Development tool to assess urban Park design for climate adaptation in public institutions of managing landscape-architecture

Globally, Urban Parks are key infrastructure for climate adaptation. Many studies report that urban parks have positive effects and advantages, for example by absorbing carbon, cooling urban areas, reducing air pollution and reducing stormwater runoff. However, there is still a gap between research and practice. Research often relies on specific assumptions and controlled conditions, and results are sometimes criticized as difficult to apply in real design and construction settings. These limitations make it challenging to translate scientific findings into practical landscape-design solutions. In the Republic of Korea, the government-owned Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH) which commissions and manages large public development projects has been working to strengthen design approaches that better connect research and on the ground practice. In this background, this study proposes method and tool for public institutions (including organizations like LH) to assess landscape design’s potential functions of adapting climate changes.

This study addresses three key adaptation functions in urban parks, such as carbon uptake, temperature reduction, and runoff reduction. Our approach has two parts. First, we identify design factors to enhance both park’s functions and designer’s understanding. Second, we develop simple assessment methods that can estimate each function based on those design factors. So, we describe the mechanisms behind each function, define conditions that make the assessment easier to apply, and refine the framework through expert input.

Importantly, we focused on practical applicability. We have maintained ongoing communication with LH and design professionals throughout the process. As a result, the proposed method can support real-world decision-making in public projects and may also be transferable to other countries. We present this study as a meaningful step toward narrowing the gap between theory and practice in climate-adaptive landscape design.