Design Of Urban Spaces Research Articles

Development of an Intensity of uses index to support design decision-making and improve urban development quality

Urban environments are considered as complex systems where various dimensions are overlapping. Partly as a consequence of this stratification, they are facing a multitude of challenges and issues which have an impact on the quality of spaces. Efficient, responsible and reflective design of urban spaces is essential to progress towards sustainable urbanism and to improve life quality and the response to users' needs. Especially with the increasing complexity of today's urban systems. For these different reasons, design, analysis and evaluation methods must be adapted and take into account all the layers constituting the urban system. Following this line of thinking, a new intensity of uses index is developed in order to provide a holistic approach and to support sustainable planning as well as design and decision process for the development and improvement of spaces. In this article we present an analysis and design method for this index and more particularly the characterization of one of the variables that we call “Uses Potential”, based on different criteria. We define the structure whereby we develop the Uses Potential, i.e., on the basis of three elements constituting the urban systems: the spatial environment, the proposed content in its built components and its relative population. Then we review the technical content of the components on which the Uses Potential is based. We also address the question of its evaluation by means of a City Information Model (CIM) in our research and its contribution to future urban analyses.

Designing for possibility in public space: affordance, assemblage, and ANT

The design of urban public space is inherently problematic because the range of its possible uses and meanings is broad and unpredictable. This paper engages this problematic through the lens of Gibson’s theory of ‘affordances’—the ways the material world affords for human desires. We first explore some conceptual and methodological problems of the theory of affordances and its application in understanding and designing public space. These dimensions of affordance theory are then reconceived using the relational thinking of assemblage and actor-network theory (ANT). A key contribution of the paper is an expanded typology of affordances which includes improvised and serendipitous affordances that extend beyond the intentions of designers and users. This opens new ways of thinking about the design of urban public space as a space of possibility where outcomes are open, multiple, and unpredictable. The paper suggests how urban spaces can be shaped to better support rich cultural diversity and social inclusion.

Modifying the walk score based on daily social activities: residential neighborhood in Egypt as a case study

Walkability has been linked to quality of life in many ways. The Walk Score is one of several methodologies aimed at assisting people in evaluating walkability. Despite the validation of this method, the amenity schedule around the day and the occupancy percentage in each amenity are not included in the calculation of the Walk Score, resulting in reduced accuracy. The research aims to improve the Walk Score methodology by inserting the amenity schedule around the day and the occupancy percentage in each amenity in the calculating method of the walk score, as the amenities do not have the same occupancy throughout the day. The research proposes a new method to calculate the Walk Score according to the time and occupancy for each amenity at the residential neighborhood level in Egypt. The research uses Salam New City as a case study to apply the new method to a residential neighborhood using the Urban Modelling Interference (Umi) plugin. Finally, the research proposes the Walk Score Model of Salam New City to calculate the Walk Score around the day. The new Walk Score model helps urban planners improve urban space design and the distribution of amenities.

Exploring the Traditional Art Design in Urban Space Based on Interactive Media Arts: A Case Study of China

As a cultural communication medium, art needs to be developed and passed on. In an environment where traditional culture and art are gradually being forgotten, interactive media is particularly important. Compared with traditional media, interactive media is more guiding and interactive, and can also stimulate people's interest in traditional art and culture. The interactive media incorporated into modern urban design can better establish connections between traditional art culture, artists and the public, making traditional art culture truly come alive and integrated into urban space design. The addition of interactive media enables people to not only appreciate but also have a strong sense of participation. This article verifies the influence of interactive media in changing traditional culture and art by studying the impact of interactive media on traditional culture when interacting with the audience, and explores how interactive media art can be integrated into urban space design.

Research on Full-Age Public Space Design in High-Density Cities

Abstract The concept of “full-age” urban public spaces is a critical aspect of modern urbanization, enhancing the multifunctionality of contemporary urban public spaces. This paper examines the design of urban public spaces using “Little Island at Park 55 in New York” as a case study. It delves into three key aspects: spatial intensive utilization, functional agglomeration, and landscape aggregation design. By thoroughly interpreting the original topography of the island space and employing classical Chinese garden techniques, particularly “scenery supporting,” this study analyzes the design evolution and core principles of the case. It summarizes the case’s value and underscores the significance and necessity of all-age inclusive design in modern urban public spaces.

Cultural consumption as a parameter of the quality of life in a Russian megapolis

The article presents the results of sociological studies of the level of subjective well-being of residents of the Russian metropolis (using the example of Nizhny Novgorod). The indicator of the level of well-being is one of the important parameters that city authorities and architects are now paying attention to when designing urban space. The purpose of the article is to determine how the residents of the metropolis assess the accessibility (physical, financial, etc.) of cultural institutions and products. Quantitative research methods are used to achieve this goal: surveys were conducted in which several thousand Nizhny Novgorod residents took part. The authors present a comparative analysis of the estimates of citizens with an interval of 10 years. The results of the analysis give an idea that the level of well-being in Russian megacities is changing slowly. The choice of Nizhny Novgorod is not accidental. The geographical and economic position of Nizhny Novgorod and the ethnocultural composition of the region make it possible to extrapolate the results of the study of a particular city to the major cities of Central Russia. Another significant factor in choosing the city was the fact that since 2021 Nizhny Novgorod has acquired the status of capitals – the “capital of sunsets”, “youth capital”, “cultural capital”. It is quite natural to ask how the status of the “capital” influenced the subjective indicators of satisfaction with the quality of life. The presented data help to get an idea of the specifics of cultural consumption of a resident of a modern Russian megalopolis, as well as the degree of his involvement in cultural production. The results of the study are also of practical importance in the design and modernization of urban space, as well as the optimization of social policy of the state.

The Mountain Hall and the Smart Club: The Architecture of Emergency Reception in Norwegian Cities

Contemporary contingency planning is largely delinked from urban planning. However, the two domains intersect in critical ways. Contingency planning frames conditions for displaced persons in emergency situations but also affects the design of everyday urban spaces. Thus, the spatial output of emergency preparedness can encourage wellbeing and placemaking in both emergency and non-emergency situations. This article explores the built environments of contingency planning in Norwegian cities, paying particular attention to emergency reception.Furthermore, this article outlines the relationship between the policies of reception in displacement management and the spatial policies of placemaking. A study of Norwegian contingency planning history shows that the former evacuation shelter typology is being replaced by the more loosely defined concept of places of protection, similar to the retrofitted spaces commonly used as asylum centres. Newspaper clippings and document reviews are used to study two emergency reception structures: a Cold War multipurpose mountain hall close to the Norway–Russia border and a transformed 1970s warehouse near Oslo that currently houses the Norwegian national arrival facility for asylum-seekers. Comparing these two cases outlines the interaction between displacement management, contingency planning, and urban planning and contributes to conceptualising what we call contingency urbanism. We suggest that contingency urbanism can be useful in re-spatialising emergency architecture, re-linking contingency and urban planning, and pointing to placemaking opportunities in the duality of everyday life and a state of emergency.

IMAGES-SYMBOLS OF TRADITIONAL ARTISTIC CRAFTS IN THE FORMATION OF THE CULTURAL CODE OF THE CITY

The article is devoted to the analysis of the use of images-symbols of traditional applied arts for the Ryazan region (embroidery, lace weaving, weaving) in shaping the appearance of the city, reflecting its cultural code. Based on semiotic studies of the phenomenon of the concept in question, the author aims to trace the ways of symbolic expression of the cultural code of the city and their role in creating the mental sphere of culture in the elements of the urban environment. The assumption that the formation of the cultural memory of the city is carried out in two interrelated directions, allowing you to feel involved in your own history, culture and create unique images-symbols characterizing the cultural values of a particular region in order to identify it, is confirmed in the extensive illustrative material of the article. The author explores both historically established ways of broadcasting such elements in the urban environment (architraves, house decorations, bridge fences), stylized as recognizable elements of lace weaving, embroidery, weaving, and modern elements of urban space (design of fountains, light structures, festive decorations) with these symbols expressing the cultural memory of the city. The techniques used to identify a place from the point of view of its history and culture through characteristic, iconic elements in traditional applied art, lead the researcher to the conclusion that symbolic images can be not only markers that increase the level of patriotism of the city's indigenous inhabitants, but also business cards of the city, which are part of the geocultural space, capable of forming, including tourist the area code, which increases the importance of semiotic research in the framework of the formation of a cultural spatial environment.

From Spaces to Societies: Exploring the Impact of Public Interior Design on Urban Social Interactions

Social interaction is a fundamental human need that involves activities of connection and conversation within urban communities. Previous studies indicated an important approach to enhancing social interactions in urban space to create a livable and sustainable urban community. However, the influences of public interior design on citizen social interactions are underestimated while interior space is where people spend the majority of their time. The primary aim of this paper is to explore the relationship between urban space and interior design and its impact on human social interaction through studies about public interior design. The research method is qualitative and involves studying documents, books, professional magazines, scientific journals, related research projects, and the World Wide Web. The findings of the paper provide a deeper perspective from the standpoint of interior design and underscore the significant responsibilities of interior designers within a larger context, extending beyond the confines of four walls.

Application of Taoist Principles and Feng Shui in Urban Spaces (Landscaping and Garden Design)

The Taoist school emphasizes concepts such as "Yin and Yang" and "Tehya." Taoism has had a profound influence on architecture, painting, landscaping, home decoration, and lifestyle, extending beyond the borders of China to impact the entire modern world. The application of Far Eastern worldviews based on Taoist thought and its arrangement techniques, such as Feng Shui and its unique interior decoration in homes, urban spaces, garden design, and landscaping, deeply enhances and elevates the quality of life. Relying on ancient knowledge and experience, it can be stated that Tao is a spiritual way of life that enables humans to channel the positive energies of nature into themselves. The present study poses the question of how Taoist philosophical concepts influence urban space design. Taoism, one of the oldest philosophical schools in China, has significantly impacted the art of that region, with its ultimate goal being the harmony and consonance of humans with the natural order in life. Given that the practical art of Feng Shui is a derivative of this philosophy, the aim of this research is to identify and apply the fundamental elements of this mystical philosophy in urban planning and landscaping, and to bridge the gap between theory and practice in the philosophy and art of interior and exterior design. In this study, which presents its findings in an analytical-descriptive manner, we first analyze and examine Feng Shui's influence on the mystical and ontological foundations of Taoism and the manifestation of this approach in design and landscaping principles. It is then demonstrated that the application of these elements in urban spaces can bring not only visual beauty but also peace, balance, and harmony to the modern urban dweller.

An Inclusive Approach of Urban Open Space Analysis via Field Sketching

This research explores how field sketch drawing can help in understanding, and analysing urban open spaces, and their potential roles for their experiential dimension. The research begins with a theoretical interpretation of the term “Place” and an examination of the components that make up an urban open space. This is followed by an analytical study of field sketch drawing techniques, which are selected and applied to develop an inclusive approach for analysing urban open spaces via field sketching. The final product of this research includes a theoretical study of urban space components and field sketching, serving as a comprehensive guide for analysing urban spaces through field sketching. The research findings highlight the potential of field sketch drawing as a valuable method for understanding and analysing urban open spaces, and its ability to enhance the experiential dimension of these spaces. The proposed inclusive field sketching approach provides a practical tool for designers and planners to conduct on-site analysis and generate preliminary design proposals for urban open spaces. The results of this research contribute to the field landscape architecture and design by providing insights and recommendations for incorporating field sketching as a valuable approach in the analysis and design of urban open spaces.

UDGAN: A new urban design inspiration approach driven by using generative adversarial networks

Abstract The morphological design of urban space affects the quality of the environment. The traditional experience-based design approach was greatly improved by introducing computational design tools. However, the existing urban design tools are mostly developed on pre-set rules or given targets, which have few contributions to enhance creativity or generate inspiring schemes. Therefore, this paper proposes a new computational urban design approach named UDGAN, integrating generative adversarial networks (GANs) and multi-objective optimization algorithms. This model utilizes urban design scheme plans over the past 20 years from a particular designer as training datasets. Four preference models were trained to autonomously generate stylized urban design schemes. Eight morphological parameters were used to analyze the model performance by comparing generated results with the ground truth. This GAN-based surrogate approach is combined with a morphological indicator alignment process using multi-objective optimization model to obtain better results. The result shows that the R2 predicted by the improved Pix2Pix model reaches 0.798, and the similarity of the generated results can be stably distributed between 0.7 and 0.8, so the design scheme of this preferred style can be effectively learned. At the same time, the pre-trained model greatly reduces the time consumption of the design scheme generation, taking 5 min approximately to complete a generation process. This approach quickly generated the design scheme with preferred features, supporting the designer with creativity and greatly saving the time of design creation, transforming computational design into an inspiration-driven process.

Effects of Urban Green Space's Physical Features on the Usability of Investment Housing Projects in Erbil City

In the quest to improve urban quality of life, creating functional and visually appealing urban green spaces plays a pivotal role. This study investigates the influence of five key physical characteristics—availability, maintenance, facilities, environment, and design—on the usability of urban green spaces in three case studies in Erbil: Italian City 2, Hewa City, and Ashti City 2 neighborhoods. The research aims to understand how urban green spaces impact investment housing projects, analyze the relationship between physical factors and urban design usability and explore individuals' perceptions regarding the influence of these factors on urban green space design. Through systematic observation and visual analysis of residential areas, the study reveals that these five physical qualities of green spaces consistently scored above 90%, indicating a strong alignment with usability elements. This suggests that these physical attributes significantly enhance the usability of urban green spaces, which, in turn, supports broader urban design goals. This research highlights the importance of integrating these physical characteristics when planning and designing urban green spaces, particularly within the context of investment housing projects in Erbil's case study neighborhoods. Such enhancements can positively impact urban development and residents' quality of life. Future research should delve into the long-term socio-economic effects of these green space improvments.

Acoustic environment and its restorative potential in small urban green spaces

Small urban green spaces (SUGS) in dense city areas have been widely demonstrated to have restorative benefits to surrounding residents. However, residents' usage and experience of SUGS were indicated to be adversely influenced by adjacent traffic noise, whilst natural sounds inside could provide restorative soundscape resources. Thus, this study investigated the acoustic quality and its restorative potential in 12 SUGS in Qingdao via field measurements and questionnaire surveys. The results show that: (1) The noise level of SUGS largely ranged in 50-60 dBA, with dominant road traffic noise. Three perceptual soundscape dimensions were identified: appreciation, diversity and dynamics. (2) Scenic SUGS featured more natural sounds, lower noise levels, and more appreciation; residential SUGS featured more human sounds and worse soundscape evaluation; and business SUGS featured higher noise levels. (3) The acoustic environments in scenic SUGS showed much more restorative potential than residential and business ones, and the restorative potential of SUGS was highly influenced by sound levels (LAeq, L10, and L90), sound sources (traffic noise and natural sounds), and soundscape qualities (appreciation and diversity). The findings were expected to provide references for the sustainable planning and design of small urban green spaces in dense cities.

Soundscape diversity of different public green spaces in cities

Soundscape of urban public green space plays an important role in urban green space sightseeing experience, but it is not clear whether there are differences in soundscape diversity of different urban green space. This study investigated soundscape diversity of 30 urban green space samples, including urban park green space, roadside green space, square green space, campus green space and residential green space. The results showed that there are differences in soundscape diversity of urban different public green spaces. In campus green space, soundscape diversity and soundscape perceived affective quality are closely related, while in urban parks and roadside green space, soundscape diversity and soundscape perceived affective quality are not significantly related. The linear regression of soundscape diversity indices and overall quality evaluation of soundscape fit well in campus green space, square green space and residential green space. The R2 of these regression equations were 0.65, 0.74 and 0.63, respectively. This study provides potential ideas for the design and management of urban different public green spaces in the future.

Bioclimatic Design Strategy in Hot Summer and Cold Winter Region of China

Abstract: The building of ecological harmony with the environment is not only concern in the field of architecture, when we do architectural design, we must respect nature promote the process of natural humanization, and obtain good natural, economic, and ecological comprehensive benefits. The bioclimatic design method can provide the basic direction for the development of building technology. To a certain extent, it is helpful for Chinese architects to objectively analyze the environment of a particular area in the light of their own economic and technological level, the purpose of this study is to provide architects with a macro concept of climate and to summarize practical, experienced and technical methods for the bioclimatic design of buildings and urban spaces. Analyzing domestic and foreign research trends, we can see that the following problems exist in the development of bioclimatic design theory in China.

Artificial Intelligence and Street Space Optimization in Green Cities: New Evidence from China

In the context of the green economy and sustainable urban development, the rapid expansion of urban construction has given rise to pressing public health concerns, notably environmental pollution and the increased prevalence of chronic illnesses linked to swift urbanization. These urban health issues are escalating, prompting significant attention to the concept of creating “healthy cities”. Meanwhile, the planning and design of urban street space have a far-reaching impact on urban residents’ quality of life and health. Urban planners are facing challenges and need to follow the principle of a green economy while meeting the needs of residents for public activities and adapting to motor vehicle traffic. This study explores the optimization of urban street space to promote the harmonious coexistence between people and cars. This study actively explores the relationship between health, urban environment, and social background, focusing on promoting the harmonious coexistence between people and vehicles, especially the optimization goal of sharing urban streets. The study’s main goal is to design a road that can meet the needs of citizens’ public activities and accommodate motor vehicles, which conforms to the principle of a green economy. To achieve this, geographic information system (GIS) technology and a genetic algorithm (GA) are employed to optimize shared urban street spaces. Among them, GIS tools are used for spatial simulation to evaluate the effect of different shared street space configurations. The urban shared street space is gradually optimized through GA’s selection, crossover, and mutation operations. Simulation experiments are conducted to determine the relationship between street space utilization and the elements of a healthy city, ultimately striving to identify the optimal design parameters for shared street spaces. The research results reveal that the urban street space is optimized from the three aspects of shared allocation of facilities resources, replacement of land use functions, and mixed layout of facilities, and the utilization rate of urban streets is finally ensured to reach 53.43%, fully assuming the essential functions of urban streets. This innovative approach bridges the gap between urban development and public health, offering valuable insights for sustainable urban space planning and enhanced living environments within the framework of the green economy.

When the rhythm zones meet: territories and patterns of relationship for better understanding trash

ABSTRACT This study explores the issue of trash around two high-rise apartment blocks in Amsterdam Zuidoost by focusing on city rhythms. Building upon the notion of “patterns of relationship” by Christopher Alexander, the ethnographic research reveals that rhythms formulate five different groupings, which are conceptualised as “rhythm zones.” In the various ways the rhythm zones correspond to each other around the buildings, trash emerges differently. The study establishes that identifying such zones allows for a better understanding of the social phenomena in the urban environment, creating the potential to improve the design of urban spaces.

Research of gas exchange and air purification processes by plants of the common privet (Ligustrum vulgare L.) species

Growing urbanization creates air pollution problems, which is becoming dangerous for human health and unsuitable for indoor ventilation. An effective solution is the combination of green structures with engineering systems, which requires the development of new methods and quantitative laboratory studies of gas and mass exchange processes of plants. The purpose of the study was to quantify the ability of plants of the common privet (Ligustrum vulgare L.) to release and absorb oxygen and СО2, as well as to study the effectiveness of air purification from particulate matter in order to properly take into account the impact of plants in the process of their selection for greening urban landscapes. The research was carried out according to the methodology developed by the authors in a gas exchange chamber, which was upgraded to model external conditions and study plants with small leaf area and developed stems. The results of the experiment showed that Ligustrum vulgare L. bushes with a small total photosynthetic leaf surface area are inefficient for carbon dioxide absorption in an urbanized environment, so plants with a significant proportion of photosynthetically active biomass and fast-growing plants should be preferred. It was determined that at maximum illumination, the degree of absorption of PM2.5 and PM10 by Ligustrum vulgare L. bushes was 8.84‧10-5...1.5‧10-4 μg/s, which confirms the effective absorption of particulate matter with a diameter of up to 2.5 and up to 10 μm from the air by the studied plants. The results obtained indicate an increase in the concentration of total volatile organic compounds in the outlet compartment, which indicates the active release of volatile phyto-organic substances by plants in the amount of 2.442...2.973 μg/s. The results of the study can be used for effective taxonomic selection of woody plants during the design and creation of urban green spaces that are resistant to the conditions of the urban environment

Digital Smart Manufacturing Context Urban Street Space Design Landscape Elements Retrofit Analysis

INTRODUCTION: With the growth of the economic level, China's urban residents' urban living standards are also increasingly high, which has produced the story of an urban street space design to improve the requirements. Moreover, with intelligent manufacturing and other computer technology to enhance the efficiency of various industries, smart manufacturing applied to urban spatial design landscapes also has a prototype.
 OBJECTIVES: To improve the level of digitization in China, the application of intelligent manufacturing in urban street space design; to promote the transformation of urban landscape elements, urban modernization will increase the level; to solve the problem of the urban environment improvement and economic development is not synchronized; to promote the modernization of urban development, enhance the level of urban informatization and intelligence.
 METHODS: Firstly establishes the Wells equation of the optimal path of intelligent manufacturing through the technique of theoretical exposition; secondly, analyzes people's demand for urban street space design by using the method of data statistics and analysis; lastly, summarizes the principles to be followed in the creation of urban street space and the construction outlook through case study.
 RESULTS: The Wells equation of the optimal path of smart manufacturing shows that intelligent manufacturing has a significant positive effect on the efficiency of urban street space design; the results of data statistics and analysis show that the current level of urban street space design cannot meet people's growing spiritual and cultural needs; the results of the case study show that the design of urban street space should follow the design principles of safety, closeness to nature, and human-centeredness.
 CONCLUSION: Urban street space design in the context of digital intelligent manufacturing should be done promptly, and the level of urban landscape design should be strengthened to meet people's growing spiritual and cultural needs in the post-New Crown epidemic era.