Assessment of aesthetic quality and multiple functions of urban green space from the users’ perspective: The case of Hangzhou Flower Garden, China

This paper presents results of an attempt to evaluate aesthetic quality (visual, auditory, tactile and olfactory factors) of urban green space comprehensively, and assesses a proposed systematic simulation assessment approach for estimating near view scenic beauty. Quantitative holistic evaluation techniques were used. On-the-spot survey technique was employed by administering questionnaires to selected respondents who were also provided visual photo stimuli for evaluation. The photos were taken and presented to respondents in a defined and systematic way. The photo-based assessments gave no statistically significant difference (P < 0.05) in terms of the evaluated average visual quality among the panels. This suggested that the proposed approach for systematic simulation assessment allowed for only expected random variation to be measured, thus the panel was not a source of variability. Salient and non-salient features were captured as reflected by significant differences (P < 0.05) in different scenes. There was strong indication that the respondents had different expectations of what a functional urban green space should be in terms of auditory, tactile, olfactory and visual quality, and general recreational needs.