Getting to know nature
Typ
Examensarbete för masterexamen
Master's Thesis
Master's Thesis
Program
Architecture and planning beyond sustainability (MPDSD), MSc
Publicerad
2024
Författare
Rajala Pettersson, Carl
Modellbyggare
Tidskriftstitel
ISSN
Volymtitel
Utgivare
Sammanfattning
The population of the world is growing. Above all, it is the cities that are growing. How we use
land and water, plan and build determines whether we can preserve and develop the capacity of
ecosystems to deliver ecosystem services. Global warming, animal extinctions and the poisoning
of nature are fundamentally about disruption of natural process or ecosystems. By planning for
ecosystem services in human society, the need for technical interventions can also be reduced.
Living environments with close and integrated greenery are essential for our health and well-be ing. Spending time in green environments helps to lower blood pressure, heart rate and stress
levels. Despite the numerous advantages humans gain from nature, contemporary lifestyles have
led to a detachment from the natural world, with a substantial increase in indoor activities.
Ecosystem services can be valued in different ways. Biotope area factor is a type of semi-quan titative valuation of ecosystem services. This simplification of the work with ecosystem services
has the potential to be a support for architects to evaluate design proposals from an ecosystem
services perspective.
The purpose of this thesis is to explore ways for sustainable expansions within cities, i.e. densi fication, in relation to urban ecosystem services and residential qualities. The thesis focuses on
three ecosystem services: biodiversity, water purification and regulation and pollination.
From the theory on residential qualities related to the outdoor environment and biophilic design,
evaluation tools are developed. Together with the biotope area factor tool, explorations on urban
components and typologies are carried out. The results of the explorations, in combination with
knowledge from previous research, forms design strategies. The design strategies are put into
practice in a design proposal for the densification of Nedre Norrby in Borås. The design task does
also address other challenges in the city.
The thesis concludes that the transformation of Nedre Norrby could contribute to ecosystem ser vices in Borås and at the same time create many residential qualities in a new mixed content and
high density neighbourhood.
Beskrivning
Ämne/nyckelord
Ecosystem services, residential qualities, biotope area factor, densification