Landscaping Parking Lots

Abstract

Parking lots typically are designed to accommodate as many automobiles as possible. The common product is an expanse of asphalt lacking vegetation that negatively affects the urban microclimate. The usual design of parking areas in the urban landscape, proposes: extended areas of hard surface, and only traces, if any at all, vegetation. Although parking lots areas can cover up about half of the land area in cities and therefore offer a great opportunity to possitively influence and improve urban climate. Landscape architects have the potential to mitigate urban heat islands, urban wind, and urban precipitation by understanding what causes these phenomena and knowing a few key principles by which to mitigate them. This paper investigates how well principles of designing with climate have been incorporated in a specific project and refers to this case study, describing the design and the construction of a complex of 4 parking lots that aims to improve broader areas’ microclimate. Finally, in the coclusion of this paper, guidelines and recommendations are gathered together in order to help designers propose well functionally and aesthetically parking lots.