Fabiano Lemes De Oliveira

Green wedges: origins and development in Britain

The paper analyzes the history of green wedges in Britain from their origins in the first decade of the twentieth century up until the outbreak of the Second World War. Often neglected by the literature in favour of the ‘greenbelt’, the ‘green wedge’ was equally at the forefront of the minds of planners debating urban growth and the provision of open spaces for modern cities. Firstly, the paper looks into the origins of the idea, with particular focus on discussions about the integration of park and traffic systems in the period. Secondly, it focuses on the fundamental role that the 1910 RIBA Town Planning Conference played in the emergence of the green wedges idea and in its immediate reception and diffusion. Subsequently, the paper discusses the ideas development after the Conference, predominantly in plans for Greater London and in texts by its main supporters, which included H. V. Lanchester, G. L. Pepler, T. H. Mawson, and P. Abercrombie.The paper analyzes the history of green wedges in Britain from their origins in the first decade of the twentieth century up until the outbreak of the Second World War. Often neglected by the literature in favour of the ‘greenbelt’, the ‘green wedge’ was equally at the forefront of the minds of planners debating urban growth and the provision of open spaces for modern cities. Firstly, the paper looks into the origins of the idea, with particular focus on discussions about the integration of park and traffic systems in the period. Secondly, it focuses on the fundamental role that the 1910 RIBA Town Planning Conference played in the emergence of the green wedges idea and in its immediate reception and diffusion. Subsequently, the paper discusses the ideas development after the Conference, predominantly in plans for Greater London and in texts by its main supporters, which included H. V. Lanchester, G. L. Pepler, T. H. Mawson, and P. Abercrombie.

Eco-cities: The Role of Networks of Green and Blue Spaces

The chapter analyzes how networks of green and blue spaces are being used in the design of new eco-cities. These projects aim to define a new city typology, create models of sustainable development that would contribute to the resolution of the global need for more urban spaces, increase well-being and decrease ecological footprint. In this regard, green and blue infrastructures are playing fundamental roles in current eco-city design. Initially, the text presents our contemporary urban challenges, the emergence of the idea of the eco-city and the new meanings that networks of green and blue spaces are acquiring. Four recent case studies are analyzed and compared in order to draw conclusions on the significance of these systems of open space in the construction of a theory and practice of eco-city design.

Social innovation in urban spaces

ABSTRACT Recent international policy advocating for social innovation to be part of strategies to promote sustainable urban development has energised this emerging body of literature. However, there is a need for more sector-specific research to integrate findings on the spatiality of social innovation, co-operative processes, and place-scale relations. This article presents a review (2002–2018) of social innovation in urban spaces. Based on data from 114 publications, the review indicates that research in the spatiality of social innovation can be grouped into three major themes: (1) Spatial planning and community development; (2) Governance; (3) Co-production and service design. The findings suggest that in general the collaboration of end users in place-based development is central to this process of urban change and that process is as significant as the outcome. This article concludes with a research agenda to address identified lacunas.

The impacts of green infrastructure on air quality and temperature

The temperatures and the amounts of air pollution experienced in urban environments are typically larger than in surrounding rural environments. Urban air pollution is associated with increased cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, some cancers, and increased temperatures with discomfort and in the vulnerable and elderly increased mortality. Managing urban air quality by reducing pollution exposure and maintaining equitable urban temperatures are priorities towards enhancing the health and well-being of the urban population. This chapter explores how, and to what extent, urban vegetation can influence the amounts of air pollutants and regulate urban air temperature. Urban vegetation generally has a positive influence, and under some circumstances, the capacity to make substantial gains in urban air quality and temperature regulation. Different species and forms of urban vegetation had different influences, as did the location of planting, but under some circumstances vegetation could negatively influence air-pollution and temperature. Approaches to maximise the benefits from planting urban vegetation are presented and it is acknowledged that more research is needed in order to optimise these benefits.