Private for-profit actor (e.g. firm, insurer)

The project aimed to tackle two environmental problems through an integrated policy: climate change (both the mitigation and adaptation effects of urban forestation) and air quality. The project foresaw the dissemination of public-private partnership tools, developed within the framework of corporate social responsibility experiences, and the distribution of specific guidelines. Specifically, the project planned to develop a public-private partnership model for urban forestation through the adoption of the ‘green areas inner-city agreement’ (GAIA). This was expected to include three specific protocols for green urban areas covering management, monitoring and mapping resulting in 3000 trees planted across Bologna (1).

The project is focused on cultivating bazaars for climate-safe and labour-intensive cultivation and is located in an underground space under a shopping and community centre in Högdalen, a southern suburb of Stockholm. This underground cargo space at the shopping centre has been converted to a high-technology farming space that can be active all year-round. The goal is to create a small-scale industry and provide local job opportunities (Ref. 5, 6, 7).

This NBS is part of the new Porta Nuova area, an extended urban transformation of a neglected area of Milan. It consists of two residential towers of 110 and 76 m height hosting 800 trees and over 20,000 plants from a wide range of shrubs and floral plants distributed according to the sun exposure of the facade. On flat land, each Vertical Forest equals, in amount of trees, an area of 20,000 square meters of forest. In terms of urban densification it is the equivalent of an area of a single family dwelling of nearly 75,000 sq.m (3).

“The purpose of the C/O City project is to highlight the value of nature in the city, create planning documentation and develop concrete solutions that facilitate work with ecosystem services in urban planning.” The three phases of the project were to develop tools and methods, verify and adjust the tools and make them available to key actors. The final phase was to test the tools/methods and evaluate them. (Note: the starting point of the project was the environmental profiling of the Royal Seaport; i.e. Norra Djurgårdsstaden). Now as the project is completed, the results and lessons are continued by a non-profit association. The purpose of the association is to draw attention to and highlight the value of urban ecosystem services and contribute to increased knowledge in the public construction sector. (Ref. 1, 7, 8)

The ‘Art Natura’ design was a submission to an ‘Ideas Competition’ for the Headquarters of the College of Architects of Córdoba. The design plan aimed to include nature in public spaces, through the use of a vegetal facade with a low irrigation system to transform the enclosure into a skin capable of compensating the differences of temperature and humidity in the different building planes. (Ref. 2)

Creation of a green roof with ecological biodiversity, a place for informal meetings and recreational purposes. Is part of the Sveavägen 44 project in central Stockholm, where office space is converted into a modern and flexible meeting place with the environment and sustainability in focus. (Ref 1, 2, 3)

Hammarby Sjöstad is the first eco-city district in Stockholm. It is a 'town around a lake' where the planning work begun in the 1980s with an opportunity to expand the inner city of Stockholm. It is one of Stockholm's biggest urban development project and it focuses on water, energy and eco-friendly solutions. As a part of the ambition to create an eco-friendly city district, investments in e.g. green spaces, walkways and several large parks have been made. Furthermore, the Hammarby Model is the eco-cycle which describes environmental solutions used for energy, waste and water and sewage. It was established with a focus on 7 key areas: soil remediation, urban form, transportation, green buildings, energy, waste management, and water efficiency. (Ref. 1, 2, 11)