From grey to green squares. Fighting climate change.

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.