공간활용의 매개효과를 통한 도심 저층부 공개공간 활성화 방안 연구 = The Impact of Space Utilization as a Mediating Effect on the Activation of Ground-Floor Public Spaces in Urban Centers

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

(Background and Purpose) Urban ground-level open spaces serve as an interface between buildings and cities, thereby forming a crucial foundation for urban vitality through the creation of pedestrian networks and the expansion of public domains. However, in reality, the design of urban spaces often exhibits fragmentation and underutilization of pedestrian infrastructure, resulting in a lack of seamless connectivity. In the post-pandemic era, as the value of urban public spaces is being reevaluated, the integrated utilization of ground-level spaces has emerged as a key strategy for sustainable urban revitalization. This study aims to empirically identify the relationship between the physical elements of urban ground-level open spaces (e.g., building frontages, sidewalks) and their utilization effects. This investigation will also through a structural equation model, verify the mediating effect of space utilization, and suggest effective strategies for activating ground-level open spaces. (Method) This research focused on ground-level open spaces in major commercial and business districts in Seoul, conducting surveys with experts in urban planning and design, architecture, landscape architecture, and urban management. Empirical analysis was performed using SPSS and AMOS programs, following procedures including confirmatory factor analysis, structural equation modeling (SEM), and bootstrapping. Ground-level spaces were classified and analyzed according to their scale and function into basic types (activity-oriented, rest-oriented) and expanded types (utilization-oriented, connection-oriented). (Results) The structural equation model analysis confirmed that space utilization acts as a key mediating variable between the physical elements of ground-level open spaces and their activation effects. Space utilization showed strong positive effects on pedestrian flow increase (β=1.17/.993), walkability enhancement (β=.634/.489), and dwell time improvement (β=.604/.594). While both building frontages and sidewalks had significant positive effects on space utilization, the influence of sidewalks (β=.620/.545) was much greater than that of building frontages (β=.288/.330). The direct effects of building frontages were not significant in any pathway, but sidewalks had direct effects on walkability enhancement (β=.334/.618), and in expanded types, on dwell time improvement (β=.325) as well. Notably, the 'sidewalk → space utilization → pedestrian flow increase' pathway showed statistically significant mediating effects (β=.727/.541) in both types. (Conclusions) This study empirically verified that space utilization serves as a key mediating variable connecting the physical environment and activation effects in urban ground-level open spaces. This suggests the need for a paradigm shift within the domains of urban design and public design fields from a 'form-oriented' approach to a 'form-use integration' approach. Based on the research results, strategies were proposed for securing openness and flexibility of building frontages, improving pedestrian environments centered on sidewalks, activating programs focused on space utilization, and providing institutional support and policy directions. This integrated approach can serve as an effective spatial activation strategy for simultaneously enhancing both the publicness and vitality of urban ground-level open spaces through the organic integration of physical design, program operation, and institutional support.