Study On Urban Squares In Middle And Small Cities In Shandong Province

Urban square is an essential composition of urban conformation and is a symbol of the urban. With the economical development, urban squares are designed in many middle and small cities, and they have become the important site for citizens to active in. They not only enrich the social culture activities of citizens, improve the circumstance of the middle and small cities, bring many kinds of benefits,but also refract the cultural phenomenon of urban square special in modern times. As a result, urban square is the window of urban spiritual civilization.At the present time, some achievements have been acquired through the researches on urban squares in big cities, although the planning and construction of urban square is in defect of relevant technological supports in our country. The construction of urban square in middle and small cities is still at the beginning. It is essential for us to do researches on urban squares by using the theories and experiences achieved through the construction of square in big cities for references. Therefore, this paper investigate the location, area, greenland, road and pavement, water of it in middle and small cities.Urban squares of counties which are national or provincial garden cities in Shandong province were studied using the theories of urban planning, ecology and landscape aesthetics and methods, such as space analysis, case analysis, literature investigation, actual measurement. We summed up the problems existing in the urban square constructions and the success achieved, discussed the urban square constructional laws and development trends and made some suggestions on the constructions of urban square in middle and small cities.The paper began with some introductions, including the selective of background, scope and object for research, the basic frame of the paper, the national and international situations of urban square research and the conception, use and characteristics related to urban square. The main part of the paper analyzed 11 urban squares of counties which were national or provincial garden cities, including: 1Whether the square met the requirement of urban planning and was assort with the circumstances or not. 2Whether the layout was reasonable, the elements were appropriate, the relevant service facilities were sufficient or not. 3Whether the area of square is proper or not. 4Whether the square had cultural connotation reflecting the regionality and time, and the personality characteristics is outstanding or not. 5Whether the square had more areas of greenland, the ecological benefit was better and the local plants such as trees, shrubs, grass and ornamental plants were chosen or not. 6Whether the square had high quality of construction and the management and maintenance were regular or not. 7Whether the square had the functions of square, was used sufficiently, was loved by the citizens, had cohesion and many kinds of benefits and could organize the activities such as the act of culture and artist, celebrations of holiday, layout of commodities and entertainment and bodybuilding for the people or not.The problems existing in the urban square constructions and the success achieved were summed up and then the urban square constructional laws and development trends are discussed. At last some suggestions are made, I hope this study can be usefull to the planning and construction of urban squares in middle and small cities for reference.