Studies On The Planning And Design Of Small Parks In Modern City

With the rapid development of industrialization and urbanization,China is facing a rising number of unwanted challenges: Materially,growing urban population leads to increasing amount and density of buildings;spiritually,most city dwellers are suffering the shortage of relaxing,interactive and close-to-nature living spaces.As socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a new era,the principal contradiction facing Chinese society has evolved.What we now face is the contradiction between unbalanced and inadequate development and the people's ever-growing needs for a better life.With a growing pursuit of happiness and fascination with nature,large green parks have failed to meet the demands of the people who crave for convenient,comfortable and eco-friendly open space.Small parks,however,can in some ways play a significant role in dealing with these demands.There has been an increasing pool of research on small parks in China.Every city evolves with its endogenous advantages and disadvantages.Taiyuan,known as “Dragon City”,is also making progress in the process of modernization.Systematic construction of small parks in Taiyuan is in urgentneed.Some older small parks,either functionally or aesthetically,need a thorough revitalization.Drawing on field method,document analysis and comparative analysis,the study investigates the planning and design of small parks in Taiyuan City.Through the inquiry of the amount,layout,design and quality of small parks in Taiyuan City,the study analyzes the strengths and weaknesses: long-term underestimation thus lacking upgrading;the low quality of parks that fails to meet the demand of people;exacerbation of the environment of parks caused by patchy system of management;unproportionate distribution and layout of small parks;scant cultural representation and innovation;preferable landscape of residential small parks.The thesis consists of six chapters.Chapter one raises the background,objectivity and significance of the study,gives definition of small parks and introduces relevant concepts.Chapter two reviews the literature of theories and empirical studies of the planning and design of small parks both in China and other countries,with detailed case studies of Tokyo,Los Angeles and Beijing.Chapter three introduces the development of small parks in Taiyuan City.It first introduces the humanistic geographical environment.Then it analyzes the development trajectory of city park and the current situation of the planning and design of small parks in Taiyuan City.It finally identifies the long-term and short-term problems.Chapter five and six respectively delve into the planning and design of small parks in Taiyuan.Chapter five surveys both the macrosystem and micro layout of small parks.Chapter six investigates the spatial elements,landscape elements and design techniques of small parks in Taiyuan.The last chapter illustrates the application of aforementioned theories.The study hopes to draw attentions of authorities concerned through the analysis of small parks in Taiyuan City.Meanwhile,it provides references for other similar cities in making decisions to improve the quantity and quality of small parks.