Achieved impacts

The restructuring of the main road Gran Via Fernando el Catolico has seen a rehabilitation of its green areas in two distinct plots: one occurring at its intersection with Calle Lagasca, and one at its intersection with Corona de Aragon. The intervention is connected to relieving the heat island effect that occurs in the city center, increase greenery with the planting of 114 new trees and making the main traffic artery more accessible and pleasant to pedestrians. (Ref. 1-5)

Sweden's largest real estate company, Vasakronan, tests its first green outdoor facade at Kyrkogatan in Göteborg. The project was implemented with aim of improving the local climate and contributing to a more sustainable and resilient city. (Ref. 1)

"Grünes" C is an initiative of six municipalities (Alfter, Bonn, Bornheim, Niederkassel, Sankt Augustin and Troisdorf) to secure, connect and (re)develop open and recreational spaces (agricultural, cultivated, garden, commercial landscapes, protected nature areas, rivers, transport routes). The major objective is to create an accessible, united park landscape in the original area of the "Grünes C" which spans 37 square kilometres to preserve those landscapes facing urban pressure. This is envisioned through a set of interventions initiated in and around the participating municipalities. Bonn has three interventions that will be dealt with here (3,4,5,9)

The Venice Lagoon is characterised by intensive agriculture and by a web of drainage channels discharging into the rivers. The Veneto Region, through the “Plan for diffuse pollution prevention and restoration of water in the draining basins of the Venice Lagoon” financed measures of re-calibration of riverbeds aimed at the renaturation of the hydraulic web, to increase the time of permanence of water and phytodepuration processes in the draining basin. This case study, in particular, includes measures on the drainage channels discharging into the Dese river, one of the main water bodies of the Venice Lagoon basin. In particular, it aimed at re-structuring the effluents of the mid-course of the Dese river (Rio S. Martino, Rio S. Ambrogio and Scolo Desolino). (1).

These gardens fulfil several purposes and have become more and more often a point of aggregation and leisure, of socialisation and recreation, didactic and cultural education. Two interventions were made and in 1991, where 36 and 48 ornamental plants were produced. Subsequently, the gardens were built in the PEEP area of ​​Zelarino (in 1997), and in via Pertini (in 2002) and thanks to the environmental context and the available space, an element of novelty is introduced: the gathering area for communities to share environmental common values and activities. (2).

San Giuliano Park, inaugurated in May 2004, was designed by Arch. Antonio Di Mambro of the Comunitas Group. The first two lots have been implemented for a total area of about 74 hectares, including green areas and recreational infrastructure. The creation of this park is one of the biggest re-qualification initiatives in the national territory. With the implementation of the park, the area of Punta San Giuliano, used for years as a landfill of industrial and urban waste, definitively loses its barrier function between Mestre and its lagoon and returns to the natural state of the ancient city (1).

The project opts for switching to more sustainable and organic ways of handling natural parks in the urban areas of the city of Bologna. The project was launched in 2008 and focused on 100 hectares, meaning 10 parks (out of the 1.100 total in the city). The goal is to develop maintenance techniques with low impact on local flora and fauna, stimulating biodiversity and an equilibrium with the surrounding urban environment, as well as the reduction of toxicity impacts for vulnerable residents (i.e. children and elderly people) (1 and 2).
This NBS solution focuses on changing maintenance of Bologna public urban parks from conventional techniques to biological ones (1 and 2).

The park will have a surface of 100.000 sqm. It is designed to be the beating heart between municipality offices, fashion and culture related buildings, vital train connections and residential areas. The paths generate a mosaic of irregular plots. Each with specific groups of plant species, grasses or lawn. Circular tree groupings are superimposed on these plots, and together they will form a botanic library. The vegetal patches alternate with water and hard materials, thus creating a series of public spaces that house cultural and recreational program (1).

The project aimed to make the banks of the river Sava a more secure place by setting up illumination poles and thus motivate people to go there also by installing potable water fountains. The project includes environmental friendly illumination of both sides of the river Sava, development of 6 water pipes and toilets and renovation of the pedestrian and bike paths (4 sq km). The project in the second phase will also include additional illumination and water stations up to Jankomirski Bridge (in total 16 km, on both sides of the river Sava) (Ref 1).
The locals use the area for running, dog walking and for relaxation. Previously the place didn't have lights which made it unsafe during the night. The Mayor promised the citizens to return the river as well as an emphasis on the bridges that "conect, rather than separate" (Ref 1, 2, 3, 4).

Bjerkedalen is a recently constructed park around the Hovin creek in Bjerke District. It is situated in the middle of a settlement block, which used to have few public spaces. The park now acts as a recreational area with lots of green space, a river and several facilities for outdoor activities. The construction of Bjerkedalen park incorporated the installment of several important blue-green structures and features such as planting native trees and plants along the river, providing open grassy areas as well as reopening the Hovin river from underground pipes, with the aim of improved water quality and flood prevention.(Ref. 2)