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Rand Water contracted UNISA to develop a monetary valuation method for its open spaces and their inherent ecological functions. This study began by reviewing existing contemporary definitions of open space in South Africa and then identifying their key characteristics. The research project then looked at the economic contribution that open spaces make to the economy as a basis for environmental valuation. By determining the economic value of open spaces, decision makers can be informed about the importance of open space provision, preservation and maintenance. The project applied the participatory action research method which requires the active participation of focus groups. The focus groups consisted of Rand Water employees who deal with open spaces in their respective areas of work. During the literature review and problem formulation the various limitations of environmental valuation methods became evident. It became apparent that the development of new valuation methods would not be possible before existing valuation methods had been tested to see if they could feasibly be applied to open space in the Rand Water context. A literature review also determined that open space valuation studies in South Africa are very limited, which made it difficult to formulate a localised context. It was furthermore found that environmental valuers prefer to use the contingent valuation, travel cost and hedonic pricing methods. These methods rely on revealed and stated preferences of open space users to infer an economic value for an open space. Access to Rand Water’s open spaces is largely limited owing to strict access control. The excludability of open space users therefore hampers the generation of sufficient data to apply revealed and stated preference valuation methods. On the basis of this finding, it was decided to eliminate the contingent valuation and travel cost methods from this study. It was decided to apply the constraint composition theory, under the grounded theory model, to study the constraints or moderators which could affect the feasibility of environmental valuation application to Rand Water open spaces. Four moderators were then identified which could influence the outcome of the feasibility assessment. These are the limitations of the methods, the limitations of the legal framework, the limitations of the user and the limitations of the study area. It was found that the limitations of the methods were a moderator owing to their inherent data requirements. The only suitable valuation methods vi were found to be market based as they were not influenced by the excludability factor. These methods include the replacement cost, damage cost avoided, restoration cost and defensive expenditure valuation methods. The focus group was introduced to each method by participating in a method application exercise. Questionnaires regarding each method were completed to test variables. The legal framework was found not to be a moderator since even though there are limited direct provisions in legislation to mandate environmental valuation, there are legal principles which require economic impacts to be measured and damage to the environment to be estimated. These principles in themselves have supported litigation cases and the mere admission of environmental value estimates in court as evidence and support to a case therefore sets the required legal precedence and mandates further application. The user was found not to be a moderator. Feedback from the focus groups as well as an environmental resource economics workshop held at the Gauteng Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Environment showed that users understood environmental valuation principles, their benefits and limitations. With training, environmental scientists can apply these methods. The study area was found to be a moderator. The limited access for potential open space users, limited harvesting, limited agriculture and limited open space categories result in limited values that can be measured. In conclusion, it was found that not all environmental valuation methods can be applied to Rand Water open space owing to inherent limitations of the methods and the study area. Only market-based methods were found to be suitable for use on Rand Water open space. Notwithstanding the limitations of the methods and study area, which restrict the ability of valuers to obtain a total economic value for Rand Water open space, the available suite of methods can provide an indicator of value for environmental goods and services that flow from the utility’s open spaces. It was concluded that the application of environmental valuation methods to Rand Water open space is feasible within the context of the identified limitations. / Environmental Sciences / M.Sc. (Environmental Management)

Master of Science / Department of Architecture / David Seamon / This thesis draws on observations of user behaviors in Kansas State University’s North Quadrangle to propose a plaza design for a site within the quadrangle adjacent to Cardwell Hall. As a practical method for conducting environment-behavior research, the thesis gathered observations of moving and resting behaviors to understand the North Quadrangle’s current usages. The observations of moving behaviors provided evidence for identifying potential spaces within the North Quadrangle where a plaza might be designed and built. In turn, observations of resting behaviors provided an understanding of sitting and standing behaviors in the North Quadrangle plaza. In terms of research related to plaza behavior and design, the most significant work drawn upon was William Whyte’s The Social Life of Small Urban Spaces (Whyte, 1980). According to Whyte, a plaza is sociable if large numbers of people are drawn to it informally in the course of their everyday activities and movements. In this regard, the design aim of the proposed plaza is to promote sociability within the North Quadrangle by attracting pedestrians traversing the North Quadrangle’s busiest pathways and thus drawing them into the plaza. More specifically, to promote plaza sociability, the design makes use of the three most important plaza-design factors identified by Whyte: (1) location; (2) street-plaza relationship; and (3) seating. In other words, first, the plaza should be located near large pools of potential users; second, the plaza should be designed as an extension of the most heavily trafficked pathways; and third, the plaza should incorporate sitting opportunities for users via seating that is physically and socially comfortable. The behavioral observations and guidance provided by the literature review have been used to generate twelve design guidelines on which the proposed plaza design is based. The presentation of final plaza design incorporates explanations of these twelve guidelines followed by illustrated design schemes.

Este trabalho tem por objetivo gerar diretrizes de projeto para uma área localizada no centro da cidade de São Jose do Rio Preto, considerando a influência que as diferentes morfologias de espaços livres provocam no microclima. Para o estudo, foi adotado um conjunto de procedimentos metodológicos que possibilitou a caracterização e análise de três configurações urbanas distintas: as praças Rui Barbosa e Dom José Marcondes e um trecho do calçadão da Bernardino. Mesmo situados dentro de uma mesma área urbana, com características ambientais semelhantes, os três pontos apresentam configurações e geometrias distintas. A análise do entorno construído por meio de mapas de gabarito de altura, vegetação, materiais de recobrimento da superfície do solo mostrou particularidades que interferem no microclima e influenciam o uso do espaço. A coleta de dados microclimáticos contribuiu para confirmar a hipótese de que, em um mesmo ambiente climático, as variações da morfologia urbana modificam as condições de conforto e interferem na qualidade e uso dos espaços livres. As conclusões destes estudos resultaram em recomendações para o projeto, demonstrando de que forma a análise microclimática pode se transformar em importante ferramenta no processo de projeto de arquitetura de espaços livres, orientando decisões favoráveis às condições ambientais e uso humano. / This work aims to generate design guidelines for an area located in the center of the city of Sao Jose do Rio Preto, considering the influence that the different morphologies of open spaces cause the microclimate. For the study, it adopted a set of methodological procedures that enabled the characterization and analysis of three distinct urban settings: the squares and Rui Barbosa Dom José Marcondes and an excerpt from \"promenade\" of Bernardino. Even situated within the same urban area, with similar environmental characteristics, the three points have different configurations and geometries. The analysis of the built environment through tall template maps, vegetation, soil surface coating materials showed characteristics that affect the microclimate and influence the use of space. The gathering of microclimate data helped to confirm the hypothesis that, in the same climatic environment, changes in urban morphology modify the conditions of comfort and interfere with the quality and use of open spaces. The findings of these studies resulted in recommendations for the project, demonstrating how the microclimate analysis can become an important tool in the process of open space architecture design, guiding decisions favorable to environmental conditions and human use.

O presente estudo preocupa-se em compreender a importância do Sistema de Espaços Livres Públicos SELP na estruturação do ambiente urbano e seu potencial para valorização do sentido público. Centra sua análise em área de urbanização consolidada e tem como objetivo caracterizar as principais atribuições do sistema a serem consideradas no processo de elaboração de políticas públicas e de sua contribuição ao planejamento urbano local; simultaneamente salienta a pertinência de convergir as preocupações ambientais com as políticas de valorização do espaço livre. Importante elemento de análise é a forma de estruturação do SELP no contexto do desenvolvimento urbano do Município de São Paulo e a legislação urbanística pertinente, para verificar como o Plano Diretor Estratégico do Município, aprovado em 2002, avança nessas questões. O estudo de caso a Subprefeitura de Vila Maria / Vila Guilherme na região nordeste do Município - busca estruturar um processo de análise que possa ser reproduzido em outros territórios buscando destacar conflitos e potencialidades sugeridos pela análise do SELP e compreender como a interação entre plano e gestão tem ocorrido no período recente. / The present work focuses in the importance of the Public Open Space System (or SELP Sistema de Espaços Livres Públicos) on structuring the urban environment and its potential on valuating the public sense. Based on a consolidated area, the analysis objective is to characterize the main attributions of the system in order to develop urban public politics, and contribute to the local planning. Therefore, it emphasizes the importance of environmental issues combined to urban politics that valuate the open spaces. The Public Open Space System structuring is an important element for the analysis of the urban development of São Paulo city, besides its legislation, to verify how the Strategic Urban Plan approved in 2002 deals with these issues. The study case is Vila Maria/ Vila Guilherme administrative unit, located at the northeast portion of São Paulo - its process analysis intends to create a method to be applied in order portions of the territory, emphasizing conflicts and potentials suggested by the SELP analysis, and comprehending how the urban plan and public management interact in recent time.

O encontro do arquiteto com a criança pode ser uma oportunidade para pôr em questão um entendimento convencional de arquitetura, no qual o arquiteto é tido como o único autor e como criador de objetos estáticos. Ao arquiteto que se dispõe a despertar sua criança interna e a observar e aprender sobre o modo como a criança compõe, transforma e reconstrói seus espaços para brincar pode revelar-se a existência de uma inteligência espacial da infância, qualidade esta não apenas subestimada ou ignorada no mundo dos arquitetos, mas também entre os adultos de uma forma geral. Produzir arquitetura com a criança implica não apenas estar sensível ao que a ela diz nas entrelinhas de seus gestos - com as movimentações que provoca nos espaços aparentemente estáticos - incorporando tais elementos à prática projetual. Trata-se, fundamentalmente, de compartilhar esta obra com a criança, reconhecendo-a como parceira e co-autora, e de abrir-se à prática transdisciplinar, trabalhando nas interfaces com profissionais de outras áreas do conhecimento: artistas, educadores, terapeutas. Procuramos mostrar que é possível construir com a criança um diálogo sensível que possibilite a invenção de uma nova linguagem, caracterizada pela fusão entre espírito lúdico infantil e espírito criativo do arquiteto. A esta concepção projetual atribuímos o nome de práticas projetuais e espaciais com a criança, que estão vinculadas às noções de processo, ação e movimento, em contraposição aos projetos para a criança, que priorizam o produto e interpretam a criança como usuária de um espaço acabado. Neste contexto, portanto, arquitetura não é mais pensável apenas como objeto, mas principalmente como situação, e somente se realiza pela apropriação e ressignificação cotidianas. Às iniciativas históricas investigadas soma-se a narrativa sobre uma experiência realizada entre 2006 e 2008 com as crianças do assentamento Dom Pedro Casaldáliga do Movimento dos Trabalhadores Rurais Sem Terra, em Cajamar-SP, na qual reconstruímos os espaços livres a partir da intervenção artística e espacial, da construção de vínculos humanos e de uma relação de aprendizado mútuo entre crianças, moradores, professores, arquitetas, terapeutas ocupacionais e educadoras. A partir da fusão entre prática e reflexão teórica, esperamos poder contribuir para a formação de uma cultura arquitetônica na qual o arquiteto-autor se despeça deste papel e passe a se inserir em uma rede de forças criativas maior, interagindo com a criança na construção de lugares onde seja possível expressar-se com autenticidade e investir em outros mundos possíveis. / The interaction between architect and children can be an opportunity to question the conventional conception of architecture, in which the architect is the only author and the designer of static objects. The architect who is disposed to wake up his inner child and to learn about the way children create and recreate their spaces may discover the existence of a childhoods spatial intelligence a quality which is not only underestimated in the architects world, but also in our society in general. Creating architecture with children means not only to pay attention to what they say between the lines of their gestures and to include them in design practices. It is basically to share this work with children, to recognize them as co-authors and partners and to participate in trans-disciplinary practices with other professionals: artists, educators, occupational therapists. We signify that its possible to create a sensitive dialogue with children. It allows the invention of a new language, linking childrens and architects creativity. We can call this conception design and spatial practices with children, which is interrelated with process, action and movement, in opposition to design for children, which prioritizes products and understands children as users of a finished space. Therefore, architecture is not only considered as an object, but mainly as a situation, becoming real through everyday appropriation. We discuss historical projects and an experience carried out between 2006 and 2008 with children in Dom Pedro Casaldáliga, a settlement of Landless Rural Workers Movement (MST). In this experience we were able to re-construct this environment through spatial and artistic practices, human relationships and mutual learning between children, inhabitants, professors, architects, occupational therapists and educators. Taking into account theory and practice, we hope to cooperate with the formation of a different architectural culture. The architect-author may then change his role, participating in a larger creative process and interacting with children. It will allow the construction of spaces where expressing freely and creating other realities can be possible.

Esta tese discute a paisagem gerada por políticas de habitação social latino-americanas, observando especificamente casos da Região Metropolitana de Santiago do Chile (RMS) e da Região Metropolitana de São Paulo-SP (RMSP). Foca-se a análise nas práticas sociais em espaços livres de empreendimentos de habitação social, observando resultados de 2009 a 2016 da faixa 1 do Programa Minha Casa Minha Vida na RMSP e de 2006 a 2016 dos Programas de Bairro na RMS. Observam-se as práticas sociais nos espaços livres, tanto públicos quanto privados, pelo olhar da paisagem, que possibilita à análise ser ampliada para as relações sociais cotidianas que ocorrem nesses espaços. Para tanto, observa-se a formação de ambas as Regiões Metropolitanas, o histórico das políticas habitacionais, o modus operandi de produção habitacional social que concentrou empreendimentos em trechos sem cidade, analisando o impacto de modelos urbanos e arquitetônicos aplicados em situações de vulnerabilidade social e econômica para o cotidiano das práticas sociais. O cotidiano intramuros, resultado do modelo de condomínio habitacional social, amplamente aplicado em ambos os países, é confrontado com os programas chilenos de bairro, que se focam nas práticas sociais em espaços livres públicos. As análises demonstraram que, apesar de diversas alterações nos programas políticos, mantêm-se as práticas de construir conjuntos habitacionais pautados nos aspectos quantitativos, em um modelo de inspiração neoliberal, ou de mitigar os impactos do modelo com programas de recuperação de bairros, que esbarram em dificuldades pelo contexto vulnerável do local, resultando em espaços pouco representativos para a completude das práticas sociais. Salienta-se a necessidade de se criarem ações voltadas para as práticas sociais, em que haja a possibilidade de se superar o dia a dia alienado, e apontam-se as qualidades e fragilidades das políticas de ambos os países para os cotidianos praticados ou (des)praticados. / This thesis discusses the landscape created by Latin American social housing policies, specifically cases related to the Metropolitan Region of Santiago de Chile (MRS) and the Metropolitan Region of São Paulo-SP (MRSP). The analysis focuses on social practices in open spaces of social housing projects, considering results from 2009 to 2016 of the first data compilation of the federal government\'s housing program Minha Casa Minha Vida in the MRSP and from 2006 to 2016 of the Neighborhood Programs in the MRS. Social practices in the public and private open spaces are observed, in light of the view of the landscape, which allows expanding the analysis to the everyday social relations that occur in these spaces. Therefore, the formation of both Metropolitan Areas is observed, as well as the history of housing policies, the modus operandi of social housing production which concentrated developments in fringe areas without a city, analyzing the impact of urban and architectural models applied in situations of social and economic vulnerability for the daily life of social practices. The intramural daily life, a result of the gated community social housing model and widely applied in both countries, is compared with Chilean neighborhood programs which focus on social practices in public spaces. The analysis evidenced that, despite a number of changes in the political programs, the practices of constructing housing projects based on quantitative aspects, a neoliberal inspired model, or based on mitigating the impacts of the model with neighborhood rehabilitation programs continue, notwithstanding the difficulties they face due to the location\'s vulnerable context and which result in spaces that are not really representative of social practices. It is necessary to create actions aimed at social practices, with the possibility of overcoming the alienated day-to-day reality, and identify the qualities and weaknesses in the policies of both countries for the daily practices which are practiced or un-practiced.

Esta dissertação de mestrado versa sobre os Espaços Públicos Abertos e o conceito de Infra-Estrutura Verde para a cidade de Sorocaba, localizada a 100 km da metrópole de São Paulo, na região sudoeste do Estado de São Paulo. Lida com as questões dos recursos naturais do suporte biofísico da região, a configuração de seus Espaços Públicos Abertos, a morfologia urbana, as áreas a serem preservadas, o planejamento ambiental para uma cidade grande que polarizou na última década recursos financeiros expressivos e populações em uma região que comparada ao restante do Estado de São Paulo, com taxas de urbanização e de riqueza baixas. Cita como exemplo o Parque Vitória Régia, localizado numa área de várzea do Rio Sorocaba, para a utilização do conceito de Infra-Estrutura Verde utilizando o planejamento, o projeto e ações de implementação que podem ser aplicados em varias escalas, como conceito e como processo. / This paper is about the Open Public Spaces and Green Infrastructure concept for the city of Sorocaba, located about 60 miles from the São Paulo City, in the southwest part of São Paulo State. Natural resources, the fisiography of the region, the public open spaces evolution, urban morphology, the green areas to be preserved, flooding areas, the landscape planning possible, are studied about a great city (more than 500 mil inhabitants) which drew an expressive amount of financial resources and other population to this particular region, still one of those less developed and less rich of Sao Paulo State. Talks about The Vitoria Régia Park, a citys public space installed in an open area of Sorocaba River, which received an intervation to stop its environemental pollution, and to use the approach of Green Infrastructure, using the project, planning and management which can be used as a concept and as a process to preserve the open lands still full of life.

Este trabalho tem por objetivo analisar como a compensação ambiental contribui para atenuar o déficit de espaços livres públicos na cidade de São Paulo. Para tal, contextualiza o mecanismo em relação a outros existentes no país e traça a evolução histórica da legislação compensatória desde o início de sua aplicação no município, em 1998. Abordam-se também os diferentes papéis desempenhados pela arborização urbana e pelos espaços livres públicos como formas de compensação aos danos causados ao meio ambiente. Por fim, é realizado o mapeamento das ações compensatórias que resultaram na produção de espaços livres públicos e uma análise dos aspectos deficitários e positivos do mecanismo, visando seu aperfeiçoamento. / This academic essay focuses in the analysis of how the environmental compensation contributes to the attenuation of public open spaces deficit in the city of São Paulo. To achieve this goal, it is made a contextualization of this mechanism respecting the other ones in Brazil and an outlining of the historical evolution of the compensatory legislation from the beginning of its application in the city in 1998. It also broaches the different roles performed by the urban forestry and the public open spaces as compensations for the environmental damage. This essay also makes a mapping of the actions that resulted in the production of public open spaces and the evaluation of the positive aspects of the mechanism and the ones to be improved, aiming its betterment.