Cities across the globe are evolving and addressing environmental imperatives such as climate change with a diverse range of initiatives such as ecologically inspired design, water re-engineering, habitat restoration, and urban reafforestation. Although Cities and forests are frequently perceived as distinct entities, the truth is that they are inextricably intertwined, and co-dependent. On the surface, cities appear to be self-sufficient, but a significant portion of their resources such as energy, wind, water supply, rainfall, wood, etc. derived directly from adjacent forests. The city of the future should coexist with forests, with trees planted primarily in urban areas and dense forest cover surrounding them.
Driven by rapid urbanisation, population growth, and prioritisation of infrastructural development over the ecological balance; cities are increasingly becoming concrete jungles, characterised by dense urban development. As cities are expanding, there is a significant reduction in green spaces as these spaces are sacrificed for newer buildings, infrastructure, industries, etc.
Thus, it becomes crucial to rethink how we manage and utilise urban spaces by rehabilitation of the voids in cities for example; defunct infrastructure, abandoned buildings, brownfield sites, landfills, etc. Cities within its fabric can create and stitch (knit) new opportunities for biodiversity, improved air and water quality, and the addition of recreational spaces for the community.
Identifying the Viods:
1. Abandoned Buildings-
Abandoned buildings are a common sight in urban landscapes, often signifying economic shifts, changes in population, and obsolescence of a particular industry, along with certain legal implications such as approval issues, amendments, etc. They pose innumerable negative impacts on their surroundings including;
- Safety Hazards in case of deteriorating structures and the potential of collapse, fires, etc.
- Sense of neglect and decay: often leads to vandalism, illegal dumping, and other criminal activities.
- Environmental degradation as there can be contamination of the surrounding soil and water with pollutants.
2. Landfills-
Landfills, the massive waste disposal sites, are a significant environmental challenge in urban areas by occupying large tracts of land often poorly managed, leading to severe environmental and public health issues. These sites are typically located on the outskirts of the cities, encroaching into the natural habitats and reducing biodiversity.
3. Defunct Infrastructure-
The remnants of past industrial or urban development such as disused railways, bridges, and roads, that don’t serve their original purpose. Similar to abandoned buildings, vandalism, illegal activities, and environmental degradation are some of the ill effects of this infrastructure.
Revitalization of the Viods:
Revitalization of the voids plays a pivotal role in urban regeneration and transforming them into assets that benefit both the environment and the community. By addressing contamination, repurposing the land for sustainable use, and engaging the community, cities can reclaim these neglected fringes into productive areas.
1. Environmental Remediation-
The process of cleaning up contaminants in the soil, water, and air. The process includes the removal of hazardous materials, such as heavy metals, petroleum products, and chemicals, and containing pollutants to prevent any further environmental damage. This can be achieved by Bio-remediation, Phyto-remediation, soil washing, Excavation and disposal, and many more.
2. Redevelopment Planning-
After the decontamination (remediation) of the site, redesigning the site and considering the local communities, urban planners, and other stakeholders. Urban forests, Green spaces, parks, Vertical gardens, Urban Agriculture, Community Hubs, Biodiversity Corridors, and Mixed-use developments are some of the programs that could bring neglected spaces back to life.
3. Economic Revitalization-
Revitalization may open up new opportunities to attract business, create jobs, increase property values, and lead to economic growth.
4. Society-
Revitalization benefits society and communities, by engaging the local residents in the planning and development process, it fosters a sense of ownership and belonging also. Post-revitalization, the repurposed void caters to the needs of the society, bringing in function into the rather neglected space.
Examples:
1. The Highline, New York –
This Highline is a 1.45-mile-long elevated railway that was built in the 1930s to transport goods. This infrastructure was abandoned in the 1980s, and soon after a decade, community activists started advocating for the preservation and repurposing into a public park. The design preserved the industrial heritage while introducing pathways, seating, and plantations that reflected the natural landscape that took over the track soon after the abandonment.
2. Park de cuevel, Amsterdam-
Located in a former industrial area of Buiksloterham on the banks of a canal towards the north of Amsterdam. The site was a shipyard and by the time it was abandoned, it was heavily polluted with heavy metals and hydrocarbons. In 2012, The De Cuevel project was initiated as a part of a broader urban regeneration effort. Phytoremediation is the first step toward the revitalization of this site. It involves planting specific types of plants, willows, and grasses that naturally extract pollutants, thus detoxifying the soil. The site was populated with houseboats, and the design is such that they have been upcycled into workshops and studio spaces, placed on stilts above the contaminated soil, minimising direct contact with the pollutants while allowing productive use of the space.
3. Sabarmati Riverfront, Ahmedabad –
The Sabarmati Riverfront in Ahmedabad was a dumping ground for sewage and industrial waste thus turning it into a heavily polluted area, lined with slums and prone to flooding. In the early 2000s, the riverfront development project was initiated by the local municipal corporation. Environmental remediation was a key for the project, followed by the diversion of sewage and industrial waste, dredging the riverbed, and designing a promenade along the river banks. The project involves several parks, gardens, and recreational spaces, providing green spaces and a Biodiversity park in the heart of the city. The slum dwellers were resettled to affordable housing improving their living conditions. The incorporation of retaining walls and embankments helped control flooding too.
The Protocol:
The BARCELONA PROTOCOL is a part of the European Action Plan for the City and Earth, presented in October 2022. This protocol envisions cities that operate like forests – self-sustaining, resilient, and diverse; Advocating a holistic approach to urban planning, and integrating ecological principles into design, infrastructure, and the governance of cities. The protocol is divided into various sub-topics, every topic focusing on various issues. Short-term measures, Further steps, Repair, Carbon positive construction, Open spaces and Biodiversity, Bioregions, and Governance strategies form the Action Framework for the protocol. Thus, it could also be a base guideline for the other cities to follow.
The Open Space and Biodiversity branch factors in the ecosystems in which the cities are placed, and how to address the loss of biodiversity in the cities. City as a forest is a part of this branch; formulating a strong foundation for promoting the incorporation of nature into the city voids(brownfield sites, decommissioned infrastructure, etc.) for urban photosynthesis, carbon storage, oxygen generation, shading, transpiration, and cooling.
The future of the earth, its ecosystems, and our own civilization will be decided in and by our cities. Only if we ensure that the material, means, and methods with which we build and manage our cities are primarily drawn from regionally available and sustainably managed biological resources can we transform our urban settlements from culprits of climate change to catalysts of eco-systemic healing. [01]
- European Action Plan – A Charter for the City and the Earth (2022). Rome – an initiative by the European Forest Institute (EFI), Bauhaus Earth, Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia (IAAC), Barcelona City Council.
