The design and renovation for urban pocket park based on biophilic concept——A case of Larkin Street Park, Sydney, Australia

Abstract

Urban parks are vital places for the protection of urban biodiversity and the environment, and their design and ethos are also relevant to the quality of life and human well-being in urban areas.  With the development of cities and the improvement of the living standards of the people, some existing parks and open spaces have been unable to meet people's various needs for urban living environment, so the redesign and renovation of urban parks and open spaces has become a topical issue in the fields of architecture and urban planning. This study selected an urban pocket park in Sydney, Australia, as a case to explore a new approach to designing urban spaces – introducing biophilic concepts to address practical development needs. The case study also demonstrates the great potential and possibilities of biophilic concepts in improving the quality and appropriateness of urban spaces and environments. In addition, this study attempts to integrate the biophilic concept with the design and renovation of existing urban pocket parks and explore the characteristics and feasibility of the concept in terms of different functional areas and details.  The significance of this study is not only to test the possibility of combining biophilic theory with urban spatial planning principles, but also to provide practical experience and suggestions for future construction and development of designs that are dominated or inspired by natural elements.