Brouwer, Elzemieke (2022) Combining environmental and intrinsic benefits of parks in planning: a case study of Groningen and Berlin. Bachelor thesis.
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Abstract
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.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Bachelor) |
|---|---|
| Degree programme: | Spatial Planning and Design |
| Supervisor: | Kuper, B.J. |
| Date Deposited: | 25 Aug 2022 13:46 |
| Last Modified: | 25 Aug 2022 13:46 |
| URI: | https://frw.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/3990 |
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