Urban Open Space Design in Boston and Taipei

Jesse Regnier & Pei-Yu Chen

Overview

What is Open Space? Benefits of Open SpaceA Brief History of Open SpaceCase Study - Taipei, TaiwanCase Study - Boston, USAWarp up

What is Open Space?• According to the US EPAOpen space is any open piece of land that is

undeveloped (has no buildings or other built structures) and is accessible to the public.

• Typology of Urban Open SpacePublic parks, Squares and plaza, Memorials, Markets,

Streets, Playgrounds, Community open space, Greenways and linear parkways, Urban wilderness, Atrium/Indoor marketplaces , Found/Neighborhood spaces, Waterfronts.

Benefits of Open Space

• Social Benefits• Environmental Benefits• Economic Benefits• Public Health• Open space serves as a boundary between

incompatible uses and breaks from continuous development.

A Brief History of Open Space

• Agora: in ancient Greek cities, an open space that served as a meeting ground for various activities of the citizens since the 5th century BC.

• Space for daily religious, political, judicial, social, and commercial activity.

• Located either in the middle of the city or near the harbor, which was surrounded by public buildings and by temples.

Jump to Medieval Cities • Plazas similar to the agora• Located in the middle of the city

almost always accompanied by a church

Taipei City, Taiwan

Where is Taiwan?

East Asia

Background of Taipei City

• Located in East Asia• Capital of Taiwan• Area: 104.9 sq miles (Boston: 83.63 sq miles)• Population: >3,000,000 (Boston: 636,479)

City Taipei City Boston New YorkDensity (square miles) 25,000 12,200 27,550

History of Parks Development in TaipeiI. 1683~1895: Qing Dynasty

No parks but private gardens

History of Parks Development in TaipeiII. 1895~1945: Japanese Colonial Period

1896: First park in Taipei, Taiwan- Yuanshan Park

1913: Beitou Park (Convergent Plate Boundary)

History of Parks Development in Taipei

III. 1945~Current: Taiwan(R.O.C)Removed Japanese building/temples/status in

parks1980: Started to build parks with professional

planning and design techniques. 2009: “Taipei City is pretty” project

Types of Parks in Taipei City

I. Nature Park Preserve nature resources.

II. Multifunctional Park Gym, outdoor courts, swimming

pool.

Types of Parks in Taipei City

III. Community Park (<2.5 acres) Imbuing a sense of community.

IV. Riverside Park (Flooding prevention)

Courts, roller-skating pool, bike paths.

The Goal of Creating More Open Spaces

Improve air quality Provide playground/green space

The Goal of Creating More Open Spaces• Mitigate Heat Island

Effect Geographical feature:

Basin Taipei City has urbanized

rapidly since 1967, and urban warming appeared from 1985.

Achievement of Open Space in Taipei City

•Open space 7.7 sq miles•55 sq foot/ per citizenRiverside ParksBlighted land GardensArterials/sidewalks /medians

Parks Distribution Map

Achievement of Open Space in Taipei City

Blighted land Gardens Arterials/sidewalks

Design challenges?

• Limited land for creating more open space.• Accessibility issue (Complete Streets/Public

Transportation)• Weather issue (pavilion)

Daan Forest Park ---

The “Lungs of Taipei City”

Area: 65 acresCreated in 1994

Metro Rapid Transit(MRT) SystemBefore After

Boston, Massachusetts

History of Parks DevelopmentI. 1634: Boston Common Oldest public open space in the nationII. 1838: The Public Garden Boston had far less designated parkland than other comparable cities by

the latter part of the 19th century

View of the water celebration on October 25, 1848

III. 1875: Creation of the Boston Parks CommissionIV. 1878: Boston Hires FLO Sr. Develops comprehensive parks system V. 1856-1891: Emerald Necklace Boston Common Commonwealth Avenue Mall Back Bay Fens (filled brackish swamp) The Riverway Olmsted Park Jamaica Pond Arnold Arboretum Franklin ParkVI. 1892: Creation of the Metropolitan Parks

Commission

The FLO Era

The Emerald Necklace

VII. 1898-1932: Playgrounds 41 playgrounds constructed in 22 wards

VIII.1950: The majority of the open spaces are in placeIX. 1982-1987: Parks deterioration Parks budget slashed in half

X. 1987-present: ReinvestmentXI. Boston now has over 7,000 acres of public and

private parkland Monuments, fountains, statues, footbridges, flower

gardens, trees, athletic fields, squares, playgrounds, golf courses, and malls

Emerald Necklace of larger parks

Open Space Types

Malls, Squares, Plazas Parkways,

Reservations, and Beaches

Parks, Playgrounds, and Athletic Fields

Cemeteries Community Gardens Urban Wilds and

Natural Areas Protected Open Space

How to Protect Open Spaces

• Open Space Plans-5 year action plans• Article 97-An amendment to the Massachusetts

Constitution passed in 1972• Open Space Zoning• Historical designation• Environmental regulations• Conservation restrictions• Conservation land trusts• The “100-foot rule”

Wrap Up

• Open Spaces have been important to humans all over the world for thousands of years

• Open Spaces serve a variety of functions• Creation, funding, and maintenance are all

have there challenges• Must find creative solutions to these

challenges

References• Photograph of Boston, Massachusetts http://

www.braco.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Boston_Ma.jpg • United States Environmental Protection Agency http://www.epa.gov/region1/eco/uep/openspace.html• Boston Parks and Recreation Department, Open Space Plan for Boston 2008-2014 http://

www.cityofboston.gov/parks/pdfs/OSP2010/OSP0814_5_OpenSpaceInventory.pdf• Urban Geography, Stanley Et Al. pp. 1089-1117. “Urban Open Spaces in Historical Perspective: A

Transdisciplinary Typology and Analysis” Bellwether Publishing, Ltd. 2012. http://www.public.asu.edu/~mesmith9/1-CompleteSet/StanleyEtAl-OpenSpaces.pdf

• Encyclopedia Britannica http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/9404/agora• The Boston Common and Public Garden Map http://

citybuilderbookclub.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/2-Boston-Common.png• The Emerald Necklace Map http://allisalleyway.blogspot.com/2012/06/emerald-neclace.html• The Emerald Necklace Map http://images.huffingtonpost.com/2012-01-30-BlogScan1copy.jpg• City of Boston Parks and Recreation Department http://www.cityofboston.gov/parks/emerald/• National Association for Olmsted Parks

http://www.olmsted.org/the-olmsted-legacy/frederick-law-olmsted-sr

References• Urban Warming and Urban Heat Islands in

Taipei, Taiwan http://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-4-431-53904-9_12

• Gardens https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=WmG_bEBQrjsKZM&tbnid=HtLxauqV36LbjM:&ved=0CAQQjB0&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.absolutechinatours.com%2Fchina-travel%2Fjiangnan-classical-gardens.html&ei=WTeQUs6RCI27kQe6pYHgDQ&bvm=bv.56988011,d.eW0&psig=AFQjCNEpzXkQ7R3CPX5rC8wek12vw_R3hg&ust=1385269421704863

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=TVGpO1mJaDvU2M&tbnid=GFyAx8A1kt3LcM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.acftu.org.cn%2Ftemplate%2F10002%2Fpage.jsp%3Fcur_page%3D7%26aid%3D386%26cid%3D61&ei=yzeQUoaSH9SMkAfq04HgCw&bvm=bv.56988011,d.eW0&psig=AFQjCNEpzXkQ7R3CPX5rC8wek12vw_R3hg&ust=1385269421704863• Vehicles

http://wodumedia.com/population-7-billion/motorists-crowd-at-a-junction-during-rush-hour-in-taipei-on-october-29-2009-there-are-more-than-8-8-million-motorcycles-and-4-8-million-cars-on-taiwans-roads-and-nearly-all-motor-vehicles-and-inh/

References• Taipei City Government - Parks and Street Lights Office

http://pkl.taipei.gov.tw/np.asp?ctNode=46311&mp=106011• Taipei City Government – Department of Urban Development

http://www.udd.taipei.gov.tw/