Designing for ecological aesthetics in urban agriculture: Operationalising ecodesign principles across multilayer city landscapes
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.30857/2617-0272.2026.1.9Keywords:
green infrastructure, ecological performance, landscape typology, microclimate mitigation, biodiversity strategies, vertical urbanism, ecosystem servicesAbstract
Ecologically designed urban agricultural landscapes present a critical, yet underutilised, strategy for mitigating biodiversity loss, enhancing climate resilience, and addressing social inequities within contemporary urban environments. The primary purpose of this study was to develop and operationalise a theoretical and practical framework that integrates ecological aesthetics into the design of urban agriculture, positioning aesthetic experience as a core component of multifunctional ecological performance. A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining a comprehensive literature review on ecological aesthetics with a detailed analysis of design examples from existing urban agricultural spaces. The investigation established a structured ecodesign framework with explicit criteria that synthesise aesthetics, ecological function, and resilience across diverse urban layers, including green roofs, greenways, and building facades. It was found that sensory qualities such as colour, texture, and rhythm, along with cultural meaning, can be deliberately orchestrated to amplify biodiversity support, enhance food production, and improve climate regulation without compromising ecological integrity. The framework further demonstrated how these aesthetic strategies can be systematically applied across vertical, horizontal, and transitional urban spaces to create coherent and engaging landscapes. The practical value of this research resides in its actionable design guidance and evaluation criteria, which can be utilised by urban planners, landscape architects, and policymakers to create adaptive, context-aware urban agricultural environments that harmonise beauty with robust ecological function and social relevance.
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