Sectoral workshop on Green infrastructure implementation Three Case Studies on Green Infrastructure Kristin Faurest Arad October 2015
3 case studies Three European green infrastructure case studies at the regional landscape, local institutional and neighborhood level 1. Landscape Park Rems (Landscape Park Stuttgart Region) 2. Miskolctapolca spa complex, Hungary 3. Ekostaden Augustenborg (urban regeneration initiative), Malmö, Sweden Commonalities: Cross-sectoral cooperation, multidisciplinary approach, broad spectrum of benefits designed to solve existing social, environmental and economic problems
1. Landscape Park Rems The federal state of Baden-Württemberg founded the Greater Stuttgart Region in 1994 because of strong demand for crosscommunal planning in urban agglomeration. 9/30/2015 Stuttgart - Google Maps Greater Stuttgart Region is controlled by the elected regional parliament. Map data 2015 GeoBasis-DE/ BKG ( 2009), Google 10 km
Landschaftspark Rems, part of Landschaftspark Region Date: 2004 ongoing Costs: EUR 10 Million regional funds, EUR 25 Million from local communities, EU, third parties. Objectives: Address decreasing orchard maintenance, develop better direct marketing of local agricultural products Secure remaining meadows of the valley from development Achieve connectivity of the river Rems for aquatic life Integrate water retention areas and recreational functions Secure natural riparian stripes Reactivate lakes Identify flagship species and enhance their habitats
Greater Stuttgart Region (273 sq km) is subject to the so-called Landesplanung of the State of Baden-Württemberg, which is one of the sixteen Länder that constitute the Federal Republic of Germany. The legal framework for German spatial planning is defined by the Federal Spatial Planning Act. http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/rog_2008/
Metropolitan area population: 2.7 million (600,000 in Stuttgart city proper, remainder in 179 adjacent communities in five districts) The Rems valley area itself comprises the entire Rems river valley with its 15 communities and 330.000 inhabitants at a length of 78 kilometers. Population density 733/km² compared to the German average 231/km²
Landscape framework planning = protecting soil, air, water, flora and fauna The region already has specified a system of green corridors and green belts for limiting settlement development and also for enhancing the connectivity of existing landscape and nature protection areas. Regional green corridors and green belts are binding limits for communities and districts. Broader approach to enhance the wider landscape was needed - a new concept that would foster a holistic landscape development at regional scale.
Intensive crop production on large fertile fields dominates in the west followed by vineyards and vegetable production, orchards, woodland Distinctive hilltops and architectural heritage characterize the valley The river Rems is strongly controlled by dams and water retention areas, low flood risk Ecological potential of the area includes a typical mix of nature/bird protection areas, Natura 2000 areas and landscape protection areas
Landscape park projects in Stuttgart region, which includes funding programmes at local, national and EU-level that could be used by the municipalities for implementing measures suggested by the master plan.
Master plan Remstal: land use, water, biotopes, scale 1:25 000 Source: Greater Stuttgart Region office Planstatt Senner landscape architects
Map with all cofunded projects 2012-2015 for implementing the landscape parks Source: Greater Stuttgart Region
Regional funding can be applied for annually. Key projects in each municipality oriented around local needs in harmony with these overarching regional landscape goals: Promote the river landscape and its perception as a landscape unit Enhance the recreational value of the valley Support and stimulate administrative cooperation Enhance and highlight local character and traditions of the Rems valley Develop the valley s cultural landscape Boost local economy and tourism Enhance public awareness of the Rems valley Guide settlement development
The concept s objective is to provide all stakeholders and actors with an orientation framework guiding various single projects that are to be developed at local scale. Symbol is a pearl necklace each community represents one of the pearls, but only as a whole such piece of jewelry can unfold its true value.
2. Miskolctapolca Spa Project 2. Miskolc, Hungary: Miskolctapolca pool complex Part of cooperation with Green City Hungary Renovation and reopening of a long-closed public facility contributing to local economy and quality of life Part of larger green building project with Miskolc government
Graphic by Anna Szilágyi-Nagy
Green City Hungary accreditation system: Seven areas are examined in detail for a given site: strategy and priorities, water, soil management, vegetation system development, construction materials, human health and social impacts, and energy. For each area there is a specific multifunctional goal followed by a checklist to be filled out by the interdisciplinary design team. The percentage achieved in the end determines whether the site is accredited. The goal not just to facilitate the design and construction of more ecologically, socially and economically-sustainable public spaces, but also to change the planning approach and expand the questions and criteria that are involved in making decisions in planning Aimed at creating a measurable market value or status for sustainably-designed places
Graphic by Anna Szilágyi-Nagy
Graphic by Anna Szilágyi-Nagy
Miskolc: basic data and landscape context Third largest city, county and regional capital, pop. 60,000 people, 236 square kilometers Located at the intersection of several geographic regions east of the Bükk hills, in the valley of the river Sajó and the Hejő and Szinva streams. The highest point of the gradually-sloping city landscape is 800 m higher than the lowest Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén county borders Slovakia
Settlements clustered along the north-south axis of the Sajó valley and along the historic east-west commercial axis between the northern hills and the Great Plain County densely built-up including significant agglomeration
Regional center of the northeast with an industrial history and the severe socioeconomic problems typical of industrial cities Some of the highest unemployment and poverty levels in the country
Green City Hungary Projects in Miskolc Started in 2011, with the objective of making Miskolc an exemplary city with an urban development plan and actual, realized measures focused on the three pillars of sustainability. Within this, projects included: Miskolctapolca spa renovation and accompanying Green City accreditation Sustainable development plan consultation Green Book (guidelines for the city s green development) Community planning process for Saint István square City Greening competition for the public to enhance participation Reconstruction of Platanus allée in front of city hall ClimCross, a cross-border conference with the city of Kosice, Slovakia, on identifying and addressing vulnerability to climate change
Important aspects: Spa tourism a major economic resource in Hungary Complex built in 1920s on ancient site, drew 10,000 people at its height before it was closed Consists of 3 main areas with indoor and outdoor facilities open year round
2. Miskolc
Important questions the case study inspires for cities seeking GI solutions No real research exists in Hungary on the market value of landscaping. How can a brand be created from the accreditation system, just as LEED accreditation has done in the U.S.? Miskolc is a classic post-industrial, depressed economy. What specific, measurable benefits did the Green City projects provide - can they be connected directly to a reduction in unemployment, better public health or higher socioeconomic equality? How can these projects be further enhanced by more sophisticated community participation?
3. Augustenborg, Malmö, Sweden District built during post-war prosperity in 1950s, one of the city s first public housing areas, with its own power plant and spacious, bright flats and strong local sense of identity 32 hectares, 1800 housing units in lowrise buildings Dilapidated, economically challenged district since 1980s, when more modern developments elsewhere caused the district to start to empty out Low level of employment, energy inefficiency, seasonal flooding all contributed to poor conditions and discouragement of investment
9/30/2015 Augustenborg - Google Maps Map data 2015 Google 2 km https://www.google.hu/maps/place/augustenborg,+s%c3%b6der,+malm%c3%b6,+sweden/@55.5798106,13.0244544,12z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x4653a16d049e6af7:0x9c1e2db80709acca 2/3
Ekostaden Augustenborg
In total about SKr 200 million (US$28 million) has been invested in the area Ongoing management and maintenance work is jointly funded through the housing company (which incorporates costs into rents), the water board (through the water rates), and the city council s standard maintenance budgets. Augustenborg has become an attractive, multicultural neighbourhood in which the turnover of tenancies has decreased by almost 50 per cent and previously common environmental problems (such as flooding, energy inefficiency, etc) have decreased significantly. In addition to improvements in recycling rates, composting, incorporation of green space, storm water management and energy efficiency, the social processes, changed perspectives and increased participation are key outcomes of the project.
Community workshops, formal design information sessions, festivals, cultural events and informal street conversation involved residents in reshaping waste system, open spaces, carpooling scheme, green energy system About one fifth of all residents participated Local Agenda 21 office trained 40 people in sustainable practices, helped with employment Reconfiguration of spaces between buildings added playspaces for kids, increased biodiversity Green roofs and integrated storm management system solved flooding. Half of all runoff intercepted by green roof, botanical roof garden covers 9,000 m2.
Open stormwater system circulates rainwater Educational center teaches children responsible care of animals Community carpool programme reduces individual car use Café Summer functions both as a café and a space for residents to meet and share ideas. Dinners, lectures and outings are arranged. The guests play canasta, practice qi gong and have sewing groups as well as a variety of other activities. Schoolchildren recycle, compost and have renewable resources powering their schools 65 per cent of its residents are from non-swedish backgrounds, and two housing projects with gardens specifically for older persons have been created Residents make key decisions and initiate projects, voter participation is up 25 percent.
Thank you for your attention! Sources Dr. Ellen Fetzer, Nürtingen-Geislingen University, case study on Rems Valley Green Infrastructure: Exploring the Scope of an Integrative Concept. Online seminar, Nürtingen-Geislingen University, Nürtingen, Germany, 2014. Malmö and Ekostaden reports from www.worldhabitatawards.orgrg
Group work: A GI strategy for Romania 1. Divide into 4 teams, with each team works on a Romanian GI strategy by sector: Agriculture, tourism, transport and climate-change adaptation. 2. Focus on the following: How can this sectoral strategy be implemented at the local, urban, regional and national levels? How do you describe the benefits to the public and get the public to support your proposal? Use the case studies as starting inspiration. 3. After teams are ready, we will put them together to identify overlaps and conflicts in the four strategies, and then assemble the different sectoral strategies into a proposal for a GI strategy for Romania.