nature in placemaking 2
DESCRIPTION
A continuation of the previous studyTRANSCRIPT
Nature in Placemaking
Cities for People as Cities for Nature
Issues 2Urban Design
Elaine Edmonds
ThemeContextTheoriesConceptual Framework- AnalysisCase StudiesConceptual Framework- GuidanceConceptual Framework- TestingConclusionsBibliography Appendix
Contents
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Nature in PlacemakingElaine Edmonds
page4
ThemeCity for People
What are 'Cities For People'?
'Cities for People' is an aim, an urban design theory and a movement. Conceptualised by Jan Gehl it involves the creation of urban spaces primarily focused upon human experience and human values. Theoretically it has be divided into 5 sectors, these were safe, sustainable, attractive, healthy and lively. Recently Jan Gehl has adapted these. The new criteria are Accessible & Inviting, Lively & Diverse, Healthy & Prosporous, Safe & Secure, Attractive & Competetive. The removal of an environmental criteria and inclusion of economic is indicative of the current development context internationally. For the duration of this research the original Cities for People aims are being explored however mention may be made of the new criteria.
How can you achieve the aims of Cities for People?
Many approahes have been taken in cities worldwide, most revolving around urban transport and street life. The approach which has been little explored and which theoretically could offer many benefits is the use of nature in placemaking. Varying aims for cities for people and how they can be supplied by natural features are illustrated on the next page.
Image Source- www.gehlarchitects.com
Nature in PlacemakingElaine Edmonds
Page5Primary Aims of Cities for People
Criteria Suggested by Jan Gehl
How Aims could be met by Natural Structures
Healthy Sustainable Attractive Safe Lively
Positive Climate Positive Sensory Experience
Protection against acidents
Places to Walk
Sensory Protection
Protection against violence
Places to Sit or Stay
Scale Places to Play or Talk
Places to See
Mental Health Benefits
Local Climate Change Mitigation
Wind Shelter Traffic Calming Open Space for Recreation
Air Quality Improvements
Carbon Sink Shade or rain cover
Crime reduction
Informal Exercise Opportunities
Increased Property Prices
Noise Mitigation
Flood Mitigation
Source- Cities for People by Jan Gehl
Source- Author
Nature in PlacemakingElaine Edmonds
page6
ContextResearch
The importance of nature to human survival is obvious, without nature there would be no food, no homes and indead no people. In the centuries before the industrial revolution pur link to nature was very direct, the majority of people lived in the countryside and subsided off the land they owned. In this context the importance of nature was implicitly understood but all the benefits which arise from it were unknown.
Following the industrial revolution urbanisation and mass production led to a schism between man and nature.. The distance between our resources and our consumption grew and the form of urban development became increasingly seperated from nature. As this occured our thinking also became seperated from natural systems,
Since the d e ve l o p m e n t of large urban centres and more recently env i ronmenta l issues of climate change and peak oil the friability of the current form of d e ve l o p m e n t is becoming evident.
The relationship b e t w e e n
'country' and 'city' which once seemed undeniably seperate is now a complex intermingling which we are only coming to understand.
Considering the relationship with nature which we had for the first 10,000 years of human existance it is not hard to imagine that our reliance on nature continues.
Our current form of urban development has also led to a division between social resources and access. The ability to make profit as primary definition of success has lead to neglect of the street and public spaces. In response to this urban theorests have developmed many ideas relating physical structure to social capital. The theory we are primarily concerned with is the concept of Cities for People.
Relating social, physical and environmental characteristicts in a theoretical framework is a complex undertaking. The
interactions in each of these areas have been studied by different specialists in different fields. with little interaction between them.
Overcoming this barrier is a dificulty which has led to the slow development of unified theories. In the case of this piece of work the author is a qualified
Nature in PlacemakingElaine Edmonds
Page7Environmental Scientist and Urban Designer, thus epistomologicaly this work comes from a background knowledge base in both fields.
Ecological theory has an area focused upon the physical structure of nature. This is called Green Infrastructure, GI. GI is rimariy focused upon the ecological protection and propogation of habitats by ounding networks through which they can interact and communicate.
These network and structure theories can also be important from the point of view of social benefits of nature. Nature spaces which are part of a wider natural network are more resilient to change and disturbance reducing the chance of degredation and the need for maintainance.
As a network they also provide an array of benefits which islands of nature may not supply. Research by Natural England has highlighted a number of interactions between different GI functions many of which rely on a network of green spaces.
In using these theories some developments have already shown benefits. For example Upton in the UK developed a green network in order to deal with water in a sustainable way. These green water spaces are known as SUDS and have now been integrated into many developments on all scales.
In this case the usefulness of green spaces in water managment is evident however there are other benefits of the green network in this development. The character afforded to the area by integration of nature and the recreation space available are just two of the extra benefits of this system.
In order to identify benefits afforded by different nature structures a literature review was conducted and the resulting benefits listed with the physical structure that confers that benefit. This list can then be applied to case studies to investigate their suitabilitity as places for people.
Nature in PlacemakingElaine Edmonds
page8Theories
Urban Ecology
Image Source-
What theories exist for nature in cities?
Integrating nature into cities is a field of study which comes under many headings and diciplines. The primary one is Green Infrastructure and generally involves a strategic, environmental approach to create a green network. This draws from the fields of ecology, conservation and spatial planning. On a large scale green infrastructure is succesful and supplies both environmental and human benefits, however it lacks a focus on the scale of streets and places. The overall theory involved in GI is still important at the street and neighbourhood scale and thus is described here;
Green CorridorsThese are the motorways of nature networks, they provide habitats and
movement options.
Green LinksLinks are week or disrupted green corridors. They provide opportunity for movement but have higher human effects and less nature
use.
HabitatsHabitats is the word used for anywhere nature can live and the nature that inhabits that place. Large habitats can have a nature core, where human impacts are milder and a surrounding hub where there are impacts of human activities. The core
is not present in all habitats.
Structure Theories
Nature in PlacemakingElaine Edmonds
Page9Edge Effects
Natural structures are sensitive to different impacts. Impacts from human activity decrease from the edges of a habitat to the cantre, much like a privac gradient. The changes near the edge brought about by human
activity is called the edge effect.
Native PlantsNative plants are those throught to originally be from the area in question. They are considered superior to non native plants because they are evolved to the local context, they may find it difficult to survive elsewehere and non native plants are a sign
of human effects.
BiodiversityAt its simplest biodiversity is the measure of the number of species in a set area. Biodiversity is considered possitive because a single species may be eradicated by a change in context however if there are multiple species the habitat can survive the
loss of one species.
Ecology Theories
Urban Design Theories
Nodes and EdgesOriginating from Kevin Lynch's research, the concept of increasing legibility by concentrating on the nodes and edges of spaces and creating recognisable
spaces.
Active InterfaceComing from Jane Jacobs theories of eyes on the street, active interface is any structure which provides the possibility for human interaction such as windows, entrances etc. Passive interfaces are ones which provide little
or no possibility for this.
Image Source- www.greeninfrastructure.com
LegibilityLegibility is the ability to read a place.
Nature in PlacemakingElaine Edmonds
page10Conceptual Framework
Analysis
From the criteria identified under the theme of cities for people a checklist was created. In order for each of the criteria to be met a number of properties were identified in reading. A list of them is included here;
•Mental Health- Any nature present•Air Quality- Presence of semi mature or mature trees•Exercise Opportunities- Space for activity or sport•Local Climate Change Mitigation- Replace hard surface with
green•Carbon Sink- Mature Trees, more than 3 per 10sqm•Property Prices- A line of trees or large stretch of planting•Flood Mitigation- Areas of bare ground or planting•Ecological Value- More than 5 species, preferably not planted•Wind Shelter- More than 10 m width•Shade or rain cover- Canopy layer•Noise Mitigation- More than 3m planted width•Traffic Calming- Regular tree spacing•Crime Reduction- Mature trees present•Overlooking- Active interfaces viewable•Open recreation spaces- Flat grass or bare ground spaces•Seating Areas- raised structures or benches
This checklist was then used on a number of Case Studies.
Nature in PlacemakingElaine Edmonds
Page11
Walthomstow UKCity for People Aims
Criteria Town Centre Hub
Healthy Mental HealthAir QualityExercise Opportunities
Sustainable Local Climate Change MitigationCarbon SinkProperty PricesFlood MitigartionEcological
Attractive Wind ShelterShade or rain coverNoise Mitigation
Safe Traffic CalmingCrime ReductionOverlooked
Lively Open Recreation SpaceSeating areas
Example Case Study; Walthamstow
The walthamstow case study was sourced from Cabe on the basis of its green space. The place images were analysed using the checklist and the scores added up to form a marking system for each cities for people aim.
Nature in PlacemakingElaine Edmonds
page12
Case Studies
The High Line, NYC
Maurice Rose Airfeild, Munich
Walthamstow Town Centre, UK
Esplinadin Puisto, Helsinki
These case studies were chosen for investigation based upon their inclusion in urban design best practice sources including Cabe, the MKSD Green Infrastructure Plan, Natural England, World Architecture News, Public Space, Rudi and the authors experience.
Image Sources- Cabe, Public Space and TCPA or Authors Own
•Reclaimed Site for Nature
•Good rec-reation provision
•Positive economic results
•Reclaimed industrial structure
•Created much need-ed recreation site
•Well overlooked and patroled
•Strong Link•Ecology explained
by signs etc
•greening a blank space, creating a community resource
•Equal Opportunity•Good conectivity al-
long desire lines
•Good recrea-tion space
•good linkages transport and market
•maximises benefits for humans and ecology
Nature in PlacemakingElaine Edmonds
Page13Renmin Lu, Shanghai
South Waterfront, Portland, OR
Priors Hall, Corby, UK
Griffith Avenue, Dublin
Upton, UK
•Good links•Lots of
seating•nature pro-
tected by raised area
•Full network of conect-ed green spaces
•well overlooked• flood mitigation•could be more diverse•has traffic calming ben-
efits
•Traffic calming
•Flood mitigation
•Scale could be improved
•Complete network of green spac-es
•Open recre-ation space
• lack of ma-ture planting, high main-tainance lawns
•Long connection- longest tree lined boulevard in Eu-rope
•Traffic calm-ing
•Carbon Sink
Nature in PlacemakingElaine Edmonds
page14Conceptual Framework
Forming the Design Guide
The case studies were noted for extra design features which achieve the aims of places for people. They are combined with the criteria used previously in the case studies to form a design guidence sheet..
Healthy Attractive Safe Lively Sustainable
Air Quality Improve-ment
Exercise Oportunity
Mental Health Benefits
Wind Shelter
Noise Mitigation
Shade Crime Reduction
Traffic Calming
Recreation Space
Carbon Sink
Flood Mitigation
Increased Property Prices
Local Climate Change Mitigation
Mature Tree- 1
Mature Tree Line
Acces-sible Open Green Space- 3sqm
Acces-sible Open Green Space- 10sqm
Inacces-sible Green Space- 3sqm
Inacces-sible Green Space- 10sqm
~1tonne per tree
~1tonne per tree
regularly spaced
within view 25% reduc-tion within 3 times height
vary by species
vary by species
Nature in PlacemakingElaine Edmonds
Page15S T E P O N E
I D E N T I F Y S P A C E
S T E P T W O
L O C A T E
T R E E S
S T E P T HR E E
L O C A T E
R E R E A T I O N
S T E P F O U R
P R O T E C T N A T U R E
Recreation and rest space within nature area can be formed in many ways. Its location should be determined on a case by case basis however some guidance is
Busier, louder more active spaces should be located on active desire lines or near busy entrances.
Quieter spaces can be located near busy spaces but a small buffer of nature can change the quality of the space.
Trees contribute to many of the placemaking requirements of places for people. However poorly located trees fail to thrive, cause poor air quality or negativly effect the microclimate and are likely to be vandalised. Considering the locations of trees early in the design is important.
Using one of the many guidance books avaliable for street trees such as tree planting for streets and highways by Freedman Fox or Street Trees; a manual for municipalities by Schein the appropriate trees for an area can be identified and the necesary space for the canopy and root system can be found within the scheme, fig 15.2.
During the design process allocating space to green areas is important.
In new design areas the location of nature spaces can be determined by the existing nature structure.
In retrofit the nature space can be located in relation to the purposes required as shown in the table previous.
The space shoulld not be the left over space from road design, it should be attached to the public space network., fig 15.1.
Fig 15.1- good and bad locations Fig 15.2- tree scale and space
The nature areas remaining require some protection. Traditionally fitting a fence was the strategy but this does not provide any additional features or provide legibility as to why the area is protected.
Raised beds, distinctive pathways and signed explainations are some of the methods which can be used.
Fig 15.4- protection methodsFig 15.3- recreation qualities
Nature in PlacemakingElaine Edmonds
page16
Proposed Test SiteLondon Road, Oxford
The London road as it entres Oxford passes through many contexts; residential, commercial, institutional. It also links two major parks- Headington Hill and Bury Knowle. I propose to test the guidance by investigating if this road can be made into a place for people and a viable green connection between the parks can be formed.
Image Source- www.brookes.ac.uk
Conceptual Framework
Testing
Nature in PlacemakingElaine Edmonds
Page17
Section 1Campus Zone
Large buildings, wide distance between them.
Few entrances
Concentrated desire lines
Section 2Commercial Zone
Small, dense plots
Many entrances
More enclosed space
Many places for people atributes
The differing zones which the London Road passes through vary in uses, morphology and other place values.. The comercial area of Headington High Street already has many of the values of a place for people, however the campus zone adjacent to Oxford Brookes University and the surrounding schools and hospitals lack many attributes and the London Road is little more than a functional transport route at this point. For this reason the test area will be defined as this zone in order to show the placemaking benefits most clearly.
Nature in PlacemakingElaine Edmonds
page18
Nature in PlacemakingElaine Edmonds
Page19Testing
Following the Guidance
In order to test the guidance on the chosen area a design needs to be drawn up and critiqued. Other guidance sources will be used for creating a robust space and maintaining other advantagous urban design quali-ties.
Each step of the guidance will be followed for the site and options cri-tiqued both for their application of the guidance and under other urban design qualities. Where guidance coincides or conflicts with normal prac-tice will also be noted.
The resulting design will then be analysed in the same way the case studies were for places for people criteria.
Nature in PlacemakingElaine Edmonds
page20Option 1-North Side
+Condenced na-ture space+Less jiunctions and entrances
-Road acts as barrier-Road Imposed on Campus space-Passive interface
Option 3- Split
+Visually apealing
-Small spaces, re-duces use possi-bilities
Option 2-South Side
+Least disruption+Most accessible space
-Requires campus space- Shading on Bulid-ings
S T E P O N E
I D E N T I F Y S P A C E
Nature in PlacemakingElaine Edmonds
Page21S T E P T W O
L O C A T E
T R E E S
S T E P T HR E E
L O C A T E
R E R E A T I O N
Recreation space can be located allong or adjacent to desire lines. In this case the campus is in need of outdoor meeting space and the routes through this area are in need of character. The redevelopment of the campus has resulted in this area being much busier than previously. In the last few years it has had a wall removed to open the area and many alternative routes through the campus have been blocked. As such this space has taken on a require function but maintained a charater of an unused area. Creating meeting and remaining spaces will give the area more activity and make it more desirable for recreation.
Identify Native Species-
Oak, Alder, Birch, Hornbeam and Field Maple
Research mature tree scale-
Canopy size, tree height and root system
Arrange trees in the space-
Avoiding desire lines and ensuring root systems have sufficient space
Nature in PlacemakingElaine Edmonds
page22S T E P F O U R
P R O T E C T N A T U R E
The methods for protecting nature on this site were chosen as
1. Defining strong paths along desire lines
2. Raising structures to prevent access and give a sense of enclosure
3. Creating green wallls to strengthen the definition of nature in the area
4. Using sculptural elements which inte-grate nature and further define the 'ac-cessible' green space from the protect-ed nature space.
Nature in PlacemakingElaine Edmonds
Page23Testing
Final Design
Some extra decisions not relating to the nature guidance were re-quired to complete the design. The majority of the land involved in the project is part of a university campus, the structures need to be robust for heavy use and low maintainance to reduce cost. The instalation cost could conceptually be reduced using student in-volvement and as such 'DIY' or 'GIY' projects were favoured.
Nature in PlacemakingElaine Edmonds
page24Conclusions
Future Research
Test Case Be-fore
Test Case AfterOxford Brookes
City for People Aims
Criteria Local Green Link
Local Green Link
Healthy Mental HealthAir QualityExercise Opportunities
Sustainable Local Climate Change MitigationCarbon SinkProperty PricesFlood MitigartionEcological
Attractive Wind ShelterShade or rain coverNoise Mitigation
Safe Traffic CalmingCrime ReductionOverlooked
Lively Open Recreation SpaceSeating areas
Good points Realigning paths along desire linesQuality MaterialsCharacterLow Cost
Poor points
Nature in PlacemakingElaine Edmonds
Page25Bibliography
Further Reading
Start With the Park, Cabe, 2009MKSM Green Infrastructure by Design, Milton Keynes Authority, 2010NYC Green Infrastructure Plan, NYC Council, 2008Chicago's Urban Forrest Report, US Department of Agriculture, 2009Biodiversity by Design, TCPA, 2006Benedict, Mcmahon - 2004 - Green Infrastructure Smart Conservation for the 21st CenturyBotequilhaLeitao - 2002 - Applying landscape ecological concepts and metrics in sustainable landscape planningCrewe - 2005 - Linear Parks and Urban Neighbourhoods A Study of the Crime Impact of the Boston South-west CorridorGoddard, Dougill, Benton - 2010 - Scaling up from gardens biodiversity conservation in urban environments
Nature in PlacemakingElaine Edmonds
page26Appendix
Analysis
Walthomstow UK The High Line, NYC
Maurice Rose Airfeild, Munich
Esplinadin Pu-isto, Helsinki
City for People Aims
Criteria Town Centre Hub
Neighbhood Green Link
Reclaimed Eco-logical Hub
Linear City Park
Healthy Mental HealthAir QualityExercise Opportunities
Sustainable Local Climate Change MitigationCarbon SinkProperty PricesFlood MitigartionEcological
Attractive Wind ShelterShade or rain coverNoise Mitigation
Safe Traffic CalmingCrime ReductionOverlooked
Lively Open Recreation SpaceSeating areas
Good points Realigning paths along desire linesQuality Materials
Ecology marked by signs
Maintained distinc-tivness through reused of airfield items
Central to trans-port and areas of interestmixed useslong sight lines despite lack of overlooking
Poor points Lack of variety in space
Removed from the street
Lack of residential use
Nature in PlacemakingElaine Edmonds
Page27
Renmin Lu, Shanghai
Upton, UK South Water-front, Portland
Corby, UK Griffith Avenue, Dublin
City for People Aims
Criteria Linear City Park Neighbourhood Neighbourhood Urban Exten-tion
Streetscape
Healthy Mental HealthAir QualityExercise Opportunities
Sustainable Local Climate Change MitigationCarbon SinkProperty PricesFlood MitigartionEcological
Attractive Wind ShelterShade or rain coverNoise Mitigation
Safe Traffic CalmingCrime ReductionOverlooked
Lively Open Recreation SpaceSeating areas
Good Points Seating on the edge of raised plantersCalm space next to large busy roadSight lines long
Good water managment
Destinctive resi-dental character
Poor Points Lack of access to the green space
Scale poorLacks maturity
Lack of recreation space