Exploring Psychological and Aesthetic Approaches of Bio-Retention Facilities in the Urban Open Space

Abstract

Over the last decades, a number of bio-retention facilities have been installed in urban areas for flood control and green amenity purposes. As urban amenity facilities for citizens, bio-retentions have a lot potential; however, the literature on bio-retentions focused mostly on physiochemical aspects like water quality and runoffs. Hence, this paper aims to explore psychological aspects of bio-retentions such as perceptions and landscape aesthetic value for visitors. In order to achieve this purpose, the study employed on-site interviews and questionnaires in the chosen three case studies as research methodology. For the 3 different locations of bio-retention facilities, interviews and questionnaires were carried out. The surveys of 100 bio-retention users were conducted, investigating their general perceptions and landscape aesthetics of the bio-retention facilities. The paper found that only 34% of the interviewees recognised bio-detention facilities, illustrating that most visitors were not aware of such facilities and were unable to distinguish the differences between bio-retention and conventional gardens. On the other hand, the majority of interviewees strongly supported the concept and function of bio-retentions, especially those who recognised the differences in planting species with conventional urban open spaces. Such main findings also encourage further studies of seeking quantitative values by conducting a correlation analysis between the functions and aesthetics of bio-retention facilities.

Aesthetic Experience as an Essential Factor to Trigger Positive Environmental Consciousness

“…Other environmental aestheticians, such as Hepburn [36], believed that the full-body immersion of viewer marks a substantial difference between the experiences of appreciating nature and appreciating art. Unlike the detached mode of appreciation in viewing art, in natural settings, people are absorbed extensively and therefore more easily evoke metaphysical imagination [15,[36][37][38][39][40]. In fact, an innate connectedness to nature is the state of mind that one can develop when interacting with nature [41,42].…”

“…Rolston and other environmental aestheticians have tried to ascertain whether aesthetic appreciation should be based on an objective-rational environmental model or a subjective-emotional environmental model (e.g., [10,15,34,48]). Interestingly, the results of this study show that the models are closely related.…”

“…Eco-friendly facilities designed in accordance to people's aesthetic preferences are proven to be more appreciated and supported by the public. Looks seem to matter in the campaign of environmental protection [14,15]. The scope of aesthetics, however, is not merely limited to the appearance of things.…”

Design and Performance Characterization of Roadside Bioretention Systems

“…Bioretention systems are extremely important due to their ability to be used as seawater in cities, reducing stormwater runoff, eliminating pollutants, as well as reusing water resources [19]. In addition, bioretention systems also have an aesthetic function valued by the public [20]. As an important part of the urban ecosystem, most of the urban green space does not meet its design expectations.…”

The Cause and Evolution of Urban Street Vitality under the Time Dimension: Nine Cases of Streets in Nanjing City, China

“…An urban built environment can be understood as a system that covers many interconnected spaces supported by social progress and technological capabilities [1]. Urban public spaces give a sense of visibility to buildings and public life, as a precondition for the development of open space, and are highly related to urban sustainable development [2,3]. As one of the largest urban public spaces, streets bear a profound social and humanistic connotation [4].…”