The Role of the Proximate Principle in the Emergence of Urban Parks in the United Kingdom and in the United States

Abstract

Residences located close to urban parks frequently sell at a premium. The increased home values represent a ‘capitalization’ of a park’s value to proximate homeowners and this phenomenon has been termed ‘the proximate principle’. The evolution of the principle from squares and gardens in small private estates to large park areas occurred with the development of Regent’s Park in London. The proximate principle’s dissemination into the new industrial cities of the UK first emerged at Prince’s Park in Liverpool, but it was still confined to private developments. Its transition into the public sector occurred with the development of Birkenhead Park. The data showing that Birkenhead Park was potentially a self‐financing venture funded by the enhanced value of proximate profits were widely disseminated and provided the financial rationale for many subsequent urban parks in other UK cities. This principle was absorbed by Frederick Law Olmsted on two early visits to Birkenhead Park and incorporated into the design of Central Park in New York City, the first large urban park in the US. Olmsted meticulously documented the impact of Central Park on adjacent property values and demonstrated that the park made a ‘profit’. These data were crucial in verifying the legitimacy of the proximate principle and in providing the justification for large urban parks in a host of other US cities. Although these data are naïve when viewed through the lens of modern social science, recent studies using sophisticated techniques have confirmed the fundamental legitimacy of the proximate principle.     

美国风景园林规划设计典型范例 研究——奥姆斯特德及其比特摩尔庄园作品

比特摩尔庄园是美国“风景园林之父”奥姆斯特德的2个最具代表性的设计作品之一。系统分析了庄园营造的专业理论、实践及社会背景、建筑与山水格局特征、道路系统及植物景观特色，以及项目中首次提出并付诸实践的极具代表性的“自维持”森林经营理念。研究认为：在本案例中，风景园林在面对社会、经济及生态等多因素影响的景观规划实践中，可以成功统领各相关专业并在其中发挥主导作用；注重多重价值的、“自维持”森林经营理念在遍及美国国土的实践中证实了当初的前瞻性考量。该案例不仅影响和决定120多年来美国风景园林、森林经营等专业实践的内涵和走向，也将对中国的城乡生态环境修复与保育实践、生态智慧研究提供了有价值的借鉴。     

19世纪美国史视角下的奥姆斯特德及其 设计思想

立足奥姆斯特德的书信、报告等史料文件,聚焦到 奥姆斯特德与19世纪美国文明转向、文化独立及阶层政治相 关的具体事件,层层重构这些事件的风景园林学意义。再通过 分析纽约中央公园,检视奥姆斯特德价值观念的呈现。致力于 建构奥姆斯特德设计思想、价值判断及空间理念等方面内容与 19世纪美国史之间的脉络性关联,以期推动风景园林学科中 的空间理解与社会、政治之间建立互动关系。