Research direction: landscape perception and visual quality assessment, the health impacts of natural environments, inclusive design, open space design and renewal
Gaochao Zhang received his PhD form University of Copenhagen (DK). He also had educational experience in Kyoto University (JP) and Shanghai Jiao Tong University (CN). With the support of “Shuimu” Scholar program and China Postdoctoral International Exchange Program, Dr Zhang carried out his post-doctoral research at Department of Earth System Science, Tsinghua University and Center for Healthy Cities, Institute for China Sustainable Urbanization. During this period, his research was funded by the Postdoctoral Science Foundation of China. From 2022, Dr Zhang works at the School of Architecture, SEU.
Dr Zhang also works as science consult for the leading institute for healthy space like Well living lab, and provides consultation for renowned design office like July-Co to inspire their design practice. He also joined the peer review committee for the Science Track of the UIA World Congress 2023. He is also providing peer review services for research works in related fields.
His main research interests include:
(1) Landscape perception: From the landscape aesthetics perceptive, various experimental and investigative methods are being used to explore the interactive relationship between multiple visual attributes and landscape preference. From the health perspective, the research methods from experimental psychology are applied to explore the health impacts from natural environments and the possible mechanism.
Publications:
Zhang, G., Wu, G., & Yang, J. (2023). The restorative effects of short-term exposure to nature in immersive virtual environments (IVEs) as evidenced by participants’ brain activities. Journal of Environmental Management
Zhang, G., Yang, J., Wu, G., & Hu, X. (2021). Exploring the interactive influence on landscape preference from multiple visual attributes: Openness, richness, order, and depth. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening
Zhang, G., Yang, J., & Jin, J. (2021). Assessing relations among landscape preference, informational variables, and visual attributes. Journal of Environmental Engineering and Landscape Management
(2) Health Design: Based on practical projects, systematic attempts are made from the perspective of Evidence-Based Health Design in Landscape architecture (EBHDL) and diagnostic post occupancy evaluation (DPOE). The accumulated knowledge is used in the development and modification of a process model for Evidence-Based Health Design in Landscape Architecture.
Publications:
Zhang, G., Poulsen, D. v, Lygum, V. L., Corazon, S. S., Gramkow, M. C., & Stigsdotter, U. K. (2017). Health-promoting nature access for people with mobility impairments: a systematic review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Stigsdotter, U.K., Zhang, G., Gramkow, M.C. and Sidenius, U. (2023), Viewpoint on what may be considered as evidence and how to obtain it when designing health-promoting and inclusive green spaces, Archnet-IJAR (corresponding author).
Chinese articles:
张高超, 孙睦泓, & 吴亚妮. (2016). 具有改善人体亚健康状态功效的微型芳香康复花园设计建造及功效研究. 中国园林
张高超, & 华田子. (2021). 基于丹麦实践经验分析的无障碍开放空间设计策略研究. 中国园林
张高超, M.科菲林安格, & U.K斯蒂多特. (2018). 自然环境, 健康和行动障碍者: 丹麦行动障碍者绿色绿色户外实验室项目前期探索性研究简述. 残疾人研究
张高超, 刘洋, & 汤晓敏. (2017). 面向压力人群的康复景观——纳卡地亚森林康复花园设计特色及其启示. 上海交通大学学报: 农业科学版
张高超.(2020). 让城市景观助益人类健康的三个原则. 可持续发展经济导刊
(3) People centered design and renovation of open spaces: Investigations based on public participation is being made to get a better image about the problems and opportunities of open spaces. Along with the analysis of “best cases”, the strategies, methods and guidelines are being developed to support relevant practice.
Publications:
Tang, D., & Zhang, G. (2022). Attentive allies: Landscape architects as facilitators to promote early childhood nature-based educational programs. Landscape Architecture Frontiers （corresponding author）
