Productive Commons - Recreational Nodes/Network

Productive BlockComparison | Analysis | Recreational Nodes | Productive Valleys

Rules for allocation of Recreation Green Spaces


Overview 
In order to connect the two types of open space we propose to place parks and recreational programme within the productive commons.  These recreational nodes are then linked back to the primary network with paths going through the built form of dwellings and greenhouses.  The allocated areas and secondary paths will give children access to green space without the need of crossing circulatory routes and everyone will have access to a quieter secondary circulatory system for bikes and pedestrians only.


Recreational Nodes - Generative Rules 
To find the area required for the recreational spaces the number of residents in the block were counted and estimated that 30% of these will be children.  We allocate 1 m2 of space per child to be required as playground (this number can be adjusted for different community demographics).  The area is then broken up to serve between 500 and 1000 residents each.

As a reference, Christopher Alexander describes the required open spaces in urban tissue as 15 to 30 m2 per person.  Assuming that 1/50 of the total number of people is in the space at the same time, and providing a space for 500-1000 people, the minimum area would be app. 150 m2 which complies with our assumptions mentioned above.

With the area and number of nodes defined, now the nodes need to be placed inside of the productive common.  To do that, we find the centre of mass of the open space cluster. When one node is required it is placed on this centre point.  When more nodes are to be placed, a circle is drawn to locate the nodes at a maximum walking distance of 3 minutes.  From this theoretical location, the actual location of the recreational node is ensured within the space.  At last the required area is allocated.


Parameters
(Nr) Nr of people per block
count the number of people connected to a specific open space

(P) Percentage of children
determines the amount of children in order to define the size of the recreational node

(A) Catchment area
defines what is the maximum number of people served by one recreational node

(D) Maximum walking distance
sets the maximum distance between two nodes within a cluster.

Parks & Recreational Green Network


A Secondary Recreational Network
Recreational Nodes were then connected by finding paths through the built clusters back to the primary network.  

Secondary Recreational Network


The resulting recreational network is composed of three types of paths:
  • - Green paths through the productive commons
  • - Semi-enclosed/covered paths through the built clusters utilising public greenhouses and social mixing spaces
  • - Primary urban circulatory paths

These paths will also serve to provide access to dwellings within the cluster, but as yet but without access to the primary circulatory paths.