Green densification model

The Rákos-patak Green Corridor is a large-scale development project aimed at revitalizing the environment of the Rákos Stream on a 23 kilometre long path from it's areas in the outskirts of Budapest to the city center. The most important element of the development project is the planned bicycle lane, which would connect the already existing bicycle lanes along the stream into a full 23 kilometre one. In some areas of the planned corridor, other developments will happen with the goal of preserving and restoring habitats which originally existed in the area before it was first regulated. Near the outer areas of the stream, afforestation will also take place. (Reference 9) The area of the stream is currently underdeveloped. According to the plans, the new green corridor could help decrease urban stress.

The city of Malmö works for a sustainable urban environment, e.g. through planning the city's new construction, working on existing buildings and at the same time striving to reduce the environmental impact. Västra Hamnen (Western harbour) is a new and ultra-modern district in Malmö. It is located on a former shipyard area right beside the sea, only less than a kilometer north-west of the medieval old town of Malmö (ref. 10). In the Western Harbour where land was available after the shipyard’s closure, high sustainability has been sought from the beginning. In dialogue with builders and other actors, Malmö City has developed guidelines for energy use, green structure, waste solutions and a healthy indoor environment. (Ref. 1)

This NBS site is part of the Bratislava Zelenaj Project. This particular NBS involves the creation of vegetation on buildings as a means to mitigate the effects of climate change in cities due to urban overheating caused by global warming. It targets the residents of the Archa House of Seniors (Domove seniorov Archa) in Bratislava as part of the citywide project “Bratislava is preparing for climate change” with the aim of protecting and promoting the welfare of the city’s vulnerable citizens from climate change effects. The roof's main function is buffering the discharge of excess rainwater. (10)

The Sprouting Building is an apartment complex which was built in 2000 in such a way as to have seeds grow from the exterior walls of the building. "There are "balcony-gardens" to dine in with many friends, "balcony-cabins" perched among the trees for more intimate encounters, "balcony-lookouts" to curiously explore the foliage of the treetops, and "balcony-terraces" for reflection and contemplation. The project could have been called “the balcony in all its forms" but instead it was named "the building that grows." The building "grows" thanks to plants on the building's walls. Its skin has become a kind of mini-ecosystem" (Ref. 1).

“Xarxa de Sendes Urbanes de Alacant(Catalan)/Red de senderos urbanos (Spanish)” (Red of Urban Trails) is a network project developed by the city council consisting of urban trails classified into three types: environmental or natural trails, cultural or heritage trails and city trails, the latter as network connectors. The NBS focus on the first type (environmental and natural trails). (Ref 1) With the implementation of interconnected trails system and signage, the trails offer walks, educative explanation on the different species found in the area and provide leisure, relaxing and physical (running, hiking) opportunities to visitors and citizens. (Ref 2)

The initiative is comprised of a project to recover the coastal line of Alicante, from El Campello to Elx (approx. 21 km long). The Municipality called an ideas' competition with the aim of developing a sustainable coastal corridor project that includes an intervention on the entire Alicante coastline and generates a continuous itinerary integrated into the landscape with new places of opportunity for the residents of the city (Ref. 7). The two-stage competition sought proposals for a new ‘coastal passage’ featuring the creation of new multi-purpose public spaces promoting biodiversity and accessibility (Ref 13). The winner was announced on the beginning of 2019 and the Municipality planned to start the development of the first 2 parts of the project. The winning project of the competition bears the slogan "My connected archipelago" and is the work of the Grupo Aranea and Subarquitectura studios from Alicante (Ref 14), a project that considers ecological and sustainable principles (Ref. 9).

The Botanical Park is originally a garden which went through a modernization and rearrangement process in 2008. The park covers an area of 8.41 hectares and has a varied flora which is of Romania and also of various areas of the world which have a similar climate to the country. The purpose of the rearrangement was to maintain the area for scientific endeavours and to educate the public with respect to the importance of the environment. The municipality added this area to the 13th existing parks of Timisoara, which are part of the green belt of the city. (1)

Bastion Theresia Timisoara was built as a defensive perimeter for the Romanian town of Timisoara and has languished for decades in the center of the city. The bastion was rehabilitated and it incorporates green spaces and a community center. The old fortress' location in the middle of town makes it a natural hub for transportation and assembly, and the extensive green roof incorporates it into the city's urban green belt. (1)

Street alignments is a 2008 project developed by the Municipality of Timisoara in order to create a green corridor between the centre of the city and peripheral areas. It involves the creation of alveoli by mounting lawn and ornamental bark in different intersections of the city.

Ekostaden Augustenborg is the collective name for a program to aims to transform Augustenborg into a more socially, economically and environmentally sustainable neighborhood. Ekostaden Augustenborg is one of Sweden´s largest urban sustainability projects. Aims and implemented measures were based on the wishes of local stakeholders and residents: No more flooding, green roofs, a musical theme playground, an open stormwater system (ref. 1).