Eighth International Conference on The Constructed Environment

Abstract

This paper investigates the potential and the perspectives of creating a new type of urban public spaces with minimal cost of maintenance and minimal production of carbon footprint. Climate change, high levels of environmental pollution, and migration of people result in increased importance of green areas in cities. At the same time, the fact of non-renewable resources and scarcity pressure authorities and designers to create and implement more energy-efficient urban development strategies and projects. The author draws attention to the architectural and civil engineering objects that were first neglected and abandoned by humans and then spontaneously subjected to the process of natural succession. The possibility of turning this “biodegraded urban tissue” into accessible green spaces with recreational and additional functions employing existing ecosystems entails benefits for citizens and urban planning. While carrying out this type of intervention, it is critical to make the participants of an investment process aware of the social and economic potential of the plot as well as its ecological value which is worth protecting. The analysis of realized projects elaborated with respect for natural ecosystems in urban spaces prove it is possible that humans can again become a beneficent of degraded areas now enriched with elements of wild nature.