Urban Open Space Design in Boston and Taipei

1. Urban Open Space Design in Boston and Taipei Jesse Regnier & Pei-Yu Chen

2. Overview • What is Open Space? • Benefits of Open Space • A Brief History of Open Space • Case Study - Taipei, Taiwan • Case Study - Boston, USA • Warp up

3. What is Open Space? • According to the US EPA • Open 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 Space • Public parks, Squares and plaza, Memorials, Markets, Streets, Playgrounds, Community open space, Greenways and linear parkways, Urban wilderness, Atrium/Indoor marketplaces , Found/Neighborhood spaces, Waterfronts.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. Jump to Medieval Cities • Plazas similar to the agora • Located in the middle of the city almost always accompanied by a church

7. Taipei City, Taiwan

8. Where is Taiwan?

9. East Asia

10. 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)

11. History of Parks Development in TaipeiI. 1683~1895: Qing Dynasty No parks but private gardens

12. History of Parks Development in TaipeiII. 1895~1945: Japanese Colonial Period 1896: First park in Taipei, Taiwan- Yuanshan Park 1913: BeitouPark (Convergent Plate Boundary)

13. History of Parks Development in Taipei III. 1945~Current: Taiwan(R.O.C) • Removed Japanese building/temples/status in parks • 1980: Started to build parks with professional planning and design techniques. • 2009: “Taipei City is pretty” project

14. Types of Parks in Taipei City I. Nature Park Preserve nature resources. II. Multifunctional Park Gym, outdoor courts,swimming pool.

15. 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.

16. The Goal of Creating More Open Spaces Improve air quality Provide playground/green space

17. 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.

18. Achievement of Open Space in Taipei City Open space 7.7 sq miles 55 sq foot/ per citizen Riverside  Parks Blighted land  Gardens Arterials/sidewalks /medians Parks Distribution Map

19. Achievement of Open Space in Taipei City Blighted land  Gardens Arterials/sidewalks

20. Design challenges? • Limited land for creating more open space. • Accessibility issue (Complete Streets/Public Transportation) • Weather issue (pavilion)

21. Daan Forest Park ---The “Lungs of Taipei City” • Area: 65 acres • Created in 1994

22. Metro Rapid Transit(MRT) System Before After

23. Boston, Massachusetts

24. History of Parks Development • 1634: Boston Common • Oldest public open space in the nation • 1838: The Public Garden • Boston had far less designated parkland than other comparable cities by the latter part of the 19th century

25. View of the water celebration on October 25, 1848

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

27. The Emerald Necklace

28. 1898-1932: Playgrounds • 41 playgrounds constructed in 22 wards • 1950: The majority of the open spaces are in place • 1982-1987: Parks deterioration • Parks budget slashed in half • 1987-present: Reinvestment • 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

29. 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

30. 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”

31. 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

32. 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

33. 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/

34. 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/