Pocket Park Design in High-density Urban Areas :a Case Study of Pocket Park Design in Shanghai Chenghuangmiao District

Wang Yuncai; Yang Mei; Feng Chaoyang

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1000-0232.2017.02.029

Abstract：Pocket parks are widely dispersed in high-density urban areas like alveoli in lungs, providing plenty of "free-breathing" porous surfaces for high-density spaces. They enhanced the bearing capacity of urban green spaces, thus improved the urban park system. Pocket parks played a key role in urban rejuvenation, which will be a dominant direction for green space development in future high-density urban centers. This article showed the urgency of the development of pocket parks in high-density urban areas in China. Based on Sponge City,Landscape Ecology, and other theories, this article analyzed the experiences, methods, and techniques of both domestic and foreign successful design cases of pocket parks, proposed design principles of using key nodes to guide the whole area, enhancing human experiences, and creating culture carriers. This article also conducted systematic studies in both theory and practice by using pocket park design of Shanghai Town God's Temple (Chenghuangmiao) district as an example. In the design of Shanghai Chenghuangmiao district pocket parks, the designer identified the site conditions and target users through site investigation. Combining the old town culture of Shanghai, the design determined using "umbrella" as the theme, and unfolded its design structure of compact pocket parks. The design incorporated ecological technologies such as vertical planting, storm water garden, and solar cells. The design also enhanced the ecological quality and usability through a series of ecological umbrellas and corridors, which will provide a green, energy-saving and ecological shelter to the local residents. The design could be used as a reference in future pocket park development.