Perception of urban parks: the influence of topography, vegetation density and park attributes on perceived safety, mystery and preference
In this study we analysed how topography, vegetation density and selected park attributes influence features such as coherence, complexity, legibility, mystery, sense of safety and preference in the context of natural-looking urban parks. We also examined relationships with other landscape features...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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International Association for Landscape Ecology, Chapter Germany
2025-03-01
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| Series: | Landscape Online |
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| Online Access: | https://www.landscape-online.org/index.php/lo/article/view/291 |
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| author | Łukasz Pardela Joanna Beck Aleksandra Lis |
| author_facet | Łukasz Pardela Joanna Beck Aleksandra Lis |
| author_sort | Łukasz Pardela |
| collection | DOAJ |
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In this study we analysed how topography, vegetation density and selected park attributes influence features such as coherence, complexity, legibility, mystery, sense of safety and preference in the context of natural-looking urban parks. We also examined relationships with other landscape features that may affect preference. We employed a withinsubjects design where participants evaluated a set of 108 eye-level computer generated photorealistic visualisations of park environments. Our sample comprised 200 participants (118 females and 82 males). Our findings suggest that flat terrain is perceived as safer. Dense vegetation increases the sense of mystery, while sparse vegetation was conducted for safety and legibility. The presence of plants in bloom and park architecture, and furniture were most preferred features of the park landscapes we studied. Park landscapes with plenty of light and visible sky were perceived as safer, while landscapes with less light and sky were thought to be more mysterious. The strongest predictors of Kaplan preference model preference were legibility, complexity and coherence. The greater the coherence and readability, the more the landscape was preferred. Landscape complexity positively influenced preference. Our findings indicate the complexity of the relationship between topography, vegetation and landscape preference, emphasising their relevance when designing attractive and safe parks with a natural feel.
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-cbb6911a960642269bebd65285038ff3 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1865-1542 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | International Association for Landscape Ecology, Chapter Germany |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Landscape Online |
| spelling | doaj-art-cbb6911a960642269bebd65285038ff32025-08-20T01:51:36ZengInternational Association for Landscape Ecology, Chapter GermanyLandscape Online1865-15422025-03-0110010.3097/LO.2025.1133Perception of urban parks: the influence of topography, vegetation density and park attributes on perceived safety, mystery and preferenceŁukasz Pardela0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4635-6216Joanna Beck1https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7453-9242Aleksandra Lis2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0464-3770Wroclaw Univeristy of Environmental and Life Sciences, Department of Landscape Architecture, Wrocław, PolandInstitute of Physiology and Pathology of Hearing, Bioimaging Research Center, Warsaw, Poland Wroclaw Univeristy of Environmental and Life Sciences, Department of Landscape Architecture, Wrocław,Poland In this study we analysed how topography, vegetation density and selected park attributes influence features such as coherence, complexity, legibility, mystery, sense of safety and preference in the context of natural-looking urban parks. We also examined relationships with other landscape features that may affect preference. We employed a withinsubjects design where participants evaluated a set of 108 eye-level computer generated photorealistic visualisations of park environments. Our sample comprised 200 participants (118 females and 82 males). Our findings suggest that flat terrain is perceived as safer. Dense vegetation increases the sense of mystery, while sparse vegetation was conducted for safety and legibility. The presence of plants in bloom and park architecture, and furniture were most preferred features of the park landscapes we studied. Park landscapes with plenty of light and visible sky were perceived as safer, while landscapes with less light and sky were thought to be more mysterious. The strongest predictors of Kaplan preference model preference were legibility, complexity and coherence. The greater the coherence and readability, the more the landscape was preferred. Landscape complexity positively influenced preference. Our findings indicate the complexity of the relationship between topography, vegetation and landscape preference, emphasising their relevance when designing attractive and safe parks with a natural feel. https://www.landscape-online.org/index.php/lo/article/view/291perceived safetypreference analysisKaplan preference modelurban researchlandscape architecture |
| spellingShingle | Łukasz Pardela Joanna Beck Aleksandra Lis Perception of urban parks: the influence of topography, vegetation density and park attributes on perceived safety, mystery and preference Landscape Online perceived safety preference analysis Kaplan preference model urban research landscape architecture |
| title | Perception of urban parks: the influence of topography, vegetation density and park attributes on perceived safety, mystery and preference |
| title_full | Perception of urban parks: the influence of topography, vegetation density and park attributes on perceived safety, mystery and preference |
| title_fullStr | Perception of urban parks: the influence of topography, vegetation density and park attributes on perceived safety, mystery and preference |
| title_full_unstemmed | Perception of urban parks: the influence of topography, vegetation density and park attributes on perceived safety, mystery and preference |
| title_short | Perception of urban parks: the influence of topography, vegetation density and park attributes on perceived safety, mystery and preference |
| title_sort | perception of urban parks the influence of topography vegetation density and park attributes on perceived safety mystery and preference |
| topic | perceived safety preference analysis Kaplan preference model urban research landscape architecture |
| url | https://www.landscape-online.org/index.php/lo/article/view/291 |
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