Spatial Contextualization of Heat Mitigation and Recreational Aspects of Greenery in Various Urban Environments

Abstract

Urban greenery has significant potential to provide heat mitigating and recreational functions for urban residents. However, the ability of greenery to deliver these benefits is highly dependent on its spatial context. The aim of this thesis is to examine how greenery—and its heat-mitigating and recreational functions and benefits—is spatially distributed in residential and everyday environments. It also seeks to develop methods to assess and compare the functions that different types of greenery can offer, depending on spatial context and planning needs.

The first two papers show that access to greenery in residential environments varies across housing typologies, resulting in unequal access to its recreational benefits. They also highlight that greenery, particularly trees, plays a crucial role in reducing heat stress in preschool yards—many of which currently lack sufficient shade—as well as in providing recreational benefits in residential areas. The third paper demonstrates that the cooling potential of trees is strongly influenced by surrounding ground conditions. Trees growing in areas with a higher proportion of permeable surfaces can grow larger, transpire more, and provide more effective shade, thereby enhancing their cooling effect. The final two papers contribute methods for assessing the multifunctionality of greenery and for better integrating spatial context into urban planning and analysis. The results show that the unctional and multifunctional potential of different green elements varies, with generally low overall multifunctionality. Thus, while multifunctionality is a desirable goal, specific functions may need to be prioritised in certain contexts to meet local needs. The findings also emphasise the importance of proper parametrisation of urban climate models to accurately reflect local conditions within the model domain.

In summary, this thesis emphasises the importance of considering spatial context in the study and planning of urban greenery. It contributes new knowledge on the variation in functions and benefits of greenery in everyday environments and offers practical tools to support planners and decision makers in more effectively integrating greenery into urban development, adapted to spatial context and local needs