniper would establish a dynamic online map platform with a series of overlaid data. The data would include information on public health, crime rates, local planning code, energy efficiency, flood alleviation, water management, and open spaces that are under-performing. These sets of data are overlapped with geographical information and analysed to determine the specific plots that could be improved drastically through NBS implementation. Then, we propose solutions to potential investors in fostering sustainability developments that benefit socially, financially and environmentally among all parties.

In order to secure clients and stakeholders, we realised that establishing a way to incentify natural assets is an important part of the process. If natural assets are aligned with private assets when measuring profit, the perspective of investors will change. Natural capital accounting is a means to quantify natural assets physically and monetarily through the associated ecosystem services behind. As the services vary in marketability, different methodologies are set up to accommodate this range of differences. Yet, despite the difference in method, the framework will always be characterised by being transparent, indicative, and revisable, to produce defined, comparative, and discussable values out of the highly value-inconsistent natural assets.

Furthermore, it is important to acknowledge its potential risks of green infrastructure such as climate gentrification. Impacts of climate change, such as flooding, forest fire and rising sea level, are already an important consideration for real estate investors when purchasing land, a trend that is expected to continue.

When investments are being made to make a region more climate-resilient it may increase its attractiveness. With increased demand, the value of the land will go up, a development that might financially harm or displace the residents of lower socioeconomic status. Following the crit and further investigation, we now understand that the risk of climate gentrification is a reality and a challenge that a platform like Juniper must address. We would require proactive strategies and policies toward anti-displacement and ensure that low-income communities get access to the new green services.

Essays: Jonathan Lau, Inji Kang, Tania Tovatt, Hao Zhou, Hanwen Zhang