A trade-off method through connectivity analysis applied for sustainable design and planning of large urban parks

ABSTRACT

Unlike urban planning processes have actively used empirical approaches, the urban park design and planning still uses the conceptual research approach; therefore, discrepancies often arise between the designer’s intention and real phenomena. In this work, we examine and propose a trade-off method for sustainable urban park design and planning that integrates conceptual and connectivity analyses, specifically for the Yongsan Park master plan. Yongsan Park is a mega-scale urban park project with a unique history as being a military post-industrial site for a long time. To re-link the isolated park site to current urban context, the park connectivity requires careful consideration both conceptually and empirically during the design and planning process. We used the spatial network analysis and statistical methods to investigate the potential visitation proposed by the park master plan and to understand the correlations with built environment factors. The results indicate that an iterative process is needed between conceptual design ideas and empirical connectivity analyses to properly reflect the designers’ intent and improve the long-term outcomes of large urban park design and planning. The trade-off method also provides insights of the urban planning strategies for nearby neighborhoods to enhance park connectivity and potentially contribute to the park management phase.

KEYWORDS:

• Sustainable park development
• connectivity analysis
• park visit demand
• urban design and planning process
• Seoul Yongsan Park

Disclosure of interest

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1. In 2020, the size of Yongsan Park has increased to 290 hectares, including more lands along the park. Available online: https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2020/12/281_280749.html (accessed on January 15. 2021).

2. The National Museum entrance is symbolic enough in terms of its linkage to one of the major cultural facilities near the park; however, it connects to the rear side of the National Museum, so the designers did not propose the grand gate facilities designated to the hierarchy above the local level. In this paper, we considered it as the independent level, R2.