S07 - Session O2 - Popular preference of naturalistic planting for urban space in Taiwan

Authors: Cheng Ching-Teng *, Chun-Yen Chang

COVID-19 swept the world in 2020 provided a new perspective on the value of urban green spaces, and the various homeownership orders and closures during COVID-19 increased the need and importance of access to nature. In recent years, the design of structurally diverse and species-rich naturalistic planting designs in urban areas has attracted the attention and practical application of landscape professionals in Taiwan, and the "Naturalistic" style is seen by landscape professionals as a way to coexist with nature and a fashionable trend in the landscape design. However, some people say that this naturalistic design style is confusing, worthless, and even frightening. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the urban public's perceptions and preferences of naturalistic planting design with different complex planting group combinations. In this study, the planting combinations were categorized into plant species, plant structure, plant characteristics, and floral coverage after selecting suitable plant species in Taiwan. The results of this study provide a clearer understanding of the public's preference for naturalistic planting, which can serve as a reference for future naturalistic urban planting design that integrates nature and the city, and as a stepping stone for naturalistic theory and landscape practice.