Effects of Leafing of Vegetation on Landscape Appraisals of Residential Area in Munich (Muenchen)

Abstract

As was already well-known in Japan, the greenery in the field of vision improves the appraisal of the complex, weakly regulated landscapes of Japanese cities. To examine the effect on an European landscape of planned facades and skylines, several types of residential areas in Munich, Germany, were photographed with and without leaves. These photographs were shown to Japanese respondents who were asked to classify them according to landscape similarity and then evaluate them. The results were as follows:
1. As might be expected, a 0.01 statistical significance level was attained when a high ratio of greenery improved the appraisals of strictly-regulated residential landscape in Munich.
2. The lesfing of the vegetation affected the distinction of landscapes in relation to the 0.01 statistical significance level.
3. The Japanese respondents preferred the strictly-regulated landscapes of Munich's residential areas.
4. Nine representative types of residential landscapes were found in Munich.
5. These types were identified by eight factors; i.e. 1) amount of greenery, 2) building height, 3) detached housing, 4) outstanding facades, 5) roof height, 6) street width, 7) width of open space between building and street, and 8) number of parked automobiles.
6. As roof height and open space increased, evaluations, improved; however the opposite was true for outstanding facades.