1. General information
Location and description of the intervention
City or FUA
Málaga
Region
Europe
Native title of the NBS intervention
EcoMembrana
Short description of the intervention
The planned intervention focuses on creating accessible green spaces for meaningful social exchanges. The City Council seeks to achieve this through a ground plan of connecting green spaces and ease of access into buildings. The intervention, proposed as a lineal green area, centers its structural organization around green spaces and public spaces. Accessibility for pedestrians is facilitated through spines of green spaces that cross the planned neighbourhood horizontally and vertically. These green spaces are planned to be watered with collected rain water, consequently the smart use of water is also a focus of the intervention. (ref 1)
Address

Malaga
Spain

Location
The NBS is situated in an area, with clear delineation of boundaries and a specific shape (polygon). The NBS project can also have more than one area location (more than one polygon, situated close by).
Area boundary
POINT (-4.457624 36.700214)
POINT (-4.457388 36.702915)
POINT (-4.444964 36.70959)
POINT (-4.44284 36.706975)
NBS area image
Source of NBS area image
Source: Ref. 1
Total area
94000.00m²
NBS area
7399.00m²
Type of area before implementation of the NBS
Industrial
Website of the intervention
https://www.coam.org/es/servicios/concursos/concursos-ocam/plan-especial-reform…
Timeline of intervention
Start date of the intervention (planning process)
2017
Start date of intervention (implementation process)
in planning stage
End date of the intervention
2017
Present stage of the intervention
Planned, but cancelled
Please specify "other" stage of the intervention
The contest and proposals were sent in 2017; This NBS intervention was a submission to the contest, "New ways of living- the Green Neighborhood" (Ref. 2,3,4). It was not rewarded any of the sections for development. These went to 5 other proposals. (Ref. 4)
Goals of the intervention
A) Understand green neighbourhoods as an opportunity to remake the urban fabric of the city, rather than as an isolated element. (ref 1)
B) Guarantee sustainable mobility, and a network with the rest of the city. (ref 1)
C) Define a new model of city in which urban nature is a key piece for the organization of the system of open-green spaces in the city of Malaga. (ref 1)
Quantitative targets
94.000m2 of planned space for intervention. (ref 1)
7.399 m² of planned green spaces. (ref 1)
Monitoring indicators defined
area of green space [m2] (ref 1)
m2 of planned space for intervention. (ref 1)
Sustainability challenge(s) addressed
Water management (SDG 6)
Stormwater and rainfall management and storage
Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
Green space creation and/or management
Environmental quality
Waste management
Regeneration, land-use and urban development
Conversion of former industrial areas
Promote natural styles of landscape design for urban development
Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
Social interaction
Health and well-being (SDG 3)
Enabling opportunities for physical activity
Creation of opportunities for recreation
Economic development and employment (SDG 8)
Economic development: service sectors
Sustainable consumption and production (SDG 12)
Sustainable production
Please specify "other Type of NBS project"
Guarantee sustainable mobility, and a network with the rest of the city. (ref 1); Define a new model of city in which the green apple is a key piece for the organization of the system of open-green spaces in the city of Malaga. (ref 1)
Implementation activities
- Longitudinal connectivity is improved with extension of autochthonous and shrubby tree vegetation (ref 1)
- Prioritize pedestrian access and minimize vehicular use (ref 1)
- Incorporate a network of hydrological resources, energy resources and organic waste management resources to maximize the plan’s ecological potential (ref 1)
- Management of rain and used water through an underground deposit to guarantee the reduction of water-usage and the sustainability of green spaces (ref 1)
- Incorporates new leisure activities related to sport, culture and food through a space for social exchange. (ref 1)
- Incorporate flexible spaces for productivity: lower floors with activity commercial or shop-trade type premises, production and free spaces that favor social relationships and host various activities: small market, exhibitions, festivals. (ref 1)
Type of NBS project
Creation of new green areas
Strategy, plan or policy development
NBS domain and interventions
Ecological domain(s) where the NBS intervention(s) is/are implemented
Grey infrastructure featuring greens
Alley or street trees and other street vegetation
Parks and urban forests
Pocket parks/neighbourhood green spaces
Vegetation Type
Shrubs
Trees
Other
Please specify how many trees were planted
Unknown
Please specify other amenities offered by the NBS
Flexible spaces for productivity; lower floors with activity commercial or shop-trade type premises, production and free spaces that favor social relationships and host various activities: small market, exhibitions, festivals. (Ref 1)
Amenities offered by the NBS
Sports areas and equipment
Other
Services
Expected ecosystem services delivered
Provisioning services
Water (surface and ground water for drinking and non-drinking purposes)
Regulating services
Flood regulation
Other
Habitat and supporting services
Habitats for species
Cultural services
Aesthetic appreciation
Inspiration for culture, art and design
Recreation
Mental and physical health and wellbeing
Social and community interactions
Other
Please specify "other regulating service"
the smart use of water is also a focus of the intervention. (ref 1); a network of hydrological resources, energy resources and organic waste management resources to maximize the plan’s ecological potential (ref 1)
Please specify "other cultural service"
Guarantee sustainable mobility, and a network with the rest of the city. (ref 1)
Scale
Spatial scale
Micro-scale: District/neighbourhood level
Beneficiaries
Primary Beneficiaries
Local government/Municipality
Citizens or community groups
Please specify other local relevant strategy
Sustainable development (ref 3)
Governance
Governance arrangements
Government-led
Please specify the roles of the specific government and non-government actor groups involved in the initiative
City Council of Malaga (Ayuntamiento de Malaga): host of the "New ways of living- the Green Neighborhood" (Nuevos Modos de Habitar-Manzana Verde) architectural innovation contest and main backer of the project. (ref 2)
Official Association of Architects of Malaga and Madrid: collaborator in architectural innovation contest (ref 3)
European Programs Service (OMAU): promoted architectural innovation contest (ref 3)
Architects: submitted proposal for Ecomembrana design (and other designs) (ref 1-4)
Key actors - initiating organization
Local government/municipality
Other
Please specify other key actors – Initiating organization
architectural innovation contest (ref 2)
Land owners
No information found
Please specify other Key actors - Other stakeholders involved
Architects (Ref 1-4); architectural innovation contest (ref 2)
Key actors - Other stakeholders involved (besides initiating actors)
EU body
Local government/municipality
Business association or network
Other
Land owners
No information found
Participatory methods/forms of community involvement used
Unknown
Policy drivers
NBS intervention implemented in response to an Regional Directive/Strategy
Unknown
NBS intervention implemented in response to a national regulations/strategy/plan
Unknown
NBS intervention implemented in response to a local regulation/strategy/plan
Yes
Please specify the "local regulation/strategy/plan"
PGOU de Malaga (Urban Organization Plan)- SUN-R-P.2-A, the city’s organizational and urban development plan. (ref 1,3)
The project is also supported by the Observatory of Urban Natural Environment which directs the city's Agenda 21, a document that proposes measure to convert Malaga into a sustainable city. (ref 3)
Mandatory or voluntary intervention
Voluntary (spontaneous)
Enablers
Presence of specific city-level GI/NBS vision/strategy/plan - mentioned in connection to the project
Unknown
Presence of specific city-level GI/NBS section/part in a more general plan - mentioned in connection to the project
Yes
Please specify the general plan with GI/NBS section
Agenda 21, a document that proposes measure to convert Malaga into a sustainable city. (ref 3)
If there is a relevant strategy or plan, please specify the theme / type of the plan.
City specific climate change policy or plan
Urban redevelopment plan
Other
Please specify other vegetation type
green spaces. (ref 1); green apple; system of open-green spaces (Ref 1) ; autochthonous and shrubby tree vegetation; organic waste management resources (ref 1)
Presence of city network or regional partnerships focused on NBS - mentioned in connection to the project
Unknown
Presence of GI / NBS research project - mentioned in connection to the project
Yes
Please specify
The Observatory of Urban Natural Environment is the program management and research body of the city of Malaga that is part of the contest support structure for this proposed intervention. (ref 3)
Subsidies/investment for GI / NBS in the city - mentioned in connection to the project
Yes
Please specify
The city is organizing the contest and financing the selected project. (ref 3)
Co-finance for NBS
No
Co-financing governance arrangements
No
Was this co-governance arrangement already in place, or was it set up specifically for this NBS?
Not applicable
Financing
Total cost
More than €4,000,000
What is/was the Cost/Budget (EUR) of the NBS or green infrastructure elements?
2 688 010 (Ref 1)
What are the total amount of expected annual maintenance costs?
Unknown
What is the expected annual maintenance costs of the NBS or GI elements?
Unknown
Please specify cost savings
Unknown
Please specify total cost (EUR)
11 782 544 euro is the projected cost for the urban intervention. (ref 1)
2 688 010 euros is the projected cost of gardens and trees. (ref 1)
The city is organizing the contest and financing the selected project. (ref 3)
Source(s) of funding
Public local authority budget
Unknown
Type of fund(s) used
Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
Unknown
Non-financial contribution
Unknown
Please specify other Business model
Urban redevelopment (Ref 1, 3)
Business models
Green densification model
Other
Please specify other environmental impact
Sustainable consumption (Ref 1)
Which of the involved actors was motivated by this model?
Public actor (e.g. municipality)
Type of innovation
Social
Policy innovation
Governance innovation
Cultural innovation
Please specify social innovation
The planned intervention focuses on creating an accessible and green space for meaningful social exchanges, the City council seeks to achieve this through a ground plan of connecting green spaces and ease of access into buildings. (ref 1) The city council also organizing the "New ways of living- the Green Neighborhood" (Nuevos Modos de Habitar-Manzana Verde) architectural innovation contest to develop a plan for the area. (ref 2) Moreover, the plan wants to innovate on the relationship of individuals to their urban space, making a more accessible living environment conducive to social exchange, thus aiming for a cultural innovation. (ref 1)
Novelty level of the innovation
The innovation is completely new without connections to previous initiative(s)
Please specify novelty level of the innovation
The project is planned for this specific parcel of land, and it does not mention other projects that were used as examples. (ref 1)
Replicability/Transferability
The innovation is not referred to as being transferred to new initiative(s)
Please specify Replicability/Transferability
The innovation is only in the planning stages, and so it has not been transferred elsewhere.
Impacts, benefits
Environmental impacts
Environmental quality
Improved waste management
Water management and blue areas
Improved stormwater management
Green space and habitat
Promotion of naturalistic styles of landscape design for urban development
Increased green space area
Other
Description of environmental benefits
Expected Impacts:
- Green Space Creation: 7.399 m² of planned green spaces (ref 1); longitudinal connectivity is improved with extension of autochthonous and shrubby tree vegetation (ref 1)
- Resource Management: Incorporate a network of hydrological resources, energy resources and organic waste management resources to maximize the plan’s ecological potential (ref 1)
- Water Management: Management of rain and used water through an underground deposit to guarantee the reduction of water-usage and the sustainability of green spaces (ref 1)
Economic impacts
Attraction of business and investment
Description of economic benefits
Incorporate flexible spaces for productivity: lower floors with activity commercial or shop-trade type premises, production and free spaces that favor social relationships and host various activities: small market, exhibitions, festivals (Ref 1)
Social and cultural impacts
Social justice and cohesion
Improved access to urban green space
Increased opportunities for social interaction
Health and wellbeing
Gain in activities for recreation and exercise
Description of social and cultural benefits
Expected Impacts:
- Green Access: Accessibility for pedestrians is facilitated through spines of green spaces that cross the planned neighbourhood horizontally and vertically (ref 1)
- Recreation & Social Interaction: Incorporates new leisure activities related to sport, culture and food through a space for social exchange. (ref 1); Incorporate flexible spaces for productivity: lower floors with activity commercial or shop-trade type premises, production and free spaces that favor social relationships and host various activities: small market, exhibitions, festivals
Type of reported impacts
Expected impacts
Achieved impacts
Indicators
Area of green space [m2]
Environmental, social and economic impacts
Water management (SDG 6)
Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
Environmental quality
Regeneration, land-use and urban development
Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
Analysis of specific impact categories
Job creation: The NBS created ...
No information available
Negative impacts: Did the project cause any problems or concerns?
No information was found regarding negative impacts of the project
COVID-19 pandemic
Unknown as of 23 September 2020
Methods of impact monitoring
Process of recording NBS impacts
No evidence in public records
Methods used to evaluate the impacts of NBS
Unknown
Evidence for use of assessment
Presence of an assessment, evaluation and/or monitoring process
Unknown
Presence of indicators used in reporting
No evidence in public records
Presence of monitoring/evaluation reports
No evidence in public records
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
Impact assessment mechanism
Name of any specific impact assessment tools
Unknown
Use of GIS in mapping impacts
No evidence in public records
Citizen involvement
Citizens involvement in assessment/evaluation
No
Citizens involvement in the analysis of the assessment/evaluation
No
Follow-up to the evaluation / assessment
Unknown
References
Web links relevant to the intervention
Ref. 2 Plataforma Arquitectura
Ref. 3 Concurso
Ref. 4
Documents relevant to the intervention
Attachment Size
Ref. 1 (784.37 KB) 784.37 KB
List of references
1. EcoMembrana. (2017). EcoMembrana. [Document provided].
2. Plataforma Arquitectura. (2017). Concurso ‘Nuevos Modeos de Habitar-Manzana Verde’ en Malaga, Espana. Available at: http://www.plataformaarquitectura.cl/cl/804497/concurso-nuevos-modos-de-habitar-manzana-verde-en-malaga-espana [Accessed: 23 September 2020].
3. Colegio de Arquitectos de la Ciudad Autonoma de Melilla. (2017). Concurso ‘Nuevos Modeos de Habitar-Manzana Verde.’ Available at: https://coacam.es/concurso-nuevos-modos-de-habitar-manzana-verde-en-malaga/ [Accessed: 23 September 2020].
4. Colegio Oficial Arquitectos de Madrid. (2017). Desarrollo Arquitectónico Del Peri "Manzana Verde" De Málaga "Nuevos Modos De Habitar - Manzana Verde". Available at: https://www.coam.org/es/servicios/concursos/concursos-ocam/plan-especial-reforma-interior-manzana-verde-sunc-r-p-2-a-pgou [Accessed: 23 September 2020].
Comments and notes
Additional insights
2020 comments:
This NBS intervention was a submission to the contest, "New ways of living- the Green Neighborhood" (Ref. 2,3,4). It was not rewarded any of the sections for development. These went to 5 other proposals. (Ref. 4)

Previous reviewer (2017) also marked 'EU funds' as a source of funding, but I wasn't able to find a supporting reference. Thus, there is the possibility there are EU funds going into the project.
Pictures of the NBS
/sites/default/files/nbs/images/screen_shot_2017-07-18_at_17.13.35.png
Public Images
EcoMembrana Plan
Source: COAM, https://www.coam.org/media/Default%20Files/servicios/concursos/concursos_ocam/2017_propuestas/manzana/paneles/048_eco-01.jpg