Structure and Style of Green Spaces as An Essential Element in Human Environment

Abstract

Most of studies on green space as a natural element in human environment have been directed at its social and physical structure and their results have greatly contributed to standardization of parks and open space system.
There are, however, very few studies and discussions dealing with physiognomical styles of public green spaces in human environment, notwithstanding that their choice is a very imortant key for recreational use, vegetational management and ecological conservation. So the author advances the three following styles: Forest, Park and Garden.
Park: This is the intermediate between more natural Forest and more artificial Garden. Sweeping grassland with scattered trees characterizes its typical feature. Such special quality is not only fascinating for people living in densely urbanized area, but able to withstand ecologically higher level of recreational pressure.
Park is a concept indigenous not to humid Japan but to a arid Europe. On the other hand, this concept historically changed from deer-park to landscape-park as O. Rackham indicates. And the traditional features as landscape-park have been maintained even on the course from private park to public park in the 19th century.
An institution of public park was established in Japan in the late 19th century, receiveing stimulus of the Western culture. But she failed to inherit the essence of landscape-park, because the people had never seen its actural picture in their countryside.
Forest: It may be divided into dense and sparse wood. The former is typified by close-canopy grove of shrine or abandoned coppice. The latter has the most excellent possibilities for recreational use, but it is difficult to exist under natural condition in Japan. Consequently, sparse wood must be build up by introducing such management operations as thinning overstocked and heavily shaded wood and clearing invasive scrub.
Garden: The most artificial green space, where human mind or idea is intensely expressed as in traditional Japanese or French gardens.
The author would like to emphasize a remarkable difference in recreational green space between Europe and Japan, that is, Park and Forest (sparse wood) are abundant in Europe, whereas scanty in our country. Man must be fully aware of this fact in order to improve our green space and develop the recreational potential from the existing woods.