Beyond barks and walks: Reassessing the relationship between humans, dogs, and parks through the lens of sustainability

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master_Li_Xiwei_2023.pdf (31.78 MB)

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School of Arts, Design and Architecture | Master's thesis
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Date

2023

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ark

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Mcode

Degree programme

Master’s Programme in Urban Studies and Planning

Language

en

Pages

106+21

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Abstract

This research explored the multifaceted impact of dog parks within urban public spaces, focusing on communal, ecological, and spatial perspectives through a cross-cultural examination. It delved into how to redesign a more accessible, aesthetic, and sustainable network of dog parks in Helsinki, Finland. This research devised a comprehensive five-step framework to assess Helsinki’s existing dog park network, evaluating six critical criteria: numbers, distribution, size, household population, walking distance, and spatial accessibility. In addition, this research employed an empirical survey conducted across 13 dog parks in Helsinki and collected qualitative data to formulate a top-down planning strategy and pilot design projects. Moreover, it contributed significantly by establishing specific dog park design guidelines tailored to the Helsinki context and applied in shaping both the renewal and the new dog park in the Kallio and Östersundom districts. The design results highlighted the potential of dog park design as an ongoing process capable of optimizing the quality of urban public spaces. The primary design considerations are dog parks’ locations, service radius, layout, and design elements to integrate dog parks with community areas and green spaces and improve pedestrian pathways to be more dog-walking friendly. Last, this study illustrated the need for further research within dog park planning and design, including public participation, dogs’ behaviors in urban public spaces, the perceived experiences of dog and non-dog owners, and ecological considerations.

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Supervisor

Mady, Christine

Thesis advisor

Kotze, Johan
Allen, John

Keywords

dog park, urban planning, urban design, public space, Helsinki, Kallio

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https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:aalto-202401281819

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[master] Taiteiden ja suunnittelun korkeakoulu / ARTS