Abstract
Biotope Area Ratio ($BFF; BiotopFl{\"{a}}chenFaktor$) was developed in Berlin, Germany in 1990s and introduced to Korea in 1999. It is the ratio of the uncovered soil areas which have the natural circulating capability compared to whole development areas. This study seeks for alternative ways to increase Biotope Area Ratio of residential areas in the metropolitan areas of Korea by investigation on new housing developments. The study investigates four new towns including Seoul Eunpyung new town, Yongin Kusung district, Goyang Pungdong and Juyeopdong districts and Hwasung Dongtan district. The Biotope Area Ratio of study sites is between 23.51 % and 40.69%. This result is not relevant to land use conditions, such as the building-ta-land ratio, natural ground green area ratio. This ratio satisfies the minimum requirements of City of Seoul, except 2 sites. Considering that the study sites are relatively low density land use areas compared to Seoul's average, thus, a higher standards is necessary for new town housing complexes. Because Biotope Area Ratio includes artificial ground green area ratio, Biotope Area Ratio is possible can be increased with decreased natural ground green area ratio. And so, when Biotope Area Ratio is applied to new town development, it must go side by side with a definite natural ground green area ratio.
