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Trelawney Avenue - RainScape SuDS

Working with Cardiff local authorities, Dwr Cymru Welsh Water's (DCWW) upgraded Trelawney Avenue to its RainScape Sustainable Drainage System (SuDS) (Ref. 4) which alleviated risk to residents and nearby highway which were at a 2 in 10 year flood risk (highly-risky) (Ref. 3). Flooding commonly occurred due to rainwater run-off from the roofs and roads of upstream catchments that drained into a combined, overburdened sewer network. Traditional systems of increasing pipe-size and storage were not cost effective (Ref. 3). A sustainable solution was developed which combined road surface drainage (gullies and slotted grates) and provided water-butts (200 liter reservoirs for roof drains) to 101 properties in Trelawney Avenue and to 75 properties in the upstream catchment (Ref. 3). Additionally, a wall was built to protect properties from the potential effects from surface water run-off (Ref. 1).

Cardiff Bay Wetlands Reserve

The reserve is a biodiversity hot-spot within Cardiff Bay. The reedbed and other aquatic plants, are very productive vegetation and a habitat for birds. Prior to the construction of the Cardiff Bay Barrage, it was made up of mudflats and salt marsh. (Ref 1) The site was chosen by Cardiff Harbour Authority to create a new environment and compensate in part for the loss of the mudflats which were submerged after completion of the Cardiff Bay Barrage. Floating timber structures serve as breeding areas for birds, an underwater bund prevents wave erosion, and a boom keeps out waterborne debris (Ref 5).

Green Roof of St David's shopping centre

In 2013, St Davids shopping centre, which has over 200 stores and restaurants (ref 5) completed the installation of a green roof, which included bird boxes and beehives and the centre is looking to expand its green roof further. The city shopping centre has become the home of a 60,000-strong colony of bees. A second green roof was developed in 2015 in the parking garage to expand educational programs (ref 4). School children from Cardiff were involved in the planting of seedlings to create pollinator habitats for bees, butterflies and other local wildlife around the ‘Hayes’ area (ref 3). The customers and local community, with the help of this project, have been taught about the value of adopting an eco-friendly approach to public space. (ref 1)

BBC Roath Lock Studios

The project involves the BBC Drama Village - a combination of studios and stores with associated offices and technical suites. It was the requirement for all buildings to achieve a BREEAM Excellent standard (ref 1). GreenBlue Urban structural RootCell systems were used for this development to create adequate tree root volumes, to ensure optimum tree establishment and growth in a demanding coastal location (ref 2). A Living Wall has been made which has a number of functions including the provision of a new home for solitary bees, lacewings and other invertebrates. A rainwater harvesting system has been installed (ref 1). Speaking generally, the studio, stores and office amounted to over 18,000 square meters and 900 new meters of HV, gas water drainage and telecoms (ref 1). Areas of eco-design include transportation, energy efficiency, water efficiency, materials, indoor environmental quality, waste reduction and biodiversity (ref 1).

Water-retarding Green Strip of Kop Zuidas

In the new district ‘Kop Zuidas’, water green strip is created along the sidewalk in which stormwater is temporarily stored by means of high-grade vegetation and a drainage system. The stormwater slowly infiltrates into the soil and only reaches the sewage system in case of extremely heavy rainfall. It is a pilot project for stormwater retention and will be upscaled throughout Amsterdam when successful. (1,2)

Ribbon of Pocket Parks in Indian Neighbourhood

In order to improve the Indian Neighourhood, a 'ribbon' of multiple pocket parks was created that improves social cohesion and environmental quality. The area lacked social cohesion previous to the creation of the pocket parks and was faced with nuisance from addicts and drug dealers as they were involved in disturbing behaviour, vandalism and criminality (1,10). This created an unsafe environment for the inhabitants of the neighbourhood (1,5) In the stamp parks, social activities are organized and the green spaces are completely managed by citizens themselves. (1)

Rain Garden on City Island

'Blok 54' is a new building on the city island IJburg in Amsterdam, on which a green roof and rain garden were be created in which stormwater can flow from the green roof through a groove with diverse vegetation, reflecting a natural creek. The vegetation with fruit bushes serves as a sensory garden for poly handicapped children and the creek flows into bioswales through which can slowly infiltrate. Blok 54 can thereby be considered an ECOcity-garden. (1,3)

Flower meadow in the city centre

The project seeks to plant a 300 square meters flower meadow in the Lublin city centre, in an area between two busy roads. The field would increase biodiversity in the urban ecosystem, function as a habitat for the pollinators, produce oxygen, absorb pollution and serve an aesthetic purpose.
As one of the first initiatives of this type in Lublin, the project would be monitored on an on-going basis. It serves as a pilot study for the following projects alike [1,2].

Green Walls at the University of Life Sciences

The first external green wall in Lublin was installed at the University of Natural Sciences in September 2015, and it was later followed by two smaller installations inside and outside in 2017 [5]. Apart from their decorative and aesthetical functions, the walls serve educational and research purposes, as the suitability of the chosen plants for the Polish climate conditions will be evaluated for similar urban projects in the country. Finally, the project promotes urban greenery and certain offsetting for grey infrastructure [1, 2, 3, 5].

B.Bylon Rooftop Park

B.Bylon Roof Park is a green park on top of the B.Amsterdam building which provides a healthy environment for employees and citizens of the neighbourhood. The park contains a vegetable garden, recreational facilities, meeting spots, sport facilities, a herb garden, a water basin, fruit trees, chickens and a restaurant (1,2,5,8). The roof park stores and uses storm water and an organic circular decomposing system provides plant nutrients. (4,7).