Micro-landscape Design for Residential Balconies in Hainan's Tropical Coastal Areas

Abstract

With accelerated urbanization, high-rise residences have become the predominant housing typology in tropical coastal cities, leading to dwindling opportunities for residents to engage with natural environment. Balconies, as an important transitional space bridging the
interior space and exterior space of residences, beyond fulfilling fundamental functions such as ventilation and daylighting, have evolved into
vital space for residents' recreation, social interaction, and biophilic engagement. The tropical coastal areas of Hainan, characterized by high
temperatures, elevated humidity, intense solar exposure, and pronounced monsoon climate, present both distinct opportunities and challenges
for residential balcony micro-landscape design. This study, based on the natural environmental characteristics and living demands in Hainan's
tropical coastal areas, analyzes current challenges in the landscape design for residential balconies, and explores the design strategies for balcony micro-landscapes from spatial layout, plant configuration, creation of therapeutic efficacy, geo-cultural symbolic expression, and other
aspects, aiming to provide reference for the landscape design of residential balconies in tropical coastal areas.