Short answer
Prioritize sparse forest designs with controlled enclosure and shading, and moderate waterfront and square spaces, while reducing dense forest areas to enhance elderly winter thermal comfort.
- Field
- Sustainability
- Source
- Land (2025)
- Method
- Mixed-methods research combining microclimate measurements, user surveys, and environmental simulations.
- Sample
- 716 participants
- Evidence
- Strong effect
Strategic selection and arrangement of plant elements in urban green spaces can significantly enhance thermal comfort for elderly individuals during winter. This sustainability research insight is drawn from a 2025 study published in Land. Using Mixed-methods research combining microclimate measurements, user surveys, and environmental simulations. with 716 participants, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Prioritize sparse forest designs with controlled enclosure and shading, and moderate waterfront and square spaces, while reducing dense forest areas to enhance elderly winter thermal comfort.
Optimizing Urban Green Spaces for Elderly Winter Thermal Comfort Through Strategic Planting
Strategic selection and arrangement of plant elements in urban green spaces can significantly enhance thermal comfort for elderly individuals during winter.
Land · 2025
Key Findings
- 01Sparse forests provided the best overall thermal comfort, while dense forests performed the worst.
- 02Wind speed and humidity were identified as key drivers of both subjective and objective thermal comfort.
- 03Optimal scoring thresholds for thermal comfort varied significantly across different landscape space types (waterfront, square, sparse forest, dense forest).
- 04Design optimization should prioritize controlling enclosure and shading, followed by canopy closure and evergreen ratio, and finally refining tree traits.
Application
Design takeaway
Prioritize sparse forest designs with controlled enclosure and shading, and moderate waterfront and square spaces, while reducing dense forest areas to enhance elderly winter thermal comfort.
How to apply
When designing or retrofitting urban parks, consider the specific needs of elderly users by analyzing microclimate data and implementing planting strategies that favor open, sheltered spaces with moderate vegetation density.
Project actions
- 01When researching user comfort, consider both objective measurements (like temperature) and subjective feedback (how people feel).
- 02Use simulations to test design ideas before implementing them physically.
Method & Evidence
Variables
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- +Combines objective environmental data with subjective user feedback.
- +Utilizes simulation tools for a more comprehensive analysis.
- +Provides quantitative guidelines and optimization strategies.
Limitations
It can be challenging to control all microclimate variables in a real-world setting, and participant numbers might be smaller than in large-scale studies.
Reliability & validity
The study's reliability is supported by the use of standardized measurement tools and simulations. Validity is enhanced by combining objective data with subjective user feedback and analyzing multiple sites and user groups.
Think critically
How might the 'ideal' planting strategy for elderly thermal comfort conflict with other design goals, such as biodiversity or aesthetic appeal, and how could these conflicts be resolved?
Design Principles
"Thermal comfort in urban green spaces is a design parameter that can be quantitatively influenced by the strategic arrangement and type of vegetation."
As urban populations age, ensuring the usability and comfort of public spaces is paramount for promoting active lifestyles and well-being. This research offers a data-driven approach to designing age-friendly environments by directly linking landscape features to tangible user comfort, moving beyond aesthetic considerations to functional performance.
What This Means for Your Design
To make parks comfy for older people in winter, plant trees strategically. Open, sheltered areas with not too many trees are best, while very dense forests are too cold and windy.
How to use in your project
- 1.Use the findings to justify design choices related to user comfort and environmental performance in your design project.
- 2.Reference the quantitative scoring system as a method for evaluating design solutions.
Add to My Project
Quick Cite
Paragraph starter
This design project aims to enhance user comfort by drawing on research that demonstrates the significant impact of landscape design on thermal conditions. Specifically, studies like Lu et al. (2025) highlight that strategic planting, such as favoring sparse forests with controlled enclosure and shading, can optimize thermal comfort for elderly individuals in urban winter environments. This informs the design by prioritizing specific vegetation configurations and spatial layouts to create more functional and user-friendly outdoor spaces.
Source
Land
Optimization of Thermal Comfort Evaluation for Elderly Individuals in Winter Urban Parks Based on Plant Elements Within Landscape Spaces—Taking Beijing Zizhuyuan and Taoranting Parks as Examples
journal · 2025
View sourceQuestions About This Research
- What does the research say about optimizing urban green spaces for elderly winter thermal comfort through strategic planting?
- Prioritize sparse forest designs with controlled enclosure and shading, and moderate waterfront and square spaces, while reducing dense forest areas to enhance elderly winter thermal comfort. Evidence: Land (2025).
- Why does "Optimizing Urban Green Spaces for Elderly Winter Thermal Comfort Through Strategic Planting" matter for design?
- As urban populations age, ensuring the usability and comfort of public spaces is paramount for promoting active lifestyles and well-being. This research offers a data-driven approach to designing age-friendly environments by directly linking landscape features to tangible user comfort, moving beyond aesthetic considerations to functional performance.
- How can designers apply this research?
- Prioritize sparse forest designs with controlled enclosure and shading, and moderate waterfront and square spaces, while reducing dense forest areas to enhance elderly winter thermal comfort.
- What were the main findings?
- Sparse forests provided the best overall thermal comfort, while dense forests performed the worst.. Wind speed and humidity were identified as key drivers of both subjective and objective thermal comfort.. Optimal scoring thresholds for thermal comfort varied significantly across different landscape space types (waterfront, square, sparse forest, dense forest).. Design optimization should prioritize controlling enclosure and shading, followed by canopy closure and evergreen ratio, and finally refining tree traits.
- What research method was used?
- Mixed-methods research combining microclimate measurements, user surveys, and environmental simulations. with 716 participants.
- How strong is the evidence?
- Evidence strength is rated Strong effect, based on a 2025 journal from Land.
- What should I do differently in my next project?
- When designing or retrofitting urban parks, consider the specific needs of elderly users by analyzing microclimate data and implementing planting strategies that favor open, sheltered spaces with moderate vegetation density.
- What are the limitations?
- The study was conducted in Beijing during winter, and findings may vary in different climates or seasons. The subjective perceptions of comfort can also be influenced by individual factors not fully captured.