Composition and Utilization of Urban Garden Space Using the Planting System Design Process

Background and objective: Urbanization caused a reduction in urban green space and a lack of community spaces. An attempt to solve these problems, urban gardens, have become popular and are currently being implemented in various downtown areas. However, urban gardens have some inadequate aspects from a visual or landscape perspective. The goal of this study was to examine the possibility of an aesthetic and productive garden space by introducing cultivation methods through the planting system design process. Methods: The design process using plants was classified and presented to suggest the importance of the landscape and aesthetic value. An urban garden space was designed according to the perspective of ‘production scenery’ and ‘participation aesthetics’. According to the characteristics of the plant, urban gardens were divided into vertical type (corn, millet, sorghum), climbing type (kidney bean, cucumber, bitter gourd), and runner type (melon, watermelon, peanut). After classifying plants according to the shape of the root, the structure supporting climbing was installed and the crops were cultivated in an upright form with a tunnel. Results: In the designed cultivation, each crop cooperates, without invading each other’s space. Compared with the conventional cultivation, there was little difference in production, and management was made more convenient since weed outbreaks were effectively suppressed while runner type crops cover over the land’s surface. Since the positions of each crop are clearly distinguished, the aesthetic value is improved by offering a sense of rhythm with a balanced design. Conclusion: The results suggest that the cultivation methods through the plant system design process have aesthetic as well as productive value, and the design using plants, an infinite living resource, could lead to an expansion of the design field. Moreover, it would enable a sustainable symbiosis between industry and environment. There is potential for the design industry to make significant progress through collaboration with agriculture, horticulture, and landscape architecture.