Green densification model

In 2013, local activists came up with an initiative to plant 100 trees and 100 bushes in different parts of the District XIII in Kraków. It was supposed to be financed by the participatory budget of Kraków. Still, the delay in implementation led to a situation when the second project by the same team (plant 101 trees and 101 bushes) overlapped with the previous one the following year. The city implemented the original idea, and the district received 100 trees and 101 bushes in 2015. The project aimed to increase the aesthetic and decorative value of the area and to increase the comfort of living of its inhabitants, as well to obtain funds for urban greenery management [1,3].

Together with the Office for Urban Greenery and Waters of the City of Leipzig, the charitable association Ökolöwe Leipzig started the green facades initiative "Kletterfix - Green Walls for Leipzig" in 2015. The project aims at creating awareness about the multiple benefits of urban green walls and inspiring action of tenants and landlords on private property. As a measure mandated by the Urban Clean Air Plan, green facades improve the urban microclimate, general living conditions and combat particulate matter pollution. On-site advice about suitable plants and maintenance is provided upon application and respective seeds for up to 5 plants are sent for free to the applicants by the city department (1, 3, 7).

EPAEM (Euromediterranean public development establishment) launched the development a new park of 14 hectares. Located in former industrial area at the gates of the northern districts of Marseille, it is considered to be one of the poorest districts in France (Ref. 1). The planned park Aygalades is divided into two parts: the southern part of 4 hectares called Bougainville Park and the northern part of 10 hectares which runs along the Aygalades river (Ref. 1). Development work on Bougainville Park is set to begin in September 2020 with completion in 2023 (Ref. 12). The park is described as "the first step of a large project to restore a highly degraded industrial site" (Ref. 12).

The park was completely renovated by planting trees, shrubs, flowers, and by renovating existing grey elements and adding new ones. The project was implemented as part of the programme for Improvement of the Ecological and Recreational environment of Plovdiv, which was funded by the ERDF through the national Operational Programme “Regional Development” 2007-2013 (Ref. 1; Ref. 2; Ref. 3; Ref. 6).

The ‘University Park Essen’ is developed on a former railway site in the inner city of Essen, that had been a wasteland for almost 30 years. By revitalizing this about the 13-hectare large plot, an urban green quarter for residential and commercial use is created. The centricity of the park within the new quarter between the city center, shopping mall Limbecker Square and the university campus is the first visible component of the development and therefore shapes the new identity of the quarter (Ref. 4).

The city of Palermo has planned a series of interventions to regenerate the coastal area in the Southern part of the city (Bandita, Romagnolo and Acqua dei Corsari). The activities performed to reach this goal were the cleaning of the green areas which surround the coast and creation of playground zones for kids. In particular, the green areas were expanded with the plantation of typical plants of the Mediterranean area. This project was aiming to improve the condition of both water and the coast itself, to make it more attractive and accessible to everyone. (Ref.1.)

A new lake with green banks was built in the district of Altenhof in Essen in order to improve the quality of life in the neighborhood, create new recreational facilities and prolong the existing transport and green infrastructural developments in Essen. The water is supplied to the lake by means of groundwater from a separate well, as well as rainwater from the surfaces of neighboring roofs (Ref. 1).

In June 2012, the Vertical Plants at the Strasbourg National Institute of Applied Sciences (INSA) were installed by two second-year students. They along with faculty and students undertook a technical and regulatory feasibility study, before taking steps to mobilise local companies to meet the costs of the project (Ref. 1). The advantage is not only aesthetic, but the wall has thermal and acoustic properties, and serves as a refuge for biodiversity and is even capable of absorbing atmospheric pollution (Ref. 2).

The Villa Turrisi park has been the subject of a regeneration process request, implemented by some associations and citizens in order to protect the park. The goal of this citizen-based initiative is to regenerate the area with the expansion of the urban park, by adding several trees and plants. The main benefits of the project, apart from the cultural and social value of the new area, is the mitigation effect of the park in response to threats such as urban pollution, improvement of air quality, and biodiversity conservation (both plants and animal species). (Ref.1.)

This NBS refers to a curtain protection forest that was planted 6 km out of the city of Iasi in 2015 by the mayor of a commune next to the city. The benefits of this NBS embrace also the city of Iasi as a method to prevent flooding and to avoid strong winds in the area. Afforestation was seen also as a response to the existence of arid soil and abandoned crop fields in the area due to a large population movement of immigration towards Western countries (1)