Publication Date
9-2014
Committee Members
Mark S. Lindhult, Chair - Robert L. Ryan, Member
Abstract
This master project proposes a restoration plan for building a modern agricultural planting garden in an urban area for Shenzhen Central Park, China. There are various challenges in the selected area including weak accessibility, lack of social activity, and loss of cultural identity. This paper will propose a restoration plan based on field study, literature review, background data analysis, and case studies. Urban agriculture practice and community garden study provide guidance on the selection of strategies to deal with those challenges in the urban context. Specific concepts include sustainable urban development and creating social and cultural experiences. The design proposal includes a larger scale urban area conceptual plan and a focused area schematic plan. Multiple functions have been proposed to deal with the complex urban challenges. The broader scale plan deals with the preservation and management of land, and integrates planning and management of relationship between urban and agricultural lands. The finer scale plan creates a new public open space from various aspects including active community space, environmental education, stormwater management, and cultural identity. This multi-functional agricultural planting garden explores the possibility of developing agriculture as a way to improve community and urban health in the future of the city.