Art and Design
Art and Design
ISSN 2617-0272 e-ISSN 2617-0280
DOI: 10.30857/2617-0272
Submit an article

Article

Download article

Designing for ecological aesthetics in urban agriculture: Operationalising ecodesign principles across multilayer city landscapes

Xiaoxuan Ren, Tetiana Bulhakova

Received 25.11.2025, Revised 24.02.2026, Accepted 09.04.2026 Published 10.04.2026

Abstract

 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


Keywords:

green infrastructure; ecological performance; landscape typology; microclimate mitigation; biodiversity strategies; vertical urbanism; ecosystem services

https://doi.org/10.30857/2617-0272.2026.1.9

Retrieved from Vol. 9, No. 1, 2026

Pages 100-115

References Suggested citation

References

  1. Adams, D., Larkham, P.J., & Hardman, M. (2023). Edible garden cities: Rethinking boundaries and integrating hedges into scalable urban food systems. Land, 12(10), article number 1915. doi: 10.3390/land12101915.
  2. Agnoletti, M., & Santoro, A. (2022). Agricultural heritage systems and agrobiodiversity. Biodiversity and Conservation, 31, 2231-2241. doi: 10.1007/s10531-022-02460-3.
  3. Alawsey, W.S., Al-Dulaimi, H.A., & Hassan, W.F. (2025). Green transportation corridor (designing green, environmentally friendly transportation networks). Architecture Image Studies, 6(4), 14-44. doi: 10.62754/ais.v6i4.355.
  4. Al-Kodmany, K. (2018). The vertical farm: A review of developments and implications for the vertical city. Buildings, 8(2), article number 24. doi: 10.3390/buildings8020024.
  5. Altieri, M.A., & Nicholls, C.I. (2018). Urban agroecology: Designing biodiverse, productive and resilient city farms. Agro Sur, 46(2), 49-60. doi: 10.4206/agrosur.2018.v46n2-07.
  6. Ashinze, U.K., Edeigba, B.A., Umoh, A.A., Biu, P.W., & Daraojimba, A.I. (2024). Urban green infrastructure and its role in sustainable cities: A comprehensive review. World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews, 21(2), 928-936. doi: 10.30574/wjarr.2024.21.2.0519.
  7. Beck, T. (2013). Principles of ecological landscape design. Chicago: Island Press. doi: 10.5822/978-1-61091-199-3.
  8. Berleant, A. (2025). The aesthetics of engagement. In Routledge handbook of nature and environmental aesthetics. Abingdon-on-Thames: Routledge.
  9. Biasi, R., & Brunori, E. (2023). Agrobiodiversity-based landscape design in urban areas. Plants, 12(24), article number 4121. doi: 10.3390/plants12244121.
  10. Bohn, K., & Chu, D. (2021). Food-productive green infrastructure: Enabling agroecological transitions from an urban design perspective. Urban Agriculture & Regional Food Systems, 6(1), article number e20017. doi: 10.1002/uar2.20017.
  11. Bolat, F., & Deneri, V. (2022). Architectural sciences and urban agriculture: Using agroecology principles in urban agriculture – towards sustainable cities. In H.B. Türker & A. Gül (Eds.), Architectural sciences and urban agriculture (pp. 187-212). Ankara: Iksad Publications.
  12. Brandt, J., & Vejre, H. (2004). Multifunctional landscapes – motives, concepts and perspectives. In J. Brandt & H. Vejre (Eds.), Multifunctional landscapes: Volume I – theory, values and history (pp. 3-31). Southampton: WIT Press.
  13. Crook, L. (2023). James Corner landscapes “magical lookout” at Battersea Power Station. Retrieved from https://www.dezeen.com.
  14. Elangical, J. (2023). VTN Architects’ urban farming office is a creative eden wrapped in a biophilic facade. Retrieved from https://www.stirworld.com.
  15. Evans, D.L., Falagán, N., Hardman, C.A., Kourmpetli, S., Liu, L., Mead, B.R., & Davies, J.A.C. (2022). Ecosystem service delivery by urban agriculture and green infrastructure – a systematic review. Ecosystem Services, 54, article number 101405. doi: 10.1016/j.ecoser.2022.101405.
  16. Fu, S., & Lv, F. (2023). Farmer’s eco-culture for sustainable development: A qualitative approach of understanding the rural art design. Pakistan Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 60(1), article number 235. doi: 10.21162/PAKJAS/23.44.
  17. Ghirardelli, A., Straffelini, E., Park, E., D’Agostino, V., Masin, R., & Tarolli, P. (2025). Global impact of seawater intrusion on coastal agriculture. Environmental Research Letters, 20(1), article number 013005. doi: 10.1088/1748-9326/ad9bcd.
  18. Giaquinto, D., Siani, M.F., Cucco, P., Ribera, F., Belgiorno, V., & Naddeo, V. (2022). Urban farming for the development of sustainable cities. In V. Naddeo, K.H. Choo & M. Ksibi (Eds.), Water-Energy-Nexus in the ecological transition (pp. 89-92). Cham: Springer.
  19. Hansen, R., Mattes, A., Meier, M., & Kurths, A. (2023). Reorienting urban green infrastructure planning towards biodiversity – perspectives and ongoing debates from Germany. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 90, article number 128155. doi: 10.1016/j.ufug.2023.128155.
  20. Iqbal, Z., Anjum, M.A., Butt, S.J., Asif, A., & Balal, R.M. (2025). Edible landscaping: Planning and designing. In Z. Iqbal, M.A. Anjum, S. Ercisli & S. Rauf (Eds.), Sustainable and innovative vegetable production in times of climate change (pp. 101-119). New York: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-981-96-6283-8_7.
  21. Khalilnezhad, M.R., Taheri, M.R., Russo, A., Nasseh, N., & Taheri, A. (2024). Designing healthy edible cities: Investigating the environmental and spatial factors affecting urban fruit safety. Cities & Health, 1-8. doi: 10.1080/23748834.2024.2352233.
  22. MacGowan, T. (2012). Balfour street pocket park. Retrieved from https://architectureau.com.
  23. McCarthy, J., & Wright, P. (2024). Taking [A]part: The politics and aesthetics of participation in experience-centered design. Cambridge: MIT Press.
  24. Melcher, K. (2022). Aesthetic intent in landscape architecture: The particularity of beauty, meaning, and experience. Landscape Journal, 41(2), 73-92. doi: 10.3368/lj.41.2.73.
  25. Melicher, J., & Špulerová, J. (2022). Application of landscape-ecological approach for greenways planning in rural agricultural landscape. Environments, 9(2), article number 30. doi: 10.3390/environments9020030.
  26. Mikkonen, J. (2022). Aesthetic appreciation of nature and the global environmental crisis. Environmental Values, 31(1), 47-66. doi: 10.3197/096327121X16245253346567.
  27. Min, B.-W. (2012). An ecological aesthetic in sustainable landscape design. Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture, 40(2), 38-48. doi: 10.9715/KILA.2012.40.2.038.
  28. Mino, E., Pueyo-Ros, J., Škerjanec, M., Castellar, J.A.C., Viljoen, A., Istenič, D., Atanasova, N., Bohn, K., & Comas, J. (2021). Tools for edible cities: A review of tools for planning and assessing edible nature-based solutions. Water, 13(17), article number 2366. doi: 10.3390/w13172366.
  29. Morrow, O., & Davies, A. (2022). Creating careful circularities: Community composting in New York City. Transactions of the Institute of British Geographers, 47(2), 529-546. doi: 10.1111/tran.12523.
  30. Mundher, R., Abu Bakar, S., Maulan, S., Mohd Yusof, M.J., Al-Sharaa, A., Aziz, A., & Gao, H. (2022). Aesthetic quality assessment of landscapes as a model for urban forest areas: A systematic literature review. Forests, 13(7), article number 991. doi: 10.3390/f13070991.
  31. Nicholls, C.I., Altieri, M.A., & Vázquez, L.L. (2016). Agroecology: Principles for the conversion and redesign of farming systems. Journal of Ecosystems and Ecography, 5(10). doi: 10.4172/2157-7625.S5-010.
  32. Ogwu, M.C., & Kosoe, E.A. (2025). Integrating green infrastructure into sustainable agriculture to enhance soil health, biodiversity, and microclimate resilience. Sustainability, 17(9), article number 3838. doi: 10.3390/su17093838.
  33. Oudolf, P. (n.d.). Hauser & Wirth. Retrieved from https://oudolf.com/garden/hauser-and-wirth.
  34. Peng, J., Liu, Y., Corstanje, R., & Meersmans, J. (2021). Promoting sustainable landscape pattern for landscape sustainability. Landscape Ecology, 36(7), 1839-1844. doi: 10.1007/s10980-021-01271-1.
  35. Pic Bois. (2022). Route around the Darré Stop Lake. Retrieved from https://www.pic-bois.com.
  36. Pradhan, P., Callaghan, M., Hu, Y., Dahal, K., Hunecke, C., Reusswig, F., Lotze-Campen, H., & Kropp, J.P. (2023). A systematic review highlights that there are multiple benefits of urban agriculture besides food. Global Food Security, 38, article number 100700. doi: 10.1016/j.gfs.2023.100700.
  37. Quintero, I., Daza-Cruz, Y.X., & León-Sicard, T. (2022). Main agro-ecological structure: An index for evaluating agro-biodiversity in agro-ecosystems. Sustainability, 14(21), article number 13738. doi: 10.3390/su142113738.
  38. Rashidi, H., Ghaffarian Hoseini, A., Nik Sulaiman, N.M., Tookey, J., & Hashim, N.A. (2015). Application of wastewater treatment in sustainable design of green built environments: A review. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 49, 845-856. doi: 10.1016/j.rser.2015.04.104.
  39. Russo, A., & McCarthy, L. (2024). Designing edible cities: Exploring the origins and future of urban foraging and wild herbalism in the United Kingdom. In S. Dhyani & M. Sardeshpande (Eds.) Urban foraging in the changing world (pp. 169-204). Singapore: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-981-97-0345-6_10.
  40. Saleh, H.A., & Alrobaee, T.R. (2024). Planning and designing sustainable urban space according to the concept of ecological aesthetics. International Journal of Sustainable Development & Planning, 19(11), 4291-4302. doi: 10.18280/ ijsdp.191118.
  41. SCAPE. (2025). Retrieved from https://www.scapestudio.com.
  42. Shi, X. (2023). The urban food forest: Creating a public edible landscape. Urban Design International, 28, 189-201. doi: 10.1057/s41289-022-00191-z.
  43. Štrbac, S., Kašanin-Grubin, M., Pezo, L., Stojić, N., Lončar, B., Ćurčić, L., & Pucarević, M. (2023). Green infrastructure designed through nature-based solutions for sustainable urban development. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(2), article number 1102. doi: 10.3390/ijerph20021102.
  44. Thiesen, T., Bhat, M.G., Liu, H., & Rovira, R. (2022). An ecosystem service approach to assessing agro-ecosystems in urban landscapes. Land, 11(4), article number 469. doi: 10.3390/land11040469.
  45. Wijesooriya, N., & Brambilla, A. (2021). Bridging biophilic design and environmentally sustainable design: A critical review. Journal of Cleaner Production, 283, article number 124591. doi: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.124591.
  46. Yu, H. (2025). Edible tourism landscapes: Co-designing agro-tourism experiences for cultural sustainability. Journal of Tourism and Cultural Change, 23(6), 761-785. doi: 10.1080/14766825.2025.2591083.
  47. Yuan, J., & Kim, C.S. (2024). The ecological design of marine urban green space plant landscaping based on the concept of sustainability. Plants, 13(7), article number 923. doi: 10.3390/plants13070923.
  48. Zhang, J. (2025). Analyzing the application and ecological value of green roofs in urban environmental art design. MATEC Web of Conferences, 410, article number 02009. doi: 10.1051/matecconf/202541002009.
  49. Zheng, Z.-W., & Chou, R.-J. (2023). The impact and future of edible landscapes on sustainable urban development: A systematic review of the literature. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 84, article number 127930. doi: 10.1016/j.ufug.2023.127930.
  50. Zhou, Y., Han, J., Li, J., Zhou, Y., Wang, K., & Huang, Y. (2021). Building resilient cities with stringent pollution controls: A case study of robust planning of Shenzhen City’s urban agriculture system. Journal of Cleaner Production, 311, article number 127452. doi: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.127452.

Suggested citation

Ren, X., & Bulhakova, T. (2026). Designing for ecological aesthetics in urban agriculture: Operationalising ecodesign principles across multilayer city landscapes. Art and Design, 9(1), 100-115. https://doi.org/10.30857/2617-0272.2026.1.9