From grey to green squares. Fighting climate change.
Date Issued
2022-09-12
Author(s)
Đorđević, Sara
Kolarov, Radenka
Čukanović, Jelena
Abstract
Due to urbanization cities are constantly expanding, often at the expense of green areas.
This reduction of greenery can be seen on the examples of six historical squares in two
countries: The Square of liberty, Trifković square and Gallery square in Novi Sad, Serbia and
Macedonia square, Karposh uprising square, and Old train station square in Skopje, North
Macedonia. Since they are under the urban heat island effect, in order to improve the microclimate
and mitigate the effects of climate change, this paper proposes a green design
model applicable to similar squares that deal with the lack of greenery. This paper deals
with the past, present, and future state of the appearance and function of the mentioned
squares and their grey/green values. After collecting historical data, field observation was
conducted with the implementation of checklists on spatial features, user activity, and vegetation
which yielded data on the quality of the analyzed area. The results showed that these
squares are “grey” – have a high share of impermeable paved surfaces and a low amount
of greenery. As these locations are on important city points, implementing a green design
would increase their eligibility for the city’s greenery system and improve their ecological
role. The creation of a design model that is universal and applicable to other “grey” squares
is our main goal. This model will have in common features such as usage of water and
heat permeable surfaces, planting resistant trees in sunlit areas which increase shade and
planting grass areas that allow unhindered wind movement through the square. The model
is widely applied because transforming “grey” to green squares improves the local microclimate
and including green squares into the cities greenery system creates a wider effect on
a large scale by mitigating climate change effects such as urban heat island.
This reduction of greenery can be seen on the examples of six historical squares in two
countries: The Square of liberty, Trifković square and Gallery square in Novi Sad, Serbia and
Macedonia square, Karposh uprising square, and Old train station square in Skopje, North
Macedonia. Since they are under the urban heat island effect, in order to improve the microclimate
and mitigate the effects of climate change, this paper proposes a green design
model applicable to similar squares that deal with the lack of greenery. This paper deals
with the past, present, and future state of the appearance and function of the mentioned
squares and their grey/green values. After collecting historical data, field observation was
conducted with the implementation of checklists on spatial features, user activity, and vegetation
which yielded data on the quality of the analyzed area. The results showed that these
squares are “grey” – have a high share of impermeable paved surfaces and a low amount
of greenery. As these locations are on important city points, implementing a green design
would increase their eligibility for the city’s greenery system and improve their ecological
role. The creation of a design model that is universal and applicable to other “grey” squares
is our main goal. This model will have in common features such as usage of water and
heat permeable surfaces, planting resistant trees in sunlit areas which increase shade and
planting grass areas that allow unhindered wind movement through the square. The model
is widely applied because transforming “grey” to green squares improves the local microclimate
and including green squares into the cities greenery system creates a wider effect on
a large scale by mitigating climate change effects such as urban heat island.
File(s)![Thumbnail Image]()
Loading...
Name
From grey to green squares. Fighting climate change_VBS.pdf
Size
2.9 MB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum
(MD5):41ef00ef587ef1d7eae3b942006db70c