Environmental quality

"The main idea of the project is to join the two parks at the end of the intervention (Pedion Areos and Lofos Likavitou) with a green mass that will flow all along the intervention, bringing back the greenery to an area that used to be a green zone in the outside of the old Athens walls.That green corridor is formed by: (1) the existing trees preserved; (2) the new trees added; (3) a continuous floor all along the project with a pattern that is an abstraction from olive tree branches; (4) The artificial activity/bioclimatic trees they create" (Ref 1).

The Community Supported Agriculture initiative in Bonn (SoLaWi Bonn) is an economically motivated arrangement between consumers, farm businesses and certified gardeners to improve the urban provision of local, organic food. Together they develop a concept for collaboration where the consumer group commits to pay an annual fee to cover all of the farmer's expenses for production (according to individual financial capabilities) and to work placements at the farm per year. In exchange, the customer members of the initiative receive a variety of fresh, seasonal, locally produced vegetables. The farmers profit from financial security and economic stability and the ability to apply environmental friendly agriculture practices without the pressure of the market economy (1,4).

Along the 'Green Belt' (Grünen Band) in Bielefeld, which connects several urban grave lands with a continuous path, the organisation of Transition Town Bielefeld created a community garden to replace the permaculture garden in Bleichstrasse. (8) Thanks to its location, apart from the food production, the garden increases the environmental quality of the site serving as a green transition between the grey areas and the city. This function is in line with the overarching mission of Transition Town Bielefeld to promote energy and cultural transition in the city through different initiatives. (7) The community garden initiative was started in 2013 and welcome citizens to take part in the maintenance, planting and other gardening work of the garden or simply to enjoy its beauty since its launch in 2015. The project has a bigger goal towards sustainable development of urban infrastructures and social equity (1,2).

The project aims to create a floating swimming pool on the Odra river, similar to a floating pool in Berlin. The pool would serve as a meeting place and the recreational area, but also as an impressive architectural and floating artwork. The pool would consist of three modules: a relaxation zone; filter module, composed of suitable plants responsible for clearing water straight from the river; and the pool/swimming area, filled with filtered water from the river. The pool should be mobile - made in such a way that by conventional means it could move within the urban waterfront [1].

“Frederiksgade gets new and climate-friendly life. Aarhus will be the European City of Culture in 2017, by which time Frederiksgade, running between the river and City Hall, will become an attractive street enhanced by water and greenery in the city centre. The makeover has been possible by innovative, focused collaboration between municipal departments, businesses with widely differing expertise and the owners and tenants of the street itself.” (Ref. 1, 12)

A significant expansion of the summer water level in the biggest local natural river, Giber River, was carried out in Aarhus. The increase in water flow in Giber River was achieved by a range of different measures, such as pumping purified wastewater into the river and building a string of rainwater collection ponds that will be allowed to slowly drain into the river. (Ref. 1)

The Agenda working group called "Natural gardens in Wachtberg" aims at the development and promotion of nature-based construction solutions and increased use of local wild plants since 1998. In this pursuit, it managed to acquire land (400 sqm) from the municipality of Berkum and, transform the lawn area into a near-natural garden showcasing nature-based gardening elements with the help of other environmental associations and sponsors (1,2,7). Apart from securing and enhancing local biodiversity, the garden serves as a display of possible elements and solutions of a nature-based garden for interested parties. Moreover, through information boards, workshops and a detailed brochure on implementation guidelines, the project can spark interest and empower local residents to implement such nature-based elements in their own garden (1, 3, 4,7).

“An integrated solution for groundwater, rainwater, waste water, streams and ponds creates attractive housing in a new suburb (NyE), with room for exciting architecture. The water cycle plays a key role in urban development in Denmark, and water is one of the ever-present elements in our lives. Århus needs to prevent flooding caused by climate change, avoid polluting our groundwater, and improve the environment in streams and ponds to allow the use of water to create recreational value for the residents. This way, Århus can build a balanced aquatic environment, which will ultimately create a better city.” (Ref. 1)

The establishment of the first stage consisting of 650 homes, day care center and grocery store was initiated in the autumn of 2016 after more than 10 years of planning, and in the summer of 2018, the first residents moved into Nye. More homes are on the way. (Ref 14). In its current form of just over 150 ha, it has a capacity of approx. 15,000-20,000 inhabitants or approx. 10,000 homes at full expansion (Ref 15)

Athens' first vertical garden has been installed temporarily at the entrance to the City of Athens administrative building at 22 Liossion St during the city's first green cultural festival, the Green Design Festival in 2008. Such gardens have a positive impact on the environment as the plants trap carbon dioxide, produce oxygen, absorb harmful atmospheric pollution and reduce air temperature in summer, which assists in cooling the building's interior (Ref 1).

The botanical garden of Athens was reconstructed in 2004 to protect and maintain the biodiversity of the area. Covering a land of 1,860 sq.m., this Botanical Garden hosts over 2,500 different kinds of plants from all over the world and a rich variety of flora. All the plants and trees are protected in the park. The community also sends seeds all over the country to spread and maintain biodiversity throughout the region and hold agroecological events to increase the concern and educate the locals (Ref 1,3). The park also has a lake and a library inside it. (Ref 2)