OUGD505 - Studio Brief 2 - How can we best utilise green space within cities? - Refining concept

Refining Concept

After the presentation it was found that the research that had been done needed to focussed down more to help define a specific aspect that could be visually investigated. feedback from the presentation suggested focusing on one aspect that green infrastructure / green spaces benefits as it was said that this would then in turn lead on to the other benefits described within the presentation.

Focusing on biodiversity was the aspect that was most interesting when compared with the other benefits of green infrastructure and was considered to be the most engaging topic. Refining the topic down to a question or statement was effective when we listened to some of the Level 6s previous topics. It was considered whether people are losing their connection to biodiversity in cities and about how they can be reengaged with the environment / biodiversity in cities.

It was considered that there were two aspects to increasing engagement / connection with biodiversity in cities, this included bringing wildlife back into cities and showing / enhancing what already exists in cities.

Ideas and thoughts for bringing wildlife in:
- need to provide habitats for wildlife
- unused areas need to be redesigned to be functional. Have a Design Competition to redesign local areas
- upgrading existing green spaces perhaps through a community regeneration project
- spaces need to be made for both people and biodiversity
- environmental design to improve streetscapes e.g. create street furniture that caters for both wildlife and people

Ideas and thoughts for showing what exists / highlighting biodiversity
- encourage the use of existing green spaces
- people are blind to the biodiversity that already exists in cities e.g. highlight habitats and wildlife around the city
- there is a lack of understanding about urban biodiversity. Could there be a survey / app that helps people find and document wildlife
- make it easier to find or get to green space, what facilities are there in the greens space. Could this be a website with ratings and information on facilities / what can be seen. 

Tutor feedback 

From the ideas that I had come up with so far it was said that perhaps there wasn't enough clarity in the problem and that it needed to be better defined as some ideas are answering different questions to others. A lot of the current ideas aim to improve / increase green space so it was suggested thinking about what makes green space effective and are they fulfilling what they need to. From this we discussed whether green spaces are being utilised correctly within cities, which would encompass the idea of improvement of green spaces and the encouragement of people to use the spaces through this. It was said that considering what people need from spaces and what nature needs from them could be fused.



After this discussion the question was focused to whether space is utilised effectively within cities, with the new question being 'How can we best utilise green spaces within cities?'.

It was considered that there are four aspects of space within cities that are important or can be improved:

- (Regenerating) Existing space / Disused space

Vegetation needs to be managed 
encouraging more biodiversity is important 
creating new habitats is important 
restoring and managing habitats is important 

- An Individuals space

- Having multi-functional space 

What does wildlife need, what do people want?
Combine aspects of city design with nature by adapting streets 
Redesigning spaces to positively impact wildlife and people

- Connecting spaces

Make it easier to find/ get to green space
Link habitats with green corridors
Connect existing spaces in a trial