Open Space Affinity Design & Research

The open space, an extension of the indoor space, nowadays has become an indispensable part of people's lives. In accordance with the increasing standards of people's material living, the requirements for the quality of the outdoor space are raised correspondingly. Therefore, how to create an artistic and practical outdoor space has become a research subject that worth further discussion.The utilization of the outdoor space, compared with that of the indoor space, is quite low. It is not because of the unwillingness of people for enjoying the outdoor living, but the low intimacy of the outdoor environment. We found in our city, the open space such as the green space, plazas and parks, no matter on public holidays or on any working days, are always overcrowded. It indicates that people are thirty of enjoying the outdoor livings and getting intimate with the nature; on the other hand, it reflects the scarcity of urban open space. However, there are a number of problems and plenty of inconveniences appear in the existing outdoor space design and planning. The neglect of the details and the humanization decrease the intimacy and affinity of the outdoor space, which consequently reduce the willingness for people to enjoy outdoor space, as well as the opportunities for interpersonal communication.The thesis analyzes the elements that influence the intimacy and affinity of the outdoor space, studies the related cases and projects, and explores how to create an intimate outdoor space to provide people with a comfortable and safety outdoor living environment.