A Practical Process through which the Structure of Natural Environment was Integrated into Large Scale Suburban Housing Development

Abstract

Primary purpose of this study is to identify the process through which the structure of natural environment is integrated into environmental planning for a large scaled suburban housing development. An intensive study of the planning process applied to the development of Kizu Chuo Area located in southern part of Kyoto Prefecture was conducted with particular attention to land use, land formation,street layout and surface drainage pattern. The entire process of the planning was divided into five phases, and the second (1995-97) and the fourth (2005-06) phase were recognized as critical ones that demonstrated distinctive changes in development scheme. The second phase showed extensive concerns on conservation of natural environment chiefly for the sake of protecting natural habitats and ecological network. Land formation, drainage pattern and allocation of open spaces are integrated into structure of natural environment. After development program was revised considerably due to changing socio-economic environment, the forth phase showed environmental concerns again. This time, more comprehensive approach toward structuring of natural environment was applied and the network of open space was extended and strengthened by axial structure originated from local topography. It was further discussed that land formation and hydrological system that carefully reorganized based on the original conditions will promote the structure of natural environment as an integral part of ecologically conscious landscape.