Visual Preferences of College Students for an Ecological Design Project in a Campus Environment

Abstract

In the last few decades, the integration of ecological design in urban landscapes has gained significant attention from researchers, practitioners, and administrators because of its potential to address environmental challenges and enhance the quality of life. While there are many benefits of integrating ecological design in urban landscapes such as environmental conservation and awareness, its aesthetics have remained a critical, yet often overlooked, aspect. This paper examines the visual preferences of college students for ecological design through a rain garden project at Izmir Katip Celebi University. Ecological design includes green infrastructure strategies like rain gardens that play a major role in creating sustainable urban areas. In this study, we conducted surveys among students at Izmir Katip Celebi University regarding a rain garden project that would be implemented on campus. We provided six rain garden design images, each representing various visual attributes in the survey. The survey also included questions about aesthetic appeal, ecological significance, preferred design choice, and demographic information. We collected the data from 120 respondents and analyzed responses using descriptive statistics. The study findings presented that Image 6, featuring colorful plant selections, received the highest aesthetic rating, while Image 4, with canopy trees, stood out as the most ecologically significant design.