Arboreta as Cultural Landscapes: Comparative Analysis of International Case Studies. Towards Guidelines for the Design of New Arboreta

Abstract Arboreta are designed and specialised green spaces that assemble organised living collections of tree and shrub species, dedicated to the conservation of biodiversity, research, education, and public engagement. Despite their recognised importance, the spatial and functional organisation of arboreta remains comparatively underexplored in the literature. This study addresses this gap by analysing how spatial structure supports their multifunctional roles. The main research question is: which spatial and organisational patterns characterise internationally recognised arboreta, and how can these inform the design of new ones? The study formulates design-oriented recommendations for arboreta, based on a comparative spatial analysis of ten internationally recognised reference cases. The selected arboreta were identified through their frequency of citation in the literature, ArbNet Level IV accreditation, and founding date listed by BGCI. The methodology follows a comparative case-study approach structured around four analytical axes: general characterisation, spatial and vegetation organisation, accessibility and services, and botanical collection organisation. All arboreta were georeferenced and vectorised within a standardised framework, producing comparable maps and tables that supported the analysis of shared variables. The results reveal consistent spatial and organisational tendencies across cases, alongside contextual specificities. Based on these findings, design recommendations were formulated, providing general guidelines applicable to the planning and design of new arboreta.