Design to Promote UrbanEcosystem Services : Examples of solutions with green - blueinfrastructure in public spaces

Abstract: The world is increasingly urbanizing with approximately 54% of the world population livingin cities (Langemeyer, 2015). This number is expected to rise to 66% by 2050 (UN, 2014),which means that urbanized areas will expand in size with an additional 2.5 billion new urbaninhabitants (Langemeyer, 2015). Studies show that urban expansion has the effect ofdecreasing, fragmenting, and isolating natural patches by altering the size, shape, andinterconnectivity of the natural landscape (Ricketts, 2001; Alberti, 2005). The consequentloss and degradation of urban and peri-urban green/blue space and elements couldadversely affect ecosystem and its services as well as human health and well-being.Through literature review, the concepts of urban ecosystem services and green-blueinfrastructures are introduced, as well as the main design principles for green-blueinfrastructures. The thesis also briefly introduces urban policies and implementation throughcase study with a focus on Malmö city. Meanwhile, the thesis discusses how the planninginstruments of Green Space Factor and Green Points are used in the Bo01 project and howthey contributed to promote ecosystem services in built environment.Through literature review and case study, the aim of this thesis is to collect design solutionsthat can be used as inspiration and guidance to promote urban ecosystem services throughgreen-blue infrastructures in built environments at different scales.