earticle

영어

Structures of urban greenspaces are the three-dimensional spatial distribution of vegetation and soils in urban areas including species composition, tree size and density, crown cover and volume, vertical diversity, and network system. These horizontal and vertical structures determine various functions of urban greenspaces which are associated with ecological, aesthetic, and recreational benefits for residents. This study analyzed structural characteristics of urban greenspaces in South Korea based on field survey and recent literature, reviewed diverse functions of urban greenspaces quantitatively, and explored better ways of improving the functions. Ecological functions studied included microclimate amelioration and building energy savings, reduction of gaseous and particulate air pollutants, rainfall interception, and bird species diversity. The study also reviewed residents’ aesthetic preferences by structural difference of urban greenspaces which provide attractive naturalness to urban stark settings. These ecological and aesthetic functions considered could affect recreational functions as represented by residents’ health and well-being through outdoor activities in urban areas. Structures of urban greenspaces in South Korea were characterized by poor greenspace area in residential and institutional lands, limitation of seasonal tree-species diversity, dominance of young and growing tree population, low tree density and crown cover, vertically single-layered planting, poor tree-growth conditions and intensive pruning, isolation of vegetation patches. Based on these findings, this study suggested desirable ways for structural design to enhance various functions of urban greenspaces.