Video: Eric Sanderson pictures New York - before the City

Since being introduced to the concept of Landscape Ecology by Profesor Brook Muller at the University of Oregon, I have been fascinated by the blending of architecture and the environment. This fascinating talk takes a step back in time to visualize what life on Manhattan was like before the Europeans arrived. Using this knowledge as a base we can better design site specific architecture that is in complete harmony with the ecosystem around it. Think about what New York City would be in 100 years if nature was reintroduced as an integral infrastructure for the city - there are some visualizations of this concept at the end of the presentation. From Ted.com:

400 years after Hudson found New York harbor, Eric Sanderson shares how he made a 3D map of Mannahatta's fascinating pre-city ecology of hills, rivers, wildlife -- accurate down to the block -- when Times Square was a wetland and you couldn't get delivery.

If you found this talk interesting check out this book: Mannahatta: A Natural History of New York City