Book Description

This dissertation, "A Framework for Sustainable Residential Landscaping and Its Application in the High Density Urban Context of Hong Kong" by Junyan, Jessica, He, 賀珺妍, was obtained from The University of Hong Kong (Pokfulam, Hong Kong) and is being sold pursuant to Creative Commons: Attribution 3.0 Hong Kong License. The content of this dissertation has not been altered in any way. We have altered the formatting in order to facilitate the ease of printing and reading of the dissertation. All rights not granted by the above license are retained by the author. Abstract: Abstract of the thesis entitled A Framework for Sustainable Residential Landscaping and Its Application in the High Density Urban Context of Hong Kong Submitted by HE Junyan, Jessica for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at the University of Hong Kong in January 2007 Landscape architecture as an independent discipline requires growing substantive theory for its development. Sustainable development research, as a key component of the substantive theory, may contribute to the improvement of design quality for future practice. However, in many real estate developments today, little consensus on philosophy and framework is found to guide the design and management of residential landscapes. In some Asian cities, such as Hong Kong and cities in Mainland China, landscape has been considered as an attached 'decoration' of building design. Moreover, the current research on sustainable residential landscaping broadly focuses on landscape ecology and practices within relatively low density urban contexts. For these reasons, a study of the relationship between landscape and sustainable development is urgently required in relation to urban housing development. Sustainable residential landscaping in this research is considered as part of the urban process. The term landscaping focuses on treating the relationship between humans and the landscape itself. This study first proposes to develop a conceptual framework for sustainable residential landscaping. Based on the literature review, parameters from urban sustainability and landscape sustainability are integrated and overlapped for the new framework. World-leading models and frameworks are also studied in order to learn the system formation methodology. The final dimensions and parameters in the sustainable residential landscaping framework are in accord with the existing sustainability triangle. In the second part of this research, Hong Kong is taken as the case study area in order to show how this framework is implemented in a high density urban context. Spatial analysis is taken in eight housing estates which are located in a high landscape value area. They also present different housing types in Hong Kong. Time analysis is taken in two public housing estates which have a transformation in their residential landscapes. In addition, in order to evaluate how density will affect the framework implementation, one mid-density and one low-density case are selected to compare with the Hong Kong situation in the third part of the research. Extensive landscape survey, planting design analysis, questionnaire, and face-to-face interviews with the people concerned in these twelve situations are used in the case study. By analyzing basic data collected in these estates, the framework for sustainable residential landscaping is concluded and verified. Some priority parameters are also identified for Hong Kong's future residential landscaping development. The results of this research can be seen as a theoretical complementary part of a substantive theory of landscape architecture. It is also a contribution to sustainable neighbourhood research in the world and the current sustainable development of Hong Kong. The methodology and process of how to apply the framework in a high density urban context can be replicated by other cities. The experience of Hong