TY  - UNPB
AV  - public
TI  - Combining environmental and intrinsic benefits of parks in planning: a case study of Groningen and Berlin
EP  - 49
UR  - https://frw.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/3990/
A1  - Brouwer, Elzemieke
Y1  - 2022///
M1  - bachelor
N2  - The coming decades, cities are expected to expand to be able to maintain the rising population. With
climate change affecting weather patterns and an increase in inhabitants, parks can be used to help solve
two occurring challenges. First, parks can help lower temperatures, create space to store and discharge
water and clean the air. Second, parks have a positive effect on human well-being and can help decrease
stress levels and provide a sense of safety. This research tries to answer the question ?How can urban
parks be planned in a way which optimizes both the environmental and intrinsic benefits for its users??.
To answer this question, surveys were conducted in Groningen, The Netherlands and in Berlin,
Germany. Two parks in each city were studied and compared, in Groningen the focus was on intrinsic
benefits, based on park elements defined by an interview with a landscape architect, while in Berlin the
awareness of the environmental benefits was evaluated. In Groningen these parks were Park Oost
Insichebuurt (N=30) and Pioenpark (N=30), in Berlin this was Volkspark Friedrischain (N=47) and the
Rummelsburg Neighbourhood (N=26) which is built according to the sponge city principle. Comparing
the two parks led to findings that showed how different executions of similar elements created similar
or different experiences in park visitors. Results indicate that, vegetation and water have a positive effect
on the happiness and relaxation potential of parks. Water does not increase the feeling of safety, for
vegetation this is dependent on the density and maintenance of the green space. The results from Berlin
suggest that park visitors are aware of the capabilities of parks to clean the air and lower temperatures.
That parks can help prevent floods was not familiar to park visitors from Berlin, a reason for this low
awareness is that Berlin citizens are not affected by floods. To conclude, climate-responsive park design
is seen as the new type of planning to enhance both the environmental and intrinsic benefits of parks.
ID  - theses_frw3990
ER  -