Search Results (145)

Numerous studies have demonstrated that in residential areas of Western cities, both luxury and legacy effects significantly shape tree species diversity dynamics. However, the specific mechanisms driving these diversity patterns in China, where urbanization has progressed at an unprecedented pace, remain poorly understood. In this study we selected 20 residential settlements and 7 key socio-economic properties to investigate the change trend of tree diversity (2006–2021) and its socio-economic driving factors in Beijing. Our results demonstrate significant increases in total, native, and exotic tree species richness between 2006 and 2021 (p < 0.05), with average increases of 36%, 26%, and 55%, respectively. Total and exotic tree Shannon-Wiener indices, as well as exotic tree Simpson’s index, were also significantly higher in 2021 (p < 0.05). Housing prices was the dominant driver shaping total and exotic tree diversity, showing significant positive correlations with both metrics. In contrast, native tree diversity exhibited a strong positive association with neighborhood age. Our findings highlight two dominant mechanisms: legacy effect, where older neighborhoods preserve native diversity through historical planting practices, and luxury effect, where affluent communities drive exotic species proliferation through ornamental landscaping initiatives. These findings elucidate the dual dynamics of legacy conservation and luxury-driven cultivation in urban forest development, revealing how historical contingencies and contemporary socioeconomic forces jointly shape tree diversity patterns in urban ecosystems. Full article

Residential segregation remains a persistent challenge in European urban environments and is an increasing focal point in urban policy debates. This study investigates the changing geographies of ethnic diversity and residential segregation in Riga, the capital city of Latvia. The research addresses the complex dynamics of ethnic residential patterns within the distinctive context of post-socialist urban transformation, examining how historical legacies of ethnic diversity interact with contemporary migration flows to reshape neighborhood ethnic composition. Using geo-referenced data from 2000, 2011, and 2021 census rounds, we examined changes in the spatial distribution of five major ethnic groups. Our analysis employs the Dissimilarity Index to measure ethnic residential segregation and the Location Quotient to identify the residential concentration of ethnic groups across the city. The findings reveal that Riga’s ethnic landscape is undergoing a gradual yet impactful transformation. The spatial distribution of ethnic groups is shifting, with the increasing segregation of certain groups, particularly traditional ethnic minorities, coupled with a growing concentration of Europeans and non-Europeans in the inner city. The findings reveal distinctive patterns of ethnic diversification and demographic change, wherein long-term trends intersect with contemporary migration dynamics to produce unique trajectories of ethnic residential segregation, which differ from those observed in Western European contexts. However, the specific dynamics in Riga, particularly the persistence of traditional ethnic minority communities and the emergence of new ethnic groups, highlight the unique context of post-socialist urban landscapes. Full article

Contemporary urban planning faces the ongoing challenge of developing Green Infrastructure capable of providing vital ecosystem services. Within this framework, the Barcelona metropolitan area has advanced a network of parks that, while serving local neighborhoods, also aim for metropolitan relevance. This study offers a forward-looking analysis of selected parks in the southern Llobregat River basin—an area shaped by historic villages and working-class settlements—to evaluate their contribution to both Green Infrastructure and the region’s polycentric structure. Building on previous landmark studies and multidisciplinary perspectives, the research examines eight parks through four spatial and scalar lenses, assessing their territorial role and accessibility, ecological connectivity, urban integration and permeability, and landscape design with both qualitative and quantitative data. Using a comparative framework alongside research-by-design methods tested in urban design studios, the research links analytical insights to design-based strategies. The outcome is a set of actionable guidelines aimed at enhancing local park performance, with broader implications for over 50 ‘Metropolitan Parks’ spread in more than 30 municipalities. These insights contribute to shaping a more integrated, livable, and resilient metropolitan region. Full article

Urban space is the social field in which religious diversity in contemporary Italy becomes most evident and where religious groups compete for visibility, recognition, and places of worship. The sites of so-called minorities can be observed as indicators of a plural religious geography. Peaceful and conflictual dynamics are both expressed precisely through external recognition, which may be horizontal—religious and social—when between peers or vertical therefore juridical. This study presents the findings of research conducted in the city of Turin, an emblematic case within the Italian religious landscape for the management of religious diversity and interreligious dialogue initiatives. The analysis focuses on the Romanian Orthodox Church located in the historic center, which we interpret as a shared religious place. This case shows how a spatial and material perspective can offer an innovative approach to the field of interreligious dialogue. Places of worship are crucial spaces for interreligious dialogue: they serve as laboratories of local peace-building and experiments in coexistence, mutual respect, encounter, and conflict mediation. However, in a frame of multiple secularities, the ambiguity of both the national and regional legal systems contribute to marginality of the religious dimension in the city’s urban planning policies, ignoring the important role these places play as spaces of cohesion, identity, inclusion. Full article

Contemporary college students face mounting psychological challenges under high academic pressure, and the design and functionality of campus environments may play a critical role in psychological recovery. Emerging evidence suggests that restorative benefits can be derived not only from natural environments but also from historically built settings rich in cultural narratives—can these historical environments compare to natural ones? This study surveyed how different campus environments affect students’ physiological (heart rate variability, HRV) and psychological (Profile of Mood States, POMS; Perceived Restorative Scale, PRS) outcomes. During the final exam week, 38 college students were exposed to four environments using a within-subject crossover design: an ordinary built environment, a natural landscape environment, a historical built environment with intentional historical narratives, and a built environment with unintentional historical narratives. The results indicated that the historical built environment with designed historical narratives provided restorative benefits comparable to those of natural landscape environments by enhancing HRV and improving mood states. These findings suggest that a historical built environment with intentional explicit historical interpretation can offer rehabilitation benefits similar to natural landscape environments, providing a practical pathway for high-density urban areas with small-scale historical campus settings to achieve effective restorative outcomes. Full article

Historical towns embody the origins and continuity of urban civilization, preserving distinctive spatial fabrics, cultural lineages, and latent economic value within contemporary metropolitan systems. Their integrated conservation directly aligns with SDG 11.4, and advances the holistic preservation objectives of historic urban landscapes (HULs). However, achieving these objectives cannot be solely dependent on modern remote sensing technologies; it necessitates the integration of historical geographic information system (HGIS) theoretical frameworks and methodological approaches. Leveraging HGIS and multisource data—including SDGSAT-1 nighttime light imagery, textual documents, and historical maps—this study reconstructed the spatial extent of historical towns in suburban Shanghai and assessed their present-day economic vitality through light-based spatial proxies. Key results comprised the following. (1) Most suburban historical towns are small, yet nighttime light intensity varies markedly. Jiading County, Songjiang Prefecture, and Jinshan Wei rank highest in both spatial extent and brightness. (2) Town area exhibits a strong positive relationship (R² > 0.80) with the total nighttime light index, indicating that larger settlements generally sustain higher economic activity. (3) Clusters of “low area–low light” towns showed pronounced intra-regional disparities in economic vitality, underscoring the need for targeted revitalization. (4) Natural setting, historical legacy, policy interventions, and transport accessibility jointly shape development trajectories, with policy emerging as the dominant driver. This work demonstrates a transferable framework for multidimensional assessment of historical towns, supports differentiated conservation strategies, and aids the synergistic integration of heritage preservation with regional sustainable development. Full article

Urban historic parks face the dual challenge of achieving the living preservation of historic buildings while enhancing contemporary visitor satisfaction. In the context of accelerating urbanization and growing demand for immersive cultural experiences, it is increasingly important to conserve historical and cultural values while maintaining relevance and emotional engagement. This study adopts a mixed-methods approach to develop a predictive model for visitor satisfaction within the framework of living preservation, using Yingzhou West Lake in Fuyang City, Anhui Province, as a representative case. Qualitative methods were employed to identify key landscape narrative dimensions, while quantitative data from structured questionnaires highlighted critical experiential elements such as environmental restoration perception, flow experience, and cultural identity. Three machine-learning algorithms—random forest, Support Vector Machine (SVM), and XGBoost—were applied, with the most accurate model used to analyze the relative contribution of each component to visitor satisfaction. The findings revealed that immersive experiential elements play a central role in shaping satisfaction, while physical and cultural elements, particularly historic buildings and their contextual integration, provide essential structural and emotional support. This study offers data-driven insights for the adaptive reuse and interpretive activation of historic architecture, proposing practical strategies to harmonize cultural continuity with visitor engagement in the sustainable management of urban historic parks. Full article

Ancient paintings are an intangible window to the economy, politics, and customs of the past. Their characteristics have evolved or were made obsolete, with only limited contemporary connections remaining. This research aims to preserve and to interact with characters in 2D paintings to evolve their cultural identity through combining AI and AR. The scope of this research covers traditional Chinese paintings archived by the National Palace Museum in digital collections, mainly “New Year’s Market in a Time of Peace”. About 25 characters were used for training and 3D reconstruction in RODIN^®. The models were converted into Augment^® and Sketchfab^® platforms as reactivated AR characters to interact with new urban fabrics and landscapes. Stable Diffusion^® and RODIN^® were successfully integrated to perform image training and reconstruct 3D AR models of various styles. As a result, interactions were conducted in two ways: in a mixed context with mixed characters in a painting and in a familiar context in the real world with mixed characters. It was found that AR facilitated the interpretation of how the old urban fabric was arranged. Using AI and AR is a current issue. Combining AI and AR can activate ubiquitous preservation to perform recursive processing from diffused images in order to reconstruct 3D models. This activated heritage preservation method is a reasonable alternative to redefining intangible subjects with a new and evolved contemporary cultural identity. Full article

This study presents an innovative approach to mitigating the urban heat island (UHI) effect by constructing a cold island spatial pattern (CSP) from the perspective of landscape connectivity, integrating three-dimensional (3D) urban morphology and meteorological factors for the first time. Unlike traditional studies that focus on isolated patches or single-city scales, we propose a hierarchical framework for urban agglomerations, combining morphological spatial pattern analysis (MSPA), landscape connectivity assessment, and circuit theory to a construct CSP at the scale of urban agglomeration. By incorporating wind environment data and 3D building features (e.g., height, density) into the resistance surface, we enhance the accuracy of cooling network identification, revealing 39 cold island sources, 89 cooling corridors, and optimal corridor widths (600 m) in the Changsha–Zhuzhou–Xiangtan urban agglomeration (CZXUA). Ultimately, a three-tiered heat island mitigation framework for urban agglomerations was established based on the CSP. This study offers an innovative perspective on urban climate adaptability planning within the context of contemporary urbanization. Our methodology and findings provide critical insights for future studies to integrate multiscale, multidimensional, and climate-adaptive approaches in urban thermal environment governance, fostering sustainable urbanization under escalating climate challenges. Full article

Urban landscapes have become widespread as urban areas have grown. Studying the urban environment in terms of the ecosystem services provided is a key trend in contemporary science. This article aims to examine selected popular typologies of residential streetscapes in terms of their tree species diversity and the health of their greenery. The method combined an on-site tree inventory and selected indices relevant to the species richness, diversity, evenness, and nativity. Their correlation with the Vegetation Indices (VIs), expressing the health of the greenery and its density, was assessed. The main findings included the identification of positive correlations between the mean VI values and the diversity and evenness indices and a negative correlation with the tree nativity. The diversity and evenness indices could be used to inform landscape planning decisions and to evaluate both existing and projected treescapes. The nativity of trees should not be prioritized during planting selection; rather, the soil and climate conditions should be considered. As a result of this study, a comprehensive framework for assessing the greenness of streetscapes was developed. Its implementation will aid in directing greenery planning in residential areas towards sustainable development and regenerative urbanism. Full article

The development of smart cities provides a vital foundation for the intelligent advancement of landscape architecture and engineering technologies, where multimodal spatio-temporal data visualization plays a key role. This study conducts a scoping review to explore the advancements in multimodal spatio-temporal data visualization within landscape architecture and to assess their potential to drive urban intelligence and sustainable development. This review analyzes publication trends, data types, application scenarios, and identifies research challenges and future directions. The results indicate that the complementary integration of basic data and sensing data has established relatively mature technical pathways for clustering, correlation analysis, process simulation, and trend forecasting. Future research should prioritize real-time data presentation, efficient platform integration, intelligent processing and scientific mapping of massive information, and interdisciplinary research and practical applications. This study lays a foundation for the development of intelligent landscape architecture, highlighting promising prospects for technological advancement. Full article

This paper examines two large urban projects within a defined theoretical and methodological framework. Firstly, we analyse how the city administration in Belgrade, in post-socialist Serbia, managed the initial steps of the transformation of a part of the old town into the new large-scale development, the Belgrade Waterfront (BW), on the right bank of the Sava River. The contested outcome of the land transformation process contributes to a recognition of the unethical decision-making and performance of the responsible city authorities. Secondly, the postwar planning and construction of New Belgrade, in particular its Central Zone, is critically examined from the aspect of radical urban landscape transformation and its impact on society. Through a critical examination of the spatial development of the socialist period, we aim to identify emancipatory architectural and urban practises that could be an alternative to contemporary spatial production and that might provide a notion of key strategies for (re)establishing corresponding forms of socio-spatial justice. The two aforementioned research subjects are examined using different research questions, methodological tools, and different theoretical frameworks, which overlap, merge, and combine in the part of the study where the obtained results are discussed. Full article

This study examined the historical compatibility of urban furniture in Harput Sarahatun Mosque Square, Elazığ, Türkiye. It evaluated AI-generated modern and classical-style alternatives using the Semantic Differentiation Method. The research aimed to compare existing furniture with AI-assisted designs and identify key attributes influencing historical and spatial integration. The methodology consists of four stages: (1) defining adjective pairs to assess historical compatibility through expert opinions and literature review; (2) photographing existing urban furniture and generating AI-assisted modern and classical-style urban furniture (benches, trash cans, and lighting elements); (3) determination expert opinion using the survey; (4) statistical analysis of results through descriptive statistics and explanatory factor analysis (EFA). The study, which was conducted online in February 2025, involved 31 experts from the architecture and landscape architecture disciplines. The findings show that existing furniture is mainly judged by practicality and usability, with limited attention to historical integration. Modern AI-generated designs emphasize innovation, minimalism, and contemporary aesthetics. In contrast, classical-style AI-generated furniture is appreciated for its historical compatibility, cultural resonance, and aesthetic harmony. Experts favored classical alternatives for their alignment with traditional urban character. The results highlight the need for future designs to balance functionality, sustainability, and historical continuity, ensuring urban furniture contributes to cultural preservation and modern urban needs. Full article

Underground mining workings represent a valuable cultural, industrial, and civilizational heritage, serving as a testament to the history of human labour. The protection of old historical underground sites is an element of protecting mankind’s cultural heritage, a vital component of sustainable development. Supporting and adapting underground sites involve aesthetics, environmental issues, urban development, and natural and social aspects. Many of these sites, such as the salt mines in Bochnia and Wieliczka, are designated as nature reserves or UNESCO World Heritage sites. The preservation of these spaces requires a balanced approach that integrates their original function with new forms of usage, such as tourist routes or museums. The authenticity of these objects enhances their value as unique tourist products, supporting the conservation of heritage while addressing contemporary needs. In the adaptation process of underground sites, it is crucial to consider their specific characteristics, influenced by geological conditions, and to adapt them to new functions. A detailed analysis of geological, social, political, and landscape values is necessary to ensure that the adaptation process aligns with heritage protection principles. Several successful examples of such adaptations already exist in Poland, demonstrating their potential to bridge the past with the future, creating valuable functional programs. The article undertakes an analysis of the functional and spatial characteristics of underground mining workings in the context of selecting new uses, considering both their historical value and the needs of modern users. The impact of adaptation on the integrity of these objects is evaluated, and an approach is proposed that combines cultural heritage preservation with the possibility of utilising it for a new function. Full article

This study explores the design characteristics of approach spaces in architect Yoshiji Takehara’s independent residential works, focusing on their spatial arrangement, sinuosity, and experiential qualities. Through the analysis of Takehara’s projects and interviews with the architect, the research identifies key patterns in approach configurations, including entrance positioning, path complexity, and site-specific adaptations. The findings reveal that Takehara’s designs emphasize winding paths and deliberate spatial sequences, contrasting the simpler approaches of contemporaneous residential designs. The study categorizes approach configurations into distinct typologies, influenced by the site dimensions and entrance placement, and highlights a shift from physical obstructions to subtler, psychologically guided design elements over time. Takehara’s design method translates the concept of “Ma” from traditional tea gardens into the language of modern pathways, integrating traditional Japanese spatial ambiguity into contemporary residential design. This offers strategies to enhance spatial perception and experiential richness. Particularly in compact urban settings, the research provides valuable insights for contemporary residential design, emphasizing the importance of landscape-oriented approaches and spatial sequencing in creating meaningful entry experiences. Full article