4.1. Case Selection Criteria and Analysis Methods
For the study of the ecological design of plant landscaping in marine urban green spaces, wanting to realize its application with sustainable concepts, firstly, green space parks with typical characteristics at home and abroad were chosen to analyze and research. These were chosen to understand the ecosystems of plant types, water resources environments, soil protection, ecosystem restoration, and other dimensions, and to provide a clear picture of the ecological design. This chapter will study, summarize, and draw conclusions based on the design process and technical realization of the application of plant landscaping ecological design in the green spaces of marine cities.
The case study of this research involves the design of the planted landscapes in urban green spaces in marine cities. The case locations are selected from a total of five domestic and international seaside cities, shown in
Table 3, including Republic of Korea, Singapore, the Netherlands, Denmark, and Spain. The above sources of ecological information regarding urban green spaces in marine cities include a literature survey and seaside landscape survey.
4.2. Ecological Case Studies of Planted Landscapes in Marine Urban Green Spaces
Five representative cases of marine urban green spaces were ecologically analyzed based on plants, water resources, soil, and ecosystems to be interpreted separately.
Table 4 shows the ecological analysis of the urban green space for Han River Park in Seoul. The vegetation type in the Hanjiang River Basin is a subtropical evergreen broadleaf forest. Through the influence of climatic factors, subtropical evergreen broadleaf forests are evergreen year-round and generally dark green. The forest phase is neat, and the forest canopy is microwave-like undulation. The height of the community is generally about 15–20 m, rarely more than 30 m, and the total degree of depression is 0.7–0.9. The following summary is drawn from the investigation of the current ecological data of the park.
Table 5 shows the ecological analysis of the urban green space for the Marina Bay Gardens. The highlighted area within the Gardens by the Bay is the Supertree Grove. The Supertree Grove is a forest of 18 tree-like structures ranging in height from 20 to 50 m. Each tree is covered with a variety of climbing plants, epiphytes, and ferns, forming a vertical garden. The tops of the giant trees are equipped with photovoltaic cells that absorb solar energy during the day and illuminate them at night, while the crowns of the trees act as exhaust vents that are connected to the plant greenhouses, mimicking the photosynthesis and respiration of trees. At night, the Giant Tree Forest holds regular light show performances that are colorful and spectacular. The following summary is derived from a survey of the park’s current ecological data.
As shown in
Table 6, an ecological analysis of urban green spaces was conducted for Amstel Park. The park has a true tri-climate greenhouse that is divided into three zones with their own temperature, humidity, and air circulation. Visitors can walk through a South African bush, dry desert, and tropical jungle. Located in the tropics, it is home to ancient palms and thuja trees. Along with 23 ancient or rare trees, there is a collection of carnivorous and medicinal plants. The following summary is derived from a survey of ecological information on the current state of the park.
Table 7 shows an ecological analysis of urban green spaces for Habler Park. Denmark has a temperate oceanic climate with abundant rainfall and hot and humid conditions, resulting in a continuous, green, lush, multi-layered, dense jungle of herbs, vines, and epiphytes. Many plants try to grow upwards in order to obtain more sunlight. The following summary is derived from a survey of the park’s current ecological data.
Table 8 provides an ecological analysis of urban green spaces in Barcelona. Barcelona has a Mediterranean climate with four distinct seasons that are hot and dry in the summer and mild and rainy in the winter. The design of the park is dedicated to the vegetative characteristics of the Mediterranean region, taking into account the topography of the site and the local climatic influences. The Barcelona Botanical Garden combines Mediterranean landscapes, fractal geometric compositions, and materials with carefully chosen colors, all of which make it a microcosm of the Mediterranean landscape that is reminiscencent of the Mediterranean agrarian landscape. The following summary is derived from a survey of the current ecological data of the park.
4.3. Analytical Summary
As shown in
Table 9, based on the results of the characterization of the five main cases, a comparative analysis was carried out in which plant species, water management, soil protection, and ecosystem restoration were all summarized separately.
Seoul’s Han River Park, Singapore’s Gardens by the Bay, Amstel Park in Amsterdam, Copenhagen’s Habule Park, and Barcelona’s Seaside Green demonstrate diverse strategies and practices for the ecological design of green spaces in different marine cities. Seoul’s Han River Park focuses on the diversity of native plants and the use of natural rainwater, emphasizing eco-engineering techniques to facilitate the restoration of riverbank ecosystems. In contrast, Singapore’s Gardens by the Bay capitalizes on its tropical setting, combining native and exotic plants to create ecological diversity and enhance ecosystem services through efficient water recycling systems and eco-engineering techniques. Amstel Park in Amsterdam and Habule Park in Copenhagen also emphasize native plant species and natural water management, but while Amstel Park focuses more on wetland ecosystem restoration and ecological connectivity, Habule Park enhances soil health and ecological balance through sponge city principles and organic farming methods.
Barcelona’s waterfront green spaces, on the other hand, show how water management and soil conservation can be optimized through plant species adapted to Mediterranean environments and water-saving techniques. It also emphasizes organic soil amendments and natural erosion control measures. Overall, these cases reflect a preference for native and adapted plant species in the ecological design of urban green spaces. They also provide as a common focus on stormwater management and soil conservation techniques. They each employ strategies that are appropriate for their particular climatic, cultural, and environmental needs, demonstrating the important role of ecological design in enhancing urban biodiversity, improving environmental quality, and increasing the well-being of residents.
In marine urban green spaces, ecological design is important for promoting sustainable urban development and ecological restoration, especially in special environments such as marine cities, where biodiversity is essential for maintaining ecological balance and improving ecosystem resilience. By studying successful cases, it is possible to learn how to effectively integrate green spaces and urban environments to realize eco-services such as rainwater management, air quality improvement, temperature regulation, etc. This knowledge provides the necessary background to guide future sustainable urban planning and design. In addressing climate change, the role of green space eco-design in mitigating and adapting to climate change was emphasized, such as reducing the urban heat island effect by increasing the urban green cover and using waterfront green spaces as a natural barrier to mitigate the impacts of rising sea levels and extreme weather events. In terms of improving the well-being of residents, it demonstrated how the creation of an environment that is conducive to the physical and mental health of residents, including the reduction of noise pollution, the provision of space for recreation and sports, and the enhancement of community connectivity, can directly improve the quality of life of residents. In terms of promoting technological and methodological innovations, the analysis emphasizes the role of green space eco-design in mitigating and adapting to climate change. It also stimulates innovations in new technologies and methods, such as smart irrigation systems, eco-restoration techniques, and the integrated application of green infrastructure. In terms of strengthening social and cultural values, it reveals how green space eco-design can reinforce local characteristics and cultural identity, deepening residents’ sense of identity and belonging to their living environment through the protection and display of native plant species and historical landscapes.