Content uploaded by Karin K. Peschardt
Author content
All content in this area was uploaded by Karin K. Peschardt on Nov 28, 2014
Content may be subject to copyright.
A preview of the PDF is not available
Health Promoting Pocket Parks in a Landscape Architectural Perspective
Abstract and Figures
The densification of cities has led to a change in the way people live in the industrialised world. Sedentary work and physical inactivity may be related to the increasing prevalence of life style diseases such as obesity, diabetes II and stress related illnesses. A number of studies have suggested that urban green space (UGS) can have a positive effect on human health. However, the various types of UGS may support different types of use and may have different effects on health. Especially the role of pocket parks is unknown. The main hypothesis of this thesis is that pocket parks are a latent resource in promoting human health in dense city areas. Nine pocket parks in Copenhagen were investigated. In study I, the use and users of the pocket parks were studied based on an on-site questionnaire survey and observations. In study II, the association between the users’ perceived restorativeness (measured on the perceived restorativeness scale, PRS) and the characteristics of the pocket parks (the perceived sensory dimensions, PSD) were investigated. In this relation, the preference for the PDS´s were identified for users who reported average levels of stress and for the 25% who reported high levels of stress. Study III investigated how a number of specific features within the pocket parks were related to the two most preferred types of use. Finally, study IV investigated users’ perceptions of a pocket park before and after a redesign. The results of study I show that the main reasons for using the pocket parks are ‘socialising’ and ‘rest and restitution’. Factors such as distance from home, distance travelled and the context in which the users use the pocket parks influence frequency of use and the reason for use. Study II shows that also pocket parks with a limited amount of greenery may have restorative potential. The results of study II furthermore show that users with an average level of stress prefer the PSDs ‘social’ and ‘serene,’ but for the 25% most stressed users ‘nature’ becomes important in addition to ‘social’ and ‘serene’. The results of study III show that for the type of use called ‘socialising’ in pocket parks, it is important to include features which support the possibility of gathering, which may enhance the feeling of belonging to a certain space. Green surroundings are preferred for the type of use called ‘rest and restitution,’ and especially enclosed niches where people can feel safe and undisturbed are preferred. The findings from study IV add to the findings from study III with increased knowledge on features supporting ‘rest and restitution’. Especially variation in terrain and plantings as well as the experience of sun, shade and lights are important for ‘rest and restitution’. The results of this thesis add valuable knowledge to the existing research on UGS. It may be useful in future planning processes, thereby contributing to increase health promoting UGS in dense city areas.
Figures - uploaded by Karin K. Peschardt
Author content
All figure content in this area was uploaded by Karin K. Peschardt
Content may be subject to copyright.
... It became essential in the design process of green areas and natural landscapes in addition to healthcare facilities, where it is possible to take the preferences of stressed individuals into consideration [30], [32]. There are many studies that proven the direct effect of the integration between PSDs of natural areas and specific outdoor activities on the stress restoration levels of users [33], [34]. ...
... Most importantly participants were interviewed to measure the perceived restorativeness scale (PRS) to give an indicator for the restorative potential of the selected study areas. Additionally, PSDs were rated by selected experts in an attempt to relate between the restoration requirements and the restorative dimensions in the selected areas as adopted from [33], [44]. The study was conducted during late spring and mid-summer seasons, from May till July 2022. ...
... During weekdays, weekends and official holidays; the three spaces were visited seven times for three BM sessions in each day (morning, noon and evening); each session lasted for 90 minutes. For further understanding to the space characteristics PSDs were rated by five landscape experts with more than 7 years of experience inspired from [33] on three points Liker scale (0-3) where 0 means doesn't exist at all and 3 means strongly exist. ...
... The authors point out the universality of the implementation of the idea and its positive impact on the environment, inter alia, by improving the climatic conditions in the urban environment [6][7][8][9][10], increasing the number of public green areas, local biodiversity [11], and sustainable water management [12]. Many researchers emphasize the functional importance of pocket parks as places for recreation and leisure [13], the promotion of health and physical activity [14][15][16], and education [17], and important social roles [18]. Important conclusions were reached by Hamdy and Plaku [19], as well as Abd El Aziz [20]. ...
The idea of building pocket parks in cities is one of the more rational proposals for utilizing cameral spaces to create new quality in terms of green areas while accounting for the potential to blend them into the compact functiospatial structure of the contemporary city. Numerous examples of pocket park projects from around the world point to there being considerable interest in this form of greenery. The goal of this paper is to present the findings of a study of a selected number of pocket parks in Krakow, Poland, in terms of their accessibility, local determinants, and the nearby functiospatial structure, as well as whether they can be included into a wider network of service and green spaces of supralocal significance. The research method included novel field research of selected pocket parks and their surroundings. The form and function of the parks were analyzed and the type of their surrounding urban structure was determined, along with the parks’ accessibility. The study investigated nine parks located in the northeastern part of Krakow in a dense development structure dominated by multi-family housing. Analyses of the parks themselves and the research on the relations and linkages between parks and their surrounding urban structure generally pointed to the accuracy of the concept of the pocket park, its universality, and its compliance with the concept of the sustainable development of urban space. The presence and manner of development of pocket parks can be said to enhance the quality of spaces in confined fragments of an urban structure and to have predominantly local significance.
... Experience of naturalness has also been found to act as a mediator to experience of well-being . Ground cover features such as lawns are positively correlated with "rest and restitution" (Peschardt, 2014). A study by Nordh and Østby (2013) found that a "lot of grass and flowers/plants" were liked qualities, whereas absence of vegetation and presence of hard surfaces (pavement and buildings) decreased the perceived restorative qualities. ...
Installing green roofs and green walls in urban areas is suggested to supply multiple ecosystem services of benefit to human health and well-being. In a three-step literature review, we examined current knowledge on the link between public health and green roofs and green walls. A systematic search identified 69 scientific articles on green roofs/walls with a public health discourse. These articles were categorized according to type of health path covered (reduction of temperature, air pollution, noise or environmental appraisal) and coverage of issues of relevance for strategies on planning, design/construction, and maintenance of green roofs and green walls. Articles identified through the structured search were complemented with reviews (with no explicit public health rationale) covering reduction of noise, temperature, or air pollution and environmental appraisal. Other relevant studies were identified through snowballing. Several of the articles provided guidelines for optimizing the effect of green roofs/walls in supporting ecosystem services and maximizing well-being benefits to support health pathways identified. These included specifications about planning issues, with recommended spatial allocation (locations where people live, sun-exposed for maximum ambient temperature reduction) and with physical access needed for environmental appraisal. Recommendations regarding design parameters covered substrate depth (deeper generally being better), plant choices (more diverse roofs providing more services), and maintenance issues (moist substrate positively correlated with heat reduction).
... In general, the pedestrianisation of some strategically chosen roads encourages use of the public space by the inhabitants, even when activities or behaviours occur that were not foreseen a priori by the designers. The provision of adequate pedestrian zones or areas with slow moving vehicle traffic where the vehicles have to adapt to the pedestrians and not vice versa (see the Woonerf experience in the Netherlands, the Zones de rencontre in France and Home Zones, Living Streets or Shared Spaces in the United Kingdom), drastically reducing the pollution produced by vehicles, has effectively helped to create attractive urban spaces and to improve the living conditions in many cities (see, inter alia, Appleyard, 1981;Kjemtrup & Herrstedt, 1992;Biddulph, 2001;Appleyard & Cox, 2006;Department for Transport, 2011;Peschardt, 2014) 17 . ...
This book is the result of a research project designed and carried out
at the Department of Architecture, University of Florence. This book
discusses urban public spaces and, more specifically, run-down,
inactive micro-spaces that are barely used due to their location,
dimensions, morphology or semantic characteristics. In literature,
these spaces are often defined as “residual urban spaces.” A large
abandoned industrial area on the outskirts of a town or a small
interstitial space in a historical centre can be residual. With respect
to such a broad subject matter, the book seeks to radically limit the
field, concentrating on public residual spaces found in the oldest parts
of cities. The book reflects on this theme and introduces a method for
reading and assessment of the residuality of public spaces in historical
contexts (Residuality Assessment Process) which was tested in the
historical centre of Florence. It is the authors’ view that residual
spaces, above all if designed according to a system logic, can go from
being problems to potential activators of urban and social regeneration
processes, offering a useful contribution to improve city life.
... They are small-scale parks of not more than 4000m2 and are located within 500m walking distance, which provides social and recreational opportunities for different age groups (Peschardt et al., 2012;Currie, 2016;Abd El-Aziz, 2015). Pocket parks have become necessities and should not be looked upon as mere amenities as they provide the necessary greenery for a small group of people for outdoor activities and relaxation in a green environment (Baur and Tynon, 2010;Peschardt, 2014;Mahmoud and Omar, 2015). Their design approach is an essential characteristic of the strength of a community's social interaction. ...
United Nations propounded the key to sustainable development, including the Environmental health and social well-being of society. In the city planning and development, public urban green open spaces provide opportunities for social and physical activities among the communities, which can contribute to mental and physical health in improving the social well-being of the community. Iraq is currently suffering from poor social activities, as many open spaces and parks are neglected and deficient. Therefore, there is a need to enhance residents’ social interaction in public urban green open spaces in order to improve the quality of social fabric in Baghdad City, through the perspective of the sustainable built environment approaches. The aim of this study is to determine the preferred characteristics of pocket parks for enhancing residents' social interaction based on their socio-demographic and investigate the relationship between the availability of quality pocket parks and residents' social interaction in Baghdad City. The study employed by executed the survey to the communities in Karkh district. Respondents (n=306) were selected in a single-random procedure to assess population attitudes towards a pocket park for social and physical activities. The results confirmed that a lack of outdoor daily social interaction in Baghdad City due to the inefficient nearby pocket parks. Thus, there is a need for efficient pocket parks designed to be provided. In this study, the characteristics of efficient pocket park design identified as providing suitable activities and elements, accessibility, well-design, proximity, safety and security, administration and maintenance in the pocket park design. This study contributes to the definitions of pocket parks and nearby open spaces by investigating these spaces' characteristics and benefits towards the social well-being of communities, in achieving the goal of a sustainable community in sustainable city development.
... Besides, it has been explained that pocket parks in the intensive urbanization areas contribute to human health in the senses of socialization and psychological aspect. (Peschardt, 2014). There is also a relationship among the quality, usage of the park and the social interaction of individuals. ...
Inclusive Landscape Design to Provide Social Interaction in Urban Spaces
... 개인의 정신건강과 이를 뒷받침할 수 있는 필수 환경요소 간의 관계를 설명하는 지지환경이론 (Supportive Environment Theory, 이하 'SET')을 근간으 로 한다(Memari et al., 2017). SET는 인간이 일상에서 건 강을 유지하기 위해서 필수적으로 요구하는 환경 즉,Source: Stigsdotter et al.(2017),Peschardt(2014) 로 구성하여 개발하고 악토비아 치유정원(Octovia healing forest garden)을 대상으로 적용가능성을 검토하 였다. 또한 PSDs와 회복환경지각과의 관계성을 기반 으로 휴양경험모델을 개발하기도 하고(Malekinezhad, 2018) PSDs를 인간 중심적이고 보편적인 툴로 만들고 자 PSDs 기반의 변증법적 모델을 개발한 바 있다 (Stoltz, 2019). ...
Recently, the role of urban forests has become important as demand for urban forests for health promotion purposes has increased. Thus, the importance of urban forests has been emphasized as a “restorative environment”. Based on the SET (Supportive Environment Theory), eight factors (eg. serene nature, rich in species, space, prospect, refuge, social and culture) that are perceived as restorative environments by visitors of urban forests have recently been defined as PSDs (Perceived Sensory Dimension). The purpose of this study is to understand the concept of PSDs, which has recently been actively discussed in the overseas countries from theoretical & application perspective, empirical perspective and design perspective. It also explores its applicability to urban forest in Korea. For this, 37 research journals and dissertation thesis published from the late 1980s to the present 2020 were analyzed. First, from the theoretical and application perspective, PSDs were introduced over three generations and showed that the proportion of empirical research was the highest among all studies and was being actively conducted recently. The PSDs study was also used to identify a variety of theoretical applications. Second, as a result of examining empirical studies, they were conducted mainly in surveys in various countries. Among the eight elements of PSDs, ‘Seene’ and ‘Nature’ were commonly derived, and other factors showed different results. In addition, PSDs showed a pattern of being combined and perceived as a restorative environment rather than being recognized as a single factor. Third, as a result of analyzing the research from a design perspective, PSDs have been verified as useful tools for creating a healthy environment, with cases designed using PSDs to suit the purpose and evaluated to have a positive effect on the health promotion of users. It was also confirmed that PSDs were actively used on-site, such as developing tools to enable them to be implemented. In sum, it is currently being developed into empirical research and design research phase that apply PSDs to space. In order to apply PSDs to domestic urban forests, understanding the context and environment of each site, analysis of use characteristics, and comparison of national research results need to be carried out in order to analyze PSDs’ research results. In order to this, various methodologies such as quantitative research and qualitative research need to be carried out. There is also a need for a multidimensional approach to PSDs rather than a single elemental approach to the eight elements. In Korea, it is believed that it is necessary to draw up guidelines so that the abstract concept of PSDs can be embodied in the domestic situation and used in practice. This study is significant that it considered the concept of PSDs, which has been actively discussed abroad recently, and drew up application directions and tasks in Korea at a time when interest in urban forests is rising as a restorative environment. However, if the research on PSDs is actively carried out in the future, it is believed that more in-depth theoretical consideration can be made around the accumulated research results.
Much research work has been carried out on larger urban parks. Smaller neighborhood greenspaces have not received as much academic attention, particularly in sprawling large cities of the developing world. This paper examines the frequency of use and user satisfaction with smaller urban greenspaces within the residential neighborhoods of Riyadh metropolitan city, Saudi Arabia. To measure use frequency and satisfaction level differentials among neighborhood residents, gap analysis using paired samples t-test was performed to assess the differences between mean score ratings of expected (pre-use) and experienced (post-use) feelings of user satisfaction with local greenspace features. A five-point Likert scale questionnaire was used to measure user satisfaction. Pearson r correlation coefficient, chi-square test and F-test were also used to examine the relationships between dependent (usability and satisfaction) and independent variables. The findings show that smaller size, close-to-home neighborhood greenspaces in Riyadh fell short of drawing many users or meeting user expectations. Larger local greenspaces however, managed to attract much more users even from relatively far-away neighborhoods. Size rather than closeness to home is a much stronger determinant affecting use frequency and user satisfaction with local neighborhood green spaces. It is therefore recommended to amend the city’s planning codes and regulations that require the provision of local greens based on service or catchment areas of 500–800 m. They should insist instead on the need for a minimum area requirement of such facilities if their usability and user satisfaction are to be enhanced.
Urban pockets, although an integral part of the urban environment, often fall into the urban vacant land category. This paper aims to point out the diversity of urban pockets through their categorization, explore the ways of urban pockets’ integration into urban green infrastructure planning, and indicate the potential achievable uses of urban pockets. Six types of urban pockets in Novi Sad (Serbia) were noted and three different yet not mutually exclusive perspectives on urban pockets’ revitalization – productive, cultural and social – were proposed. This study could serve as a basis for the integration of urban pockets into urban planning theory and planning practices and as an inspiration for urban planners, landscape architects and policy-makers to create strategies for urban pockets’ utilization.
While the focus of the wide-spread coronavirus is its impacts on people’s lives and economic wellbeing around the world, the pandemic substantially limits people’s available options of physical activities and exacerbates an enduring problem of large urban populations lack accessible green space to fulfill the essential physical and mental health needs. Under the current pandemic situation available green space is further reduced when some parks are closed or open with limited functions to reduce the spread of coronavirus. At the same time, the demand for green space has increased because of the unavailability of other activities. In this essay, we call the attention of urban planners and designers to pocket parks. Studies have shown that the tiny size of pocket parks makes them an easier fit into vacant properties scattered throughout the urban fabric. Therefore, pocket parks can improve health and encourage social cohesion of residents in often underserved high density urban neighborhoods. The potential of pocket parks in providing accessible urban green space to all urban population may have been considered desirable before the coronavirus outbreak and now it should be considered a necessary ‘lifeline’ to improve urban residents’ health during the coronavirus. In addition, with the long-overlooked value of accessible urban green space waken by the global-scale crisis, proper attention and improvement strategy, such as introducing more pocket park could lead to a better future after the COVID-19.
Purpose: To estimate the prevalence of physical activity during leisure time in adults from the 15 member states of the European Union and the relationship with sociodemographic variables. Methods: A representative sample, with approximately 1000 adults. aged 15 and upward, was selected from each member state to complete a questionnaire on attitudes to physical activity, body weight. and health by a face-to-face interview, summing a total of 15,239 subjects. The amount of leisure-time physical activity was quantified by assigning metabolic equivalents (METs) to each activity. Multiple linear regression models with MET-h wk(-1);ls the dependent variable were fitted. Results: Northern European countries showed higher levels of physical activity than southern ones. The highest prevalence (91.9%) was found in Finland, and the lowest (40.7%) in Portugal. A higher percentage of men practiced any leisure-time physical activity and also showed higher mean of MET-h.wk(-1). In both genders, the multivariate models showed it significant trend to higher leisure time activity in participants with higher educational levels and in nonsmokers. Also. an inverse association between body mass index and leisure-time physical activity was found. Conclusion: The prevalence of any physical activity during? leisure time in the adult European population was similar to the U.S. estimates. Nevertheless. the amount of activity is low, and a wide disparity between countries exists. To our knowledge, this is the: first study determining the prevalence and amount of leisure-time physical activity, which is the first step to define strategies to persuade populations to increase their physical activity.
First published in 1992, Nick Robinson's Planting Design Handbook has since become widely used as a definitive text on landscape architecture courses throughout the world. It examines the horticultural, ecological and aesthetic characteristics of plants, discusses the structural and decorative roles of planting, spatial composition, species selection, planting plans and spacing, and the vital role of management. With its fresh look at aesthetic principles and its analysis of the design process, it reveals how a systematic approach can allow the greatest freedom for the creative imagination. This second edition still provides a complete examination of both the principles and the practice of design with plants, for public, institutional and private landscapes, but is fully revised and updated, taking account of developments in professional practice and reflecting a variety of media and approaches currently used. It incorporates conceptual design approaches to planting, a range of design methods as well as tried and tested analytical and objective procedures, and a wide range of new international examples of planting design. The ecological basis for planting design has been broadened to include examples from warm temperate and subtropical vegetation types as well as those of the cool temperate and Mediterranean climate area. The layout of the book is clearer and more spacious, with colour illustrations. While retaining the beautiful and detailed line drawings of the Chinese architect and painter Jia-Hua Wu, it includes an international range of new photographs and professional drawings. These illustrate a range of media now effective and useful in professional practices of various sizes.
The need for a human-orientated approach to urbanism is well understood, and yet all too often this dimension remains lacking in urban design. In this book the authors argue for and develop socially restorative urbanism – a new conceptual framework laying the foundations for innovative ways of thinking about the relationship between the urban spatial structure and social processes to re-introduce a more explicit people-centred element into urban place-making and its adaptation.
To make the most efficient use of scarce recreation resources, urban forest managers need to know what features of recreation sites are the most important for creating high-quality recreation environments. In this study, observers viewed photographs of urban forest sites in the Chicago area and described the features of the sites that they liked and disliked. Natural features such as trees, grass, and water were most frequently mentioned as features they liked and manmade objects, problems with vegetation, and poor maintenance were most frequently mentioned as features they disliked. Observers who had lived in urban areas for most of their lives preferred more developed recreation areas and more often viewed urban forests as sites for particular recreation activities than those who lived in suburban or rural areas most of their lives.