URBAN GREEN SPACES AND CITY SUSTAINABILITY

In investigating or designing urban public green spaces, the first step is paying critical attention to historic background, cultural values, ideological principles and aesthetics criteria of the society. In different cultures people may have different perceptions of and feelings to some natural phenomenon such as wind, water, fire, trees, sun, moon and examples of these sorts. Respect and reverence for water and trees have been institutionalized in many ancient civilizations due to their different socio-cultural traditions, values and beliefs. In this research work we try to investigate on the art of ancient Iranian gardening and at the same time different elements of Iranian old gardens are considered.

Iğdır Üniversitesi Fen Bilimleri Enstitüsü Dergisi, 2018

Urban green spaces contributing to sustainable development of cities are of the characteristics of increasing human quality of life. It is a requirement for more comfortable physical and psychological life to predict the needs in a place resulting from its physical, physiological, psychological and social structures and to shape such environment consisting of open spaces according to such needs. Today's cities have turned out to be the clusters of concrete structures due to rapid human population and distorted and dense urbanisation. Urban human quality of life is also negatively affected by environmental problems such as air, water, soil and noise pollution and the use of arable lands out of their main aims. Excessive building density in cities due to various reasons increases rants on lands and confines the ratio of public areas like green spaces. Main material of the study is urban small gardens, a type of community gardens which can be evaluated to be alternative green space sources in urban design works, several examples of which can be seen abroad from old days to present. Such garden types are known in Turkey in the names of small gardens, public gardens, urban gardens, hobby gardens and urban allotment gardens. As study method, related literature review was performed from Turkey and abroad and required etude, analysis and synthesis methods were used. As a conclusion, large cities lack of green spaces and recreation areas. In the present study, the role and importance of urban gardens, a type of allotment gardens seen for a long time in the world, in liveable and sustainable urban design is focused by considering that in urban design studies, urban gardens can be evaluated as an alternative green space use. Positive contributions of urban small gardens were put forward on humans and the increase of green area rate.

Persian garden is the practical burst of life in Iranian land and in extended concept it is the art of living and result of the effort of humankind for creating a suitable environment with the natural elements in the scope of that nature. Chahar Bagh, the most stable innovation of Achaemenian turned to the most fundamental element of Persian Gardens and followed successively in different era and affect extensively on various parts of Persian gardens and life. In 11 th century garden established a complex relation with the city and became one part of public places until 16th century that the usage of this scheme has diminished in Iran and imitation of European gardens chiefly French one were established; but, were not considered by Iranian urban inhabitants compared to historical Persian gardens; while, some existing historical Persian gardens are still considered and being actively used. This study examines two of these historical Persian gardens through publics' preferences based on their perceptions of the visual and scenery effects in relation to the characteristics of these gardens to find predominant physical and social aspects of these gardens. In this study, historical Persian Gardens were chosen due to their historical background as first sample of Iranian urban green spaces and public as the large consumer of urban spaces considered to provide positive affects towards a better understanding of these places.

2015

Nowadays the international attempts to conserve the environment are mainly related to some issues such as; biologically diverse and reasonably non-touched ecosystems. Beside, the location of people live and work, for a small green space in cities and to their profits to people, much less attention is paid to this kind of nature. Much evidence show that the attendance of natural areas leads to the quality of life in many methods. Moreover, many environmental services, urban nature prepare essential social and psychological profits to human society that improves the lives of human senses and emotions. The major objective of this paper is to examine the significance of the urban nature of the welfare of the citizens and the sustainability of the city they live. Some outcomes of a survey conducted between visitors of a city park in Qazvin (The Mellat) are showed and argued. The issues examined concern the motives of people for the urban nature, the emotional dimension involved in the experience of nature and its significance for the broad welfare of the people. The results prove that the experience of nature in an urban environment is a resource of useful emotions and positive services that complete significant immaterial and non-consumptive human requests.

This article investigates the extent to which residential gardens affect human welfare in Istanbul (the European side). The developing technology, population growth, and immigration are factors which expose the city of Istanbul to intense construction. Consequently, the gardens in the houses located at the center of Istanbul are decreasing day by day, limiting outdoor activities for the residents, and affecting them physically and mentally. In this study, a questionnaire was applied to 400 people in Istanbul's European side to investigate the extent to which residential gardens affect human well-being. These questionnaires were applied according to five-point Likert scales and the results were analyzed in the SPSS program by applying correlation analysis. The data obtained from the applied questionnaires were analyzed in the SPSS program. As a result of the analysis, it was concluded that residential gardens have a positive influence on the physical and psychological development of people, and also contribute to the protection of nature and biological diversity. Statistically, it has been determined that people mostly use their gardens in the summer months (49.30%) and on the weekends, and spend an average of 0-2 hours (57.50%) in their gardens. In addition, these analyses were associated with participant characteristics such as age (18-25, 26-30, 31-40, 41-50, 51-60, 60 and older), gender (female/male), socioeconomic status (occupation and income) and social demography (change in population). As a result, this study showed that residential gardens in urban areas contribute significantly to people and nature, that more garden areas should be added to the residences to be built in urban areas, and that these areas should be designed in a functional and sustainable way for people to benefit from nature in the best way.

Advances in Environmental Biology, 2013

Article history: Received 12 September 2013 Received in revised form 24 October 2013 Accepted 5 October 2013 Available online 14 November 2013

AgroLife Scientific Journal, 2013

The paper aims to be an interdisciplinary approach to green spaces in Bucharest with special reference to the Cimigiu Garden. It is divided into two parts: scientific, in which the existing data emphasize environmental, economic and social benefits, and literary, in which examples of representative writings highlight the aesthetic and cultural dimension of the green spaces.

2016

Ecological destruction in human-dominated landscapes has significant impacts on environment sustainability internationally. Landscape planning can play a role in mitigating the effects of human-related activities. One element of landscape planning involves the analysis of the biological, spatial and social arrangement of areas in an urban environment and identifying characteristics that are underrepresented in urban natural public spaces. In this study, the quality of public spaces resulting from the regeneration of Tehran's river-valleys' natural environment is assessed in relation to landscape ecology principles. We use the components of Bio-spatial-social Logic, Eco-environmentalsocietal Function, Mind-experiential-aesthetic Logic and Eco-environmental-societal Excellence, as the components of a framework, to examine the quality of existing urban natural public spaces and to define deficiencies in the current urban landscape system. Based on multivariate ecological, environmental and societal space, the evaluation made by this component model indicates that the principles of landscape ecology have been disregarded in Tehran's Rivervalleys land development and various ecological problems have been evolved from its river-valleys' regenerating projects. Our criterion is based on the alteration of landscape's content composition and spatial configuration variables to eco-environmental-societal excellence features. The analysis provides a systematic, function evaluation of urban natural public spaces, in three hierarchical levels of Environmental Equilibrium, Geographical-anthropological Sustainability and Eco-environmental-societal Excellence features. Some strategies are introduced for Tehran's rivervalleys' landscape variables change.

Springer.com, 2023

Cities' growth and rising demand for energy resources have created problems and hazards for human life due to resource depletion. Therefore, it is crucial to establish a framework that promotes resource efficiency to achieve sustainable development and energy preservation, which is now a vital daily requirement. Developing ecosystem services in today's cities can guarantee resources for future generations, urban health, and the realization of a healthy city and life. Research on Iranian-Islamic garden cities has revealed their structure shares similarities and adaptations with the overall ecosystem services framework. These garden cities were designed to create healthy urban environments in their time and can serve as a model for developing sustainable towns today. Meanwhile, the Isfahan Garden City in the Safavid period is a perfect example of various sustainability and ecological functions. The analysis of the Isfahan city garden from the perspective of different sub-structures, including water, green, social, and economical, makes it possible to achieve this goal (Chenoweth, 2008; Shahcheraghi, 2006). This research aimed to compare Iranian-Islamic garden cities with typical urban areas, focusing on the various aspects of ecosystem services, their classification, and the strategies for developing sustainable and green cities. The study also analyzed the infrastructure services of Isfahan, a prominent Iranian-Islamic garden city, and explored how these services align with the ecosystem services of green cities. The research aimed to identify which ecosystem services present in Iranian-Islamic garden cities are compatible with the strategies for creating green cities. Or the answer to this year, which ecosystem service items have been considered in the design of Iranian-Islamic garden cities, especially Isfahan? The Iranian garden cities have established essential regulations and ecosystem support infrastructure, instrumental in their sustained existence as green and sustainable cities. These cities have promoted the creation of healthy urban environments and contributed to the ecosystem's overall health. As a result, these garden cities have become crucial for the continuity of life and the sustainable development of both themselves and their residents.

Urban green spaces can be a comprehensive tool for long term protection of environmental sustainability through improving the quality of life. With urban areas development, population growth and activities increase, urban planners prioritized green spaces and breathing issues in the top of their studies; time lapse and outbreak of respiratory illnesses, resulting from pollution and population density, necessitated deep studies of these phenomena. By the appearance of sustainable development theory the plan of developing green spaces achieved a great importance. Nowadays, developing green spaces, especially parks, is a substantial element of urban development plans which reveals the importance of such spaces in human centers. Land price increase and owners' attempts for converting gardens and farms into inhabitable areas have decreased green spaces. From the other hand, the concept of city without green spaces in their different forms is not imaginable. Urban development repercussions and environmental complexities have necessitated the existence of green spaces. Cities have to accept the structure and functions resulting from natural systems to guaranty their own survival. Referring to green spaces as the lungs of the city seems reasonable; thus, this study aims to examine the status of green spaces, focusing on District 2 of Tabriz and its strengths and weaknesses. Resumo Os espaços urbanos verdes podem ser uma importante estratégia para a proteção ambiental sustentável de longo prazo, possibilitando um incremento na qualidade de vida. Com o desenvolvimento das áreas urbanas, crescimento da população e aumento das atividades urbanas, os gestores urbanos priorizaram os espaços verdes e temas relacionados à qualidade do ar, como de relevância para análise; as doenças respiratórias resultantes da poluição e do adensamento populacional, demandam assim estudos aprofundados. A partir do surgimento da teoria do desenvolvimento sustentável, a planificação de espaços verdes tornou-se de grande importância. Atualmente, a implantação de espaços verdes, especialmente parques, é um elemento substancial dos planos de desenvolvimento urbano, os quais revelam a importância de tais áreas nos centros urbanos. O aumento do preço da terra e a transformação de jardins e fazendas em áreas habitadas conduziu à diminuição dos espaços verdes. Por outro lado, o conceito de cidade sem os espaços verdes nas suas múltiplas formas é inimaginável. As repercussões do desenvolvimento urbano e das complexidades ambientais conduzem obrigatoriamente à existência de tais áreas. As cidades têm de aceitar a estrutura e as funções resultantes dos sistemas naturais para garantir sua própria sobrevivência. Os espaços verdes, como pulmões da cidade, é um conceito adequado. Assim, este estudo objetiva reexaminar o status de espaços verdes, avaliando os aspectos positivos e negativos, com ênfase no Distrito 2 de Tabriz. Palavras-chave: meio-ambiente; espaço verde; cidade de Tabriz; planejamento urbano; Irã A n u á r i o d o I n s t i t u t o d e G e o c i ê n c i a s-U F R J

International Journal of Innovative Studies in Sociology and Humanities

Bringing nature into the city is one of the major concerns of today's cities. Natural spaces, and more particularly green spaces, are essential for a healthy and pleasant living environment. They have very important roles: social, economic, psychological, ecological, etc. These spaces have different types, varying from architectural or formal spaces to natural or landscaped spaces, from spaces in the urban tissue to others more open to nature. On the other hand, the objectives and activities sought by users are also very different: rest, relaxation, sport, games, learning, etc. It is therefore very important to understand the practices and perceptions of the users of these spaces, and to know their needs in order to improve the existing green network and to plan spaces that best meet their expectations, in order to make the most of the benefits and impacts of nature on humans.

International Social Sciences Studies Journal, 2024

Urban green areas are areas that play an important role in meeting the physical, mental and social needs of people living in cities. Urban green areas should contribute to the aesthetic beautification of the city and at the same time prevent air pollution. When today's green areas are examined, considering the social and ecological importance of urban ecosystems, which have an important place in human life, "ecosystem services studies", a prominent approach method, has a positive relationship with urban green areas. Urban green spaces such as Central Park in America are excellent examples that meet these needs.

International Journal of Architecture and Urban Development, 2014

This paper will concentrate on the result of a research based on comparative study between two Persian gardens in different micro climates in arid regions. Sustainability could be observed in many aspects and elements of traditional Iranian architecture and landscape architecture, and this method of design has used to solve many problems for many centuries. Gardens of Iran have had special role to moderate hot and arid climate since many years ago and their design method is an appropriate strategy to create sustainable landscape in our today cities. In this research, the selected case studies are Hasht-Behesht garden in Isfahan, and Jahannama garden in Shiraz, located in two different areas in arid regions of central plateau of Iran. The research method adopted in this paper consists of descriptive-analytic and deductive analyses. By the analysis of sustainable and climatic features and characteristics of these cases, the main goal is to identify the parameters of creating green space for present and future sustainable landscaping with similar climates. Results confirm that the similarities and differences between these two gardens are because of the different microclimatic regions they are located in. At the conclusion part, the main characteristics of Persian gardens from sustainability view will be classified and recommendations for sustainable landscape design will be presented.

Urban gardens, 2015

The study aims to investigate the role of urban gardens (known as 'bostans' in Turkish) as a means of preserving urban open spaces by considering them as a legitimate use of public open space. It uses the historic urban context of the historic Yedikule district of Istanbul as a case study, where the historic Yedikule bostans are located at the ancient city walls. There, urban bostan activities have traditionally been pursued by gardeners with the purpose of food production, but they also help to conserve an urban landscape with cultural value. At the site of the ancient city walls, the local authority is currently proposing to construct a public recreational park project which will also require the destruction of some sections of the historic Yedikule bostans. This will have the aim of, preserving the existing open space, but only in the form of a public recreation park fulfilling only the purpose of recreation and leisure. It is also being proposed at a time when the subject of urban agriculture is being taken increasingly seriously. As a result, preserving urban open spaces ought to have much wider goals than just providing for recreation and leisure. The potential of the historic Yedikule bostans to be part of a wider strategy for preserving urban open spaces to make a legitimate use of public open spaces is explored in this study. Taking into consideration all possible functions of urban open spaces helps to find alegitimateuseof public open spaces and should involve balancing the demands of different land users/actors in an appropriate level of use of space through an active public participation in policy making process from the beginning. This public participation creates a sense of ownership. Therefore, a good public park in the area of the Yedikule bostans should also respects local cultural landscape values, and should be planned from bottom up in an attempt to balance the demands of different stakeholders, the interests of food production, conservation of the historic cultural landscape, recreation and leisure. Integrating Yedikule bostans into public park project to promote recreation and leisure, food production with respect to conservation of historic cultural landscape value can represent the best strategy to preserve urban open space in historic Yedikule neighborhood. This integration identifies ‘a productive public park in Yedikule. Main challenges of urban bostans in the case of Yedikule are as follows: 1. Its non recognition by the local municipality, although the historic Yedikule bostans are under the protection of national laws) 2. The non-consideration of the guide of conservation plans, despite the indicated Yedikule Bostans in conservation plans) 3. The lack of effective control mechanisms to examine the implementation projects in conservation areas) 4. The requirements of the European Landscape Convention, which are not taken sufficiently in to account, although ELC has been signed and ratified by Turkey) and 5. The intent of the local authorities to make a ‘modern3 image in Yedikule. The issue is increasing the awareness of the multi-functional use of urban bostans as the best preservation strategy of urban open spaces and integrating urban bostans into the local open space planning policies, which are largely dominated by a centralized open space planning mechanism. Key words: Urban bostans, preserving urban open spaces, legitimate use of open spaces, multifunctional use, planning paradigms, recreationalpublic park, historic cultural landscape, Yedikule