Technological

Owing to European Funds, the University of Białystok opened a new modern ecological campus for the faculties of biology, mathematics and computer science. The new campus was designed to incorporate green and blue infrastructure elements, and embody the pro-ecological profile of the investment. Green vegetation covers the university's walls and roofs, which is nearly half of the 30,000 square meters big campus. There is a brook around buildings and small ponds in the university's inner courtyards. The campus uses a sustainable rain drainage system, which is located on the roof, and the rainwater flows to the artificial water tanks and is continuously filtered and redistributed. Finally, there is a publicly accessible centre for ecological education. Large decorative installations on each of the four courtyards enhance the aesthetic experience in the campus and inspire the faculty and students [1,2].

The project revitalized two old ponds – previous industrial and derelict area – and created two new ponds on the Marczukowska street in the city of Bialystok. The investment in its current shape is a tourist attraction and a valuable ecosystem for birds and amphibians. The project resulted in the increase of biodiversity in the area (additional ponds for the breeding of amphibians, two nesting islands not accessible to the public), and more effective management of the local water resources (cleaning and deepening of ponds, restoring an outflow for the excess water directly to the Biała river). Finally, it is a popular place with publicly open educational trails and bicycle paths [2,3,4].

The lake, which is fed by brook Rio Archetti, is located in the highest section of the park, immediately down from the Villa Doria camping ground, in an area of the public park that is not very frequented. It used to be in great decline, because of many maintenance and environmental factors. This intervention brought it back to its original estate, recreating the original historical and natural value the area had, highly popular among local residents as a green place where to enjoy calm and silence in the center of the city. (1,2)

The Royal Gardens, situated between Piazza San Marco and the Bacino di San Marco, came into being during the Napoleonic occupation of the city and used to be a space for recreational activities for locals for many years after the monarchy was over. During past decades, the gardens have progressively deteriorated. Their original design is now barely legible, in terms both of geometrical patterns and the placement of trees and shrubs. They were rapidly becoming a derelict area. This intervention consists of their recovery by restoring the original vegetation by recovering still-living plants and introducing new ones. Between 2015 and 2019 the Gardens underwent complex restoration, carried out by the Foundation and planned by the gardener and landscape architect Paolo Pejrone, student of Russell Page and Roberto Burle-Marx, while architectural renovation and the rebuilding of the greenhouse was planned by architect Alberto Torsello, based on a project drawn up by Carlo Aymonino and Gabriella Barbini. Reopened in December 2019, the Royal Gardens, rich in unexpected perspectives and luxuriant growth, have reacquired their formal excellence and botanical complexity, in coherence with their historic nineteenth-century design. (1, 2 and 7).

The enlargement of the Dona Casilda park started in 2006 when Bilbao Ria 2000, a public limited company created in 1992 with the collaboration of the Public Administrations in order to lead the recovery and transformation of degraded areas of the Metropolitan Area of Bilbao, decided to invest in the renovation of the park. (Ref 2,4) The park was considered the main lung of the city, thus its enlargement (which is the presented NBS) was seen as necessary. (Ref 3) As such, the main road that traversed the park was removed and 30.000 sqm of land has been added. (Ref 2,7) The green area was broadened, by removing the road and enlarging the park. (Ref 2)

The Zabalburu square is a square located in the city of Bilbao at the confluence between the streets Autonomía and Hurtado de Amézaga . In 2008, the creation of the square, situated on one of the main roads leading into the city, enabled the recovery of almost 3,000 m2 for leisure and recreation space. It was designed as a forest that protects citizens from road traffic, and has 77 different sized trees that act as a plant barrier. This NBS was necessary since it is located in a quite crowded area (Ref 1)

As part of the Fifth Dimension research program of the University of Helsinki that examines green roofs from the perspectives of biodiversity and the three dimensions of sustainable development (ecological, social and economical sustainability), 8 green roofs were installed in Helsinki. The aim was to find economically viable solutions that are applicable to Helsinki’s and Finland’s conditions. The project experimented with green roofs in different parts of the country, over half of which are in Helsinki (ref. 1, 2, 3).

Situated on an area of 52 acres, Father Collins Park incorporates many sustainability-focused features and has won a number of awards. Over 1200 trees and 2000 native saplings were planted to help integrate the existing woodland, maximise biodiversity, and vastly increase the ecological value of the park. Also, wetland areas were created to filter and clean the water in the park as part of a recycling system that replenishes and helps clean the lake and water features. The wetland areas mimic the characteristics of natural wetlands and create a special ecosystem that encourages greater biodiversity in the park. (Ref. 1)

The civil society association "Permaculture vorm Eichholz" has made it their agenda to turn a since 2016 abandoned farmhouse into an experience-based, educational, co-design space around the concept of permaculture which is an ecologically inspired design concept for creating resilient and durable agricultural areas while maintaining the diversity of cultural and natural habitats. The farm, which was established in 2017, promotes alternative cultivation methods and energy concepts via seminars and workshops and constitutes an experimental lab for interested citizens who can implement their own ideas or even take over responsibility for parts of the farm they develop and cultivate themselves (Ref. 1, 2, 3). The leaders of the project also plan to implement a sustainable energy concept, with the goal of making the farm self-sufficient in it’s energy consumption by producing renewable energies in a variety of ways. (Ref. 9)

The biggest park to date for the new town of Cherrywood in South Dublin is being developed. Tully Park will be part of a major strategic development in the area which will contribute to the economic growth of the county through the development of a vibrant residential and economic community anchored around a town centre. The park will act as a recreational space, and the plan is to create a high profile, high quality and distinctive flagship park with a range of visitor attractions and diverse active and passive recreational facilities. Schedule of provision to be informed by the current Dún Laoghaire Rathdown Open Space Strategy and local needs at the planning application stage but may include e.g. flagship playground, local pitches, courts, tea-rooms, toilets, public art, litter bins, street furniture, interpretation. The development of Tully Park shall be appropriate to the tranquil character and setting of the cluster of national monuments at its centre. The mature trees in the vicinity of the Tully Church complex shall be retained in so far as possible. (ref 1, 3, 5)