Vacant space model

"Anglers Country Park (and a local nature reserve) is dominated by a lake, surrounded by grassland, woodland and a wetland area." "This originally farmed landscape was dramatically changed when it became one of the deepest opencast mines in Europe, reaching a depth of 250 feet." Restoration work began after the mine closed, creating the country park. (Ref. 1, 2)

After its abandonment by the British military in 2012, the development of a new utilization concept and plan for the former military base in Gremmendorf was encouraged by the city’s planning department. Intensive citizen participation efforts were identified and ideas conceptualized, followed by an architectural competition based on which the spatial development plan was elaborated. The plan, which is currently being developed further by the winning architecture bureaus in coordination with the spatial development authority, intends the development of an attractive living quarter as a "garden town" with several green and sustainable drainage elements (Ref. 1 and 5).

PopinnPark claimed to be the first indoor park of Europe and was created in an abandoned store, aiming at improving the quality of the neighbourhood and bringing nature closer to people. It became a meeting spot for communities, artists, businesses and citizens for exchanging knowledge on social/sustainability issues or for recreation. Popinn Park contained plants that improved air quality, local businesses that provide fair foods and drinks and nature-based art. (1)
After running for two years, Popinn Park closed and was transformed into an art gallery under the name of Popinn Art. Since 2018, Popinnart is an artist-run nomadic collective with over 25 contemporary artists. The art on offer is varied and qualitatively and conceptually challenging. There is a choice of spatial work, figurative and abstract, collages, photography, paintings, drawings, textiles and video. (5)

With the relocation of the railways between the Hauptbahnhof and Pasing a large area became available for an infill development strategy. The redevelopment of central railway areas of Munich is in line with the city's guidelines for sustainable development (Perspective München) referred to as compact - urban - green. The initiative is aimed at implementing 7500 new flats and creating 15000 new workplaces in total, which are supported by green recreational areas. (Reference 1) The project consists of six separately planned parts, some are already partially finished. (Reference 2) This NBS discusses Birketweg, one of these parts, which is 60 hectares large.

The Carbon Landscape is a pioneering project in landscape restoration in Wigan, Warrington and Salford. Led by the Lancashire Wildlife Trust, it will revitalize a landscape left devastated by decades of coal-mining and peat extraction (Ref 5). It works to restore key habitats and reconnect local people with their unique natural heritage, preserving it for future generations. The restoration of the peat base to lowland raised bog provided an opportunity for carbon sequestration and storage (Ref 1). There is a strong vision to reconnect local people with their rich natural heritage, creating opportunities and a sense of pride in the local area (Ref 4).

The city district Japigia in 2013 has proposed a project of a new park that links the necessity of housing, open spaces, urban sustainability. The park is centre of green spaces with a high level of accessibility, in a part of the city which was previously abandoned. The presence of hedges and trees guarantees the liveability of the area, while at the same time providing important ecosystem services such as mitigation of urban pollution and mediation of visual impact. The same can be said for the vertical gardens which will characterise the entrance of the park. (Ref.1.)

The project was born with the idea of solving the huge debate around the creation of a city park that connects different parts of the city. The area close to the railway will be regenerated thanks to an above-ground park. This solution will allow to have a new green space in the city, and an additional panoramic view that will be experienced thanks to a new cycling path. In this way the whole area that surrounds the rails of the central station will be regenerated, providing at the same time an attempt to mend the urban and social fabric. (Ref.1.)

Due to the frequent episodes of flooding, the city of Bari has started thinking about becoming a laboratory where experimenting a new landscape approach, with the additional benefit of enhancing daily liveability. New green spaces have been built within housing areas (apartments that the municipality provides for those who have low income). (Ref.1&2) The aim of Garden Faber was to create a community garden, designed and made by residents for residents (Ref.1.) As of July 2020, no sources were available to understand if the community continued with the garden.

In 2012, Glasgow City Council provided Urban Roots with two acres of vacant land for the development of a market garden and orchard. Urban Roots is a community-led organisation working across the Southside of Glasgow. It evolved out of the Toryglen Gardening Club. The Toryglen community market garden sought to encourage community cohesion and environmental improvement in the area of Toryglen. The project is committed to improving the environment and health of the area through a range of activities including community gardening, conservation, and biodiversity. The aim is to inspire people and communities to connect with nature and to take practical action to tackle the root causes of climate change (Ref 1, 3).

In 2017 the City of Bari provided funds to citizens and non profit associations to promote the regeneration of an abandoned area. Eventually an area of 4500 sqm was rehabilitated and the authorities plan to extend the area until the green space reaches 10,000 sqm. Among the planned interventions are the maintenance of greenery and trees, as well as the redevelopment of the side wall that borders the buildings. For the 4500 sqm intervention which was designed by the local community and migrant volunteers, the first multifunctional furniture was built at Bari. It was made with recycled wood, stones, fabrics and lots of goodwill during the natural architecture laboratory.The NBS allowed to have a green area where different activities were implemented such as green and educational laboratories. Also a shared gardening project (in order to promote the importance and the culture of preserving green areas) and social labs were organized(promoting school and sport activities outdoors). (Ref.1, 2, 3, 4)