Biophilia: residents' connection with green infrustructure in a town
Green infrastructure is urban nature conslstmg of greenery and green spaces distributed in and around town. It facilitates residents' contact with natural environment that may fulfil their needs for nature in urban places. Human's inherent affiliation with the natural environment or Bio...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Kulliyyah of Architecture and Environmental Design, IIUM
2011
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| Online Access: | http://irep.iium.edu.my/22930/ http://irep.iium.edu.my/22930/ http://irep.iium.edu.my/22930/1/Biophilia-_residents_connection_with_green_infrustructure.pdf |
| Summary: | Green infrastructure is urban nature conslstmg of greenery and green spaces
distributed in and around town. It facilitates residents' contact with natural
environment that may fulfil their needs for nature in urban places. Human's
inherent affiliation with the natural environment or Biophilia has been long
hypotesised. The paper draws the findings of a case study exploration on the
connection between residents with green infrastructure in Taiping, a small colonial
town in Peninsular Malaysia. Biophilic tendency of residents to green infrastructure
in the town was elicited using questionnaire survey (n=335) and semi-structured
interviews (n=33). The results show that residents who participated in activities
within the greenery and open spaces in the town experienced various benefits that
fulfil their needs for nature. Physically, participating in activities provided the
residents active living. Physical and visual experience afforded relaxation, comfort
and calmness. More social interactions were experienced resulting in community
satisfaction. The study concludes that existence of matured green infrastructure
extends beyond aesthetic enjoyment. It provides urban residents with a connection
to nature that induces affiliation with green infrastructure in a town. Thus, planning
and provision of green infrastructure with care by urban planners and designers are
essential in the urban fabrics. |
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