Green Infrastructures in the Peri-Urban Landscape: Exploring Local Perception of Well-Being through ‘Go-Alongs’ and ‘Semi-Structured Interviews’

Rocío Santo-Tomás Muro, Carlota Sáenz de Tejada Granados and Eva J. Rodríguez Romero
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Rocío Santo-Tomás Muro: Department of Architecture and Design, Institute of Technology, Montepríncipe Campus, Universidad San Pablo CEU, CEU Universities, 28668 Madrid, Spain
Carlota Sáenz de Tejada Granados: Department of Architecture and Design, Institute of Technology, Montepríncipe Campus, Universidad San Pablo CEU, CEU Universities, 28668 Madrid, Spain
Eva J. Rodríguez Romero: Department of Architecture and Design, Institute of Technology, Montepríncipe Campus, Universidad San Pablo CEU, CEU Universities, 28668 Madrid, Spain

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 17, 1-26

Abstract: Providing conditions for health and well-being, especially for those most exposed to social and environmental inequalities, is a precondition for sustainable development. Green infrastructures in peri-urban areas have the potential to improve the quality of life of locals by fostering healthy practices, providing views, or bringing nature closer to the city. This work explores the local perception of well-being within urban green infrastructures (UGI) in the peri-urban fringe of Madrid (Spain) through a combination of qualitative methods: “go-alongs” and “semi-structured static interviews”. The grounded-theory based codification of the data using NVivo software and their subsequent analysis results in the identification of social, natural, and perceptual elements that prove to play a relevant role in locals’ perception of well-being. Among these, connectivity with other green spaces, panoramic views and place-based memories are aspects that seem to make UGI serve the community at its full potential, including perceived physical and psychological well-being. We identify in each case study both positive characteristics of UGI and dysfunctional aspects and areas of opportunity. Lastly, a methodological, geographical, and theoretical discussion is made on the relevance of the case studies and pertinence of the two interview methods as valuable tools for analysis and intervention in the peri-urban landscape.

Keywords: perception of well-being; sustainable development; landscape; urban green infrastructure; Madrid; qualitative research; place attachment; placemaking; quality of life; NVivo (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:17:p:6836-:d:402877

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